Photoshoot

Matters No More

Eyes burned
with zealous fire,
Heart radiated
devotion.
Now irrelevant.
A soul left forsaken,
derelict.
A once-dedicated life
abandoned
and not fought for
matters no more.

My Grandfather, My Hero, "Ranger Hal" Shaw

Imagine you are being filmed "live", dressed as a forest ranger, and you must hold the attention of more than half-a-million school-age children for a full 30 minutes by conversing with puppets-- a rabbit, a fox, and a very eager beaver. Better yet, imagine you have to do this six days a week with no real operating budget and you have to produce and write the show all by yourself. That's the way it was for my Grandfather, who performed the very difficult but rewarding role of "Ranger Hal."

Let me tell you a little about my Grandfather's background.

After earning a degree in Drama from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he performed in summer touring companies with other famous actors such as Ernst Borgnine and Andy Griffith. In 1957, Harold "Hal" Shaw came to Washington, DC with a passionate desire to perform. After substituting on another kids show for the summer and becoming a role model for many children, Hal Shaw decided to create his own influential television show to educate children. He created a forest ranger character in order to help teach young children about nature and positive morals with the help of some very knowledgeable animal sidekicks. In an interview with Stephen Moore and Donn B. Murphy in 1985, Hal Shaw explained why he developed Ranger Hal. "I thought that a forest ranger stood for everything right and good and he had to know what he was doing."

It didn't take long for the show to become an instant success.

Hal Shaw was not only Ranger Hal but also the pre-recorded voice and personality of Oswald Rabbit, Dr. Fox, and Eager Beaver. The puppets were developed by the Muppets creator, Jim Hensen. The show included cartoons, short skits, and even famous guest appearances by Timmy and Lassie and Smokey Bear, which all advocated forest safety and fire prevention and imparted positive morals. The show aired at various times in the morning for a total of 13 years, running from October 1957 until February 1969. My Grandfather did not have time to rest during the weekends. Ranger Hal made local appearances at various shopping centers in the DC/metropolitan area where thousands of anxious children stood in line for hours just to see him and get his autograph.

Hal Shaw received 3 Emmy's for "Outstanding Children's Programming." Because of his popularity, Ranger Hal made guest appearances on other famous TV Shows, like the very popular western, "Gunsmoke." Ranger Hal was quite an influential role model to many children. The Washington Post cited a letter from a parent about how her child had been offered candy to take a ride in a car with a stranger. The child refused and ran away, later stating that "Ranger Hal said never to speak to strangers." My Grandfather admitted "...I still get a thrill meeting and hearing from fans... It excites me to know how much they enjoyed the program... To think that I made that much of an impression." Ranger Hal's greatest accomplishment was his ability to reach children. "I learned a great respect for children. They are true believers, and I was careful not to take advantage of their belief in me."

Want to learn more about Ranger Hal? Visit http://kidshow.dcmemories.com/hal1.html.


Gerald Owens, from CBS, wrote the following excerpt on 2/8/02:.
"I was fortunate enough to interview Ranger Hal back in 1998 (one of his last, if not THE last interview he ever gave) as part of Channel 9's 50th anniversary celebration. It was as if I'd gone back in time. When we got to his house, there he was sitting on his couch, advanced in age and illness, in the original Ranger Hal uniform. And it still fit! He was surrounded by Oswald Rabbit and the rest of his famous sidekicks. Though many of them had weathered over the years. I'm 41 now, and admit that I rarely watched the show, and hardly remember it. But it didn't matter. During the hour or so we spent with him, the vitality and charisma he showed made it abundantly clear why he was such a big hit. Here he was, dealing with a painful and unmerciful disease like cancer, yet his famous smile never left his face the entire time we were there. He was gracious with his time, answering every question with a story from the '50s and '60s that put it all in perspective. It's rare that we get to experience history first hand. I'm lucky that I have. It's one of my most memorable interviews."


In dedication to my wonderful Grandfather. You are missed.

Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

She was the physical embodiment of innocent beauty, charming her way into our hearts and lives. She was living evidence that angels do reside on earth. Tonight, I post this blog in tribute of Audrey Hepburn and her life accomplishments. She was known for her starring roles in such movies as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and My Fair Lady. However, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate Ms. Hepburn for a different starring role in which she played. Tonight I pay tribute to her character off the screen. Audrey Hepburn was a devoted humanitarian who dedicated the remainder of her life to helping needy children around the world.

She was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1988 and traveled to Africa, Asia, and Latin America on behalf of starving children. She was relentless and saw to it that relief was given to those in need. After visiting the impoverished people of Somalia in 1992, Ms. Hepburn recounted her horrid tale, "I walked into a nightmare... It's so hard to talk about because it's unspeakable." Her journey had taken her to what she thought was hell. The worst drought in history and horrific civil war had utterly demolished the country and ravaged the population. One of the first sights she saw was hundreds of dead small children being piled onto a truck. It was clear by the expression on her face that she had to relive the scene every time she spoke of her travels. She would never forget that one small, starving boy she had met and then how she came back the very next day and he was gone.

Ms. Hepburn once said, "It just is so totally unacceptable to see small children die in front of your eyes. How are you supposed to get on a plane and go back to your regular life? It throws your whole world out of balance. There is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who don't." I would like to remember Audrey Hepburn's devotion to the children of the world and her commitment to this moral cause. Her involvement was genuine and it gave her a real sense of fulfillment. Ms. Hepburn's devotion to humanitarian efforts is evidence of her drive to deliver a meaningful human message and we are reminded of this every time we watch her on film. She used her popularity as a means to inform that the suffering children of the world should never be forgotten.

I commend Ms. Hepburn for raising the consciousness of the world. She was a woman whose poise and grace showed through every performance. Her elegance, charm, and stunning beauty were projected not only on the screen, but through her actions as a humanitarian. Even as she was dying of cancer, she worked tirelessly to bring relief to suffering children around the world. Because of this, it is undoubtedly evident that Audrey Hepburn's beauty was not just physical, but immortal.

A Sunset

I happened to lay my eyes upon the most stunning portrait.
My windowsill became a frame,
encapsulating a blood-red orb enclosed by streaks of chiffon clouds
and beyond, a backdrop of passionate pinks diffusing into placid purples.
I marvel at such enchanting beauty, while feeling my admiration
transform itself into goosebumps gliding down my body.
My determined eyes play "follow the glowing sphere",
as it makes its dramatic exit and carries with it the rosy lilac aura...
Such a profound elegance that has now slowly hid itself away beyond the horizon with the passing of time.

Diminishing Integrity of the Human Race

This sums up my day...

"If you fall, I will catch you...
...but I'm not making any promises."


Whatever happened to the notion of a person holding steadfastly true to their commitments?

Silence

Your silence is disconcerting. It is so quiet, I can hear my thoughts screaming to be heard. I have things that I want to tell you. So many words that need to be said. I have every intention to share my thoughts with you. They dance on the tip of my tongue and practically leap off my lips as soon as I start to open my mouth. But, when my eyes meet your eyes, something makes me hold everything back. You can instantly turn from hot to cold in a matter of milliseconds. It's so abrupt sometimes, it almost feels like I am standing next to a different person. I don't know if it is something I do. One moment I can be so comfortable when you look at me, and then at other times, your piercing stare makes me want to hide away. I'm starting to feel scared to even look at you. I don't know what you are thinking, but I know it must be significant enough that you feel a reason to suppress it. You hold back and then I hold back. I shouldn't feel this way; especially because I hardly see you. You show more emotion in your e-mails than in person. I know you feel things. Are you afraid to share them with me? If so, why must you be afraid of me? I want to be your friend. Your silence makes me think you don't see me as anything beyond a bunch of bones covered up by skin. Make me feel like I am worth something to you... I beg of you.