I hope you enjoy this guest post from Robert T. Perschel, Executive Director, New England Forestry Foundation, where the original version of this post was published.
Earthday Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson – My Friend and Colleague
One Earthday in the 1990s, Earthday founder Senator Gaylord Nelson took respite at our house, when….
The ensuing episode involved 6-year old boys, mud, weapons of destruction, and a very gracious senator. But first, a brief introduction about my relationship with the former Senator Gaylord Nelson, a man I was fortunate to include among my friends and colleagues.
In the 1990s Senator Nelson and I both served as staff members of The Wilderness Society. The Senator was particularly interested in population growth and the ethical side of the conservation equation. When I was Director of The Society’s Land Ethic program, he was an important collaborator and advocate.
The Senator Takes a Nap
One of our cherished family tales involves the day that Earthday founder Senator Gaylord Nelson came to our home in Worcester. It was Earthday 1997 and I was escorting the Senator to various sites around town. During a break in the schedule we headed home for a few hours of down- time before the evening reception. I made sure that Gaylord was comfortable in our upstairs guest bedroom. Then I retreated downstairs as he took a nap.
It was a beautiful spring day. I was in the yard when my son Jordan suddenly appeared out of nowhere with two cohorts. There they stood, half naked, brandishing play swords and other forms of makeshift weaponry. I heard them ask, “Is he here yet?” Before I could respond, they charged into the house, swords in hand, and shot up the stairs. When I arrived to the guest bedroom, I found the 3 cohorts standing on chairs by the bed peering down at the Senator, waving their swords.
I was embarrassed and worried about the Senator being rudely awakened from his nap. But then I heard a soft voice from the darkened room. “Well, what have we here? What are you fellows up to?”
I was tremendously impressed with the Senator’s “equanimity under fire”. Then I recalled how deftly he handled difficult questions after his talks and I was sure his political career must have steeled him for moments like these.
I quickly introduced the boys to the Senator and immediately ushered them from the room so he could get his rest. I chided them for disturbing our important guest and walked away, but not so far as to miss the voices of young boys arguing.
“I TOLD you he wasn’t a general”
“Yeah, he’s only a senator”
“That comes below sergeant, doesn’t it?”
Bob Perschel is honored to have had the opportunity to know and to work with the very gracious Earthday founder Senator Gaylord Nelson.
Listening to ocean waves receding over stones.
Enjoying the spontaneous expressions of young children who haven’t yet learned to hide their emotions.
Taking in the scent of freesias, lilacs or salt water.
Enjoying the great, or not so great, outdoors and all variations of nature’s gifts.
At the gym.