Stephen Hawking--Life Lived to the Fullest

A great mind passed away last week.  Physicist, cosmologist, and author Stephen Hawking died on March 14 at the age of 76.

I confess that I'm not scientifically minded, and I haven't paid close attention to Hawking's theories, which I understand are--for lack of better phrasing--out of this world.  I'm not going to discuss his achievements as there are others who can do a much better job than me.  What I would like to talk about is my admiration for a person who has lived his life as fully as possible despite his physical limitations.

At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with an early onset, slow-progressing form of ALS, and his doctors gave him two years to live.  As anyone can understand, Hawking was initially depressed by his diagnosis and his deteriorating motor skills and speech.  However, with the encouragement of his doctoral advisor, he continued his work and did so for the next fifty-five years.

It would have been so easy for Hawking to give up, to stop working and succumb to his condition, but he didn't.  As the years progressed, so did his ALS.  He lost his ability to speak and all movement, but not his mind.  Thanks to technology and various people helping him, Hawking was able to communicate and write using a raise of his eyebrows, a computer, and a voice synthesizer.  He wrote books and gave lectures...all from his wheelchair.  He traveled, received awards, and even went on a zero-gravity flight in the hope of preparing for a space trip.

Stephen Hawking may not have been able to do the simplest things most of us take for granted, like walking or talking, but he didn't let his condition stop him from doing what he wanted to do.  I admire him for making the most of life, having a sense of humor, and taking things in stride.  Hawking is a role model, inspiring us to pursue our interests and not allow anything to deter us from them.

Ever humbly yours from the perch.

Carnegie Libraries

Libraries.  We take for granted that most towns, large or small, have them.  You want a book, a DVD, CD, or whatever, you go to the local library and get it--for free.  There's no cost for using the library and borrowing items.  Kids can get materials to help with homework, adults can find resources to help get jobs, and everyone can find something to enjoy in his or her free time.  Yes, libraries are great for both work and play.

Did you know, however, that just over a hundred years ago, libraries weren't free?  And not all towns had them?  If a town was fortunate enough to have a library, it often shared space with the city hall or even a jail.  Not exactly the kind of place you'd want to take the kids, was it?  Additionally, you'd often have to pay a subscription in order to use it.

Industrialist and Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a poor boy from Scotland who worked in a Pittsburgh textile mill and later expanded the American steel industry, was self-taught and knew the value of libraries.  Unable to afford the $2 subscription, he was only able to use the local library at the age of 17 when a newspaper published a letter he wrote to the library administrator asking for library privileges.

When he had acquired his fortune, Carnegie made it his mission to build public libraries across the U.S.  Close to 1,700 libraries were built from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.  They were free and open to everyone regardless of gender, age, and race.  Although some Carnegie libraries have been torn down or are no longer used as libraries, many continue to serve in their original purpose today.

To read more about Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie libraries, check out the following articles:

• Library Benefactor Andrew Carnegie
• How Andrew Carnegie Turned His Fortune Into a Library Legacy

Sincerely yours from the perch.