May 30, 2018 Happy Wednesday from Mistletoe Enterprises LLC and Victory & Valor! Mistletoe Enterprises? What’s up with a name like that? How did I ever arrive at the decision to name my business after a parasitic plant? There’s more to it than just the Christmas tradition of kissing under the sprig of mistletoe… as delightful as that can be. Of course, if the cheer derived from the spirit of the season rendered by that tradition could last throughout the year, that alone could be sufficient to explain the essence of the Mistletoe in my business brand. But, there’s more to the story. There’s… a source. An origin. A true story. When I was growing up one of my favorite activities was reading the syndicated columnists in the editorials section of the daily newspaper. (I also loved solving the crossword puzzles, by the way!) The writers I most enjoyed back in the 70’s and 80’s were Mike Royko, Andy Rooney, and the columnist with the indubitable propensity for exhausting readers by using an inexhaustible abundance of $10 words: George Will. Now, in those days, one didn’t do an internet search to find the meaning of a word. When I read George Will’s columns, I had a dictionary handy. It was a necessity. Thanks to George Will, I learned to read twenty words, consult a dictionary, and repeat this process about fifteen times to understand his column. I also acquired the additional habit of searching for the source of a word: its etymology. Do you know the etymology of the word “etymology?” Most words can be derived from Old English, German, French, Latin or, in this case, Greek. The Greek word “etymon” means “true sense.” This is akin to the Greek word “etymos” which means “true, real, or actual.” And the Greek word “logia” denotes “the study of.” Putting that all together, the etymology of a word is the study of the true sense of its origin. So, jumping to October 2017, being naturally inclined to find the true sense of the origin of words, before I named my business, I studied the etymology of the word “mistletoe.” I should stop here… but, I won’t. The etymology – the true sense of the origin of the word “mistletoe” – the word that I knowingly, deliberately, and enthusiastically selected for the brand name of my business – means… “dung on a twig.” Thank you very much, Old English. Dung on a twig. I like that. I like that a lot! I like that so much, I named my business after it. Not because it may seem unattractive or unappealing: but because it’s common, it’s natural, and it helps things grow. The iconic mascots used by Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor are the cardinal and the eagle. And around the world, birds of a wide variety rely for survival on the nourishment and the shelter afforded by the mistletoe species. Many birds of prey use its thick growth as cover or as nests. And the berries, though toxic to humans, are a plentiful source of food for many bird species. Like I said, Mistletoe helps things grow. That’s something I can be very proud of every time I publish an educational story. More than that, I’m happy to stress the importance of the etymological process to find the true sense and the origin of words, and to incorporate those truths in the educational stories I publish. Mistletoe Enterprises LLC and Victory & Valor are in the business of spreading cheer every day throughout the year and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Like dung on a twig, Mistletoe Enterprises helps things grow… propagate… proliferate… Thanks George Will!
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Memorial Day, May 28, 2018 DEWITT, MICHIGAN, May 28 – Every year for as long as anyone around here can remember, Dewitt Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 671 has led the Memorial Day parade, and the memorial services at the Dewitt Cemetery. Their color guard honoring the United States flag leads the parade along a route of about a half-mile. A few veterans follow behind in refurbished military jeeps. And the Dewitt High School Band marches behind: the drummers tapping out a marching beat. At the cemetery, the United States flag is raised to the top of the flag-pole, and then lowered to half-staff while the band plays the national anthem. The VFW commander orders the wreaths to be placed at the memorial monument for those who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country. A couple speakers remind us of the meaning of Memorial Day. The word “sacrifice” is heard. And heard again. And again. Sacrifice: the etymology traces it to Latin “sacer” which means sacred or holy & “facio” which is to do or make. In other words, a sacrifice is a sacred or holy action. For this reason, Memorial Day is a solemn day. It is a day to remember the acts of those men and women who gave their lives for our country. It is a day to honor them; to honor their acts; to honor their memory. The twenty-one-gun salute rendered by the color guard takes a matter of seconds. Three volleys. Seven shots. And then, Taps. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 For those who have sacrificed: you are remembered. Rest in Peace. Part Three: May 1985, The Bean, The Pope, and the “Stupid” Quote Happy TGIF! I think this installment will make a lot of sense on its own, but it will help you put it into better context if you read the first two blog installments from Monday and Wednesday. Monday’s blog was a quick glance at the brief history of Mistletoetom.com. To recap: we organized last year in early October and established our website and Facebook page in November. Our Facebook page has had about 7300 views of more than 100 posts. And we revisited a few of those stories – with some attention to “The Bean” – which was one of the first photos we published. Now we’re using what we’ve learned to move ahead with more content and more visibility. On Wednesday I wrote about the Mistletoe brand, the mission, and the content we deliver. I also announced a significant part of what we do will be converted to a non-profit entity soon. And I touched on some of the things that inspire us in our mission of spreading cheer throughout the year and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. I said we would continue the mission and move forward. And I mentioned “The Bean” again! Finally, I said I would try to wrap up this three-part blog today by sharing with you a story from May 1985 to tie all this together. So, it’s May 1985. But it’s more than one story: it’s more like a slew of isolated events that occur in a relatively brief, albeit pivotal period. Combined, they form and grow into some lasting memories. At the time I was stationed with the Air Force at Pruem Air Station, West Germany. It is in the Eiffel region, very close to the Belgian border, and not far from Luxembourg. I was assigned to a tactical radar unit that deployed frequently to watch the skies during the Cold War era. I had just returned in late April from a temporary assignment in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where I was maintaining communications systems for a radar unit that was monitoring the skies in the Middle East during the Iran-Iraq war. Saudi Arabia was a culture shock that no amount of my words can express. It was bigger than the difference between transitioning from being a civilian to joining the military ranks; it was bigger than the difference between American urban and rural communities; and it was bigger than the difference between the American way of life compared to the new things I was experiencing in Europe. It is a profound understatement to say I was relieved to be back in Germany. So, a couple weeks passed when, on May 7, 1985, President Reagan visited West Germany to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Specifically, he laid a wreath at a cemetery in Bitburg where many WWII German military are laid to rest. Among those buried there are some SS soldiers, and the symbolism of this visit sparked incredible controversy for Reagan. The airbase at Bitburg was not far from Pruem: less than 40 km (about 25 miles), or a half-hour drive. Most personnel assigned to Pruem went there routinely because it was our administrative headquarters, and it had more services. But during President Reagan’s visit, most of our personnel remained on duty at Pruem except for some of the higher ranks. I was disappointed that I couldn’t go to see Reagan. He had inspired me to enlist in the military in the first place. Politics aside, he improved the morale throughout the military ranks. And I would have enjoyed seeing him in person. But, like my Grandmother used to say so matter-of-factly, “It wasn’t meant to be.” Fortunately, another prominent figure on the world stage was visiting the Benelux (Belgium, Netherland, Luxembourg) region, too. And my two roommates, Kenny Popham and John McMullen, asked me to go to Luxembourg City to see him. We got permission from our supervisors for a day of leave, and we piled into my 1973 red Volkswagen Bug, and made the 90-minute trek on May 16, 1985. Traffic was heavy: lots of cars from all around Europe were on the roads heading to the same destination. Buses too. Pope John Paul II attracted quite a large crowd wherever he travelled. Both Reagan and JPII were staunch opponents of oppression. They broke down barriers. Both were great communicators. And they confronted communism head on. Arguably, more than any other leaders on the world stage, Reagan and Pope John Paul II led the way to disassembling the Soviet stranglehold on Europe during the 1980’s, and they were champions for the dignity of human life. To see the Pope in person, for me, was like Christmas. It was a gift. My roommates, Ken and John, were both raised Catholic. I was too. We were junior enlisted in rank, but we had enough time-on-station and time-in-service to be granted permission to move off-base to make room in the dormitory for the newer troops. Together we rented a small apartment in a farmhouse in Stimulant, a small village near Pruem. We parked the car about a mile-and-a-half from the venue where the Pope would say Mass. We followed the crowds to the large open area selected for the event. I don’t know how many people were in the crowd but having attended many major sporting events with large crowds in attendance, I can say with certainty there were tens of thousands of people gathered there that day. We positioned ourselves as near to the stage as possible. The nearest we could get was more than the length of a football field away from the stage. The entire venue could have accommodated five or six football fields, and it was packed with people. Multiple lanes or aisles were cleared and guarded by hundreds of uniformed security personnel to make alternate paths for the Pope to enter the area in his Pope-Mobile. And we were about ten feet away from the nearest path. It was our good fortune that, of all the possible routes he could have taken to access the stage, the Pope travelled down the path closest to where we stood. I spent more time looking at him with my own eyes than through the camera lens. The pictures verify that. But I was glad that I didn’t concentrate on the camera, because at one point when he was only about 20 feet away, Pope John Paul II looked me in the eyes. He had lion’s eyes, a gentle and confident smile, and a heart full of love for humanity. I will never forget that moment. It has been thirty-three years and I still see it in my mind’s eye vividly. And it changed me in a positive way. Later that day, hours after contending with the crowds and traffic, we returned to our apartment. Each of us were anxious to call home – back to the states – to tell our family about our eventful day. When I told my Mom… You know, some news is more memorable than others. And sharing good news with people who love and support you is the most memorable. On a par with announcing the birth of her Grandchildren, my Mom’s reaction to the news in my phone call that day was sheer, sweet, heartfelt joy. She could sense the excitement from the tone of my voice before I uttered a full sentence. She knew it was meaningful and profoundly moving for me, and for that reason, Mom’s heart filled with gladness for me. What Mom knew was that I was growing into the world. Learning about the world around me. And already looking at ways to help others grow and learn, too. I was maturing. Far beyond the stage of a seed… or a bean. Do you know that beans are seeds? Beans are seeds of bean plants. If you plant a bean and care for it properly, it will grow and flourish. It will produce more beans.
In 1985 a British sculptor named Anish Kapoor was still establishing himself. He had earned some acclaim and high-profile attention for sculptures exhibited in London, and he was experimenting with various materials to produce his artwork. It would be almost another ten years before he was awarded a high profile public commission to produce a piece in Japan, and then another in Toronto. In 2006 Kapoor finished a 110-ton stainless steel structure with a mirrored finish at Millennium Park in Chicago. It is titled “Cloud Gate” but it has come to be widely known as, “The Bean.” Millions of people have viewed it over the years. It was one of the first photographs I took and published specifically for Mistletoe Enterprises. By design. In Monday’s blog I said this as I reflected on the significance of The Bean: “It is an intriguing piece of mirrored art that attracts millions of tourists. Standing near it, one can look at its curved contours and see themselves, but it reflects much more than the massive space it occupies. It’s a reminder that others may not view us the way we see ourselves; sometimes we need to move – a little or a lot - to see things from a different perspective; sometimes we need to step back to get a better look at our surroundings; and sometimes, even a great picture does not tell an accurate story.” Today I added that a bean is a seed. It is about growth. Now I can tie all this together. The mission of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC is to educate others by spreading cheer throughout the year and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. We do so because we have been inspired to do so. I have had role models, teachers and mentors who have inspired me throughout my life. They are in my family, they taught me in schools, they led me in the military. A few were leaders on the world stage. Some have been artists. Some have been nurses. Teachers. Historians. Writers. Scientists. Explorers. Farmers. Firefighters. Police officers. Athletes. Volunteers. For my small part in contributing to the education of others – paying it forward – helping others grow, I started Mistletoe Enterprises LLC and Victory & Valor to educate, spread cheer, and tell the stories of heroes. I’m using the gifts I’ve been given the best way I know how. I value education, history, and the Thomistic philosophy that espouses truth, and I instill that into every word I publish as much as I possibly can. But I am not perfect! The stupid quote goes here. Pope John Paul II is widely accepted to have once said, “Stupidity is also a gift from God, but one mustn’t overuse it.” But I’ll finish with an even more appropriate quote from Saint John Paul II. “Nobody is so poor he has nothing to give.” I’ve had many blessings in my life. From my family, travels, education, friendships, and experiences I’ve been inspired to create Mistletoe Enterprises to give so others may learn. That said, I invite you to help Mistletoe Enterprises in our mission to educate. Share this blog. Visit the website. Tell others. Plant a bean. Help us grow. Help others grow, too. (And I’ll do my best not to be stupid.) Have a good, safe Memorial Day weekend. I’ll be back here Monday with reflections about those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy. Happy Wednesday! Glad you're back for Part Two of what has turned out to be a three part series. Monday’s blog was a quick glance at the brief history of Mistletoetom.com. To recap: we organized last year in early October and established our website and Facebook page in November. Our Facebook page has had about 7300 views of more than 100 posts. And we revisited a few of those stories. Now we’re using what we’ve learned to move ahead with more content and more visibility. One thing that wasn’t emphasized was how the business name, Mistletoe Enterprises LLC, can be a year-round brand to identify our business. Here it is the month of May, after all, and you’re visiting a business that uses a name more associated with Christmas than anything else. What’s up with that? Most of the answer is in our mission, and it can’t be repeated often enough: Mistletoe Enterprises LLC is dedicated to educating others by spreading cheer throughout the year and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. And a significant part of the answer rests in all the things that inspired us to form Mistletoe Enterprises in the first place. (If you haven’t read the first blog entry from April 4, that would give you a good idea.) But there’s something else that wasn’t included in the first blog. The stories we share are educational by design. They’re either inspirational, uplifting, informative, entertaining or a combination of those things. We do this throughout the year on our website and social media platforms, but we also select the most appropriate of these stories to create the Victory & Valor Educational Flyers to distribute to schools. We create our content to help teachers in the classroom. It supplements the instruction. We try to match the teacher’s lesson plans with applicable stories that help students learn. We don’t charge the schools anything for the materials we provide: we bear the cost and cover the expenses with funds from advertisers or – like so many teachers – out of pocket. For this reason, in the very near future, a big part of what we do will be converted into a non-profit organization. And that should be ready to roll by the end of August to coincide with the start of the next school year. We look forward to telling you more about that in the near future. But, while you might have been thinking that the Mistletoe name is associated with Christmas, we assure you we’re not celebrating Christmas or decorating trees every day! What we work to do is ensure the spirit of the season lasts throughout the year! That’s why we endeavor to spread cheer and goodwill by renewing it every day in the stories we share. Think about it. Remember when you were a kid? Do you remember wishing that every day could be Christmas? That same sentiment is what inspires us at Mistletoe Enterprises. Unfortunately, we are sometimes confronted with detractors who either don’t see the connection or simply aren’t similarly inspired.
One of the criticisms I’ve heard most is that we have too much variety… we lack a focus. But our stories cover a variety of topics because students are learning about a variety of things! I would also argue that our topics indeed are categorized under general topics of art, natural science, geography, the military, and American history. These are entirely consistent with our mission. And Mistletoe Enterprises LLC will continue that mission! We are looking ahead, and when we return to wrap up this three-part blog on Friday, I’ll share with you a story from May 1985 to tie all this together. I look forward to seeing you Friday! (P.S. It will help if you remember what we said about "The Bean" in Chicago, in Monday's blog!) ![]() It's May! May has always been a special month. It’s a time (in Michigan) when winter finally lets go, the grass and trees begin to turn green, and baseball is in full swing. It’s about renewal, growth, and change. As a business owner, it’s vital to look back to see what has worked, what can be improved, and how we can learn from our past to renew, grow, and change to accomplish our mission. Mistletoe Enterprises LLC is dedicated to educating others by spreading cheer throughout the year, and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Mistletoetom.com debuted on the internet and Facebook a little more than 200 days ago. Our Facebook page has had about 7300 views of more than 100 posts. We’ve shown you The Bean in Chicago; a rehabilitated eagle released into the wild in Mesick, Michigan; and we’ve reached back into the past to share the longtime voice of the Detroit Tigers in an interview with Ernie Harwell. We established this blog and dedicated the first entry to Army PFC John D. Amos III, who sacrificed his life in Iraq in 2004. We’ve paid tribute to astronauts of the Challenger crew and John Young. And we remembered the artist Mort Walker who gave us the comic strip: Beetle Bailey. We introduced our followers to an innovative young artist named Abe Onkst whose abstract signature style is getting a lot of positive attention. And we have shared music, photography and videos of people, places and things to elevate the spirit and brighten the day. Indeed, we are on a mission of spreading cheer and telling the stories of heroes from all walks of life. We’re going to continue that mission, too. But we’ll be making changes to how we present the content… and how often we present it. Much of what we have done has been according to plan. The fact that we’ve only posted an average of once every other day has been deliberate. It has accommodated a learning process by which the type of content can be evaluated for likeability and reach. Better said, it helps us know what our audience likes to see and read. Reflection is part of the process… and it’s necessary! Among the first photos we published was The Bean in Chicago. It is an intriguing piece of mirrored art that attracts millions of tourists. Standing near it, one can look at its curved contours and see themselves, but it reflects much more than the massive space it occupies. It’s a reminder that others may not view us the way we see ourselves; sometimes we need to move – a little or a lot - to see things from a different perspective; sometimes we need to step back to get a better look at our surroundings; and sometimes, even a great picture does not tell an accurate story. So, we need to write more about the topics we’re covering, and we need to post more often. That’s why from now on, there will be new posts on the Victory & Valor blog at least every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We’ll tell you about other enhancements in future posts… See you back here Wednesday!
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AuthorTom Davis is the owner of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC. He also publishes and distributes the Victory & Valor Flyer, it tells the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Archives
December 2018
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