Chris Nottingham, A Life of Service

I attended a memorial service for Chris Nottingham today. Chris was a great American! As a young man he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Korea where he taught English. He also served with the International Volunteer Service in wartime Laos and as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Texas. He subsequently served with distinction for over thirty years as a Foreign Service Officer. After retiring from the State Department, he didn’t stop serving. He tutored kids in local schools. Not content with just volunteering, he returned to the State Department to work part time.

I knew Chris through the Encore Learning Breakfast Club in Arlington, VA. I found him to be intelligent, witty and kind. Chris was our de facto “sergeant-at-arms”. His job was to call the group to order for our weekly check-in. It’s not an easy task to get the attention of 15-20 hard-of-hearing old folks talking loudly to each other, but Chris, in a firm but amiable voice, quickly got everyone’s attention. He would always start with a quip or humorous phrase. I marveled at how he could come up with a different opening every week. We were all disappointed when Chris announced his departure due to his moving out of the area. We were subsequently shocked and saddened to learn of his untimely death.

I wrote this poem for Chris.

A Tribute to Chris Nottingham

The Encore Learning Breakfast Club
Meets early in mid-week,
Providing conversation
That many old folks seek.

When it comes check-in time
It’s hard to quiet down
Seniors shouting at each other,
And chaos all around.

We had a sergeant-at-arms
Equal to the task.
All Chris Nottingham had to do
Was, in his own way, ask.

In his commanding voice,
Yet melodiously still,
He would bellow his request,
And the group would quickly chill.

He’d start with some funny quip,
Or some clever tongue-in-cheek.
I don’t know how he managed that
Each and every week.

Chris was quite accomplished
In things he chose to do,
But he was always available
To help out me, and you.

Chris is no longer with us,
His kindness due elsewhere,
A need for a special man,
Of good will, wit and care.

We may appoint someone else
To try to manage this.
Perhaps another sergeant-at-arms,
But we can never replace Chris.

Note: For more poems about great Americans see Patriotic Poems by Lee Austin, available through Amazon.

Don’t Be Ashamed to Cry

Many researchers and medical experts agree that when you grieve or are extremely sad, it is healthy to cry. Crying releases endorphins that help ease both physical and emotional pain. Repressive coping—keeping sad feelings inside—leads to a weakened immune system, heart disease, hypertension, stress, anxiety and depression. Crying helps us heal from deep hurt. When you hurt like you feel you could die—cry. This poem embraces that proposition.

Cry

When it’s time to say our last goodbye,
I expect you to grieve, and hope you will cry.
Cry ‘til your throat feels dry and sore.
Cry ‘til your heart can hurt no more.
‘Til it feels like that knot in your gut will burst
And you fear that you’re going to die of thirst.
Cry ‘til your eyes have no tears to give,
Then…LIVE!

Source: Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Health Blog, “Is crying good for you?” by Leo Newhouse, LICSW.

Note: For more poems about the human condition see Poetry That Rhymes by Lee Austin, available through Amazon.