Inspiration has been defined as a creative idea which encourages action. Inspiration has also has been defined as a guiding light or role model in stimulating influence.

All the books reviewed this week in this column are about people who have been inspirations in their own time.

The first book is a memoir of Barbara Bush.

The second book is by John Ford Sr., a game warden who protected our Maine woods and wildlife.

The third book is a memoir by Ted Kennedy titled “True Compass.”

What do these three people have in common? They were an inspiration to others in their own time.

Barbara Bush, a Memoir
by Barbara Bush
Published by Scribner paperback 2015
Pages 582 Price $22.99.

A beacon of light for her family, Barbara was a campaigner from day one. Her major interest was her family. Bringing up 5 children was a job in itself as she explained to Wellesley students who invited her to speak for a commencement program in 1990, and were not sure they wanted to hear from her. Protests and placards occurred on campus after she had been invited to speak.  One segment of the school felt she was not a career woman, and therefore not a “modern” woman. It was quite an embarrassing position to be in for both the college and Barbara. However, Mrs.Bush graciously came and spoke with great dignity at their commencement. She eloquently said she was a modern woman to the students because bringing up 5 children was her career and was her job. “If you don’t do that well you will always regret it.” She continued, “Women in America have a wonderful choice; the opportunity to stay at home and focus on family life, or have a career.” She stated, ”Many women today have both because of choice or economic necessity”. However, she made it clear to the students that neither choice was inferior to the other. She was proud to be a stay at home mother. Among her many outstanding qualities, Barbara Bush was outspoken.

Marvin Bush, a son, states in the book that he learned a lot from his mom. He learned the following lessons: “Be on time, be yourself, have a sense of humor, and love family. Her love of her family was legendary,” said Marvin Bush.

Doro Bush in the book said, ”As the only daughter among my parents’ five children I have the unique distinction of being the only woman in history to see her father and brother become president. While I feel honored to have this credential, I am honored to be able to say, I am Barbara Bush’s daughter……..My mother’s unpredictable and colorful language has led to a life filled with laughter and joy.” Doro continued, ”Ultimately mom has taught me to make the world a better place.” A favorite children’s story of the family is “Miss Rumphius,” by Barbara Cooney. It tells the story of an imaginary woman who plants lupine seeds across the state of Maine to make a more beautiful world. Doro Bush states in the book, “My mother brings color to the world each day with her imaginative comments, her authentic style, her passion for literacy, and her unwavering loyalty. She is our very own “Miss Rumphius.”

Barbara Bush’s memoir is written with understatement,  warmth,and great dignity, similar to a diary. Her biting sense of humor, and understanding of world events, as well as personal comments about people she had met during her lifetime, makes the book warm and very interesting. Personal photographs  bring to life different periods in her life. A beautiful photo of her 3 year old daughter, Robin, who passed away of Leukemia is poignant. There is no doubt that Barbara Bush remains an inspiration to her family as well to the nation. She died on April 17, 2018.  On November 30th, 2018, her husband, President George H. W. Bush passed away at 94, joining her and their 3 year old daughter, Robin. President Bush wanted a kinder, gentler nation as stated in one of his many speeches. In death, his funeral on Dec. 5, 2018, united America like he did in life. We certainly can appreciate that now! He was a  great role model of inner strength and profound understatement. Together the Bushes were wonderful inspirations.

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Suddenly the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good 
Adventures of a Game Warden
by John Ford Sr.
Published by Islandport Press 2012
Pages 217 Price $16.95

John Ford Sr., a game warden, who was born in Sanford, Maine in 1947 died of cancer at 71 this November, 2018. He graduated from Sanford High School, and deserves to be remembered with the great figures of his time. Why? He took care of the natural wildlife in Maine with love and great generosity of spirit. He followed his passion; a love of nature and wrote about it in the paperback book, “Suddenly the Cider Didn’t Taste So Good.” His understated humor on every page brings out the importance of preserving wildlife in Maine and following the laws  concerning shooting game and catching the number of fish.The book also shows his responsibility of taking care of people with medical emergencies, and arriving at accident sites as quickly as possible made every day an adventure.

A retired game warden, and leader in preserving the environment, John Ford Sr. was a natural story teller with a  special gift of words. His love of nature permeates this book. His care for wildlife in Maine was legendary. Most of all his humor picks your spirits up as he tells stories of human interest about animals he saved, or poachers he caught, or criminals he was asked to capture.There are about 50 stories in this book. Each story is short and peaks your interest.

I liked the story titled “I am Lost You know.” It was about a report from a nursing home that an elderly patient was missing. Ford, as a game warden, joined police and the National Guard to look for her. The next day the National Guard helicopter spotted a woman lying down near some trees at the end of a field. All the law enforcement officials ran to the spot. Ford got there first and thought she was dead for sure, but she looked up at him and said,”I am lost, you know.” She was quickly taken by ambulance to a local hospital and recovered fully.

In another short story Ford got a call from the Dixmont Corner Store which reported  a dilemma. Two owl eggs fell from a tree that was being cut down.The caller said, “What do should we do with them?” Ford said, “Wrap the eggs up and I will come for them tomorrow.” (He thought they were dead and would toss them.) When he came to get them, the next day, they were hatching. He took them home and cared for them for a year and  finally let them go into the wild where they belonged.

This is a heart- warming book about an unsung hero who did positive things all his life to help others and made Maine a better place to live in. He is an inspiration because of his kindness, compassion, sense of humor, love of nature, and leadership in protecting our natural environment.

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True Compass; A Memoir
by Edward M. Kennedy
Hatchette Book Group Inc. 2009
Pages 532 Price $35

Edward M. Kennedy was not a game warden, but both John Ford Sr. and Kennedy, knew how to use a compass.  Both men were inspirations because they helped make a better world. However,  Kennedy’s compass took him to Washington D. C. He was the youngest of 9 children of Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy.This book covers the major issues in America during Kennedy’s life, Civil Rights, Viet Nam, Watergate, and health care issues, which we are still struggling with today.

Kennedy’s first experiences in London as a child in 1939 and his relationship with his brother Bobby and other siblings like Rosemary, and Kathleen (called Kick) were moving. He went off to boarding school in 1940 and 1950. Vacations were family events.The loss of his older brother Joe and Kathleen and the placement of Rosemary in a special school made his  young life poignant but like all his family he kept on going. His compass led him into public service. He decided to run for the Senate in Washington from Massachusetts in 1962 and served for 47 years. He lived  larger than life experiences in struggles with tragic events, and competition in fighting for the causes he felt important. Kennedy supported the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Ryan White AIDS care Act of 1991 and the Mental Health Parity Act of 1991.He was a leader in fighting for health insurance for all and worked endlessly on improving immigration.

His family was economically privileged, but their losses were great including the deaths of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Bobby, Attorney General and Senator, both killed by assassins. A broken marriage and admission to many mistakes allowed him to  mature into a statesman.

A new life with Victoria Reggie, his second wife, and a focus on his family gave him great joy, as he entered his last years. Many photographs of the Kennedy family are poignant and beautiful. His perseverance and grace under pressure were legendary. His endurance fighting for health insurance for all was his lasting legacy which is still a struggling issue for America to solve. His courage in life in facing major obstacles and tragic events, always fighting for the less fortunate is an inspiration to all.

Pat Davidson Reef is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. She received her Masters Degree at the University of Southern Maine.She taught English and Art History at Catherine McAuley High for many years.She now teaches at the University of Southern Maine in Portland in the  Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Classic Films. She recently wrote a children’s book,”Dahlov Ipcar Artist, and is now writing another children’s book “Bernard Langlais Revisited.”