From studying history in Vienna, to drinking tea in Boston, teaching golf in North Carolina, eating grits in Georgia, skiing with kids that rip in Colorado, exploring New York City, ice-fishing in Minnesota, cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and nearly calling California home – I’ve been around. My nephew Johnny thinks I’m 93!
Since early on in life, I have loved to learn (even if I didn’t always do my homework). Dad regularly unplugged the lamp next to my bed to get me to put down my book and go to sleep. My earliest memories are of summers filled with life outdoors –mostly at our grandparents homes in Wisconsin and Michigan. We chased frogs and swam after fish. We pulled weeds in the garden and picked berries. Our family bought roadside sweet corn and Mom organized husking competitions. I napped in the shade under the fruit trees and wondered about becoming a farmer. We climbed trees, explored the woods after rainstorms and even visited the garbage dump to watch bears.
Now, I live in Chicago where I mostly read – about where we’ve been and where we are. But it’s where we’re going which fascinates me. Led by more and more informed citizens with passion, the seeds of a “Green Revolution” have sprouted. Change is upon us, and with a concerted and sustained effort the transformation of how our global village lives will take place faster and be more complete than the Industrial Revolution. We’ll harness current solar energy to power our lives, while learning to build what we need without creating waste–much like nature has done for a few billion years. And, we’ll do it all while improving the quality of our lives without jeopardizing the lives of future generations.
There are numerous big-thinkers who write for adults about the opportunities of the “Green Revolution” (see Favorite Links for bookshelf recommendations), but, too often, children’s education either favors the status quo or is misguided. So, I choose to be part of the most exciting time in human history with the people who know how to have the most fun: kids.
Where did the name “Sugar” originate?
With my last name being Magner, “Mags” was my nickname. This changed after I attempted to sing the Grateful Dead tune “Sugar Magnolia” as a Boston College student. I became SugarMags. Then, just Sugar.
