The Monuments Men: For the Love of History

I just saw the movie, “The Monuments Men.” If you love history, you need to see the movie. However, if you ever doubted the significance of knowing history, you REALLY need to see this movie. 

Case in point, whoever wrote the script — and since I didn’t bother looking that up, I’ll just blame George Clooney — if you’re going to make a movie about a historical event, it’s pretty important that you get your facts right. Just to be clear… The World War 1 Memorial is NOT in St. Louis. OK? I can at least take some satisfaction in knowing you got the damned state right. Now that I’ve got that off my chest…

I fervently believe that the single most significant thing that sets man apart as a species from every other animal that walks, flies or swims on this earth is our development of written communication. Since the beginning of time, when prehistoric men drew pictures on caves, more or less saying, “I was here, and this is what I saw and did,” we have had the capability of understanding what went before us. 

Whether or not that knowledge is used for good or bad is a matter of choice. History tells us there were many bad choices. And, THAT is why the knowledge of history is important. How do we know who Plato was? How do we know who Michelangelo was?  How do we know who Jesus was? And, how do we know who Hitler was?

Go see the movie. It may be one of the best 1.5 hours you’ll spend all month. It’s entertaining, it’s heartbreaking, it’s uplifting, it’s well written… except, of course, for getting the location of the World War 1 Memorial wrong. I’m still a little pissed about that. 

But, more than anything, it will show any doubters who think history is lame how wrong they are. I’m not saying everyone should be as crazy about history as I am. But, I am saying we all need to respect its importance and realize that we’re lucky there were, and still are, people who ARE crazy about it… crazy enough to die saving it. 

As George Clooney says in the movie, our achievements are our identity. And, without recorded history, whether it be paintings, sculptures, buildings or just words in a book, we have no identity.

The REAL Monuments Men

You Say Toe-pee-kah, I say Tuh-pee-kah

I'm talking about Topeka, Kansas, of course. In the language of the Kansa People, who originally inhabited the area, Topeka means "to dig good potatoes," referring to the prairie potato, which was a staple of the Plains Indians. Wait a minute... this is Kansas, right? So, how did Idaho become "the Potato State?"

Being from Texas, I have to say my knowledge of Kansas was based on the very limited experience of driving through on family trips and witnessing the monotony of a flat, featureless landscape with nothing to draw attention except an occasional barn. In my mind, it was just a step above the Texas Panhandle in that it did, at least, have grass. Add to that perception the general opinion of the folks of my current home state, Missouri. Their feelings about Kansas is a watered-down antagonism that goes all the way back to pre-Civil War, and is now manifested in college rivalries. So, my own idea about the real Kansas primarily came down to my interaction with the nice folks I knew who lived in Kansas, but worked in Missouri. Hmmmm... that spoke volumes. Does nothing want to stay in Kansas? But, my interpretation was undeniably skewed.

When a fellow history geek friend asked me to join her in an exploration of Topeka, I was skeptical, but did some research. OK, there were a few things that piqued my interest. It seemed worth a 90-minute drive and weekend road trip. Frankly, I had a feeling it would be a semi-sedate two days, with plenty of down time between attractions. Instead, I'm just glad I took comfortable shoes! There is much to see and do in Topeka, believe it or not.

A lot of people probably think it ghoulish, but I happen to love walking through old cemeteries, looking at the different styles of monuments, from the garish to the nondescript, and speculating what it represents for each individual person and his or her family. The Topeka Cemetery was full of interest! For instance, a mausoleum which had a carving representative of the Egyptian god Horus on the lintel and a stained glass window with the emblem of the Knights Templar. What was the connection? There are several unique monuments, old intermingled with new, and a row of crypts dating back to 1890.

Next stop was Old Prairie Town, revealed to us by the adorable Mable, our tour guide. We saw a one-room schoolhouse that was in operation from the 1890s to the 1950s. The high point of the tour was the Ward log cabin, original to the site, built by the first settlers of Topeka and located right next door to the newer Ward-Meade residential mansion, with its beautiful gardens. And, the tour was topped off with a Green River drink served at the period drug store. Don't ask, just enjoy!!

The Brown vs. Board of Education is a must see for anyone visiting Topeka. It is a comprehensive look at the landmark Supreme Court case that was the catalyst for change in America's perception and laws regarding segregation and the Civil Rights Movement.

The Kansas Museum of History is chock full of all things Kansas, from the time of the Ancient People, right up to modern day.

And, you must make a stop at Lecompton, Kansas, about 20 minutes east of Topeka on I70. It was the territorial capital of Kansas. Constitution Hall, the original government building for the Kansas Territory, offers a thorough explanation of how important Kansas was to the election of Abraham Lincoln and, ultimately, the Civil War. And, the old Lane University, which was built to be the Territorial Capital Building, is wall to ceiling full of artifacts from the 1800s, including Civil War ordinance, farm implements and household items.

If you haven't visited Topeka... GO!! There's so much to see. I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn off Hwy. 470 and Wannamaker. It's very affordable, the staff were extremely guest conscious and the beds were to die for!! It is in a convenient location and even has an indoor pool and health room. Breakfast and WiFi are included in the price of the room.

We Are the Storytellers

Everyone who knows me knows I am a history nerd. The entire discipline of history and all its auxiliary sciences, such as archeology, social studies, civics — even crime scene investigation, which is basically discovering the history of a crime — have always interested me. I recently read a book, titled “Looking Back: Boomers Remember History from the ‘40s to the Present,” which consists of essays and poems written by Baby Boomers, compiled by Kay Kennedy. It was very interesting to read other perspectives on events that occurred during my lifetime and, even, to have a couple of “Oh, yeah, I remember that” moments. But, what struck me most about the book was Ms. Kennedy’s explanation for compiling these essays. She was a student at Little Rock Central High School during the integration crisis when federal troops had to occupy the campus to ensure the safety of nine black students who attended that first year of integration. Can you imagine explaining that time and experience to school-aged children today? Yet, it is a hugely significant event that needs to be remembered, not just by Ms. Kennedy, but by everyone.

She also expressed the same feeling I have always had regarding why most people roll their eyes and consider history a snooze fest. It’s unfortunate that the only way teachers can gauge the amount of knowledge actually being absorbed by students is by asking them to associate and recite dates with events. Like me, she felt it would have been so much better if schools had approached the teaching of history in the same way the ancients, and even generations before the advent of mass media, taught it to their descendants… by story telling.

Since the beginning of time, long before writing became a part of the human evolution, story telling was practiced by the elders of tribes and communities. It was how the younger generations learned how to hunt, where to hunt, where water could be found in the dry season, who was enemy or friend, what crop would grow when. It was illustrated by pictographs in ancient caves and shared around fires in the evening. History was essential knowledge and was necessary for survival. It is my belief it still is. That’s when it hit me… we, the baby boomers, are now the story tellers. Just as we learned that the story of how America came to be wasn't exactly the way it was taught to us in school, we need to make sure our descendants know, if not the truth, at least the reality of our history.

I have always felt anyone who had a strong sense of nostalgia for the 50s, 60s and 70s could not have lived through those years. Yes, great technological advances were made, social injustices brought to light and corrupt politics revealed… all of which were good things. But, there was much, much ugliness, as well. And, while our generation might have raised the bar in terms of social awareness — and healthy skepticism regarding what was being shoved in our faces under the guise of truth, justice and the American way — it is our duty to also reveal how we had to fight for racial and gender rights, how we struggled against an unjust war and why we felt it was necessary to bring down a presidency. We need to explain how our attitudes reflected the fear that, at any moment, we could all be annihilated with the push of a button; that a community could erupt with fire and riots over racial disparities; that National Guardsmen would feel the need to use lethal force against unarmed college students; that daily we heard about the numbers of young men, still teenagers, dying in a jungle thousands of miles from home, while fighting against an enemy with which they had no quarrel; that we felt the need to live for the moment by indulging in drugs and sex, because we honestly felt there were very few tomorrows left to us. It was an era of horrific violence — Manson, Speck, Whitman — and tragic assassinations. As ugly as they are, those stories are just as important as the ones about Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, Woodstock and the invention of pocket calculators. And, it is up to us to make sure future generations know about these events, because I am seeing examples of relevancy today. We don’t want our children and grandchildren to go through the same horrors we did. And, perhaps, sharing those experiences will mean nothing to them but, what if it did? We certainly won’t know by keeping them to ourselves.

Why is history important? Why is any past experience important? If you didn’t fall down, you wouldn’t learn how to achieve balance and move forward. If you didn’t get a bad grade on your performance, you wouldn’t have learned the importance of practicing to achieve excellence. If you didn’t lose occasionally, you wouldn’t learn how to win or, even, how to recognize success. Do you realize our grandchildren have experienced very little of life without the threat of global terrorism? That’s sad. If you are always engaged in conflict and war, how can you know peace?

Life’s lessons aren’t just personal… they are historical. We’ve always learned from our ancestors, from their failures as much as their successes. It is the very reason the human species has survived because, God knows, we have done, and continue to do, many things that could lead to its destruction. We need to share our experiences, not in a way that a staid history book would recount it, but as our ancient ancestors did... by story telling. I believe it is the only way the experience can become real and alive. Besides, if it's just some boring subject to sleep through in school, why did we even bother?

Resolutions Revisited

Here we are, at the end of January. How’s everyone doing on your New Year’s resolutions?

Some of mine are future goals, requiring months of planning. (See “Shifting Gears” post below.) I have managed to sustain my commitment to lower my stress level by escaping into some leisure reading — two books this month, Endurance (Shackleton gave new meaning to the term “having a bad day”) and Reign of Madness (about Juana of Castille… classic example of the Women's Movement being long overdue). I participated in a hard hat tour of the Kansas City Museum being established in Corinthian Hall and was so impressed, I became a donating member. (I highly recommend this tour if you live locally. It’s only $5 and the curator is an entertaining guide.) I’m still trying to work out some volunteer time with the Kansas City Historic Foundation.  And, I’ve managed to sock a little money into my savings (needless to say, no link provided here). Surprisingly, my fail has been in trying a new restaurant this month. What can I say? It's hard enough to stay within my daily limit of 1,200 calories without using up half of them in one meal dining out.  And, I haven’t found a restaurant with a low calorie menu that makes my taste buds tingle in anticipation, especially when I can prepare an outrageously delicious low calorie dish at home (this recipe is incredibly healthy, easy and tasty, even as leftovers). I may have to change this resolution to be one of just finding restaurants with healthy, low-cal menus besides the prerequisite grilled salmon with steamed vegetables. Got any recommendations?

My No. 1 resolution was to work out at least five hours a week. I’ve had to make a slight adjustment to that goal. It became clear to me that I was trying to work a fantasy body with a reality regimen. I think the proper term would be “ego check.”  At any rate, I’ve only been able to manage a maximum of four hours a week. It has meant some changes in lifestyle that I never would have thought I would be able to tolerate — for instance, getting up at 5:30 a.m. in order to go to the Y and still have time to shower and get ready for work.  Working out at night didn’t seem like a good idea to me… trying to wind down for bedtime with all those hormones, like endorphins, thyroxine and epinephrine, running amok in a body that is already confused by the switch between estrogen and testosterone levels. Stop the madness! Besides, at 6 p.m., my body switches over to zombie mode. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to stereotype zombies or imply they aren’t physically fit; however, I’ve never seen one on a treadmill, in movies or real life. Just sayin’. I used to think that the only people who get up before dawn every morning are the ones whose job is to have an up-close-and-personal relationship with protein in its natural state — warm and breathing. I have a little experience with farm life. It’s why I work in an office. So far, though, the early morning roust is working surprisingly well.

But, the resolutions are just mileposts in a journey, right? It’s all about setting up a lifestyle that will provide a fulfilling life after retirement and beyond, physically, mentally and emotionally. Baby boomers have the proud legacy of setting the standard for social awareness. We’ve never been satisfied with a status quo.  I’m looking forward to continuing that tradition and being a part of the “social revolution” that forever changes the attitudes on aging, even within our own age group. Why, we’re just getting our second wind! There’s still so much to do!!  

Optimistic Acceptance of the Inevitable

The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction.
(Lyrics from “The Eve of Destruction” made popular by Barry McGuire, 1965)

 

When I think of all the worries people seem to find
And how they're in a hurry to complicate their mind
By chasing after money and dreams that can't come true
I'm glad that we are different, we've better things to do

Let others plan their future, I’m busy loving you

(Lyrics from “Let’s Live for Today” made popular by The Grassroots, 1967)

Some people like to say the boomer generation was short-sighted in planning their futures. Born in an era of affluence and raised — translated by some as indulged — by parents who suffered through the hard-scrabble existence of the Great Depression, there can be no denying we took consumerism to the dizzying height that drives every economy in the world today. And, even today, we spend more money in this consumer-based economy than any other generation before or after. Whether or not that is a good thing is a matter of economic debate and totally dependant on perspective. Some people shudder at the thought of what will happen to the economy when baby boomers are forced to curb their spending habits due to living on fixed incomes.

I guess from the viewpoint of hindsight being 20/20, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that we weren’t the best financial planners. I say, you had to be there. We came of age during the decade of the 60s, recounted by most historians as the most violent period of the 20^th century. An era described with terms like “counterculture,” “social revolution” and, my personal favorite, “FUBAR,” seemed to emphasize the futility of concentrating on building a career that would allow us to pay for the growing costs of inflated consumerism, including the outrageously expensive education of the 2.6 babies we would eventually beget while supplementing our parents who, lo and behold, thanks to modern medicine, were living far beyond their own planning. I think we all pretty much felt we had enough on our plates, thank you very much, without contemplating “who will need me, who will feed me, when I’m 64.”

It is painfully obvious that we weren’t aware of the impact of such a large population sharing birthdates that fell within a mere 11 years. I don’t think we were even aware of how large a population we were until the 80s. It’s a given we didn't foresee all the ramifications of boomers retiring at the same time. Instead, we admired the solvency of Social Security during the following 40+ years… easy to do when you have a population of over 75 million contributing. Fast forward to 2011 and whoopsie… guess what… those 75 million are starting to pull the plug. What to do? What to do? Just mentioning the fact causes the stock market to drop 20 points.

I’m a pragmatist, and my take on this situation is this… sooner or later, people are going to have to realize that 1) the cash cow is retiring, and 2) they’re going to need to find a new cash cow. However that is done, it’s guaranteed to be painful for some, resented by most and blamed entirely on the baby boomers. So be it. But, whether later generations want to admit it or not, the vast majority of the money in Social Security was contributed by, and on behalf of, the baby boomers. It’s not an entitlement, it’s our money, pure and simple. It's time for everyone to just accept that, deal with it and move on.

Trust me... regardless of whether baby boomers bankrupt Social Security or not, the world will keep turning.

Don’t hate me because I’m a baby boomer.

I think some people, especially Gen X upstarts, believe me to be a little too proud of my baby boomer status. Whatever. Baby boomers are defined by the 60s decade. Some people nowadays look back on that time with a sense of nostalgia. Sure, a lot of cool things happened, but it wasn’t all drugs, sex and rock and roll. Some parts were downright ugly. Anyone who survived them without obtaining an arrest record, FBI file or change in country of residence is entitled to some bragging rights.

I’ve read several articles recently in which 20-somethings are complaining that if the baby boomers would just retire (roll eyes here), there would be more opportunities for them. Yet, there is a growing number of employers who are recognizing that following generations do not have the commitment or work ethic of us oldsters and are making efforts to encourage the experienced older employees to remain, rather than risk the expense of training someone just to have them jump ship a couple of years later. Employment analysts report that the total cost of training a new employee, including lost revenue due to reduction in prime production levels, on average, equals three times that person's annual salary. Average tenure on a job for baby boomers is 11 years. For Millennials, that number drops by half. That's a significant difference in ROI. 

Quite frankly, you whippersnappers should probably think twice about pushing us to move out of the work force. It’s not just the impact on Social Security that has Congress nervous about baby boomers retiring. All you have to do is look at how marketing has followed the spending patterns of our huge demographic over the years to understand the power the boomer consumer has on the economy. Trust me... You do not want us having to severely curb our spending habits due to being on a fixed income. The numbers are irrefutable. Boomers have more discretionary income than any other age group, control $7 trillion of wealth, own 80% of all money in savings and loan associations, spend more money per person than any other age group and account for a whopping 40% of total consumer demand. Yeah, chew on that for a while.

Truth be told, baby boomers could just as easily claim that the recent change in attitudes regarding retirement age and Social Security is part of a conspiracy to keep our money flowing into the coffers. Ford Motor Company is certainly paying attention. It is the first and only automotive manufacturer to use a "third-age suit" to give younger engineers and designers a feel for the needs of older drivers. The suit mimics some of the physical restrictions that are common for people over age 50. Want to know why? It’s because the average American household purchases 13 cars over a lifetime — and seven of those are purchased after the head of the household turns 50, according to a survey conducted by AutoPacific.

And, that’s just the beginning. Experts predict that, by 2050, for the first time in history, the population over 65 will be greater than the population under five. You can have no doubt that, true to our history of setting the standard for social awareness by upsetting the status quo, baby boomers will drive the development of products that accommodate rather than discriminate, sympathize rather than stigmatize, and appeal to users of all ages and abilities. Just as we were the catalyst for change to make it easier for later generations to go to college, women to achieve C-suite positions and everyone to see what goes on in the oval office, all while teaching the world to sing (right before enjoying a Coke), we will effect change on the mythic limitations of age.

 So, I make no apologies for being loud and proud of being a boomer. From birth, our very existence has effected social and economic changes, some due to our sheer number, others due to our collective beliefs, some good, some bad. But, we’re still here, and we are obviously still relevant. If you youngsters just absolutely have to blame somebody for our continued strength, blame modern medicine. Average life expectancy at the turn of the 20^th Century was 45. It is now 78. When you get to be my age, it’ll probably be 100, and all the 40-somethings will be lobbying for you to step aside.

Age is nothing. Attitude is everything, so take heart with this... We made it super hip to be young. We are now making it super hip to be old — because that’s just the way we roll. You’re welcome.

The Age of Enlightenment

In my last post, I ended with a promise that I would tell you how I became a believer that the period of life after 50 isn’t about slowing down, it’s about getting your second wind. On the downhill side of life, you can get through your days at a more relaxed pace. There are fewer demands and less urgency. The need to maintain the “rep,” “make the grade,” and keep up with the whozits has no significance. And, maybe that’s why so many people slip into a lifestyle of moderate imagination, gentle goals and sedate activity.

Now, don’t misunderstand me… I’m not advocating giving in to a mid-life crisis wherein you try to turn the clock back and relive your youth. Face it, no matter how young at heart you think are, your body is old; have some compassion for it. No, what I’m talking about is using the sum of the parts… putting together that feeling of invincibility you had as a 20-year-old, some of the drive you had in your 30’s and, for the sake of your old body, let’s throw in the maturity you gained in your 40’s — pool all those life stages and become an explorer of possibilities. Consider it payback to your kids for the many years you spent wondering what the hell they were going to do next. That sounds fair... and even righteous. 

While 35 and 40 used to be considered middle age, modern medicine has stretched that to 45 and, possibly, even 50, so you still have a lot of years left on this earth. The hard part is deciding how you want to spend those years. Maybe becoming a homebody who gardens and babysits the grandkids is exactly what floats your boat, and that’s great! The important thing is that you choose that lifestyle because it is what you want, not because it is what you think you SHOULD want. Grandchildren are great and the reward you get for making it through two generations of teens, yours and your kids'. I have two grandchildren myself. But, I’m their grandmother, not their substitute parent.

So, now we get down to the nitty-gritty of what this blog is about. Think about that wish list I suggested before. How would you end the sentence, “I really wish I had been able to…” For me, the finishing of that sentence was “…travel more.”

As I mentioned before, I have always been interested in history. I was born and lived most of my life in Texas, which has a glorious history that is vigorously taught at a very early age. I learned about the Alamo before I learned my parents had names other than “mama” and “daddy.” And, in school, it was only after spending an entire year learning Texas history that I was allowed to move on to World and American History. While European and Asian countries have histories that trace back for millennia, it’s pretty much about one ruler wanting to knock off another ruler, so he can claim territory and subjugate the inhabitants, in order to get more money from taxes to pay for the war he just fought to knock off another ruler, so he could claim the territory and subjugate the inhabitants in order to get more taxes… well, you get the picture. But, in American History, I saw fifty unique legacies of discovery and innovation, expansion and settlement, pride and shame, victory against all odds and heartbreaking loss… and I wanted to know more, but by experience, not by just reading about them in textbooks. However, travel was a luxury I felt I couldn’t afford, so I read… and read… and read. Then, in my mid-forties, life circumstances necessitated a move to Kansas City, which has an interesting and unique history of its own. I fell in love with the city immediately, in spite of the fear of a major life change, and yearned even more to see and smell and taste everything America had to offer.

As if by fate, something occurred that forced me to purchase airfare… a mistake I made in not reporting that expense on behalf of an executive I supported and, quite frankly, didn’t want to admit to making. So, I bit the bullet and paid for it myself. The airline and its fares helped determine the destination as Seattle, and thus started my age of enlightenment. Making that trip to a strange and interesting location, taking that one adventurous step of traveling solo, sparked in me a spirit of exploration, not just of locales, but of deep-rooted interests, hidden talents and undiscovered tastes. Travel became my real-life, hands-on, history-seeking gratification. Not all my trips are long distance. Weekend getaways can provide plenty of learning and adventure. But, at each of my destinations, I make sure there is one aspect of the trip that is a unique — or even outrageous —experience, and that I enjoy as much of the local culture and food as possible. (Please read about my travels under the tab of “Trains, Planes and Automobiles” located at the top of the blog.)

Very recently, I was trying to talk a friend of mine into taking a trip with me to the Grand Canyon. I mentioned that I wanted to take a helicopter ride into the interior of the Canyon. She wasn’t interested. When I asked her why, it was the usual excuse of the risk of a crash. I said, “Are you kidding me? If the damned thing does go down, it’ll be in a blaze of glory in the beauty and magnificence of the Grand Canyon! We’ll be legends to our grandkids!” I didn’t win that battle; but, I have every intention of winning the war against fuddy-duddy. Just as a viral joke suggested to me once, my ultimate goal is to leave this world in a long skid, thinking, "Woohoo, what a ride!"

Now that you’ve heard about my ongoing mission to combat decrepitude, I hope you’ll tell me yours! And, if this has inspired you in any way, I would love to know. Come back again, soon!

Discovering YOU

It happens to almost all of us. Call it mid-life crisis or empty nest syndrome, there comes a time when we look back on the goals we had in our 20s, 30s, and even our 40s, and realize we have done a lot of what we had to do, what we needed to do, what we were expected to do and very little of what we wanted to do. In the everyday struggle to raise our children, manage households, forge relationships, obtain financial security, we constantly tell ourselves, “Some day…,” until we reach the point where we realize time is running out. And, that list of "want-to's" starts to look a lot like a “bucket list.”

It's never been a mystery to me that, throughout my life, I have always been interested in history. But, I can remember the exact moment when I discovered it wasn't just a passing interest, it was a genuine passion. About thirty-five years ago, I was visiting San Antonio, Texas, and standing in Mission Concepcion in its library. (By the way, for history buffs, San Antonio is a must-see.) On the ceiling is a fresco, called “The Eye of God,” and directly below it, in the stone floor, are indentations, caused from the feet of who knew how many penitents subjecting themselves to divine scrutiny. I placed my feet in those indentations and felt a tingle, knowing I was standing in exactly the same spot where once stood people whom history has long forgotten. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, but my memory of that moment is like it happened today.

More recently, I've discovered the fun and challenge of learning about the different kinds of wine, after spending a lifetime convinced I didn't like red wine. Funny, I don't remember that awareness having a strong impact but, then, I'm sure that has something to do with the learning process. It must be working, though, because I have a nice selection of reds in my house now and am enjoying a glass of Tamas Double Decker Red, 2008, as I compose this post. (Tasting notes provided on request.)

Somewhere between history and wine, I discovered a talent for cooking, which luckily pairs really well with the wine interest, and an intense love for travel, which happily feeds my hunger for history.  

So, what's your passion? What moves you? And, what are you doing about it? Please tell me you're not just sitting there reading a book about interesting things or watching a program on TV about fun activities. Those are for when you have the flu and can't be around other people for fear of starting a pandemic, for crying out loud. Life requires hands-on experiential learning. Make a list, call it a bucket list if that will motivate you, but become a kid wishing on a falling star again... I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight. Then, make your wish come true! It's not that hard, really. Come back later and I'll tell you how it happened for me.