The Bookworm Sez

By Terri Schlichenmyer

“Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life”

by Dacher Keltner

c.2023, Penguin Press

$28.00

336 pages

Of course, you’ve seen pictures of this.

This mountain, this painting, the birth of a child, a singer onstage, a perfect pirouette — you’ve seen pictures but they don’t come anywhere close to real life, and how stunned you feel with those wonders in front of you. The goosebumps on your arms, the feeling that you’ve never seen anything so striking — as Dacher Keltner says in his new book “Awe,” it’s that feeling of “WHOA.”

The perfect melody, a prayer answered, and man, that view are all so incredibly beautiful that you almost cry. Tears are common, says Keltner, when we see infinite mysteries outside our scope of understanding. That’s when awe, the emotion we feel when we encounter something overwhelmingly wonderful, can make other emotions run wild.

Prior to 1988, he says, we didn’t know much about emotions or how they affect our brains and bodies. It was believed that emotions were the result of the brain processing information, but researchers then didn’t factor passion into the theory until scientists like Keltner began studying emotions and “the emotional brain.” They eventually understood that awe is cultural, but that there are eight general and universal prompts for it.

Awe comes when we see kindness or courage in someone else. We feel it at life’s milestones, like weddings, proms, or graduations. We become awe-struck by the beauty of nature and the things that are in it. We humans feel awe from music and musical performances, and by visual design such as architecture, symmetry, or artistry. We are awed by things of a spiritual or religious nature, including bliss or nirvana; and we’re awed and humbled by the miracle of life and the slipping away of death. And we feel awe when we are granted knowledge or epiphanies, discoveries or realizations or delight.

So why do we feel awe at these things? Says Keltner, it helps us to make sense of the world we live in. It lets us see the wonderful things in life, and to place ourselves within them.

Narrowing down “Awe” is a bit of a challenge. It’s filled with great stories, but it seems very, very repetitive. There’s solid science in what author Dacher Keltner offers, but it’s sometimes hard to grasp and it doesn’t help that there are several definitions for various things that change or are embellished.

And yet, who can resist that feeling like you’ve just witnessed some sort of miracle or cosmic gift, or seen something fleeting and personal? Who doesn’t want more of that? Keltner says that keeping an open mind is key to invite awe into your life and, despite the repetition, the stories he tells, and his journey of discovery helps readers will learn how to open their hearts, too. It’s almost as if stories of awe are contagious. This is one of those books that you know you might struggle with, but that you also know you’ll love in the end. It’s sweet and inspiring and comforting. You might find “Awe” to be awe-fully good.

Do

Reflections

Reflections

Montoursville B-Division JV team (3 & 4) went 8-0 for the second consecutive season. There are no playoffs in the JV Division as Montoursville and two other teams went 8-0 in the Heartland Youth Football and Cheer 25 team League.

Front row: Briggam Swartz, Tippy March, Dwayne Young, Vance McCinnis, Jayce Steele, Ryder Kleinman, Isaiah Ammerman, Grayson Madey, Briar Jeiries , Leo Francis, Jayden Lundy, Chad Gardner

Second row: Tucker Eisenhower, Ethan Emert, Rawson Bowes, Emerson Eck, Nash Orelli, Austin Lynch, Oliver Straley, AJ Hale, Nolan Miller, Sawyer Baxter, Parker Kilbourne, Jesse Rennicks

Back row: Coaches: Don Campbell, Brad Swartz, Preston Emert, Seth Steele, John Houseknecht

Not pictured: Brady Winter, Neo Almendarez, Knox Young

For those who need to travel during winter storms, the department reminds motorists to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com.

PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of state-administered roadway and 25,400 bridges, which translates to approximately 95,000 snow lane miles. During the winter months, the pub- lic can find plow-truck locations and details of when the state-maintained roadways were last treated by selecting the “PennDOT Plow Trucks” in 511PA legend.

Winter Driving Advice

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, we provide the following advice to those who need to drive in winter weather.

– Carry a winter emergency travel kit. (including layers of clothing and blan- kets)

– Listen to weather and travel advisories, but if you do not have to travel in bad weather don’t.

– Keep your gas tank at least half full.

– Slow down and increase following distance.

– Avoid sudden stops and starts.

– Beware of roads that may look wet, but are actually frozen, often referred to as ‘black ice.’

– Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can often form without warning.

– Carry a cellphone.

– Do not use cruise control while driving on snow-covered roads.

– State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.

– Use your low beams in particularly bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.

– Remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors, and all vehicle lights before you drive and as often as needed.

– Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. State law states that if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes a vehicle or a person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.

– Do not park or abandon your vehicle on snow emergency routes.

– Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line (several trucks plowing side by side).

– Make sure someone else knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive in case you run into an emergency and need help, someone will know where to look for you.

– If you do become stranded, it’s better to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine every hour or so, but make sure the tailpipe is clear and keep the downwind window cracked open.

– Do not drink and drive, and always wear your seat belt.

Snow squalls

Snow squalls are common and could create white out conditions which could virtually eliminate a driver’s visibility. They can also create treacherous travel conditions for drivers where roadways quickly become snow covered and slick.

Motorists always should be alert during the winter season for sudden squalls which can strike with little or no warning.

If motorists do encounter snow squalls while traveling, PennDOT offers this advice:

– Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.

– Turn your headlights on.

– Stay in your lane.

– Increase your following distance.

– Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.

– Reduce in-car distractions since your full attention is required.

– Use defroster and wipers.

– Turn four-way flashers on.

– Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.

– During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible or when there is a safe area to do so.

– Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.

– Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA. com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

PennDOT reminds motorists to pack an emergency kit for their vehicles. A basic kit should include phone chargers, non-perishable food, water, blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit, motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.

PennDOT also reminds citizens that downloadable materials, including home and car emergency kit checklists and emergency plan templates, are available at http://www.Ready.

PA.gov. Citizens can also find information about getting involved in local emergency response efforts and other volunteer opportunities through the ReadyPA website.

For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT treats winter storms, visit http://www.penndot.gov/winter

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www. 511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

By Jon Pries

Relatively speaking, up until last week or so, we have had a rather mild winter so far. But now Mother Nature has tightened the grip, and for the foreseeable future, a wintrier forecast is slated – to include more snow and more freezing temperatures. With that in mind, it also means it must be time for the annual Great American Outdoor Show!

Held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA, it will run this year from February 4 – 12 and promises to be even bigger and better than last year. For your planning purposes, show hours are as follows:

Saturday, February 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. / Sunday, February 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Monday to Friday, February 6 – 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ever since the takeover of the show operation by the NRA in 2014, things keep getting better and better. Wider aisle space, fewer vendors who sell trinkets and non-sports-related items, and simply lots more for outdoor folks to enjoy and see are some of the improvements. Billed as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Show,” it is simply that. The entire Farm Show Complex is chock full of vendors presenting a huge variety of outdoor-related items. Huge rooms house complete displays of boats, outdoor products, and outdoor lifestyle items. Entire halls encompass vendors who specialize in different areas of interest to hunters and fishermen. The Fishing Hall focuses on fishing equipment as well as fishing guides, outfitters, and lodges. The largest hall is the Hunting Outfitters Hall, where hunting guides and outfitters come from all across the country and from around many points of the globe to give prospective clients the opportunity to meet directly with them and get in-depth answers to any questions they may have. It is a unique and oncea-year chance to meet and have oneon-one conversations with such a huge number of vendors who represent almost any hunting opportunity that you can imagine. From giant red stag hunting in New Zealand to hunts for Alaskan brown bears and from nearby pheasant hunting preserves to Southern quail hunting plantations – it’s all there for you to talk with and gather information from a unique array of vendors.

Each day of the show, there are numerous events throughout the complex – from processing deer meat to hunting dog demonstrations to trout fishing op- portunities for kids to archery shooting displays. All day long, there are seminars whose topics range from elk hunting out west on your own to trapping and predator hunting and calling to virtually every facet of outdoor interests.

Numerous vendors will include some manufacturer’s representatives who will be able to answer any detailed questions you may have about the products they are representing. Various retailers will have goods on display also – including the latest gear and gadgets that are new this year.

I highly encourage anyone to attend the Great American Outdoor Show since it presents such a massive chance to take in virtually every facet of the interests of sportsmen and women. Vendors travel from all over the world to be there, and attendees come from dozens of nearby states to take in all that it offers. For us, it is a relatively short drive and well worth it to have the chance to feel, touch, and try items of interest or get answers to your burning questions about fishing or hunting trips that you have been daydreaming about.

For more detailed information about the show, go to greatamericanoutdoorshow. org. There are tabs such as “explore the show,” “plan your trip,” and “exhibitors” that will help in determining when to go and what to see while you are there. This show only comes around once each year, and it is in our own “backyard!” Hope to see you there!