Today as we were driving in my car I was talking to my 11 year old son, Blair, about the various and sundry things that were stressing me out. He listened then told me to be patient. All of his solutions to my issues were so simple and sensible. At one point, after we passed through the toll booth, he started to scribble with a pen on his … Continue reading Therapy
I love Passover. The Jewish holiday is meaningful, joyous and delicious. I look forward all year long to the celebration around the table with friends and family. What’s not to love about a dinner that lasts all evening and ends with the poignant words “next year in Jerusalem.” It is always a memorable night. So imagine my surprise when I saw the advertisement in the … Continue reading 30 Minute Seder
Has it been 10 years already? The anniversary of the deadly shooting at Columbine High School is less than a month away and as I dive back in to the story I’m flooded with memories of that Tuesday. I haven’t really thought about Columbine much over the last few years, except on the painful occasions when another disturbed youth goes ballistic and takes it out on … Continue reading Columbine Revisited
Ever since I traveled to Kampala, Uganda in 2006 I have wanted to tell the story about the village BeadforLife (http://beadforlife.org) was creating with its members. On our first visit we learned that affordable housing was a dream for the women who were trying to lift themselves out of extreme life crushing poverty. Almost all wished for a home that they would own rather than rent. They … Continue reading Friendship Village
The principal of the Challenge School, Edie Alvarez, sent an email to the student body and their families on January 2nd. There had been a fire at the school overnight. Authorities were investigating. Two sheds on the ground were destroyed. It could have been worse. The PTCO sent an email shortly after, elaborating on the loss. All the sets, props and costumes from the theatre department were destroyed in … Continue reading Disaster Relief
I can’t get the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” out of my mind. Just like India, it was surprising and unexpected. The beauty and brutality are staying with me. It made me think back to a little street urchin who came up to our car window in Old Delhi. I can’t get her out of my thoughts either. She approached our vehicle when we were stopped at an … Continue reading Slumdogs
My children and I were at an impasse. Our yellow lab, Rosie, died this summer, and after an appropriate period of mourning and reflection, we decided to get a new dog. Initially I wanted another Shetland Sheepdog. My first dog, Buddy, was a Sheltie and he set the bar for all dogs to come. The kids wanted a Bulldog. To them, Bulldogs are sexy and … Continue reading Shelter Dogs
My ten year old son, Blair, wants to be the next Steven Spielberg or John Lasseter or George Lucas. He is already shooting short films, editing them on I-Movie, composing original music on his keyboard and posting his work on his website at YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/bewalt12345. The name of his company is Figure Productions. His motto is… you guessed it… Go Figure. Tonight he was rendering … Continue reading Future Filmmaker
Vicky Collins Online 