Thank you, Stephen Colbert, for sharing your intelligence and comedic genius.

I admire your courage as you spoke on Capitol Hill today, and I am glad you made them all squirm over the “elephant in the room.”

Watch Stephen in Action

To the Congressmen and Congresswomen who did not appreciate his humor, I think what he was really trying to say is maybe our lives would be more joyful if we didn’t take ourselves so seriously.

The guests today on the Oprah Winfrey Show were educational philanthropist Bill Gates, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim and Washington DC Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee.   The topic was the broken public school system in America. 

Guggenheim has directed a new documentary, coming out this Friday, titled Waiting for Superman.  It addresses how our school system has digressed in the last few decades, how we got to where we are, and some suggestions for ways we can fix it.  It looks like something that all of us need to see.  

I am sure there will be a backlash from the teacher unions, as they are one of the organizations the speakers would like to see changed.  For all my teacher friends out there, this show and the film are not directed at those of you who are doing a great job teaching our children.   The discussion is about  the ineffective teachers who are protected by the union’s tenure rules.  As Ms. Lee said, “we can not begin to change things until we start to talk about the problem.”  So, that said, maybe the show didn’t get everything “spot on,” but they certainly started to talk about the ”elephant in the room.”

If you can, watch this Oprah show episode, and check out the movie “Waiting for Superman.”  It is in select theaters this weekend and opens around the country later this month.

The two funniest and smartest people in the world (in my opinion) have announced simultaneous rallies to be held in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 30th.  Want to go along with me and see Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert?

The only thing that could make this event more miraculous is if a flock of doves flew over the rallies in V-formation two minutes before the speeches begin!

 One of the great things about life is getting together with long-term friends.  This weekend two special people came to visit and we spent the day site-seeing in Santa Barbara.

Above is a picture Wanda snapped while I was doing my Little Friar Tuck impersonation, with a bit too much grog under my belt.  Or should I say under my rope!   

I learned later in the day that they actually arrest people for public intoxication in Santa Barbara!  

Wanda was much cooler about this whole thing than me, as she started putting her feminine wiles to work.

Here she is using that angelic smile of hers to wiggle her way out of the slammer by coaxing the jailor over to us.

 As you can see in the picture below, I was so relieved when Annette got back from the ATM machine and sprung me out.  She left Wanda in there!

 We had a great time, in spite of the incarceration.  Yes, Annette, I know I owe you $500.

Actually I was just kidding about the jail-time story – at least most of it!

Come back soon, Wanda and Annette. 

PS – Thanks for the incredibly beautiful bookmark you left for me.

I am one of those old-timers who was unconvinced about this whole “viral internet thing.”  Then I had one of those ah-ha experiences recently.  I am now a believer as to the reach, and the power, of this incredible tool that we have available to us.  Here is what happened.

Claudia Meydrech of eBook and Book News and Reviews posted a very kind review of my book on her blog in July.  Last week she sent me an email stating that someone had posted a comment on that review, and that the writer seemed to know me.  She asked me to read it to see if it was legitimate.  I went to her site, and was absolutely floored to read the following post from an elementary school friend, who I very much remember, but whom I did not stay in touch with.  Here is what she posted:

“Marion, I could not sleep after reading your book. I remember you telling me that your mom beat you and put you in the cellar with the rats and mice. I was so ashamed that I did not believe you. You were my favorite friend in school and I didn’t believe you. It sickens me to know such a thing can happen under ones nose and I was so blind to it. I too like Bev was brought up in a family with so much love. I’m so sorry! I really didn’t know things like that happened until I was in my 20′s. I miss our friendship. Love Ya! Gloria”

And so I send this message to Gloria, in hopes that the same “internet spider” that led her to my book will now help me locate her, all these years later.

Dear Gloria,

What a surprise and pleasure to hear from you.  I want you to know what a gift it is to me that you took the time to write.

First, please know that there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about.  I fully understand that what I shared was way too much for another child to process, especially if they did not have similar circumstances.  When I was little, I was very careful about what I said to others, for fear of the repercussions.   Therefore, after all these years, I can only surmise that back then you provided a “safe space” for me to tell my secrets.  I didn’t know that you didn’t believe me back then, and that matters not one bit to me.  The fact that you listened meant everything.  And I cannot express in words what it means that you remembered, and that you were willing to share that with me.

I will wait to hear from you, for I know this message will be delivered to you, just as yours was to me, by way of a miracle.

Much love,
Marion