My darling and amazing and intelligent Erin graduated from UNC Law on Sunday, alphabetically the last one to get a diploma but the first and only doctor of jurisprudence for me.
On NPR’s All Things Considered today, a very long feature, Two Families Grapple with Sons’ Gender Preferences, compared the stories of two young boys whose families struggle to help through gender identity crises. It’s a fascinating story, but even though NPR labels it a Health & Science story, the lack of any research evidence, or even the perspective of an endocrinologist or pediatrician, is glaring.
Bravo to NPR for devoting so much time to a sensitive, but watch and listen as the debate about what’s missing from the story goes full throttle over the next few days.
A family in my neighborhood sometimes sends their daughter to our home to borrow milk, or to use the phone, or to ask help in some other way. Sometimes, we ask the girl to stay for dinner, or to go with us to the park. Recently, we heard, the family was on even tougher times.
Other neighbors, friends of ours, have mentioned that they receive a weekly box of produce, part of a community-supported farm subscription. (Here’s an example CSA for Durham.)
A box of food is a welcome gift, I know. When my family lived in the Virgin Islands, we befriended a priest from the other end of the island. Whenever this man visited our home, he would bring a box filled with frozen meat, cans of vegetables, fresh bread and other nourishment for our family of five active sons. I didn’t consider our family poor, but I recognized the importance of the extra food.
That’s one of the reasons that the reading at my wedding was from the Gospel of Matthew: “For I was hungry and you fed me.”
While I consider putting together a box of food for the neighbors, Erin, for her part, has begun to visit a man on death row.
A pile of cooking magazines — Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Saveur — offered just the diversion I needed last night. The May 2008 issue of Gourmet includes a recipe for strawberry leather, so you know what I’ll be doing Saturday morning after the family returns from berry picking at Jean’s Berry Patch.
Sitting in the sauna tonight, enjoying the solitude and the sweat, I was reminded of how, during college, I would steal away to the heated wood-paneled cell for a momentary retreat from all the work and studying and newspaper editing on my plate.
Again today more than one person mentioned how busy I must be with so many work responsibilities and personal projects (I’ve just confirmed that Duke Divinity School will host the North Carolina Faith Blogging Conference on November 10).
“You need a day off,” Erin said to me tonight. Great idea, and with birthdays the next two days (Anna, Erin), I think I’ll take Friday to celebrate with my family.
Grandpa Louis Sisco celebrated his 95th birthday on Saturday in DeKalb, Illinois. He’s a great example for how daily exercise and activity can help you live longer.
I fell asleep at 9pm last night, a rarity for me. Just before I woke up this morning, I was dreaming that I was in a salon to get my hair cut — after first getting fitted for a suit — but the stylist was so slow, chatting with her coworkers the whole time. As she readied the chair for my shampoo, I felt a huge pain in my back. That woke me, and as I entered consciousness, I had the realization that in that dream, I was really being readied for my funeral. Yikes.
terribly early in the morning on 04/15/08 in "" | permalink |
How do I use this thing?
I’m just getting around to viewing Erin’s many pictures and videos from her trip to Tanzania last December. Here’s a funny clip of a baby elephant learning to use its trunk:
early afternoon on 04/12/08 in "Observations" | permalink |
Zazengo: Support malaria research through targeted grants.
The Monti -- Durham Chapel Hill storytelling: Jeff Polish moved to the Triangle 9 months ago, and started this great storytelling organization. Can't wait to meet him and collaborate.
TwitterLocal: See the most active Twitter users in your vicinity.
Beyond Rape: A Survivor's Journey from The Plain Dealer: "In this version, the victim has a name. I am Joanna Connors, and I am telling the story I kept private for 23 years. I'm doing it for all of the others who have survived sexual assault in silence, ashamed and afraid to tell their stories."
Trendpedia (beta): "Social media monitoring, buzz tracking, brand measurement and blog trend search."
