I was asked the other day how much I write on my blog and how I come up with all the different things I want to say? I am not really one to be at a loss for words (just ask my husband); however, this question really struck me. The answer came out honestly and organically as I responded, "I just know."
The person politely smiled and nodded. I wasn't sure if they had somewhat grasped my answer or just thought I was a real jerk in answering that way. However, it is the truth. I have no idea when or what I am going to write on this thing. Something just speaks to me.
I couldn't help but bring to light all the recent news articles surrounding second chances. I am not sure if it is the holiday season or the coming of the New Year, but it is all over the place. I have read a great article in the New York Times about Daddy Read for Me, a Riker's Island program that has men read to their children. Then read the Washington Post about Obama's praise to the Philadephia Eagle's for Michael Vick's second chance and now today on Yahoo about the two sisters from Jackson, Miss. being pardoned with the condition that one sister will donate a much needed kidney to the other after the two were sentenced to life in prison for a robbery that yielded $11 dollars.
All of this reading has really got me thinking, why I am not reading more of these stories? Where are these stories throughout the rest of the year? Yes, it is good to feel good during the holidays, but shouldn't we strive to do that the other 364 days of the year? Why do we only look at human side of stories when the season calls for it? Why not look at humanity all throughout the year?
Call me an eternal optomist or one with my head a little in the clouds, but what I will miss most about the holiday season passing is our ability to report on stories that actually have a happy ending. As the year comes to a close, I invite you to reflect on all the stories that moved you this past year and to carry those stories with you as a head start to your New Year. Happy New Year to all!
P.S.- I will be on the air on our new station on BlogTalk Radio this Sunday at 6 pm PST and 9 pm EST. Tune in as we christen our new station!
For People to listen to the show and to call in:
To listen, people must go to www.blogtalkradio.com/scalesofjustice. You can listen live on Sunday evenings or to the archives anytime.
To call into the show for questions or comments while the show is live, listeners must dial 1-347-637-3070. For listeners who have skype, we will announce what they should do to call in while we are on the air.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
United States newest number one- the amount of people we incarcerate...
I recently read this article in the Boston Globe and thought I would share it with all of you.
The Prison Boom Comes Home to Roost
By James Carroll | November 8, 2010
The Boston Globe
By James Carroll | November 8, 2010
The Boston Globe
WILL THE fiscal collapse that has laid bare gross
inequalities in the US economic system lead to
meaningful reforms toward a more just society? One
answer is suggested by the bursting of what might be
called the "other housing bubble,'' for these two years
have also brought to crisis the three-decade- long
frenzy of mass imprisonment.
Read the full article at http://articles.boston.com/2010-11-08/bostonglobe/29303068_1_prison-boom-housing-bubble-prison-systems
inequalities in the US economic system lead to
meaningful reforms toward a more just society? One
answer is suggested by the bursting of what might be
called the "other housing bubble,'' for these two years
have also brought to crisis the three-decade- long
frenzy of mass imprisonment.
Read the full article at http://articles.boston.com/2010-11-08/bostonglobe/29303068_1_prison-boom-housing-bubble-prison-systems
Monday, December 13, 2010
Walking a mile in someone else's shoes...
This past weekend I completed my training to be a volunteer mentor for Hour Children. At some point next year, I will be receiving my newly released mentee. In the training, a personal anecdote was shared about one of the women in the program. I wanted to share with all of you what she wrote about her experience after she was newly released from prison:
"I start my day running to drop my urine (drug testing). Then I go see my children, show up for my training program, look for a job, go to a meeting (Alcoholics Anonymous) and show up at my part-time job. I have to take the bus everywhere, sometimes eight buses for 4 hours a day. I don't have the proper outer clothes, I don't have money to buy lunch along the way, and everyone who works with me keeps me waiting so that I am late to my next appointment. If I fail any one of these things and my PO (parole office) finds out, I am revoked. I am so tired that I sometimes fall asleep on my way home from work at 2 a.m. and that's dangerous given where I live. And then the next day I have to start over again. I don't mind being busy and working hard...that's part of my recovery. But this is a situation that is setting me up to fail. I just can't keep up and I don't know where to start. I want my kids, I need a place to stay, I have to have a job, meetings keep me clean, and I am required to be in job training."
This is just one example of the many demands put on the life of a formerly incarcerated woman. In her story, she suggests that the overwhelming demands of her daily life are about to consume her and possibly make her fail. This very woman was able to get a mentor through the program and she has found ways to better handle her daily routine and has found other resources to help her. The power of many are greater than any one person.
"I start my day running to drop my urine (drug testing). Then I go see my children, show up for my training program, look for a job, go to a meeting (Alcoholics Anonymous) and show up at my part-time job. I have to take the bus everywhere, sometimes eight buses for 4 hours a day. I don't have the proper outer clothes, I don't have money to buy lunch along the way, and everyone who works with me keeps me waiting so that I am late to my next appointment. If I fail any one of these things and my PO (parole office) finds out, I am revoked. I am so tired that I sometimes fall asleep on my way home from work at 2 a.m. and that's dangerous given where I live. And then the next day I have to start over again. I don't mind being busy and working hard...that's part of my recovery. But this is a situation that is setting me up to fail. I just can't keep up and I don't know where to start. I want my kids, I need a place to stay, I have to have a job, meetings keep me clean, and I am required to be in job training."
This is just one example of the many demands put on the life of a formerly incarcerated woman. In her story, she suggests that the overwhelming demands of her daily life are about to consume her and possibly make her fail. This very woman was able to get a mentor through the program and she has found ways to better handle her daily routine and has found other resources to help her. The power of many are greater than any one person.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Marathon Video (long overdue)
Due to wrapping up last year at GOTB, a cross country move where much of our stuff got displaced and life in general, this video is a little overdue. However, Joe worked hard on this and finally it is done!! Thanks to everyone who supported me and enjoy!!
Maria Palmer - 2010 Los Angeles Marathon from Joe Palmer on Vimeo.
Maria Palmer - 2010 Los Angeles Marathon from Joe Palmer on Vimeo.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Straight from the horse's mouth...
As a young child, I loved the phrase, "straight from the horse's mouth". I didn't so much truly understand this idiom, but I did in fact, love horses and believed that anything that they could say just had to be awesome. Now that I have come of age, I also enjoy hearing things this way. There is no greater source of an individual's own truth than hearing it straight from that person. I value the words and the suggestions that people give no matter what the topic. There is one voice that gets drowned out more than others and that is the voice of our children.
When we were younger, many of us were taught to be polite and not to speak unless spoken to. (My upbringing was a little different, more like survival of the loudest. Imagine a group of 30 Italians in a room. ;p) However, I think that this constant regression of thought has caused our children to be voiceless and opinionless, which is a shame. Children have a very valuable outlook on life and especially on policies that have a direct effect on their wellbeing. How else are we going to learn how to help our children if we don't include them in the conversation?
I was so happy to be part of a Summit here in NYC a couple weeks ago that did just that. A few hundred nonprofit professionals, academics, local and state decision makers and children came together to talk about future policies and practices that could help children who have incarcerated parents. The morning kicked off with a panel of young people all who had a parent in prison during their upbringing. They spoke poetically about not just their struggles, but their solutions. I want to share with you what they had to say.
On sentencing:
1. Look at the background of the person. Many people incarcerated, especially women, who are being incarcerated at the fastest rate in the U.S., have backgrounds of severe abuse (mental, sexual and physical). Although this doesn't excuse actions, this helps gain more knowledge into why people were driven to the choices that they made.
2. Sentencing standards. Some of the current sentencing guidelines are way too strict for the crime. People are being locked up for years and years for possesion of a small amount of drugs under the Rockefeller Drug Law and drug lords are walking free.
3. Re-Entry. We should be thinking about re-entry from the moment a person comes into get sentenced. What will be their plan? How can you involve others to help support that individual while they are in prison? How can you act in the best interest of their children?
On foster care:
1. Don't assume that adoption is the best option. Until recently mother's could lose their parental rights if they hadn't seen their child in a year even if they were in prison and there was no physical way anyone could bring the kids for a visit. Many parents love their children and are intergal parts of their child's life even when they go to prison. Uprooting the child and adopting them out without doing the background work is a mistake for everyone.
2. Give the parents an opportunity. Many parents want to be involved in their child's life, but don't know what their rights are. They are afraid with budget cuts if they leave their job in prison for a day to go to court, they will lose it, which is the sheer reality. Many also are unaware of programs like Get On The Bus and others that bring the children to visit at no cost.
3. Check in on the kids. One boy said that he had been bounced around from foster home to foster home. He said that his social worker had assumed that the foster parents were good people when in fact, he and his sister were being abused. No one ever came to make sure they were okay. When they did see the social worker, the foster parents were always there so their was no way to explain what was happening.
On visiting:
1. The facility should subsize visiting. The state makes millions of dollars on their prisons each year, they should take some of that money and subsize visiting for families who really can't afford it. The prison system is tearing families apart. It is time that they did something to keep them connected.
2. Have respect for the kids. When children are present, guards should act accordingly. A couple of the children recalled moments of their parents being reprimanded violently in front of them during a visit. This was not only scary for the children, it was traumatic. There is no reason to do this in front of the children.
3. Make the moments last. Everytime you visit someone, know that it could be your last visit. People get transferred in and out of facilities and when children visit, many have no idea when their next time will be. Many of the kids also travel for many hours to visit. Give people as much time as possible.
On parole and re-entry:
1. Look at the person's growth. One thing is for sure, the crime will not change but often times the person does. When granting parole look at the full package.
2. Invest in child-parent programs. Children need their parents no matter where they are. Children who have incarcerated parents coming out of prison are the same as other children. There are just more needs. Their should be more live-in re-entry programs for children and their parents so that everyone can have a good transition.
3. Laws need to be revisited. One child said that even though her dad served 30 years in prison, when he got out he was not allowed to live in NY state because that is where he committed his crime. However, all of his support systems including his family lived inside of NY state. He was forced to build a new life in the south and she still struggles to see him to this day.
4. Take off the felony checkbox on job applications. People who have served their time have done just that. When they get out of prison and they are trying to get a job by being honest and saying that they have a felony, it precludes them from many jobs from sheer stigma. If they leave it blank and are caught, they are in danger of being fired so it is a lose lose situation for people who are trying to start their lives up again.
I applaud the children for speaking up for what they believe in and hope that the new incumbent will take into consideration their voices. Happy Friday everyone!
When we were younger, many of us were taught to be polite and not to speak unless spoken to. (My upbringing was a little different, more like survival of the loudest. Imagine a group of 30 Italians in a room. ;p) However, I think that this constant regression of thought has caused our children to be voiceless and opinionless, which is a shame. Children have a very valuable outlook on life and especially on policies that have a direct effect on their wellbeing. How else are we going to learn how to help our children if we don't include them in the conversation?
I was so happy to be part of a Summit here in NYC a couple weeks ago that did just that. A few hundred nonprofit professionals, academics, local and state decision makers and children came together to talk about future policies and practices that could help children who have incarcerated parents. The morning kicked off with a panel of young people all who had a parent in prison during their upbringing. They spoke poetically about not just their struggles, but their solutions. I want to share with you what they had to say.
On sentencing:
1. Look at the background of the person. Many people incarcerated, especially women, who are being incarcerated at the fastest rate in the U.S., have backgrounds of severe abuse (mental, sexual and physical). Although this doesn't excuse actions, this helps gain more knowledge into why people were driven to the choices that they made.
2. Sentencing standards. Some of the current sentencing guidelines are way too strict for the crime. People are being locked up for years and years for possesion of a small amount of drugs under the Rockefeller Drug Law and drug lords are walking free.
3. Re-Entry. We should be thinking about re-entry from the moment a person comes into get sentenced. What will be their plan? How can you involve others to help support that individual while they are in prison? How can you act in the best interest of their children?
On foster care:
1. Don't assume that adoption is the best option. Until recently mother's could lose their parental rights if they hadn't seen their child in a year even if they were in prison and there was no physical way anyone could bring the kids for a visit. Many parents love their children and are intergal parts of their child's life even when they go to prison. Uprooting the child and adopting them out without doing the background work is a mistake for everyone.
2. Give the parents an opportunity. Many parents want to be involved in their child's life, but don't know what their rights are. They are afraid with budget cuts if they leave their job in prison for a day to go to court, they will lose it, which is the sheer reality. Many also are unaware of programs like Get On The Bus and others that bring the children to visit at no cost.
3. Check in on the kids. One boy said that he had been bounced around from foster home to foster home. He said that his social worker had assumed that the foster parents were good people when in fact, he and his sister were being abused. No one ever came to make sure they were okay. When they did see the social worker, the foster parents were always there so their was no way to explain what was happening.
On visiting:
1. The facility should subsize visiting. The state makes millions of dollars on their prisons each year, they should take some of that money and subsize visiting for families who really can't afford it. The prison system is tearing families apart. It is time that they did something to keep them connected.
2. Have respect for the kids. When children are present, guards should act accordingly. A couple of the children recalled moments of their parents being reprimanded violently in front of them during a visit. This was not only scary for the children, it was traumatic. There is no reason to do this in front of the children.
3. Make the moments last. Everytime you visit someone, know that it could be your last visit. People get transferred in and out of facilities and when children visit, many have no idea when their next time will be. Many of the kids also travel for many hours to visit. Give people as much time as possible.
On parole and re-entry:
1. Look at the person's growth. One thing is for sure, the crime will not change but often times the person does. When granting parole look at the full package.
2. Invest in child-parent programs. Children need their parents no matter where they are. Children who have incarcerated parents coming out of prison are the same as other children. There are just more needs. Their should be more live-in re-entry programs for children and their parents so that everyone can have a good transition.
3. Laws need to be revisited. One child said that even though her dad served 30 years in prison, when he got out he was not allowed to live in NY state because that is where he committed his crime. However, all of his support systems including his family lived inside of NY state. He was forced to build a new life in the south and she still struggles to see him to this day.
4. Take off the felony checkbox on job applications. People who have served their time have done just that. When they get out of prison and they are trying to get a job by being honest and saying that they have a felony, it precludes them from many jobs from sheer stigma. If they leave it blank and are caught, they are in danger of being fired so it is a lose lose situation for people who are trying to start their lives up again.
I applaud the children for speaking up for what they believe in and hope that the new incumbent will take into consideration their voices. Happy Friday everyone!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
So much to be thankful for...
About a year ago, I watched the Biggest Loser Marathon episode and was inspired. I started to reflect upon my life, self improvement and a sense of accomplishment and I came up with the wacky idea to run the LA Marathon to raise money for Get On The Bus. Although in thought this was great, in theory I had no idea what I was doing. How would I be able to promote this idea and garner support for it in a direct way?
I started to brainstorm and I came up with the idea of possibly starting a blog. However, I had thought this to be something only for the technically gifted, which many of you know, I am not. I bounced around the idea with a couple of friends. Not only did they buy into it, but they kept on asking, "Did you start that blog yet?"
I used many excuses saying that I was too busy at work or that as soon as I get through X, I am going to get it up and running. However, one fateful day I opened up my mail and found out I was summoned to jury duty. Now jury duty for someone with my personality is pretty much a death sentence. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I am constantly overextending myself and I thrive on busyness and high pressure situations. How was I to go to a court house for 8 hours and just sit there?
I had heard a little rumor that they had WiFi there so I brought around my laptop and after about an hour of goofing around on facebook, reading the news and other Hollywood gossip columns, I decided to venture into an unknown world. I had heard about blogger.com from many, but still had not ever went on the site. As I stroked the words, my heart started to race as I realized that this may be in fact the day that I either land my own blog or get very frustrated in the process.
I read the instructions and started playing around with different templates and in about an hour or so, my blog was set up. Again, I thought this could be a passing fad and I am just going to do it for a month to see how it goes. Well, after a month, my readership picked up and I was starting to do exactly what I set out to do: I was training and raising money for Get On The Bus and this became my vehicle to do both. So as I sit here about a year later, I am now reflecting this Thanksgiving about all the gifts that I am thankful for. Here's what I would like to share with you:
1. My family and friends. I by far am the luckiest person alive because I have the best family both biological and in-laws and friends that anyone could ever dream of. We have overcome a lot together but you all have continued to stick by me and show me unconditional love. I cherish the relationship that we have together and hope that it continues to grow and blossom over time. Thank you all so much for loving me!!
2. Adversity. When I meet people, one comment that they always make is that being so young, I have been able to accomplish a lot. I attribute this to have lived a lot of life in my 29 years. Many things have happened to me and my family that have not happened to others and instead of getting down about this, it is my motivation to keep on pushing. As my dad always says the true definition of courage is "composure under pressure."
3. Change. There are two constants in this world- death and taxes and everything else is constantly changing. I am grateful that my life is full of surprises and constant change. This year especially has been interesting with a cross country move, losing most of our things and changing jobs. Although at times, I want to bang my head up against the wall, I recognize and realize that change is the universe's way of moving everything into exactly where it should be.
4. Grace. As I said in a previous blog entry, the most important features of my life have all come by grace. I had never planned to meet my husband Joe, get involved with Sr. Suzanne and Get On The Bus, co-host a radio show or have this blog. Thank God grace had planned all of this for me.
5. Inspiration. Just as many of you have commented that I have inspired you by what I am doing, you have equally inspired me. Some of you have completed your first races ever this year as a reaction to this blog. Others have gotten their PRs. Some of you have decided to volunteer and give back to causes that you believe in. I am not at all taking credit for any of this but I am proud of your accomplishments. May you continue to motivate me!
6. Voice. I am so excited that in NYC last week a panel of about 200 people got together to specifically talk about children who have incarcerated parents. It was a completely engaging day with not only professionals in the field but political leaders both at the city and the state level. We also got to hear the voice of the children, which I think is always an important piece. The policy recommendations we all came up with will be given to the new governor elect in the new year. This is so big because this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened and I was honored to be part of it.
7. All of my readers and listeners. I thank all of you for following me, no matter who you are or what your opinion might be. I was having a discussion with someone the other day and they said that I was really brave to have the blog and the radio show that I do. The concept can be a little controversial and I realize that not everyone agrees with me. I am grateful for all of your opinions as they add intelligent conversation to a topic even though I still do believe that mine is just the more correct one ;p. However, I think we can all agree that we need to do something to help our next generation and save our children.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I invite you to take a couple minutes and reflect on the gifts that you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Last Night's Show
Hello Everyone,
Last night's Scales of Justice show was really incredible. A recent study from NewsOK found that children with incarcerated parents in the state of Oklahoma are five times as likely to become incarcerated than their peers. We looked at the issues affecting children with incarcerated parents from the inside out.
The show was empowering and uplifting. We talked with Dawn Davison, the former Warden of California Institute for Women in Corona, CA and Sharon Content, Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn, NY.
If you haven't yet, this is one that you don't want to miss.
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-111410.mp3
Last night's Scales of Justice show was really incredible. A recent study from NewsOK found that children with incarcerated parents in the state of Oklahoma are five times as likely to become incarcerated than their peers. We looked at the issues affecting children with incarcerated parents from the inside out.
The show was empowering and uplifting. We talked with Dawn Davison, the former Warden of California Institute for Women in Corona, CA and Sharon Content, Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn, NY.
If you haven't yet, this is one that you don't want to miss.
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-111410.mp3
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Helping the children from the inside out...Tonight's Scales of Justice Topic
Just a reminder to all my readers, tonight is my Scales of Justice show and it is going to be awesome. Our topic as always is how to help the children. This month we have an inside/outside, east coast/west coast vibe with our two guests.
Dawn Davison is the former Warden of California Institute for Women. She is an amazingly progressive thinker when it comes to programming for women in prison and reuniting them with their families. Gigi Breland, who was my September guest and who I have talked about several times on my blog, served 29 years at CIW and when Dawn retired she said that "Dawn was truly a gem and would be missed by all the women at the women." This really struck me because normally people in prison and the Warden of the prison naturally clash, but in Dawn's case, she would walk the yard almost daily talking and greeting the women.
Sharon Content is the Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn NY. She came along the path of helping children of incarcerated parents after she realized that many of the at risk children that she was serving in her previous positions all had a parent in prison. She set up her agency to serve the Bedford Stuyesant section. She has a mentor program, an afterschool program and a summer camp.
Shirley and I are really excited for our guests and hope that you will tune in tonight at 6 pm- 7 pm PST/ 9 pm- 10 pm EST. Below are the instructions:
1. Go to www.latalkradio.com.
2. On the right hand side of the page under Channel 2, click "listen live."
As always, I will post the archive on my blog after the show. However, this is one that I wouldn't miss!!
Dawn Davison is the former Warden of California Institute for Women. She is an amazingly progressive thinker when it comes to programming for women in prison and reuniting them with their families. Gigi Breland, who was my September guest and who I have talked about several times on my blog, served 29 years at CIW and when Dawn retired she said that "Dawn was truly a gem and would be missed by all the women at the women." This really struck me because normally people in prison and the Warden of the prison naturally clash, but in Dawn's case, she would walk the yard almost daily talking and greeting the women.
Sharon Content is the Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn NY. She came along the path of helping children of incarcerated parents after she realized that many of the at risk children that she was serving in her previous positions all had a parent in prison. She set up her agency to serve the Bedford Stuyesant section. She has a mentor program, an afterschool program and a summer camp.
Shirley and I are really excited for our guests and hope that you will tune in tonight at 6 pm- 7 pm PST/ 9 pm- 10 pm EST. Below are the instructions:
1. Go to www.latalkradio.com.
2. On the right hand side of the page under Channel 2, click "listen live."
As always, I will post the archive on my blog after the show. However, this is one that I wouldn't miss!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Breathe, just breathe...
So if you know me at all, you will know that flying is probably one of my least favorite things in the world. Everytime I have to fly, not does it invoke a horrible feeling in my gut, but it really is traumatic. Strangely enough, my sister has similar issues. Don't ask me why or how my mother was a flight attendant for years up until I was born? I guess some things will just remain a mystery.
However, this weekend I took off for a long weekend in South Beach to spend some quality time with my sister. As I was getting ready for my flight, I noticed that one crucial item was missing...my anxiety pills that tend to just help to take the edge off. Crap! Out of all things to be destroyed during the moving accident, why these? I only take them on rare occasions, but they are life savers.
As I approached my gate at Newark airport, I sat down at the bar and went to fall back number two: a glass of wine. When the bartender came over and asked whether I would like a large or small glass, I told her that I hated to fly and asked her what she suggested? A large glass it was. I don't know what it is, but wine just seems to make the world seem like a better place. As I finished my glass, I started to feel that I could handle it.
I boarded my flight and it was looking like I would have the whole row to myself. Then right before the seat belt sign came on a man asked if he could sit at the window seat. Sure, what did I care? He sat down and started to talk with me. I learned that he was flying to Columbia to adopt an 11 year old child name Jose. As we questioned each other about our careers, I learned something crucial. He was a breathing coach. Holy crap, this one was a match made in heaven. As we took off, I told him that I wasn't a great flyer and he said, "You just need to exhale a little more."
So I did. Did it help? Yes, it did. So next time you are in a panic about something, don't forget to exhale. As for now, I am going to have to sign off as the South Beach rays are calling my name. Ta ta for now...
However, this weekend I took off for a long weekend in South Beach to spend some quality time with my sister. As I was getting ready for my flight, I noticed that one crucial item was missing...my anxiety pills that tend to just help to take the edge off. Crap! Out of all things to be destroyed during the moving accident, why these? I only take them on rare occasions, but they are life savers.
As I approached my gate at Newark airport, I sat down at the bar and went to fall back number two: a glass of wine. When the bartender came over and asked whether I would like a large or small glass, I told her that I hated to fly and asked her what she suggested? A large glass it was. I don't know what it is, but wine just seems to make the world seem like a better place. As I finished my glass, I started to feel that I could handle it.
I boarded my flight and it was looking like I would have the whole row to myself. Then right before the seat belt sign came on a man asked if he could sit at the window seat. Sure, what did I care? He sat down and started to talk with me. I learned that he was flying to Columbia to adopt an 11 year old child name Jose. As we questioned each other about our careers, I learned something crucial. He was a breathing coach. Holy crap, this one was a match made in heaven. As we took off, I told him that I wasn't a great flyer and he said, "You just need to exhale a little more."
So I did. Did it help? Yes, it did. So next time you are in a panic about something, don't forget to exhale. As for now, I am going to have to sign off as the South Beach rays are calling my name. Ta ta for now...
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Don't get ahead of grace...
The one thing that I have found true about life is that it is unpredictable. One minute you can feel on top of the world and the next you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders bearing down on you. Large life changes can definitely set a flurry of these emotions into action. Since we have moved, I have had the pleasure of being the windshield a few times, but mostly I've been the bug.
Last Thursday I had an especially rough day filled with disappointment and I did what I always do when I am faced with a challenge...I phoned a nun. If you look at my address book, it isn't hard to do as probably a good fourth of the people in it are nuns. The ironic thing about all of it is my love for nuns surfaced after I was received into the Episcopal faith. Go figure. It's the one lasting Catholic thing about me that just won't go away. It also makes Grandma proud which is also another good life rule to live by ;p.
The reason why I use the 'phone-a-nun policy' is that nuns don't always have the answer (no offense nun posse love you all!!!), but they have the ability to make not knowing the answer become the true answer. It is uncanny how this happens and how it can make you turn a truly superficial feeling into a philosophical life lesson. As I went into deep conversation with Sr. Suzanne telling her all the intricacies of why I was feeling like the bug, she was attentive in listening. At the end, she offered a very insightful piece of advice: "Maria, don't get ahead of grace."
As soon as she said this, I thought, "What is this supposed to mean?" However, after we got off the phone, I was able to do a little reflection about it and it was probably one of the best pieces of advice I've been given in a long time if not ever.
We live in a fix-it society. Don't believe me, turn on the t.v. There are a million products designed to solve problems that you didn't even know you had. Don't want to bend over to wash your feet? Don't worry there is a feet scrubber you can install in the bottom of your tub so you no longer have to worry. Too busy to open a bottle of wine? There is a device that requires no energy on your part and at the push of a button, the cork is out and you are enjoying your favorite pinot. You get the point.
I think that all of these things bleed over and have driven our personal and professional expectations to an level. How many times have you listened to a friend's problems and you felt the expectation to jump in there and solve them? How many times have you found yourself impatient when you felt that you were doing everything right, but the end result wasn't coming soon enough? How many times have you taken someone else's rejection of you or your work to heart when you know that it was unmerited? How many times have you been out with a group of people whom you felt you couldn't measure up to in some way? I bet the answer is way too many. I know for me, I have become so programmed to make the impossible possible that when I can't, it becomes devastating. However, looking back on my life, the things that and the people I value most have all happened by the power of grace. I didn't go out and search for Joe. I didn't go out and search for my job at Get On The Bus. I didn't search for my family or my friends. I didn't even need to have a casting call for my nun posse. They all found me. I leave you with the words of Sr. Suzanne, "Don't get ahead of grace."
I hope everyone will take some time to reflect on this. Comments are welcome.
Last Thursday I had an especially rough day filled with disappointment and I did what I always do when I am faced with a challenge...I phoned a nun. If you look at my address book, it isn't hard to do as probably a good fourth of the people in it are nuns. The ironic thing about all of it is my love for nuns surfaced after I was received into the Episcopal faith. Go figure. It's the one lasting Catholic thing about me that just won't go away. It also makes Grandma proud which is also another good life rule to live by ;p.
The reason why I use the 'phone-a-nun policy' is that nuns don't always have the answer (no offense nun posse love you all!!!), but they have the ability to make not knowing the answer become the true answer. It is uncanny how this happens and how it can make you turn a truly superficial feeling into a philosophical life lesson. As I went into deep conversation with Sr. Suzanne telling her all the intricacies of why I was feeling like the bug, she was attentive in listening. At the end, she offered a very insightful piece of advice: "Maria, don't get ahead of grace."
As soon as she said this, I thought, "What is this supposed to mean?" However, after we got off the phone, I was able to do a little reflection about it and it was probably one of the best pieces of advice I've been given in a long time if not ever.
We live in a fix-it society. Don't believe me, turn on the t.v. There are a million products designed to solve problems that you didn't even know you had. Don't want to bend over to wash your feet? Don't worry there is a feet scrubber you can install in the bottom of your tub so you no longer have to worry. Too busy to open a bottle of wine? There is a device that requires no energy on your part and at the push of a button, the cork is out and you are enjoying your favorite pinot. You get the point.
I think that all of these things bleed over and have driven our personal and professional expectations to an level. How many times have you listened to a friend's problems and you felt the expectation to jump in there and solve them? How many times have you found yourself impatient when you felt that you were doing everything right, but the end result wasn't coming soon enough? How many times have you taken someone else's rejection of you or your work to heart when you know that it was unmerited? How many times have you been out with a group of people whom you felt you couldn't measure up to in some way? I bet the answer is way too many. I know for me, I have become so programmed to make the impossible possible that when I can't, it becomes devastating. However, looking back on my life, the things that and the people I value most have all happened by the power of grace. I didn't go out and search for Joe. I didn't go out and search for my job at Get On The Bus. I didn't search for my family or my friends. I didn't even need to have a casting call for my nun posse. They all found me. I leave you with the words of Sr. Suzanne, "Don't get ahead of grace."
I hope everyone will take some time to reflect on this. Comments are welcome.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Stella* has resurfaced...
So many of you may remember reading about my dear friend Stella* who is one of the family members we served on Get On The Bus. Stella* has appeared in several of my posts starting on 2/13/10. Just for reminder's sake, she is the woman who I met during what we are both convinced was a 'fate induced' phone call. She was desperate to get her boyfriend's two little boys to visit him at the California Men's Colony prison, as their mom had just suddenly passed from cancer and they hadn't seen their dad in many years. Again through a true miracle and the help of my fantastic staff at the time, we were able to do it. From then on, we have referred to each other as "The Holy Hook-Ups," as nothing short of a miracle happened to successfully get the boys to see their estranged father.
The thing that I love about Stella* is that she just doesn't go away. She constantly used to call me at the Get On The Bus office. If she couldn't get a hold of me, she used to leave me messages that lasted for 10-15 minutes where she would pick up from the last time we talked, which in some cases could be quite a while. She has a very funny and endearing way to make you burst out laughing with joy and also cry with the turns her life seems to take.
She also has this undying belief that I am someone whose name means something. Even though I have told her time and time again that people don't care about who I am and that dropping my name to people won't help her, she is insistent that it does. What is even more crazy is that sometimes it works! Again, I take no credit for this, but she has threatened to call me when the prison wouldn't let her into visit with her loved one and miraculously according to her, the gates opened. Another time she called me during a court hearing while she was being tried and told me to talk with the judge. I said, "Stella*, hang up this phone right now. You are going to get in trouble." She then said, "Maria, I tried to not call you but I told the judge that I was going to do it. You know me, I am a woman of my word." Luckily, she did listen to me and she hung up the phone before the judge saw her on it and she was released from the court for a wrongful conviction.
When my phone rang the other day and I saw an L.A. area code, I had no idea who was on the other end. I decided to let the call go to voicemail and when I picked it up, guess who had left one of her infamous messages? You got it...Stella*. In her normal way, her message went through a gammit of emotions. She first told me that she was very angry at me for leaving her. Who could she call now while she was in court? Who could be her new Holy Hook-Up? She said that no one asked for her vote on me leaving. She then started laughing and said, "Girl, you know I'm playing. I do miss you though. I called your office 15 times and listened to the voice message for your name. When it didn't happen, I dialed Jennifer and asked her where you were? She said New York and she asked if I could help her? You know what my response was...if the name is not Maria or Karen, you can't help me. Get me Maria's phone number. I gotta put this on my speed dial."
I called Stella* back and she shared with me that she is actually going to be moving to the East Coast too. She needs to be by her own family in Maryland. It was so wonderful to catch up with her and for her to make sure that I didn't slip through the cracks. As always, she is always grateful for my ear and she truly believes that I have all the answers she needs. However, this time on the phone, I was able to give her a gift. I was able to tell her for all this time that it wasn't me that was solving anything, it was her. She was able to pull herself up in times of need, I was just a sound board. For the first time ever, she got that and I could hear the emotion coming through the phone. As we hung up, she asked, "Maria, can we still talk on the phone even though you are a sound board?"
My response, "Stella* that's what friends are for?"
Be a friend today to someone who needs it. :)
*Names have been changed.
The thing that I love about Stella* is that she just doesn't go away. She constantly used to call me at the Get On The Bus office. If she couldn't get a hold of me, she used to leave me messages that lasted for 10-15 minutes where she would pick up from the last time we talked, which in some cases could be quite a while. She has a very funny and endearing way to make you burst out laughing with joy and also cry with the turns her life seems to take.
She also has this undying belief that I am someone whose name means something. Even though I have told her time and time again that people don't care about who I am and that dropping my name to people won't help her, she is insistent that it does. What is even more crazy is that sometimes it works! Again, I take no credit for this, but she has threatened to call me when the prison wouldn't let her into visit with her loved one and miraculously according to her, the gates opened. Another time she called me during a court hearing while she was being tried and told me to talk with the judge. I said, "Stella*, hang up this phone right now. You are going to get in trouble." She then said, "Maria, I tried to not call you but I told the judge that I was going to do it. You know me, I am a woman of my word." Luckily, she did listen to me and she hung up the phone before the judge saw her on it and she was released from the court for a wrongful conviction.
When my phone rang the other day and I saw an L.A. area code, I had no idea who was on the other end. I decided to let the call go to voicemail and when I picked it up, guess who had left one of her infamous messages? You got it...Stella*. In her normal way, her message went through a gammit of emotions. She first told me that she was very angry at me for leaving her. Who could she call now while she was in court? Who could be her new Holy Hook-Up? She said that no one asked for her vote on me leaving. She then started laughing and said, "Girl, you know I'm playing. I do miss you though. I called your office 15 times and listened to the voice message for your name. When it didn't happen, I dialed Jennifer and asked her where you were? She said New York and she asked if I could help her? You know what my response was...if the name is not Maria or Karen, you can't help me. Get me Maria's phone number. I gotta put this on my speed dial."
I called Stella* back and she shared with me that she is actually going to be moving to the East Coast too. She needs to be by her own family in Maryland. It was so wonderful to catch up with her and for her to make sure that I didn't slip through the cracks. As always, she is always grateful for my ear and she truly believes that I have all the answers she needs. However, this time on the phone, I was able to give her a gift. I was able to tell her for all this time that it wasn't me that was solving anything, it was her. She was able to pull herself up in times of need, I was just a sound board. For the first time ever, she got that and I could hear the emotion coming through the phone. As we hung up, she asked, "Maria, can we still talk on the phone even though you are a sound board?"
My response, "Stella* that's what friends are for?"
Be a friend today to someone who needs it. :)
*Names have been changed.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Nuns, Ex-Cons and a Room Filled with Cats...
With a title like that, hopefully I have gotten your attention. For anyone else, these are three totally unrelated items all with which you may have a second thought about encountering, but for me, this is my heaven on Earth. Call me crazy (and many do), but I got to pay a visit to Hour Children yesterday.
For those of you who didn't see their spot on CBS News a couple of weeks ago, this organization helps children who have incarcerated mothers and women in and coming out of prison. It is run by Sr. Tesa Fizgerald, a sister of St. Joseph (my favorite order which houses all my Cali nuns). I have to admit when I got there, I was feeling a little down in the dumps because of some recent disappointments. However, when I walked into Sr. Tesa's office and I was greeted by none other than a black and white tuxedo cat, I knew my day was bound to turn around.
As we talked and she told me all of what Hour Children had been up to in the past three years, which is the last time I saw her, and I was amazed. They had an afterschool program, a thrift shop, a beauty salon, a mentoring program, supportive housing, classes inside for women, and a job readiness program. It reminded me a lot of Homeboy Industries in California.
The beauty of all of it was that the women who had come out and went through the program were working for her now. As you walked around, you could see God's grace throughout the multiple buildings. Everyone was so excited to be there and to be giving back to other women and children. The energy is something that I have missed since I left Get On The Bus.
One of the things that the organization prides itself on is second chances. However, the second chances do really make a difference for the women. According to the Bureau of Justice Stats, 30% of all incarcerated women in NY State go back to prison. Compare this to just 4% of women who participate in Hour Children programs. I was so inspired that by the time I left, I signed up to be a Mentor. The volunteer commitment is 8 hours a month for a year. You are matched with a woman who is just coming out who is similar to you. As a Mentor, you walk with the woman as she comes out. Most of the work is done via phone and e-mail and there is normally a get together gathering once a month. I am going for my training on Saturday and I am very excited about it!
The moral of today's story is that everyone has downer days, but when you do, find whatever it is that you need to pick yourself up. If you don't know, try my recipe for happiness: nuns, ex-cons and cats! ;p
For those of you who didn't see their spot on CBS News a couple of weeks ago, this organization helps children who have incarcerated mothers and women in and coming out of prison. It is run by Sr. Tesa Fizgerald, a sister of St. Joseph (my favorite order which houses all my Cali nuns). I have to admit when I got there, I was feeling a little down in the dumps because of some recent disappointments. However, when I walked into Sr. Tesa's office and I was greeted by none other than a black and white tuxedo cat, I knew my day was bound to turn around.
As we talked and she told me all of what Hour Children had been up to in the past three years, which is the last time I saw her, and I was amazed. They had an afterschool program, a thrift shop, a beauty salon, a mentoring program, supportive housing, classes inside for women, and a job readiness program. It reminded me a lot of Homeboy Industries in California.
The beauty of all of it was that the women who had come out and went through the program were working for her now. As you walked around, you could see God's grace throughout the multiple buildings. Everyone was so excited to be there and to be giving back to other women and children. The energy is something that I have missed since I left Get On The Bus.
One of the things that the organization prides itself on is second chances. However, the second chances do really make a difference for the women. According to the Bureau of Justice Stats, 30% of all incarcerated women in NY State go back to prison. Compare this to just 4% of women who participate in Hour Children programs. I was so inspired that by the time I left, I signed up to be a Mentor. The volunteer commitment is 8 hours a month for a year. You are matched with a woman who is just coming out who is similar to you. As a Mentor, you walk with the woman as she comes out. Most of the work is done via phone and e-mail and there is normally a get together gathering once a month. I am going for my training on Saturday and I am very excited about it!
The moral of today's story is that everyone has downer days, but when you do, find whatever it is that you need to pick yourself up. If you don't know, try my recipe for happiness: nuns, ex-cons and cats! ;p
Friday, October 15, 2010
It just keeps getting better...
This story has two parts. The first is a little update about my sentimentals. Some of you may recall my entry a couple of days ago called "Rumaging Through the Remnants," where I talked about losing a lot of valuables during a pretty unbelievable moving accident. You may recall that I said that my wedding album, personal scrapbooks surrounding my showers and bachelorette party and a candid album of polaroids of every guest at my wedding were gone. Well, I am happy to say that yesterday, they have reappeared. It looks as if they were repacked. Surprisingly enough, there isn't even damage to any of those items. I was grateful and awestruck by their discovery.
The second is a follow up to a story I wrote on 9/15/10 called "My Tearjerker on the Way to Brooklyn". I am not going to take credit for this one though as this story was told me by my former colleague and friend Karen. Read the e-mail she sent below. Good news all around it seems!
A few weeks ago, I shared with you a story about Robert Martinez's church Sacred Heart in West Covina. Robert is the Bus Coordinator that had the man show up at church on Sunday that was recently released from CMC. GOTB brought Richard his kids in prison, and now he has been attending church with his family every Sunday for over a month. Well, the story continues to get better.
There is now a second CMC dad that has come to Sacred Heart to say thank you.
This man, Jesse, is the son of Alice. Alice has been a volunteer with us for the last two years and has been guardian of her grandchild while Jesse was away. I met Jesse last year and let me tell you- he is the youngest looking person I'd ever seen inside prison before.
Sacred Heart is one of my favorite GOTB sponsoring agencies because the church supports the volunteers and the program 100%. Recently, the church threw a big "Thank You Barbecue" to all of the volunteers that made Get On The Bus happen last year. Robert invited Richard and Jesse- both dads from CMC- to come to the barbecue with their families as guests of honor. Instead, Richard and Jesse asked if they could just come to the barbecue as a regular attendees and desperately wanted to bring a dish also so that they could contribute. And by the way, Richard and Jesse do not know each other nor do they know OF each other. One was in East the other was in West.
At the barbecue, Robert told none of the 35 attendees about the CMC dads at the barbecue. The men and their families simply blended right in. Richard told me that the one thing that struck him right away was how different the wives of these men looked now that their men had come home. He described meeting them in the prison and seeing a "dead expression" and now these women looked radiant, proudly standing with their men at a church barbecue. He said the two men and their families socialized and laughed with others with ease during the day!
During the barbecue, Robert got up to share a few words about GOTB. He let his volunteers know how much the church raised in total and how many families were helped, etc. He then introduced Richard to come up and say a few words. To say that the barbecue attendees were floored would be an understatement. Richard spoke with such gratitude that most of the people at the barbecue were in tears.
When Richard gave the meeting back to Robert and he suddenly asked Jesse to come up- the place went crazy with applause. A shocked Richard ran right up and embraced Jesse- and the two mens' families hugged and cried together. They had not met before and had spent all this time at the barbecue not knowing that they shared the same story of being a GOTB dad!
Robert, and the others at Sacred Heart are on Cloud 9. I was able to confidently assure him that all of us from Get On The Bus also share that same Cloud with all of them. :)
- Karen
The second is a follow up to a story I wrote on 9/15/10 called "My Tearjerker on the Way to Brooklyn". I am not going to take credit for this one though as this story was told me by my former colleague and friend Karen. Read the e-mail she sent below. Good news all around it seems!
A few weeks ago, I shared with you a story about Robert Martinez's church Sacred Heart in West Covina. Robert is the Bus Coordinator that had the man show up at church on Sunday that was recently released from CMC. GOTB brought Richard his kids in prison, and now he has been attending church with his family every Sunday for over a month. Well, the story continues to get better.
There is now a second CMC dad that has come to Sacred Heart to say thank you.
This man, Jesse, is the son of Alice. Alice has been a volunteer with us for the last two years and has been guardian of her grandchild while Jesse was away. I met Jesse last year and let me tell you- he is the youngest looking person I'd ever seen inside prison before.
Sacred Heart is one of my favorite GOTB sponsoring agencies because the church supports the volunteers and the program 100%. Recently, the church threw a big "Thank You Barbecue" to all of the volunteers that made Get On The Bus happen last year. Robert invited Richard and Jesse- both dads from CMC- to come to the barbecue with their families as guests of honor. Instead, Richard and Jesse asked if they could just come to the barbecue as a regular attendees and desperately wanted to bring a dish also so that they could contribute. And by the way, Richard and Jesse do not know each other nor do they know OF each other. One was in East the other was in West.
At the barbecue, Robert told none of the 35 attendees about the CMC dads at the barbecue. The men and their families simply blended right in. Richard told me that the one thing that struck him right away was how different the wives of these men looked now that their men had come home. He described meeting them in the prison and seeing a "dead expression" and now these women looked radiant, proudly standing with their men at a church barbecue. He said the two men and their families socialized and laughed with others with ease during the day!
During the barbecue, Robert got up to share a few words about GOTB. He let his volunteers know how much the church raised in total and how many families were helped, etc. He then introduced Richard to come up and say a few words. To say that the barbecue attendees were floored would be an understatement. Richard spoke with such gratitude that most of the people at the barbecue were in tears.
When Richard gave the meeting back to Robert and he suddenly asked Jesse to come up- the place went crazy with applause. A shocked Richard ran right up and embraced Jesse- and the two mens' families hugged and cried together. They had not met before and had spent all this time at the barbecue not knowing that they shared the same story of being a GOTB dad!
Robert, and the others at Sacred Heart are on Cloud 9. I was able to confidently assure him that all of us from Get On The Bus also share that same Cloud with all of them. :)
- Karen
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Yesterday's Speed Workout That Almost Killed Me...
So for those of you who have followed me for a while, you know that I am an "un"runner type runner. For those of you who are newcomers, what I mean by this is that I was not made to be a runner. Growing up, I was always the slightly overweight kid who got picked last in gym class. In high school, I could barely run the mile. Who would have known some ten plus (notice- I'm not emphasizing on the plus) years later, I would be running marathons? Definitely not me!
Running is always a challenge for me, but the difference now is that I welcome the challenge. Notice, I didn't say I like the challenge, I just welcome it. Because I was not born to run like my sister or my friend Jess, I think I lose my stamina a lot quicker. Even though I just did a 10K a couple of weeks ago, when I laced up my running shoes yesterday and got out there, it felt like I hadn't been running in forever.
Instead of taking it easy, which is what most would have done, I decided that today I was going to take my new running shoes for a speed run. I got to the Ridgewood Duck Pond and I was all ready to race, but I forgot one crucial thing, my watch! Because I couldn't really judge my pace all that well, I decided to keep tempo with an in shape college-aged guy who was out in front of me. To be honest, I have no idea how fast I went; however, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was going to throw up after I was done. The crazy thing was that I only did 3 miles.
The moral of this story is that I don't know if I am just that out-of-shape or chasing this guy just made me go that much faster? I do know one thing though, now I understand why my mom always taught me not to chase a guy. ;p
Running is always a challenge for me, but the difference now is that I welcome the challenge. Notice, I didn't say I like the challenge, I just welcome it. Because I was not born to run like my sister or my friend Jess, I think I lose my stamina a lot quicker. Even though I just did a 10K a couple of weeks ago, when I laced up my running shoes yesterday and got out there, it felt like I hadn't been running in forever.
Instead of taking it easy, which is what most would have done, I decided that today I was going to take my new running shoes for a speed run. I got to the Ridgewood Duck Pond and I was all ready to race, but I forgot one crucial thing, my watch! Because I couldn't really judge my pace all that well, I decided to keep tempo with an in shape college-aged guy who was out in front of me. To be honest, I have no idea how fast I went; however, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was going to throw up after I was done. The crazy thing was that I only did 3 miles.
The moral of this story is that I don't know if I am just that out-of-shape or chasing this guy just made me go that much faster? I do know one thing though, now I understand why my mom always taught me not to chase a guy. ;p
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
What a great show!
If you haven't listened to tonight's Scales of Justice show, you need go to and check it out. (As soon as it is up, I will post it). Our guest was the renound expert on fatherhood and a personal friend of mine Dr. Ken Canfield. Ken helped to shape the way we think about fatherhood and has intensively studied the profound consequences of fatherless children. He has been a White House advisor on this issue and has written several books and articles surrounding the topic. He has been featured on Oprah, World Nightly News and Good Morning America and now he can add the Scales of Justice to his list of media appearances ;p.
During our show, Ken delivered a powerful message not only to fathers, but to children of fatherless fathers- Every child needs to know that they are loved by their father. We discussed not only why children need to be involved in their fathers lives, regardless of where the father is, but we also discussed the many programs he runs that help to strengthen the father/child bond.
He gave some very interesting stats on fathers behind bars. Did you know that almost 75% of the men in prison did not have a positive male role model in their life growing up? This is a direct feeder into a reason why so many families are locked up intergenerationally.
Our conversation was not only informative, it was intruging and at times, it was emotional. One of the many great things about Ken is his spirit and his kind nature, which you can definitely sense over the airwaves.
Thanks so much for listening and look forward being with you all on air next month!
Maria :)
During our show, Ken delivered a powerful message not only to fathers, but to children of fatherless fathers- Every child needs to know that they are loved by their father. We discussed not only why children need to be involved in their fathers lives, regardless of where the father is, but we also discussed the many programs he runs that help to strengthen the father/child bond.
He gave some very interesting stats on fathers behind bars. Did you know that almost 75% of the men in prison did not have a positive male role model in their life growing up? This is a direct feeder into a reason why so many families are locked up intergenerationally.
Our conversation was not only informative, it was intruging and at times, it was emotional. One of the many great things about Ken is his spirit and his kind nature, which you can definitely sense over the airwaves.
Thanks so much for listening and look forward being with you all on air next month!
Maria :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Rummaging through the remnants...
Yesterday was a day filled with excitement and heartbreak, one in the same. We have left L.A. almost two months ago. We entrusted all of our things to a moving company whose warehouse had an unfortunate chain of events with a cement truck falling through the roof only to land on our stuff. Go figure those odds!
After a lot of back and forth and speculation about what had survived and what hadn't, we received our things yesterday. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't an easy day. As we opened some boxes, we had a big sigh of relief and others, we just held our breathe and bit our tongues as we thumbed through the remnants of things we used to value that were now pretty much destroyed.
I think one of the hardest things for me aside from scraping through washed out mildew stained photos and albums was when I started to realize all the things that were just totally gone: all my paintings, personalized gifts from Get On The Bus, wedding albums, my scrapbooks for my bachelorette party and shower, which took me hours to make and priceless candid shots from our reception of all our guests, including some who are no longer with us. It's funny because monetary value these things are worth almost nothing in comparison to all the furniture and kitchen appliances we lost, but the loss is much greater.
As we sauntered back into the house after doing this for most of the day, I noticed a couple of boxes off to the side. Joe picked them up and said, "I thought you might want to take a look at these."
While I was gone, he found a pair of brand new running shoes that I bought right before we left. He also found all the parting gifts Get On The Bus gave me which included a hand made book with personal notes from each one of my colleagues, a wind up fire breathing nun and a note from my own parents telling me how happy they were to have me live closer and how proud they were of who I turned out to be. Well, you know me, I couldn't help but start crying. I was almost positive that none of this stuff had made it.
Although I really wish this story had a happier ending, I am grateful for all that was salvaged. I also needed to blog about this because it seems that the man upstairs is trying to tell me something. He saved my running gear and my Get On The Bus stuff. This blog just happens to be called "runningtogetonthebus". After I left, I have been contemplating what to do with my blog? I think the answer is now quite clear, don't you?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Congratulations to David...
Sorry this is a little late, but I want to offer great congratulations to my friend David for the completion of his first 10K ever. We couldn't have had a more beautiful day in Pittsburgh to run the race. We started in Frick Park and ran through Oakland only to finish at Point State Park. He expected to run between a 12-13 minute mile pace. However, with a little pushing from me, he was able to chop that goal and run around 11:30 miles to finish in 1:12 minutes. Whao!! Below are some photos. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
It's David Day...
I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I think I am ready for the Great Race 10K on Sunday. As some of you know, I have been battling some major feet issues, but (knock on wood) I was able to run 7 miles today without a problem.
My motivation is none other than my good friend David Rigo. David, like many of you, is a loyal blog follower since the beginning when I posted my announcement to run the LA Marathon last year. Like me, David hasn't always been a runner, in fact he took the sport up on his 48th birthday. So far, he has lost almost 40 pounds and he feels great.
When he asked me a couple of months ago if I would accompany him for this race, which will be his first ever 10K, and I humbly obliged. The thing that moves me so much about this blog is not only what it has done for me, but when it has done for all of you. I am so proud of each and every one of your accomplishments both in the running world and beyond.
I can honestly say that I can't wait to cross the finishline on Sunday with David. It actually gives me the chills thinking about it. Running a race, no matter what the distance, take a lot of training, determination and a great deal of sacrifice. David has done all of this and now it is time for him to receive a little glory for his work. Sunday can't come soon enough for me! Also a big shout out to my friend David Lee who killed the Philly Rock and Roll half in 2 hours flat. What an amazing accomplishment! I hearby declare this officially "David" Day.
My motivation is none other than my good friend David Rigo. David, like many of you, is a loyal blog follower since the beginning when I posted my announcement to run the LA Marathon last year. Like me, David hasn't always been a runner, in fact he took the sport up on his 48th birthday. So far, he has lost almost 40 pounds and he feels great.
When he asked me a couple of months ago if I would accompany him for this race, which will be his first ever 10K, and I humbly obliged. The thing that moves me so much about this blog is not only what it has done for me, but when it has done for all of you. I am so proud of each and every one of your accomplishments both in the running world and beyond.
I can honestly say that I can't wait to cross the finishline on Sunday with David. It actually gives me the chills thinking about it. Running a race, no matter what the distance, take a lot of training, determination and a great deal of sacrifice. David has done all of this and now it is time for him to receive a little glory for his work. Sunday can't come soon enough for me! Also a big shout out to my friend David Lee who killed the Philly Rock and Roll half in 2 hours flat. What an amazing accomplishment! I hearby declare this officially "David" Day.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Last night's show...
We had a great show last night on Scales of Justice. Our guest Georgette “Gigi” Breland was simply fantastic. Not only was she candid and upfront about telling her own personal story about what brought her to serving a 15 to life sentence behind bars at CIW prison, she also talked about her persistence and struggle to fight her domestic abuse case all the way up to the California Supreme Court finally seeking freedom after 29 years behind bars. She enlightened the viewers about relationship with her daughter through it all and the power of the Family Living Unit (FLU) Visits, trailer visits for women in prison and their children, which lifers are now ineligible for. I think you will find this show uplifting, educational and inspiring. Gigi has truly changed my life.
I also want to say I really appreciate all the comments and e-mails I got about this show right after it aired last night. Many of you texted, e-mailed or called saying how much you enjoyed the show. A couple of you have requested to listen to it today and have asked me to include the link so you can do so. You will find it below.
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-091910.mp3.
Also, a few of you wanted to get in touch directly with Gigi to comment on her performance. You can do so by e-mailing her at gigibroncogirl@yahoo.com or if you send something to me, I will make sure it gets to her. As always, please feel free to give your comments.
I also want to say I really appreciate all the comments and e-mails I got about this show right after it aired last night. Many of you texted, e-mailed or called saying how much you enjoyed the show. A couple of you have requested to listen to it today and have asked me to include the link so you can do so. You will find it below.
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-091910.mp3.
Also, a few of you wanted to get in touch directly with Gigi to comment on her performance. You can do so by e-mailing her at gigibroncogirl@yahoo.com or if you send something to me, I will make sure it gets to her. As always, please feel free to give your comments.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Scales of Justice Tomorrow Night
Hey Everyone,
Just a quick note reminding you that I am on Scales of Justice tomorrow night Sunday, Sept. 19th at 6 pm PST and at 9 pm EST. Our guest is my friend and former colleague Gigi Breland. Get ready for this show! Gigi is going to tell her story and discuss her relationship with her daughter while she was behind prison walls for 29 years. I am sure it will be not only emotional but an educational piece. Gigi is so excited to be our guest and we can't wait to have her. Please show your support!
To tune in, go to www.latalkradio.com on the right hand side of the screen, which is channel 2, it should have a picture of the host Shirley Wilson and under you can click the "listen live" hyperlink. Please also visit the show's blog tomorrow to post some comments about the show. We love to hear from you. http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone! Signing off until tomorrow night...
Just a quick note reminding you that I am on Scales of Justice tomorrow night Sunday, Sept. 19th at 6 pm PST and at 9 pm EST. Our guest is my friend and former colleague Gigi Breland. Get ready for this show! Gigi is going to tell her story and discuss her relationship with her daughter while she was behind prison walls for 29 years. I am sure it will be not only emotional but an educational piece. Gigi is so excited to be our guest and we can't wait to have her. Please show your support!
To tune in, go to www.latalkradio.com on the right hand side of the screen, which is channel 2, it should have a picture of the host Shirley Wilson and under you can click the "listen live" hyperlink. Please also visit the show's blog tomorrow to post some comments about the show. We love to hear from you. http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone! Signing off until tomorrow night...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Putting the Word Running Back in my Title
So, I have been telling a lot of little ancedotal stories lately about this that and the other, but the runners have been saying, "What about us? Maria, you made us take up this sport that many of us don't even like and now you have abadoned us on your blog?"
Dear runners, this one's for you. After a long hiatus due to feet injuries (including a recent broken toe I acquired by walking into a wall), a cross country move and partial laziness, I did something that I didn't think I was able to do. Yesterday, I strapped on my running shoes and used them to run!
When I went to the Ridgewood Duck Pond, I had a modest goal: to run around 4 miles at a very slow pace to make sure I didn't reinjure myself. When I got out there, it couldn't have been a better day to run. It was about 70 degrees, the wind was blowing slightly and I was running through the trees, which have started to change color.
The thing that I like most about this spot is that it gives you mile markers every .1 mile. For all the runners, you know how much of a mental game running is. For me, having the markers so frequently not only does it make me focus more on my goal, it also helps with making me think that I am accomplishing more just by having more milestones. Crazy, eh?
So when I jaunted out on the trail, I started by saying, "Okay I will go 2 miles and turn around." However, when I got to mile 1.7, I wasn't out of breathe and my body was feeling good and I decided to make the executive decision to go 2.5 miles instead.
Although I took it really light until the last mile where I pushed it to my normal pace, I finished feeling a lot better than I usually do. I was able to walk to the car and today I am not even sore. This is amazing news because next weekend I am running the Pittsburgh Great Race 10K. Months ago, one of my good friends David has asked me to accompany him during his first 10K ever, which of course I feel honored to do. I almost had to cancel, but I am very confident (knock on wood) that I am in good enough shape to do this (even though David may leave me in his dust).
Dear runners, this one's for you. After a long hiatus due to feet injuries (including a recent broken toe I acquired by walking into a wall), a cross country move and partial laziness, I did something that I didn't think I was able to do. Yesterday, I strapped on my running shoes and used them to run!
When I went to the Ridgewood Duck Pond, I had a modest goal: to run around 4 miles at a very slow pace to make sure I didn't reinjure myself. When I got out there, it couldn't have been a better day to run. It was about 70 degrees, the wind was blowing slightly and I was running through the trees, which have started to change color.
The thing that I like most about this spot is that it gives you mile markers every .1 mile. For all the runners, you know how much of a mental game running is. For me, having the markers so frequently not only does it make me focus more on my goal, it also helps with making me think that I am accomplishing more just by having more milestones. Crazy, eh?
So when I jaunted out on the trail, I started by saying, "Okay I will go 2 miles and turn around." However, when I got to mile 1.7, I wasn't out of breathe and my body was feeling good and I decided to make the executive decision to go 2.5 miles instead.
Although I took it really light until the last mile where I pushed it to my normal pace, I finished feeling a lot better than I usually do. I was able to walk to the car and today I am not even sore. This is amazing news because next weekend I am running the Pittsburgh Great Race 10K. Months ago, one of my good friends David has asked me to accompany him during his first 10K ever, which of course I feel honored to do. I almost had to cancel, but I am very confident (knock on wood) that I am in good enough shape to do this (even though David may leave me in his dust).
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
My Tear Jerker on the Way to Brooklyn...
So I think you have all heard the phrase, "There's no crying in baseball." I think there should be an additional phrase, "There's no crying in New York." In L.A., I was able to mask my emotions via hiding inside my car, but in New York this can be a challenge. You are constantly brushing up people that you don't know and there is not one moment of feeling like you have any privacy.
Upon waiting for the G train to Brooklyn, I made the tragic error of checking my phone messages. I got a voicemail from my former colleague Karen that made the tear ducts flow. She had just got off the phone with Robert, a bus coordinator from the San Gabriel Valley. He recounted a story that happened to him in church on Sunday...
A familiar looking face approached Robert on Sunday after church. He came up and shook his hand and introduced himself. He said to Robert, "Thank you for bringing my kids to me for all of these years when I was down and out in prison. I just got out of CMC and now my kids and I will be coming to your church every Sunday. You have helped us more than you could ever know. Now, we would like to help you so what can we do?"
I had to hang up the phone at that point because I was overcome with emotion. Not only is this so rare, but this is an example of the world coming back into harmony. We always hear bad news, but this good news struck me more. Now as for the people around me, did they think I was weird crying on the subway platform? Probably, but did I care? Not so much. Maybe I am starting to become more of a New Yorker than I thought. ;p
Upon waiting for the G train to Brooklyn, I made the tragic error of checking my phone messages. I got a voicemail from my former colleague Karen that made the tear ducts flow. She had just got off the phone with Robert, a bus coordinator from the San Gabriel Valley. He recounted a story that happened to him in church on Sunday...
A familiar looking face approached Robert on Sunday after church. He came up and shook his hand and introduced himself. He said to Robert, "Thank you for bringing my kids to me for all of these years when I was down and out in prison. I just got out of CMC and now my kids and I will be coming to your church every Sunday. You have helped us more than you could ever know. Now, we would like to help you so what can we do?"
I had to hang up the phone at that point because I was overcome with emotion. Not only is this so rare, but this is an example of the world coming back into harmony. We always hear bad news, but this good news struck me more. Now as for the people around me, did they think I was weird crying on the subway platform? Probably, but did I care? Not so much. Maybe I am starting to become more of a New Yorker than I thought. ;p
Monday, September 13, 2010
Check out my interview in New Identity Magazine...
Hello All,
Over the summer, I did an interview with Kevin for an article that he was writing for New Identity Magazine. It just got published and I wanted to share it with you. Hope everyone is doing well. http://issuu.com/newidentitymag/docs/issue8/11?mode=a_p
Over the summer, I did an interview with Kevin for an article that he was writing for New Identity Magazine. It just got published and I wanted to share it with you. Hope everyone is doing well. http://issuu.com/newidentitymag/docs/issue8/11?mode=a_p
Friday, September 10, 2010
Scales of Justice Date is Confirmed...
Hello Everyone,
Thanks so much for paying attention to my post about the possible date change for me on Scales of Justice this month. I have received many inquiries asking if the date was confirmed yet. As you all know, I am normally on the second Sunday of each month, however, for this month, I will be on the third Sunday, September 19th from 6 pm- 7 pm PST and 9 pm- 10 pm EST. We were asked to switch this month to accomodate another co-host who was asked to speak abroad for the later part of the month. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
My guest will be the wonderful Gigi Breland, who is a mother, a survivor of domestic violence and the attrocities of our criminal justice system and a friend. Please tune in online at www.latalkradio.com. Also, if you haven't yet, please visit the Scales of Justice Blog. Here is the link: http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/
Drop us a line. We really want to hear from you. Your comments are very important, even if you just want to say how cute I look in my headshot ;p.
Thanks so much for paying attention to my post about the possible date change for me on Scales of Justice this month. I have received many inquiries asking if the date was confirmed yet. As you all know, I am normally on the second Sunday of each month, however, for this month, I will be on the third Sunday, September 19th from 6 pm- 7 pm PST and 9 pm- 10 pm EST. We were asked to switch this month to accomodate another co-host who was asked to speak abroad for the later part of the month. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
My guest will be the wonderful Gigi Breland, who is a mother, a survivor of domestic violence and the attrocities of our criminal justice system and a friend. Please tune in online at www.latalkradio.com. Also, if you haven't yet, please visit the Scales of Justice Blog. Here is the link: http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/
Drop us a line. We really want to hear from you. Your comments are very important, even if you just want to say how cute I look in my headshot ;p.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
How Hope Really Does Work...
Today I had the opportunity to visit a place that many would try to avoid: Camden, NJ. With the highest poverty rate across the country, Camden is known not only for its slums, its violence and its high rates of high school dropouts, pregnant teens and its drug dealers. However, I got to experience a very different side of this town. I got to experience true "hope".
I had the pleasure of connecting with a program called Hopeworks about a year ago when their Executive Director paid Get On The Bus a visit. However, I didn't really get to experience a true sense of what Hopeworks was or what they did to transform the kids and the community until just last month.
I remember feeling swamped right before I was leaving California there was just too much to do. Not only did we have to prepare to move our life cross country, but I was also serving as the fulltime Director of Get On The Bus until the night before we left Los Angeles. I had a million things that I wanted to accomplish before I left and it was all seeming to be too much until I got a lifesaving e-mail from Fr. Jeff, the Executive Director of Hopeworks. He said that he had a group of kids coming to Los Angeles to do some service work and asked if I might be interested in having them at Get On The Bus?
As you could imagine, I welcomed this proposition with open arms. However, I must be honest, my expectations weren't that high. Although I prepared many projects for the kids, I had a less than hopeful outlook on what they may be able to accomplish in a day's work.
Once the kids arrived on that Saturday morning, I realized that this was quite a different group. As with any volunteer group, I felt that it would be appropriate to start with mission and to show them a video about Get On The Bus. After my presentation, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Many of these children not only could imagine the pain of having a loved one incarcerated, they had lived it. I got a chance to talk to many of the children that day and they were so passionate about this cause. They kept on saying, "Maria, we need this program in Camden and here is why..." They opened up in ways that were just incredible to me.
Through all of this, they were quite possibly the best workers, I've ever had. Not only did we almost accomplish all the tasks I slated for the day (the work that I put aside was easily two to three days worth of work), they did so with purpose and with accuracy, which was very much appreciated. At the end of the day, I was so thankful to this group as they had saved me hours of work, I asked what I might be able to do for them?
They only had one request: they wanted me to visit them when I moved back east. They wanted me to come to Camden and see them in action. Of course, I obliged. I got there this afternoon and I was greeted by Ruben, one of the kids that really held a dear place in my heart. He was so happy to see me, you would have thought we were family that hadn't seen each other in a long time. He gave me a big hug and we talked for a long while about the new school year. He explained to me that he was going to a magnet school that would allow him to take calculus, trig and chemistry, which are mandatory courses at most high schools, but not for Camden.
With a 70% dropout rate, the public school system is failing the kids in Camden, but it isn't failing the kids at Hopeworks. According to their Literacy Director, not one child who has been enrolled in Hopeworks has dropped out in the past four years since he has been here. Part of their program is also working on core competency in literacy, math and reading. Hopeworks has successfully been able to raise children's literacy scores by a grade level each year, which is incredible. Not only is Hopeworks teaching the kids a valuable skill of web design, html code and advanced mapping software, but it is truly giving them the skills and the confidence that they need to overcome all odds and finish school with flying colors.
I truly believe that this program and these kids are something to be celebrated. I want to thank them for the bottom of my heart for helping me in a time where I really needed it. It was also a visit well spent because it was great to be able to catch a glimpse of the kids in their own element. It was so nice to see them all again.
I had the pleasure of connecting with a program called Hopeworks about a year ago when their Executive Director paid Get On The Bus a visit. However, I didn't really get to experience a true sense of what Hopeworks was or what they did to transform the kids and the community until just last month.
I remember feeling swamped right before I was leaving California there was just too much to do. Not only did we have to prepare to move our life cross country, but I was also serving as the fulltime Director of Get On The Bus until the night before we left Los Angeles. I had a million things that I wanted to accomplish before I left and it was all seeming to be too much until I got a lifesaving e-mail from Fr. Jeff, the Executive Director of Hopeworks. He said that he had a group of kids coming to Los Angeles to do some service work and asked if I might be interested in having them at Get On The Bus?
As you could imagine, I welcomed this proposition with open arms. However, I must be honest, my expectations weren't that high. Although I prepared many projects for the kids, I had a less than hopeful outlook on what they may be able to accomplish in a day's work.
Once the kids arrived on that Saturday morning, I realized that this was quite a different group. As with any volunteer group, I felt that it would be appropriate to start with mission and to show them a video about Get On The Bus. After my presentation, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Many of these children not only could imagine the pain of having a loved one incarcerated, they had lived it. I got a chance to talk to many of the children that day and they were so passionate about this cause. They kept on saying, "Maria, we need this program in Camden and here is why..." They opened up in ways that were just incredible to me.
Through all of this, they were quite possibly the best workers, I've ever had. Not only did we almost accomplish all the tasks I slated for the day (the work that I put aside was easily two to three days worth of work), they did so with purpose and with accuracy, which was very much appreciated. At the end of the day, I was so thankful to this group as they had saved me hours of work, I asked what I might be able to do for them?
They only had one request: they wanted me to visit them when I moved back east. They wanted me to come to Camden and see them in action. Of course, I obliged. I got there this afternoon and I was greeted by Ruben, one of the kids that really held a dear place in my heart. He was so happy to see me, you would have thought we were family that hadn't seen each other in a long time. He gave me a big hug and we talked for a long while about the new school year. He explained to me that he was going to a magnet school that would allow him to take calculus, trig and chemistry, which are mandatory courses at most high schools, but not for Camden.
With a 70% dropout rate, the public school system is failing the kids in Camden, but it isn't failing the kids at Hopeworks. According to their Literacy Director, not one child who has been enrolled in Hopeworks has dropped out in the past four years since he has been here. Part of their program is also working on core competency in literacy, math and reading. Hopeworks has successfully been able to raise children's literacy scores by a grade level each year, which is incredible. Not only is Hopeworks teaching the kids a valuable skill of web design, html code and advanced mapping software, but it is truly giving them the skills and the confidence that they need to overcome all odds and finish school with flying colors.
I truly believe that this program and these kids are something to be celebrated. I want to thank them for the bottom of my heart for helping me in a time where I really needed it. It was also a visit well spent because it was great to be able to catch a glimpse of the kids in their own element. It was so nice to see them all again.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Heart To Heart
Hello All,
It has been a while since I last wrote. After a cross country drive taking us all the way up to the Northwest and across route 90 and an incredibly unbelievable moving accident where our things were crushed by a cement truck that fell through a warehouse storing our stuff(don't worry no one was injured and we weren't there), I have survived and settled here in the NYC/NJ area.
Many of you have been writing and sending me thoughtful notes and for that I am very appreciative. Joe and I are doing well and getting back adjusted to the East Coast. We are also very appreciative that unlike the other people who had lost their things in the same moving accident, we are lucky enough to be staying with Joe's parents so we have all the amenities we need during our adjustment, which is incredible. Many thanks to Alice and Tom for hosting us!
As some of you know, I am co-hosting the Scales of Justice once a month with Shirley Wilson. This month our guest is very near and dear to my heart, my very own Gigi. I wrote a blog entry about Gigi on Jan. 26th 2010 http://runningtogetonthebus.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-of-celebration.html. Gigi is not only a wonderful woman who prevailed all odds, she has also become one of my best friends and has truly continued to change my life as I have known it. Normally, our show, which is appropriately titled Heart To Heart, airs on the second Sunday of each month, however, this month we may have to switch things around as one of the other cohosts will be out of the country for most of the month. Don't worry, I will keep you all posted.
I also wanted to make you aware of our show blog http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/. Please feel free to visit it and post a comment!! I would also appreciate if you could pass it onto your friends. We are only in our 8th week of Scales of Justice and we are looking to grow our listener base so don't keep the good news to yourself ;p. More later...
It has been a while since I last wrote. After a cross country drive taking us all the way up to the Northwest and across route 90 and an incredibly unbelievable moving accident where our things were crushed by a cement truck that fell through a warehouse storing our stuff(don't worry no one was injured and we weren't there), I have survived and settled here in the NYC/NJ area.
Many of you have been writing and sending me thoughtful notes and for that I am very appreciative. Joe and I are doing well and getting back adjusted to the East Coast. We are also very appreciative that unlike the other people who had lost their things in the same moving accident, we are lucky enough to be staying with Joe's parents so we have all the amenities we need during our adjustment, which is incredible. Many thanks to Alice and Tom for hosting us!
As some of you know, I am co-hosting the Scales of Justice once a month with Shirley Wilson. This month our guest is very near and dear to my heart, my very own Gigi. I wrote a blog entry about Gigi on Jan. 26th 2010 http://runningtogetonthebus.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-of-celebration.html. Gigi is not only a wonderful woman who prevailed all odds, she has also become one of my best friends and has truly continued to change my life as I have known it. Normally, our show, which is appropriately titled Heart To Heart, airs on the second Sunday of each month, however, this month we may have to switch things around as one of the other cohosts will be out of the country for most of the month. Don't worry, I will keep you all posted.
I also wanted to make you aware of our show blog http://thescalesofjustice.wordpress.com/heart-to-heart-with-maria-palmer-and-shirley-wilson/. Please feel free to visit it and post a comment!! I would also appreciate if you could pass it onto your friends. We are only in our 8th week of Scales of Justice and we are looking to grow our listener base so don't keep the good news to yourself ;p. More later...
Friday, August 13, 2010
And so we bid adieu...
With heaviness of heart, I sit here the night before my very last day at Get On The Bus thinking of how to address you. After an amazing going away lunch yesterday with my colleagues and the Pope (well, not exactly but his head was part of a lazy Susan in the middle of our table), I was sent out in Get On The Bus style complete with a travel bag with things for me to do on the road trip, a stay connected bag with ways to keep in touch and a teddy bear and an actual letter from my parents, which was pretty incredible. Not only was this a creative gift, but more than ever I was able to feel the way that our children must on event day: Loved and special.
In the spirit of GOTB and in the interest of limited finances, I would like to do the same for all of you. Since I was essentially the mother hen of GOTB for the past two years, I will address all of you as my own. Here it goes:
To my GOTB children, friends, volunteers, partners, and colleagues:
Wow, this has been quite a ride to say the least. When my father was sentenced to prison 5 years ago, I thought that I was living in my own personal nightmare. I couldn't believe any of this could be happening to me or my family. This was probably one of the first times that I started to question why? Why did this happen to my dad? Why my family? Why did someone hate my dad so much that they mentioned his name just to get him into trouble? Why now?
I remember one day in the visiting room of the Morgantown WV Correctional Facility being asked by another person who was visiting her husband, "Maria, what are you going to do with your life?"
Now as every 20 something year old, this was not the first time I had pondered this same question. I am not sure if it was in haste or by the grace of God or the universe, but my response was so quick and so definite. I said, "I am going to help the families of people who are incarcerated."
To be honest, I don't know why I said that. I had no training in this, no experience, no expertise. I think it was probably the first thing that came to my mind. However, given her ogled response to my question, I knew I must have said something right.
As many of you know, I met Sr. Suzanne Jabro, the ED of our agency and founder of GOTB, very shortly after we first moved to California. Not only was she able to help make my dream of helping families of the incarcerated a reality, but she was able to offer me something that I desperately needed a shoulder to cry on, a heightened sense of self and many good laughs. Suz always says that people follow energy and once I met her, I immediately wanted to follow her. I started out small as a volunteer and now am leaving you as the Program Director.
My past six years with the program have been some of the most formative years of my life and all of you are a part of this. Many of you have watched me grow up professionally from some kid from a small middle class suburb of Pittsburgh to now a cosmopolitan professional that speaks her mind about injustices in the criminal justice system and surprisingly, people are starting to listen. Who would have ever thought?
On behalf of Get On The Bus and most importantly me, I want to say thank you to all of you. Without the love and support you have continually given me, I know that I would have never been able to do what I have been able to do. Because of you, just this year, we were able to help almost 1300 kids in every major city in the state of California to see their parents. Because of you, we were able to shed light on the children that everyone else turns their backs. Because of you, we were able to overcome every obstacle to make our events special. Because of you, you have helped to make a priceless memory for a child. Because of you, you were able to bring about positive change in our society. As the proud mother hen of GOTB, I want to tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you.
Although we bid adieu for now, our paths will cross once again soon. Until then, keep your eyes on the prize.
With gratitude,
Maria :)
In the spirit of GOTB and in the interest of limited finances, I would like to do the same for all of you. Since I was essentially the mother hen of GOTB for the past two years, I will address all of you as my own. Here it goes:
To my GOTB children, friends, volunteers, partners, and colleagues:
Wow, this has been quite a ride to say the least. When my father was sentenced to prison 5 years ago, I thought that I was living in my own personal nightmare. I couldn't believe any of this could be happening to me or my family. This was probably one of the first times that I started to question why? Why did this happen to my dad? Why my family? Why did someone hate my dad so much that they mentioned his name just to get him into trouble? Why now?
I remember one day in the visiting room of the Morgantown WV Correctional Facility being asked by another person who was visiting her husband, "Maria, what are you going to do with your life?"
Now as every 20 something year old, this was not the first time I had pondered this same question. I am not sure if it was in haste or by the grace of God or the universe, but my response was so quick and so definite. I said, "I am going to help the families of people who are incarcerated."
To be honest, I don't know why I said that. I had no training in this, no experience, no expertise. I think it was probably the first thing that came to my mind. However, given her ogled response to my question, I knew I must have said something right.
As many of you know, I met Sr. Suzanne Jabro, the ED of our agency and founder of GOTB, very shortly after we first moved to California. Not only was she able to help make my dream of helping families of the incarcerated a reality, but she was able to offer me something that I desperately needed a shoulder to cry on, a heightened sense of self and many good laughs. Suz always says that people follow energy and once I met her, I immediately wanted to follow her. I started out small as a volunteer and now am leaving you as the Program Director.
My past six years with the program have been some of the most formative years of my life and all of you are a part of this. Many of you have watched me grow up professionally from some kid from a small middle class suburb of Pittsburgh to now a cosmopolitan professional that speaks her mind about injustices in the criminal justice system and surprisingly, people are starting to listen. Who would have ever thought?
On behalf of Get On The Bus and most importantly me, I want to say thank you to all of you. Without the love and support you have continually given me, I know that I would have never been able to do what I have been able to do. Because of you, just this year, we were able to help almost 1300 kids in every major city in the state of California to see their parents. Because of you, we were able to shed light on the children that everyone else turns their backs. Because of you, we were able to overcome every obstacle to make our events special. Because of you, you have helped to make a priceless memory for a child. Because of you, you were able to bring about positive change in our society. As the proud mother hen of GOTB, I want to tell you how proud I am of each and every one of you.
Although we bid adieu for now, our paths will cross once again soon. Until then, keep your eyes on the prize.
With gratitude,
Maria :)
Monday, August 9, 2010
My first show at Scales of Justice...
Thanks so much for all of those of you have listened to me last night for my debut show on the Scales of Justice. We had two wonderful guests: Stacey Wilson LaRussa, a wonderful woman who has recovered many losses including addiction and the tragic loss of her brother, and Seymoura Wilson, a GOTB participant who had met her father for the first time on one of our buses! If you haven't yet, please take a listen and feel free to comment. I love your feedback on my new venture. :)
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-080810.mp3
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-080810.mp3
Friday, August 6, 2010
Scales of Justice Announces A New Cohost...
As some of you may have known, I have been a guest on Shirley Wilson's Scales of Justice Radio Show a couple of times these past few weeks. Today I got a call from Shirley herself and she offered me a spot to be a new cohost for the show! To say that I am honored, would be an understatement. I am truly humbled and feel amazingly blessed to have this opportunity to be able to be on the airwaves with Shirley!
As you know from a previous blog entry, Shirley has endured true pain and suffering in her life including the loss of her son, but yet, she is always looking for ways to bring a positive message to everything she does. To be able to speak the truth about the plight of children who have incarcerated parents and to do so in a public forum is an unbelievable dream come true for me! I will also have the ability to highlight the good works of others committed to this mission both in L.A., N.Y. and around the country. Isn't the internet a beautiful thing?
Hopefully you are all as excited as I am. Please show your support by listening to us. I am on the second Sunday of every month (starting this coming Sunday). The show is live on the West Coast from 6 pm- 7 pm and on the East Coast at 9 pm- 10 pm. I promise that we will always be committed to talking to interesting people. Who knows? You may even learn something.
In order to listen live, go to www.latalkradio.com and on the right hand side of the page under "Channel 2" click "Listen Live". We also welcome your feedback, comments and questions so if you have something to say, call in! The link of our shows will be available the next day on the web just in case you miss one. Go to www.latalkradio.com and on the top of the page click on "Channel 2". Scroll down the page until you see "Scales of Justice and Shirley Wilson". Click on it and scroll to the bottom of the page (past the photos and bios), to a list of all the shows. Click “Play” or “Download” and enjoyI believe we are also available on i Tunes as well. More info on that to come.
Thank you all for all of your support. A big thank you to my new colleague Shirley Wilson for believing in me. I will not let you down. :)
As you know from a previous blog entry, Shirley has endured true pain and suffering in her life including the loss of her son, but yet, she is always looking for ways to bring a positive message to everything she does. To be able to speak the truth about the plight of children who have incarcerated parents and to do so in a public forum is an unbelievable dream come true for me! I will also have the ability to highlight the good works of others committed to this mission both in L.A., N.Y. and around the country. Isn't the internet a beautiful thing?
Hopefully you are all as excited as I am. Please show your support by listening to us. I am on the second Sunday of every month (starting this coming Sunday). The show is live on the West Coast from 6 pm- 7 pm and on the East Coast at 9 pm- 10 pm. I promise that we will always be committed to talking to interesting people. Who knows? You may even learn something.
In order to listen live, go to www.latalkradio.com and on the right hand side of the page under "Channel 2" click "Listen Live". We also welcome your feedback, comments and questions so if you have something to say, call in! The link of our shows will be available the next day on the web just in case you miss one. Go to www.latalkradio.com and on the top of the page click on "Channel 2". Scroll down the page until you see "Scales of Justice and Shirley Wilson". Click on it and scroll to the bottom of the page (past the photos and bios), to a list of all the shows. Click “Play” or “Download” and enjoyI believe we are also available on i Tunes as well. More info on that to come.
Thank you all for all of your support. A big thank you to my new colleague Shirley Wilson for believing in me. I will not let you down. :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
You take the good, you take the bad...
You take the good, you take the bad. You take them both and then you have the facts of life, the facts of life. So, not only is this tune one of my favorite jingles from the '80's sitcom arena, it is also my current situation right now.
As you know from my "R.I.C.E" post, I have been battling some feet injuries for a while. I was able to go to the podiatrist last week and got some grim news. I was diagnosed with left achilles heal tendonitis and plantar fasciitis on both feet. Last week when the doctor had seen me, he couldn't believe that I had even been "R.I.C.E"ing for the past two weeks. He said that my feet presented as a very fresh injury. He said that the amount of pain I must have been managing before must have been unbearable and to be honest, he was right.
When I left his office, he put me on strict rest orders and an anti-inflammatory twice a day. Of course, like most runners when he asked if I had any questions for him, I asked when I could expect to be back running again? His response last week was a laugh. For the record, when your doctor laughs, it is never a good sign.
I went back for a follow up treatment yesterday and I got some mixed reviews. The good news is that I am healing properly. The not so good news is that I have a mandatory two more weeks of rest.
So what does this all mean? Well, the obvious, means that I have to drop out of the Philly Rock and Roll Half Marathon. My apologies Kimberly and David. I was really looking forward to doing this race. However, there is no way I will be ready for it in time without reinjuring myself. The good news I will be able to run again and I am still slated to do the Great Race 10 K in Pittsburgh with my friend David Rigo at the end of September. This will be his first race and I promised to run along side of him so we can cross the finish line together. :)
I want to give a shout out to all the fellow runners who follow me. Just this week, I was on a conference call with a bus company in NoCal and I was humbled to learn that one of the reps on the phone is an avid runner and loves this blog. In the electronic age, it is impossible to know who is reading and who isn't but I am moved by all of you and your stories and comments. I promise you I will be back very soon and will sign up for a more substantial race. Love to all my fans!
As you know from my "R.I.C.E" post, I have been battling some feet injuries for a while. I was able to go to the podiatrist last week and got some grim news. I was diagnosed with left achilles heal tendonitis and plantar fasciitis on both feet. Last week when the doctor had seen me, he couldn't believe that I had even been "R.I.C.E"ing for the past two weeks. He said that my feet presented as a very fresh injury. He said that the amount of pain I must have been managing before must have been unbearable and to be honest, he was right.
When I left his office, he put me on strict rest orders and an anti-inflammatory twice a day. Of course, like most runners when he asked if I had any questions for him, I asked when I could expect to be back running again? His response last week was a laugh. For the record, when your doctor laughs, it is never a good sign.
I went back for a follow up treatment yesterday and I got some mixed reviews. The good news is that I am healing properly. The not so good news is that I have a mandatory two more weeks of rest.
So what does this all mean? Well, the obvious, means that I have to drop out of the Philly Rock and Roll Half Marathon. My apologies Kimberly and David. I was really looking forward to doing this race. However, there is no way I will be ready for it in time without reinjuring myself. The good news I will be able to run again and I am still slated to do the Great Race 10 K in Pittsburgh with my friend David Rigo at the end of September. This will be his first race and I promised to run along side of him so we can cross the finish line together. :)
I want to give a shout out to all the fellow runners who follow me. Just this week, I was on a conference call with a bus company in NoCal and I was humbled to learn that one of the reps on the phone is an avid runner and loves this blog. In the electronic age, it is impossible to know who is reading and who isn't but I am moved by all of you and your stories and comments. I promise you I will be back very soon and will sign up for a more substantial race. Love to all my fans!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Scales of Justice, the sequel...
As some of you may know, I was a guest on Scales of Justice on L.A. Talk Radio this past Sunday. It was a pleasure to share the platform with Shirely Wilson, Tommy "T Top" Rivers and Big Ship. There were many highlights to the show, including two surprise callers- Joe C (my dad) and Amanda Raymond (my longtime friend)! Thanks for the props.
Listen in and enjoy!
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-080110.mp3
Listen in and enjoy!
http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-080110.mp3
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Red Road...
Every once in a great while, you find yourself in an unbelievable moment. We all know it. It tends to be the time where you just want to pinch yourself because it just doesn't seem real. When I got an invite for last night's poetry reading featuring one of my favorite authors Luis Rodriguez, that became my moment.
Now for those of you who don't know Luis, not only is he known as a best selling author and poet, but he is a truly remarkable person. He uses his writing to save many young Chicano/Mexican/Latino gang members in Los Angeles and now around the world. However, the most interesting thing I find about Luis is that he has used his writing to also save himself.
Luis was born in El Paso, TX and his family moved to South Central Los Angeles shortly thereafter. In his book "Always Running: La Vida Loca- Gang Days in L.A.," he talks about his struggle as a youth growing up on the gang ridden streets of L.A. He tells an honest account of not only what happened but gives an insightful picture of how. He gives the grave reality of the consequences of gang life including losing 25 friends by the time he was 18, his own struggle with heroin and alcohol addiction and his own grief around his son following a similar gang led path, which led his son to a 13 year prison sentence.
The reading was at the Francisco house in South Central L.A., an area that is still today entrenched with gangs and hopelessness. All the inhabitants of the house are formerly incarcerated men, many of whom had served 25 plus years in prison. Many of which were also at one point or another actively involved in gangs. Luis spent the evening not talking at the men, but meeting them where they were.
He opened with one of his poems "The Calling." The poem talks about a moment in his life where he started to realize that he had a greater purpose and a voice from a jail cell. Just before he was locked up that time around, he was part of one of the very first Chicano AntiWar Protests. It was through this experience that he found that he really started care about something bigger than himself. It was also at that point that he decided that he needed to document it.
He described walking the Red Road, a Native American term for walking on the path to success. He said along your path, many will be standing with you, but only you can lead it. He told the story of how he could save so many youth, but no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't able to save his son. Through all of this pain, there is grace. His son has also had a transformation inside the prison gates and he was just released two weeks ago.
After the reading, Luis invited me and a few others (Shirley Wilson, the host of Scales of Justice, Julia, a GOTB Regional Coordinator and two recently released lifers) to dinner. When we got to the little-hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, we walked in and I felt like I had walked through a door with Brad Pitt. Everyone knew who Luis was. Needless to say, our service was great! One man, who was a professor at the University of Texas, came up to our table and asked Luis if he could shake his hand. He told Luis about the poetry class he teaches with his work. Luis humbly smiled and shook his hand and gave a genuine "Thank You" to the man. Meanwhile at the table, the rest of us joked around with Luis about how this must have been staged. Luis with his great sense of humor said, "Okay okay you all just can't be fouled, can you?" My response, "We've spent too much time in prison." Everyone went into hysterics.
On my way home, I thought about that night and what an eclectic group of people I just had dinner with. I then thought about my own Red Road and I just smiled for a second. Out of all the paths I could have taken, mine is one where I am sitting next to a former lifer who just got out of prison last month, across from a man who has been on Oprah and Nightly News, on the other side of an amazingly intelligent caseworker, diagonally to another lifer who started the Honor Yard in Lancaster prison, and at the other corner to a woman who finds redemption in her son's murder by talking to all of us. This my friends is one crazy Red Road, but I love every second of it.
Now for those of you who don't know Luis, not only is he known as a best selling author and poet, but he is a truly remarkable person. He uses his writing to save many young Chicano/Mexican/Latino gang members in Los Angeles and now around the world. However, the most interesting thing I find about Luis is that he has used his writing to also save himself.
Luis was born in El Paso, TX and his family moved to South Central Los Angeles shortly thereafter. In his book "Always Running: La Vida Loca- Gang Days in L.A.," he talks about his struggle as a youth growing up on the gang ridden streets of L.A. He tells an honest account of not only what happened but gives an insightful picture of how. He gives the grave reality of the consequences of gang life including losing 25 friends by the time he was 18, his own struggle with heroin and alcohol addiction and his own grief around his son following a similar gang led path, which led his son to a 13 year prison sentence.
The reading was at the Francisco house in South Central L.A., an area that is still today entrenched with gangs and hopelessness. All the inhabitants of the house are formerly incarcerated men, many of whom had served 25 plus years in prison. Many of which were also at one point or another actively involved in gangs. Luis spent the evening not talking at the men, but meeting them where they were.
He opened with one of his poems "The Calling." The poem talks about a moment in his life where he started to realize that he had a greater purpose and a voice from a jail cell. Just before he was locked up that time around, he was part of one of the very first Chicano AntiWar Protests. It was through this experience that he found that he really started care about something bigger than himself. It was also at that point that he decided that he needed to document it.
He described walking the Red Road, a Native American term for walking on the path to success. He said along your path, many will be standing with you, but only you can lead it. He told the story of how he could save so many youth, but no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't able to save his son. Through all of this pain, there is grace. His son has also had a transformation inside the prison gates and he was just released two weeks ago.
After the reading, Luis invited me and a few others (Shirley Wilson, the host of Scales of Justice, Julia, a GOTB Regional Coordinator and two recently released lifers) to dinner. When we got to the little-hole-in-the-wall Mexican place, we walked in and I felt like I had walked through a door with Brad Pitt. Everyone knew who Luis was. Needless to say, our service was great! One man, who was a professor at the University of Texas, came up to our table and asked Luis if he could shake his hand. He told Luis about the poetry class he teaches with his work. Luis humbly smiled and shook his hand and gave a genuine "Thank You" to the man. Meanwhile at the table, the rest of us joked around with Luis about how this must have been staged. Luis with his great sense of humor said, "Okay okay you all just can't be fouled, can you?" My response, "We've spent too much time in prison." Everyone went into hysterics.
On my way home, I thought about that night and what an eclectic group of people I just had dinner with. I then thought about my own Red Road and I just smiled for a second. Out of all the paths I could have taken, mine is one where I am sitting next to a former lifer who just got out of prison last month, across from a man who has been on Oprah and Nightly News, on the other side of an amazingly intelligent caseworker, diagonally to another lifer who started the Honor Yard in Lancaster prison, and at the other corner to a woman who finds redemption in her son's murder by talking to all of us. This my friends is one crazy Red Road, but I love every second of it.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
R.I.C.E.
So for all my non runners, when you hear the word "R.I.C.E", you probably think of it as a complement to your favorite Asian dish. However, when you are a runner, the word, "R.I.C.E" is one that you dread. Normally at the point of injury you start to think, "Hmm, maybe my (insert body part) is just cramping up and I just need to run through this. It will feel better."
Then about one mile after the initial sign of pain, you think, "Hmm, it still hurts, but no pain, no gain and I only have (insert absurd number of miles) left. I can't stop now."
And then when you do stop and instead of it feeling better, it feels worse, which in turn further proves to you that continuing with your run was a wise choice cause when you stop, this is the consequence. You hobble to your car as fellow pedestrians ask you if you are okay? Winded and in immense pain, you stammer, "Of course, this is always how I look right after a run." What a liar you are!
On your way home, you still have a confident feeling that once you get an episom salt bath, a take a few Advil and sit on your couch, you will feel like new again. And then, that doesn't happen. In your last resort, you break out the frozen peas and start the "R.I.C.E." process (rest, ice, compress, elevate).
Oh how I hate the word "R.I.C.E"! Not only do I hate it for the defeat it represents, I also hate it for the pea juice that melts onto my floor during the icing process. The only thing worse than having to "R.I.C.E" yourself is to have someone else tell you that you got to "R.I.C.E.". When it is only you in on the secret, your injury doesn't feel as real, but when others say, "Wow, it looks as if your left ankle is all swollen up, you got to go home and "R.I.C.E"," you just want to crawl up in a hole.
So that people is where I am right now. I went to my new favorite running store yesterday Arch and Sole on La Brea and I finally came to accept the fate of my injuries when both of the runners helping me repeatedly used the "R" word. I have been really easing up this past week but with my left Akiles swollen and both my plantar flacia bones flaring up, I will be out at least until the end of this week when I get an appointment with the podiatrist.
As I always say, life as in running isn't always beautiful, but it truly is a beautiful ride or in my case, run. Hopefully, I will have some better news at the end of the week. :)
Then about one mile after the initial sign of pain, you think, "Hmm, it still hurts, but no pain, no gain and I only have (insert absurd number of miles) left. I can't stop now."
And then when you do stop and instead of it feeling better, it feels worse, which in turn further proves to you that continuing with your run was a wise choice cause when you stop, this is the consequence. You hobble to your car as fellow pedestrians ask you if you are okay? Winded and in immense pain, you stammer, "Of course, this is always how I look right after a run." What a liar you are!
On your way home, you still have a confident feeling that once you get an episom salt bath, a take a few Advil and sit on your couch, you will feel like new again. And then, that doesn't happen. In your last resort, you break out the frozen peas and start the "R.I.C.E." process (rest, ice, compress, elevate).
Oh how I hate the word "R.I.C.E"! Not only do I hate it for the defeat it represents, I also hate it for the pea juice that melts onto my floor during the icing process. The only thing worse than having to "R.I.C.E" yourself is to have someone else tell you that you got to "R.I.C.E.". When it is only you in on the secret, your injury doesn't feel as real, but when others say, "Wow, it looks as if your left ankle is all swollen up, you got to go home and "R.I.C.E"," you just want to crawl up in a hole.
So that people is where I am right now. I went to my new favorite running store yesterday Arch and Sole on La Brea and I finally came to accept the fate of my injuries when both of the runners helping me repeatedly used the "R" word. I have been really easing up this past week but with my left Akiles swollen and both my plantar flacia bones flaring up, I will be out at least until the end of this week when I get an appointment with the podiatrist.
As I always say, life as in running isn't always beautiful, but it truly is a beautiful ride or in my case, run. Hopefully, I will have some better news at the end of the week. :)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Hey Soul Sista..
In the words of recording artist Train, "I was on the radio, stereo- the way I move ain't fair you know." Well maybe not the last little bit, but I was on the radio last night. Shirley Wilson and Julia Chavez Harmon asked me to be a guest on their show Scales of Justice last night. It was an amazing experience and it became a great first day of visiting for my mom as she got to sit in the green room and listen to the show live.
Take a listen: http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-071810.mp3
Now after you listen, I am sure you will be burning for more, don't worry. I am here to provide. Shirley enjoyed me so much as a guest that she has asked me to be on again in the next couple of weeks. I will let everyone know when and where to tune in.
Enjoy!
Take a listen: http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-071810.mp3
Now after you listen, I am sure you will be burning for more, don't worry. I am here to provide. Shirley enjoyed me so much as a guest that she has asked me to be on again in the next couple of weeks. I will let everyone know when and where to tune in.
Enjoy!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Plantar fas-whatis?
As I spoke about in my last blog entry, life has a way of throwing me many curve balls. However, I think my curve balls have a short term memory because it seems that I have had a lot lately. I am on week two of my training for the Philly Half and I have been experiencing lots of pain especially in the right arch of my foot. The root of my problem is a reoccurring issue called Plantar Fasciitis, which essentially is a weakness in the muscles that run through the bottom part of your foot. When these muscles weaken, your tendons can detach from your foot, which I endured during the training for my first marathon.
Now to explain what this feels like, imagine stepping on a sharp object right around where the arch of your foot is every time you take a step. Ouch right? Although it is not at all pleasant, the good news is that since I have had it before, I was able to quickly diagnose what it was. I have also started some home remedies with icing and taking some Advil. On Monday, I will be going to my doctor to get a referral to a podiatrist. I think the root of the problem is my prescription orthotics for my shoes may have worn out in the past couple of years. I am also going to get a new pair of kicks to see what that does.
Okay enough humming and hawing. Want to hear some good news? Of course you do that's why I am told many of you follow my blog. The good news is that even in spite of my foot pain, I am getting faster! Last week's long run, I did 5 miles in 51 minutes flat. Today I did 6 miles in 60 minutes flat. I am still a long way from my goal, but I am celebrating the small victories literally one step at a time! Love to everyone until next time...
Now to explain what this feels like, imagine stepping on a sharp object right around where the arch of your foot is every time you take a step. Ouch right? Although it is not at all pleasant, the good news is that since I have had it before, I was able to quickly diagnose what it was. I have also started some home remedies with icing and taking some Advil. On Monday, I will be going to my doctor to get a referral to a podiatrist. I think the root of the problem is my prescription orthotics for my shoes may have worn out in the past couple of years. I am also going to get a new pair of kicks to see what that does.
Okay enough humming and hawing. Want to hear some good news? Of course you do that's why I am told many of you follow my blog. The good news is that even in spite of my foot pain, I am getting faster! Last week's long run, I did 5 miles in 51 minutes flat. Today I did 6 miles in 60 minutes flat. I am still a long way from my goal, but I am celebrating the small victories literally one step at a time! Love to everyone until next time...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Integrity, Believe, Strength...
Joe and I had the privilege to host my good friend Kimberly (i.e. my NY hubby) and her mom 'B' or Brenda for those of you who prefer formal names for a long weekend. Kimberly has been my recent impetus to commit to running my next half marathon in Philly on September 19th. In addition to being my old roomie in NY, we now have a new commonality: finishing the half in under 2 hours, which is 9:16 pace. That's right, I said it so now, it is official.
In addition to gallivanting all around L.A. and causing trouble, yesterday we also had the pleasure of doing Runyon Romp, one of my favorite training regimes. This workout, as I have written before, is not for the faint of heart. It is an intensive core and strength exercise topped off with some major hill training up a mountain so steep that it has built in steps to avoid having to climb it on your hands and knees. When you get up to the top and you feel just about ready to pass out, it is time for circuits of lunges and squats while you hold a weighted rock to add an additional challenge.
Even though I have done this course before, I have to admit on my way up the steep slope of the hill, I got a familiar feeling- I wanted desperately to stop. It was hot. I was sweating. I could barely catch my breath. The arches of both of my feet were starting to feel like someone was jabbing them with a large needle. I really felt like there was nothing left in me. However, it may have been my pride or it may have been something else, but something got me up that hill.
Fast forward to this morning. Kimberly and I had a leisurely morning chatting and catching up on the two years we haven't seen one another and I checked my e-mail only to find a message from a foundation I had been anxiously waiting to hear from that could potentially fund me in expanding my work with Get On The Bus. When I opened the e-mail and I read the first line, "Dear Applicant, Thank you for applying but we regret to inform you that..." my heart just sunk.
Talk about taking the wind out of someone's sails. How could this be happening? Why did this need to happen in the company of my out-of-town company? Further more, why did this need to happen two hours before I am slated to present to the Board at my final Board meeting? And so my life fell apart...at least I thought.
As I rushed to the meeting while trying to dry my running mascara in my rear view mirror, I tried to think of what I was going to say to the Board. I was projecting that my news would be not only a disappointment to them, but a personal let down.
I arrived at the meeting and sat still waiting for my turn. When I spoke, I gave the news from my heart, which is the only way I speak these days. Instead of absorbing the looks of shock and disappointment that I was expecting, something really wonderful began to happen. One by one everyone came up and gave me a hug. They seemed to carry concern, not for the project, but for me. They also seemed to be quick to come up with suggestions and let me know, that this was a small bump in the road and we will find another path to make it happen. Everyone was more than willing to not only sympathize but to empathize with what I was feeling. It was truly an incredible day.
As I got home and shared my moment with Joe, Kimberly and B, Kimberly handed me a present that she bought me in SF. When I opened it, three silver charms popped out and they read, "Integrity, Believe, Strength." Three words I really needed right then.
I am not sure how Kimberly knew last week when she bought that gift how fitting it would have been today. Nor am I sure of where my future path with GOTB or another organization will lead, but I am sure that the universe must be cooking up something good at least I hope so ;p. Thanks for all of you who have been praying that I would get this grant. This is one mere set back. I am confident that something good will come out of this and just as with the hill at Runyon Romp, I am not giving up until I get it.
In addition to gallivanting all around L.A. and causing trouble, yesterday we also had the pleasure of doing Runyon Romp, one of my favorite training regimes. This workout, as I have written before, is not for the faint of heart. It is an intensive core and strength exercise topped off with some major hill training up a mountain so steep that it has built in steps to avoid having to climb it on your hands and knees. When you get up to the top and you feel just about ready to pass out, it is time for circuits of lunges and squats while you hold a weighted rock to add an additional challenge.
Even though I have done this course before, I have to admit on my way up the steep slope of the hill, I got a familiar feeling- I wanted desperately to stop. It was hot. I was sweating. I could barely catch my breath. The arches of both of my feet were starting to feel like someone was jabbing them with a large needle. I really felt like there was nothing left in me. However, it may have been my pride or it may have been something else, but something got me up that hill.
Fast forward to this morning. Kimberly and I had a leisurely morning chatting and catching up on the two years we haven't seen one another and I checked my e-mail only to find a message from a foundation I had been anxiously waiting to hear from that could potentially fund me in expanding my work with Get On The Bus. When I opened the e-mail and I read the first line, "Dear Applicant, Thank you for applying but we regret to inform you that..." my heart just sunk.
Talk about taking the wind out of someone's sails. How could this be happening? Why did this need to happen in the company of my out-of-town company? Further more, why did this need to happen two hours before I am slated to present to the Board at my final Board meeting? And so my life fell apart...at least I thought.
As I rushed to the meeting while trying to dry my running mascara in my rear view mirror, I tried to think of what I was going to say to the Board. I was projecting that my news would be not only a disappointment to them, but a personal let down.
I arrived at the meeting and sat still waiting for my turn. When I spoke, I gave the news from my heart, which is the only way I speak these days. Instead of absorbing the looks of shock and disappointment that I was expecting, something really wonderful began to happen. One by one everyone came up and gave me a hug. They seemed to carry concern, not for the project, but for me. They also seemed to be quick to come up with suggestions and let me know, that this was a small bump in the road and we will find another path to make it happen. Everyone was more than willing to not only sympathize but to empathize with what I was feeling. It was truly an incredible day.
As I got home and shared my moment with Joe, Kimberly and B, Kimberly handed me a present that she bought me in SF. When I opened it, three silver charms popped out and they read, "Integrity, Believe, Strength." Three words I really needed right then.
I am not sure how Kimberly knew last week when she bought that gift how fitting it would have been today. Nor am I sure of where my future path with GOTB or another organization will lead, but I am sure that the universe must be cooking up something good at least I hope so ;p. Thanks for all of you who have been praying that I would get this grant. This is one mere set back. I am confident that something good will come out of this and just as with the hill at Runyon Romp, I am not giving up until I get it.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A reflection from our newest Regional Coordinator: Julia Harmon Chavez
As a mother of a ten year old I have often thought about what it would have been like if I had not had the good fortune to have raised my son and been there every night to tuck him in, read him a story and say prayers with him. Like me, many of you may have done this thousands of times with your children but maybe never stopped to think that it could have been any different.
Well I’m here to tell you that that is TRUE for thousands of our families right here in California who have a parent who is incarcerated. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend one of the Get on the Bus Programs from Orange County to go to the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, Ca. This correctional facility houses 6500 men and well over half of them are fathers who have children all over the state of Ca.
It is a full day. Depending on where you get picked up by a coach bus along the way you could be getting up as early at 3 a.m. On the bus I attended, we had 55 mothers, grandmothers, guardians, volunteers, and children anxiously waiting for the 4-5 hour trip to be over so they could greet their loved one inside for Father’s Day. For some it had been years since they had seen their husband, son or father…for some of the children it was the first time EVER meeting their father. Shortly after getting on the bus, I was introduced to a tall, slender, good-looking, polite and intelligent young man of 16 who I would escort in when we got off the bus at the CMC.
As we waited to get his paperwork processed and sat in the visiting room anticipating his father’s arrival, I found out that this young man had not seen his father since he was 4 years old. He said he didn’t remember him. I wondered what that was like for him and what he must be feeling in that moment as he waited for a man to walk in who he didn’t know but who gave him life.
As I soon learned throughout the day, this young man’s story was not much different than many of the others who were there yet there was an easiness and flow to the connections that emerged and a lightness and celebratory air to the day’s activities. There were arts and crafts, king paper crowns made by the children for their father’s to wear (the same men that are often depicted by the media as brutal monsters), board games, pizza, drinks, and snacks to be eaten and pictures to be taken.
I saw children hanging on their fathers as they walked around the visiting room…sometimes 4 at a time! Small infants being held and toddlers being looked after. It wasn’t a day in prison but a day of families being re-united and children being given a dream come true.
As the day started to wind down around 3 p.m. and everyone got ready for the long journey home, we were told that we would make another stop before heading back to the L.A. area. One of the nearby churches, who was involved in raising the money and getting the volunteers opened up its doors to provide fellowship, counseling and closure to the day’s events. It was a beautiful end to an emotional day of mixed feelings and hard goodbyes.
So I’m here today not just to tell you about an experience that warmed my heart which hopes to tug at your heart strings but to let you know that this vision, which still keeps growing bigger…because there are more prisons and there are more families….needs your help. The more of us out here who care about those children and families effected by being away from a loved one in prison the more we can make a difference through our pocketbooks, our hands-on-help, our time and our influence. For whatever the reasons why children are separated from their parents in prison this should not be a reason to not do our part to help make this dream more of a reality for more children and families. And I guarantee you, you join us this year and you won’t be able to stay away in years to come. It is an intimate experience that you get the privilege to be a part of and I know for myself that that is a priceless gift that I always want to have the good fortune to participate in.
And as for my young man who I escorted in, he indeed recognized his father as he walked out to greet us in the courtyard. Perhaps it was familial recognition or pictures that had been passed between them over the years or maybe…it was something more….maybe it was love.
Julia Harmon Chavez
Unity Bridges
Thanks Julia- well said!!
Well I’m here to tell you that that is TRUE for thousands of our families right here in California who have a parent who is incarcerated. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend one of the Get on the Bus Programs from Orange County to go to the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, Ca. This correctional facility houses 6500 men and well over half of them are fathers who have children all over the state of Ca.
It is a full day. Depending on where you get picked up by a coach bus along the way you could be getting up as early at 3 a.m. On the bus I attended, we had 55 mothers, grandmothers, guardians, volunteers, and children anxiously waiting for the 4-5 hour trip to be over so they could greet their loved one inside for Father’s Day. For some it had been years since they had seen their husband, son or father…for some of the children it was the first time EVER meeting their father. Shortly after getting on the bus, I was introduced to a tall, slender, good-looking, polite and intelligent young man of 16 who I would escort in when we got off the bus at the CMC.
As we waited to get his paperwork processed and sat in the visiting room anticipating his father’s arrival, I found out that this young man had not seen his father since he was 4 years old. He said he didn’t remember him. I wondered what that was like for him and what he must be feeling in that moment as he waited for a man to walk in who he didn’t know but who gave him life.
As I soon learned throughout the day, this young man’s story was not much different than many of the others who were there yet there was an easiness and flow to the connections that emerged and a lightness and celebratory air to the day’s activities. There were arts and crafts, king paper crowns made by the children for their father’s to wear (the same men that are often depicted by the media as brutal monsters), board games, pizza, drinks, and snacks to be eaten and pictures to be taken.
I saw children hanging on their fathers as they walked around the visiting room…sometimes 4 at a time! Small infants being held and toddlers being looked after. It wasn’t a day in prison but a day of families being re-united and children being given a dream come true.
As the day started to wind down around 3 p.m. and everyone got ready for the long journey home, we were told that we would make another stop before heading back to the L.A. area. One of the nearby churches, who was involved in raising the money and getting the volunteers opened up its doors to provide fellowship, counseling and closure to the day’s events. It was a beautiful end to an emotional day of mixed feelings and hard goodbyes.
So I’m here today not just to tell you about an experience that warmed my heart which hopes to tug at your heart strings but to let you know that this vision, which still keeps growing bigger…because there are more prisons and there are more families….needs your help. The more of us out here who care about those children and families effected by being away from a loved one in prison the more we can make a difference through our pocketbooks, our hands-on-help, our time and our influence. For whatever the reasons why children are separated from their parents in prison this should not be a reason to not do our part to help make this dream more of a reality for more children and families. And I guarantee you, you join us this year and you won’t be able to stay away in years to come. It is an intimate experience that you get the privilege to be a part of and I know for myself that that is a priceless gift that I always want to have the good fortune to participate in.
And as for my young man who I escorted in, he indeed recognized his father as he walked out to greet us in the courtyard. Perhaps it was familial recognition or pictures that had been passed between them over the years or maybe…it was something more….maybe it was love.
Julia Harmon Chavez
Unity Bridges
Thanks Julia- well said!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
I'm think getting the fever back...
After a whirlwind of pure exhaustion for the past two months, I am starting to clear my mind and take a little time for reflection, which is always a scary thing for me. I've given much thought to all of our events and I find it incredible that we were able to bring over 1100 minor children on 70 buses from every major city in California to see their parents in 7 different prisons! As you have all read, I have been touched by the stories of the families this year, the kindness of the volunteers, supporters and donors and the generosity of my staff and the CDCR staff to pull it all together.
I've done so much time and reflection about the events that when I typed in the IP address to this blog and saw the word "running", I got that distant nostaligic feeling. You know the feeling that you get when you see an old friend's name from high school, but you haven't spoken with the person in 10 years? You wonder how that person is doing, but in a sense thinking too much time has gone past to contact them. Well, maybe it isn't that bad for me and my dear friend running, but it has felt like forever, which got me thinking...
Now let me be completely honest, it isn't like I haven't been running at all. I have been doing a ton of cross and hill training in the morning with my Runyon Romp group. My running has just taken a little different shape in the past few months. After the marathon, I did what every runner does, I took "a little time off." However, the difference between me and most runners is that time away makes me want to not run but play ;p. For the first couple of weeks, I used running the marathon as a justification and a prize for my noncompliance. Anything that I did, didn't do or wanted to do I was in my mind okay because "I just ran a freakin' marathon."
In addition due to my events, I was on the road more than I was home and I wasn't getting much sleep. When faced with the choice, I chose sleep. During this time, my running partner and friend Leanne moved out of our building. For those of you who know me, you know that I am a people person. I am even more of a people person when it comes to running because I need someone to hold me accountable for my running or lack thereof.
However, before I blame my sorrows on Leanne (j/k), I also learned a valuable part of who I am through all of this... I am a goal oriented person. I need something to work toward or I just don't work. This is the trick to all of my accomplishments.
Shortly after this lightbulb came on, I got a call from my friend Kimberly, otherwise known as "NYC Hubby", as we lived together in Astoria. She had recently run her first half marathon in Nashville and she was starting to consider her next race. I always knew that Kimberly was smart, but when she said that I had an "Ah Ha" moment followed by an "Oh Crap" moment. In order to keep on advancing your acheivements as a runner, you have to be working toward a goal. She then planted a bug in my ear asking me to consider running the Rock'N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon with her in mid September? Hmm.... So the question on the table is, "To run or not to run?" Leave your thoughts below.
I've done so much time and reflection about the events that when I typed in the IP address to this blog and saw the word "running", I got that distant nostaligic feeling. You know the feeling that you get when you see an old friend's name from high school, but you haven't spoken with the person in 10 years? You wonder how that person is doing, but in a sense thinking too much time has gone past to contact them. Well, maybe it isn't that bad for me and my dear friend running, but it has felt like forever, which got me thinking...
Now let me be completely honest, it isn't like I haven't been running at all. I have been doing a ton of cross and hill training in the morning with my Runyon Romp group. My running has just taken a little different shape in the past few months. After the marathon, I did what every runner does, I took "a little time off." However, the difference between me and most runners is that time away makes me want to not run but play ;p. For the first couple of weeks, I used running the marathon as a justification and a prize for my noncompliance. Anything that I did, didn't do or wanted to do I was in my mind okay because "I just ran a freakin' marathon."
In addition due to my events, I was on the road more than I was home and I wasn't getting much sleep. When faced with the choice, I chose sleep. During this time, my running partner and friend Leanne moved out of our building. For those of you who know me, you know that I am a people person. I am even more of a people person when it comes to running because I need someone to hold me accountable for my running or lack thereof.
However, before I blame my sorrows on Leanne (j/k), I also learned a valuable part of who I am through all of this... I am a goal oriented person. I need something to work toward or I just don't work. This is the trick to all of my accomplishments.
Shortly after this lightbulb came on, I got a call from my friend Kimberly, otherwise known as "NYC Hubby", as we lived together in Astoria. She had recently run her first half marathon in Nashville and she was starting to consider her next race. I always knew that Kimberly was smart, but when she said that I had an "Ah Ha" moment followed by an "Oh Crap" moment. In order to keep on advancing your acheivements as a runner, you have to be working toward a goal. She then planted a bug in my ear asking me to consider running the Rock'N Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon with her in mid September? Hmm.... So the question on the table is, "To run or not to run?" Leave your thoughts below.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
We have two things to look forward to in here....
Our very own Get On The Bus regional coordinators Cece and Theresa had the opportunity to lead evaluation for the dads who participated in this year's event. In summary, Sr. Theresa said that one man stood up and said, "In here we have two things to look forward to in this place: 1. getting out and 2. Get On The Bus."
I wanted to share an e-mail reflection from Cece about the day and a poem from the men:
Hi everyone,
Yesterday we went in to CMC to do an evaluation with the dads. It was a beautiful day with lots of emotion... tears and laughter! I think it is one of the most powerful days in my own life each year: to listen to the dads and see that they all have hope is really moving.
They were so appreciative to all of you. On the west side, two of the men did a rap song about Get On The Bus to thank us. It was so cool!!!!!! We are hoping to record it this summer and have it be a part of the media used inside the prison to promote GOTB. On the east side, they gave us a huge card (up to my waist) that they had made to thank us for all that we have done. The front has caricatures of the dads inside the prison, holding a banner that says "Because of you",with the officer at the guard tower asleep and when you open up the tri fold card the dad's are all with their families with Get On The Bus shirts. The banner that they are holding says "Dreams do happen, thank you". They all have huge smiles and there is a poem, it says:
"We must give thanks to Get on the Bus,
Cause they bring our children to us.
When we could see them no other way,
Their services are there to save the day,
It gives us a chance to feel like a dad,
And it's the best Father's Day we ever had.
Yes, we are in prison and away from our kids,
And having to keep our true feelings hid.
But on this special day we are not alone,
For we can see our kids even if they are grown.
We are with them as they laugh and play,
Cherishing every word they have to say.
It's furnished tons at no cost,
Giving back the family we have temporarily lost.
So thank you deeply Get On The Bus,
We will never forget the day you brought our children to us... "
I wanted to share an e-mail reflection from Cece about the day and a poem from the men:
Hi everyone,
Yesterday we went in to CMC to do an evaluation with the dads. It was a beautiful day with lots of emotion... tears and laughter! I think it is one of the most powerful days in my own life each year: to listen to the dads and see that they all have hope is really moving.
They were so appreciative to all of you. On the west side, two of the men did a rap song about Get On The Bus to thank us. It was so cool!!!!!! We are hoping to record it this summer and have it be a part of the media used inside the prison to promote GOTB. On the east side, they gave us a huge card (up to my waist) that they had made to thank us for all that we have done. The front has caricatures of the dads inside the prison, holding a banner that says "Because of you",with the officer at the guard tower asleep and when you open up the tri fold card the dad's are all with their families with Get On The Bus shirts. The banner that they are holding says "Dreams do happen, thank you". They all have huge smiles and there is a poem, it says:
"We must give thanks to Get on the Bus,
Cause they bring our children to us.
When we could see them no other way,
Their services are there to save the day,
It gives us a chance to feel like a dad,
And it's the best Father's Day we ever had.
Yes, we are in prison and away from our kids,
And having to keep our true feelings hid.
But on this special day we are not alone,
For we can see our kids even if they are grown.
We are with them as they laugh and play,
Cherishing every word they have to say.
It's furnished tons at no cost,
Giving back the family we have temporarily lost.
So thank you deeply Get On The Bus,
We will never forget the day you brought our children to us... "
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thank you to everyone...
Yesterday was the final installment of our Father's Day events for Get On The Bus this year. We had events at three men's prisons: Correctional Training Facility (CTF) and Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad (SVSP) and California State Prison in Solano (CSP). I had the great opportunity to be on the ground at both the CTF and SVSP events, which were truly amazing. The families and the men were so grateful, both staffs were incredible and the volunteers were so dedicated. I can't tell you how wonderful the day was for me. No one could write that good of a script, except for maybe Joe ;p.
It is impossible to capture all the stories of the day; however, I want to highlight two very different reunions that happened almost simultaneously at CTF and SVSP. I could hardly sleep the night before Get On The Bus because I was filled with excitement knowing that these two reunions were about to occur.
The first is the happy ending for Genisse. This is the woman who I wrote about on 1/23/10 who had been searching for her father Gregory for 30 years. With lots of coordination and help from our wonderful Northern California bus coordinators Cathy and John, Genisse flew in to California the morning of Get On The Bus to meet her dad for the first time. She had never traveled anywhere by herself. She arrived at 2:45 am to her hotel in San Francisco, which she wasn't scheduled to check into until after the event. Without any sleep and no room, the hotel clerk asked her what she was doing in San Francisco up at that hour of the morning. She told him her story and he immediately made arrangements to get her a room so that she could take a quick shower before she met the bus.
I got a chance to meet both Genisse and her father in person and what she said in the interview is very true: Not only do they look alike, but for two people who haven't spent any time together, their mannerisms are uncanny. When I walked into the visiting room, I immediately gravitated toward them. It is hard to explain but they both have this very warm, gentle spirit about them and they are always smiling. As soon as Jennifer and I walked up to their table, they seemed to know who we were and we seemed to know who they were without even having to introduce ourselves.
I can honestly say, I have never seen two people happier to be together than the two of them. Genisse was smiling ear-to-ear and her father could not stop holding onto her. Gregory then told me with tears in his eyes, "I can not express his gratitude for what has been done today to bring his Genisse to me. The kindness that has been expressed to my family through you and Jennifer and the volunteers is incredible. To go so far to say that you made my day is not enough. You truly made my life and you both have become my part of my family."
Jennifer and I had to hold back our own tears as we were clearly touched by this reunion. Below is the photo we took with Genisse and Gregory.
The second was the story of a little boy who was visiting his father at SVSP for the first time in 3 years. This story and the photos are care of Karen Plante and Kelly Garrison. I was so moved by this photo sequence that I had to share them.
Since he has been 2 years old he has only been able to see his dad only behind a glass partition with a phone. This is the first time he has gotten to see and hug his daddy since he was two. He had a calendar at home and was crossing off the days until this trip.
It is impossible to capture all the stories of the day; however, I want to highlight two very different reunions that happened almost simultaneously at CTF and SVSP. I could hardly sleep the night before Get On The Bus because I was filled with excitement knowing that these two reunions were about to occur.
The first is the happy ending for Genisse. This is the woman who I wrote about on 1/23/10 who had been searching for her father Gregory for 30 years. With lots of coordination and help from our wonderful Northern California bus coordinators Cathy and John, Genisse flew in to California the morning of Get On The Bus to meet her dad for the first time. She had never traveled anywhere by herself. She arrived at 2:45 am to her hotel in San Francisco, which she wasn't scheduled to check into until after the event. Without any sleep and no room, the hotel clerk asked her what she was doing in San Francisco up at that hour of the morning. She told him her story and he immediately made arrangements to get her a room so that she could take a quick shower before she met the bus.
I got a chance to meet both Genisse and her father in person and what she said in the interview is very true: Not only do they look alike, but for two people who haven't spent any time together, their mannerisms are uncanny. When I walked into the visiting room, I immediately gravitated toward them. It is hard to explain but they both have this very warm, gentle spirit about them and they are always smiling. As soon as Jennifer and I walked up to their table, they seemed to know who we were and we seemed to know who they were without even having to introduce ourselves.
I can honestly say, I have never seen two people happier to be together than the two of them. Genisse was smiling ear-to-ear and her father could not stop holding onto her. Gregory then told me with tears in his eyes, "I can not express his gratitude for what has been done today to bring his Genisse to me. The kindness that has been expressed to my family through you and Jennifer and the volunteers is incredible. To go so far to say that you made my day is not enough. You truly made my life and you both have become my part of my family."
Jennifer and I had to hold back our own tears as we were clearly touched by this reunion. Below is the photo we took with Genisse and Gregory.
Since he has been 2 years old he has only been able to see his dad only behind a glass partition with a phone. This is the first time he has gotten to see and hug his daddy since he was two. He had a calendar at home and was crossing off the days until this trip.
Here he is waiting for dad so excited!
Dad sneaks up on son for first hug. His grandma is so happy for them!
After so many years, this boy can finally jump into his dads arms.
They each made each other a crown during their visit. The dad said he didn't care how goofy he looked he was wearing it all day.
The goodbyes are always so hard.
I just want to say thank you again to all of you who have supported me and my journey at Get On The Bus. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to have been your leader. You have no idea how much this has changed the fabric of my being. I want to wish all of the dads out there a very happy Father's Day, especially my own dad. Dad, you are an amazing person and I am so blessed to be your daughter. I love you so much and I thank you for everything you've done for me. Happy Father's Day!!!
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