Farewell Pablo.

What a good life you lived. I know you'll be here with us always, when we just listen, and pay attention. Thank you for blessing the lives of all of us for the time you were here.

Love, Laurel

R2D2 Loves Pablo

This note is for my friend Pablo. Pablo, you are one solid kid! I like the stories that your dad told me when we hung out for coffee. He raves about you. We know you're dealing with some silly something that's bugging you all inside. Well, I'm here to remind you, that you're beating it!!!

You're doing it! R2D2 is here to help too! He can project images of people through his special eyes, and he's projecting an image of you, Pablo... all BIG AND STRONG AND HEALTHY!!!

YUP! That's right! I can see it now!!

That's the picture I'm seeing:

YOU + R2D2 = BIG & STRONG & HEALTHY!!!

Happy New Year Pablo! I look forward to seeing you!!!

Love,
Laurel

A Cool Way to Make a Kid's Day!!!

Hey Laurel,

I am working on a project called the Wheels Can Take Me Places Project. I am training a class of twenty two 7th grade youth from a local charter school to participate in the 2009 Katy Trail Ride- 225 miles in one week. Fourteen of those 7th graders are girls. We presently have some used donated clothing for boys, but nothing for the girls. We are hoping that we can get some help from people wanting to support this project, and ask that if you have it, to donate some used clothing (or equipment) for the girls.

Please send clothing to:

Urban KC Community of Cycling

3008 Drury Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64128
(816) 326-7924

Thank you for your support.

Best Regards,

Kenneth Walker

www.UrbanKCcc.com

Community Cycling Representative for Urban Kansas City Community of Cycling

The Winter Solstice

A time of more light. A time of renewal. The season shifts to Winter for real, according to the seasonal calendar. While we go about our busy lives, let's remember to wear the rain coat, hug the ones we love, have compassion for the ones we can't tell we love, and have a real life. Make it real. You know, shift it up, make a difference. For you, for them, for anyone.

I was hanging with some friends in a restaurant tonight. Their family had three children in it. The youngest was 6. All she wanted to do was put the leaves at the end of the table UP and DOWN, all night. She thought it was fascinating how she could lift the leaf up, then prop it up , then hold it up with these little sliders that pulled out from under the table. Putting those table leaves up and down was all she wanted to think about. So, when she was at the end of the table where I was....she got to put those leaves UP and DOWN. She would tell me exactly where to hold it with my finger, while she pulled the little sliders out. It was so fun. Her parents were getting a little worried that she was having too much fun, but we handled them... the sweet ones that they are.

Parents are some of the most incredible people on the planet. Bless them deeply. They were children once, and are back for more by having some. I love it.

Thanks for reading.

The Ride was Cool, Fresh, Crisp, Packed with Climbing, and Then.... The Road Side Find was Awesome Too!

I know, I know, one person's trash is another's treasure, and maybe that's the case here, but I think I scored....right there on the side of the road.

Yup, a fresh roll of RED:

12.5 mil Premium grade cloth duct tape used for protection of window and door frames during stucco application, and high performance motorsports applications. TYPICAL APPLICATIONS: Heavy duty bundling, holding, and splicing. What am I going to do with this tape? I can think of some awesome things to do with this tape. I'll start by repairing some cracked jump rope handles at school, then get to the badminton racquet handles, then, then, then..... I'll keep you posted, and I will accept suggestions that are within reason.

Checking in with Jack

Whoa. It's been awhile.

But, thought you'd all like to know: Jack and me, we're on a first name basis now.

I remember his name, and he calls me Laurel. So, I think that's o.k.

Today's dialogue, after running around for awhile doing P.E.:

Jack: "I'm tired Ms. Green, my tummy hurts."
Me: "Jack, did you have too many nails for breakfast?"
Jack (long pause): "No............today, I had tacks."
Me: "Tacks? Oh geesh, Jack, no wonder your tummy hurts!"
Jack: "I know................ tacks hurt."

Some teachers are lucky. I consider myself one of them.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to be more consistent.. xo

What's Your Favorite Food?

In order to learn 540 names, I come up with strategies. Today, I asked them to tell me about their favorite food. The top responses were pizza, enchiladas, tacos, and corn dogs. But, not surprisingly, and, as amazing as young people are, many of them love salad, fruit, chicken, broccoli (o.k. only one student so far), fish, lobster, squid, and a variety of other awesome healthy foods.

And the student whose name I will most certainly remember: Jack.

Jack's favorite food is nails. Yup. Plain nails.

He was very matter of fact about it.