Kirby Larson's Blog, page 85

Thank you, Martha Bee!

I don't know how I am so lucky to have such good-hearted friends, but I do. A big smooch to Martha Brockenbrough for saving the day and making my count-down to The Friendship Doll ticker (here on this very blog page) look awesome! (Speaking of looking -- be on the lookout for Martha's deadly-serious, dry-as-unbuttered-toast picture book*, The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy. I am told there is grammar involved.)

A rare sighting: Ms. Bee at rest



* If you believe this, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

Easing in to the New Year

What better way to start for the New Year than with words of wisdom from that great philosopher, Louis L'Amour:
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."
Here's to beginnings!

We interrupt this program. . .

 The management has decreed that unplugging for a time (length of which is as yet undetermined) is essential for a certain person's well-being. In other words: I'm taking a little break from blogging. Here is my wish for you, however, until we meet again in cyberspace:

"Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by."  ~ Carl Sandburg
May you all be as richly blessed as I have been by you!

Catch you on the flip side --

Kirby

Ten in 2010

I am celebrating that this is my last "Ten in 2010." While many of you have shared that you've enjoyed the challenge, my brain is plumb tuckered out from coming up with themes. There will be no Eleven in 2011. Trust me on this.

No matter what holiday is celebrated this time of year, it seems "light" is a central concept. That makes sense as we struggle to find ways to make the darkest days bearable. So "light" is our theme.



The darkest winter day is no match for love's candle.

Santa's Elves

Out of the blue, two sweet Christmas ornaments arrived in the mail. One is from our son's friend, Jenny, thanking us for taking her to dinner while we were in New York.
 
The other is from my sweet Kentucky friend, Alecia Marcum. 
Alecia is a sweetheart. She's not only a wonderful librarian, she also keeps a birthday book of authors' birthdays. I have been so blessed by our friendship that I've named a character in The Friendship Doll (May 2011) after her! Well, the last name anyway. So if and when you read the book, you will know where little Willie Mae Marcum got her name.

A new chair

See my new chair? Well, it's an old chair. One I picked up -- free -- at an estate sale. A million dollars worth of reupholstering later, it's new. It makes me happy just to look at it! Imagine how much happier I'll be when I get to sit in it and read up that basketful of books on the floor.

Ho-Ho-Ho

Santa can't fill that big bag of his all by himself. He relies on the help of some very generous and kind elves who live places other than the North Pole to help spread holiday cheer. Some of the special elves that I know about and try to support are:
Read Out and Read (nation-wide). The Washington chapter co-ordinator, Dr. Jill Sells, is the daughter of a dear friend. She has a heart of gold and is not only a physician and busy mom herself, but she is working hard to get this program off the ground here in my home state.  From their website:
Reach Out and Read prepares America's youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read's evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children. The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential. 
Another passion of mine is Page Ahead, a non-profit organization dedicated to placing a book -- of the child's choice! -- in the hands of each at-risk child in Washington State. In fact, I'm making a donation in the name of one dear writer friend for the holiday-- you might want to do the same!
Two amazing writers, Jane Kurtz and Michele Torrey, have focused their time and talents on reaching out to children in Africa.   Jane's organization, Ethopia Reads, is working to bring libraries to children in all parts of that country. One of their "bookmobiles" is a donkey! A plan to hike Kilamanjaro took Michele on a completely different journey: she and her husband and a friend began a nonprofit, Orphans Africa, to build orphanages and schools for the children of Tanzania. If you live in the Puget Sound area, check out their website for information about their February fundraiser.
I also love the work of the Densho Project, Best Friends Animal Society, and Homeward Pets. I'm sure you all have your favorite causes, too. Most of these groups make it very easy to donate on-line. If a financial donation isn't possible for you, consider donating books, as I've done for fundraising auctions for Densho and Homeward Pets. Of course, volunteers are always appreciated by any of these good folks.
 Remember, Santa's checking that list twice! And he really thinks it's nice when we help one another.

A day late. . .

and more than a dollar short. Thank you, all of you WWII vets. We do not forget December 7. Ever. I especially hold in my heart the incredibly brave men of the 442nd.

Shiro Kashino, awarded 6 Purple Hearts
Shiro with his daughter, Debbie, about age 7Go for broke.

Elizabeth Edwards

I have been unplugged, hiding out at Shangri-Lar for a few (well-deserved) days. As I was packing up the car to head home, Neil called me to tell me about Elizabeth Edward's passing. "I didn't want you to hear it on the news," he said.

I didn't know her, but many parts of her life story resonated with me. And I will never forget the interview in which she said (my paraphrase) that "resilience is about accepting the new reality, whatever that is." I also loved her for saying she decided to find joy in whatever situation she was in.

That's something, isn't it? Finding joy no matter what.

Rest easy, Elizabeth.

Way to Go, Diana

Can I even remember when I met Diana Greenwood? No, I cannot. Be that as it may, she is one heck of a nice person and has a great book soon to be pubbed. View the book trailer here.

I cannot wait to read this book!