How A Young Girl's Life Inspires Me - A Lesson in Civic Engagement

On the drive home from Atlanta last week, I overheard a conversation from a nearby table while dining at a restaurant.   

“We’re having elections in our class and I’m running for president,” a young girl said enthusiastically.  “My teacher wants me to give her a report why I want to be president.”

She asked her family for advice on what she should tell her teacher:

To make a difference.

To make things better.

To be the voice of the class.

What struck me was that this girl had to be in elementary school... maybe in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade.  

This girl was as young as Christina-Taylor Green, a 9 year old victim of the Tucson, Arizona shooting that happened earlier in January.  The young victim, ironically born on the day of America’s worst modern tragedy-- 11 September 2001-- was an aspiring politician, much like the girl who was sitting near me.

The family’s conversation made me think about the heart of public service, and my own experiences as a child.  Like many children, I was encouraged to pursue my dreams of public service to effect change in this world.  I remember how the adults around me-- my  parents, their friends, and my educators-- would instill in me the importance of public service and the honor to serve one’s country.  

I remember my first trip to Tallahassee, a field trip to the Capitol to learn about state government and actually sit in the Legislature and how it would inspire me to think, “I’m coming back here one day.” 

Since then, I’ve been hardened by reality. Unfortunately, it is the corruption of a few and the endless bureaucratic drudgery we witness, that increases the collective anger of society and vilifies public service.  

In my heart, I wish I could go back and have the idealism and hope like that young child.    Perhaps that is the great lesson that young Christina teaches us-- we should look at civic engagement with childlike enthusiasm and hope.

Victory in the Battle Against the Flu

It's been an excruciating slow week, after battling the flu.

I'm not quite back 100%, but I'm getting there.  The only positive thing to come of out of it, though, is I've dropped some weight from a lack of appetite.  Nothing tasted right... at all.  Most things still don't.

Unfortunately, some of the projects I've been working on have taken a back seat while I recover from this mess. I usually keep track of my e-mails and phone messages, and it truly took a knock out from this illness to do nothing more in the last week than sleep and rest.

A combination of sleep, meds, and dehydration make a unique concoction of vivid dreams and hallucinations. I only wish I could remember them all.  Is there a link that a wild imagination can be curative power?

A Reason to Celebrate Mardi Gras Early

I ventured over to Alabama this past weekend and celebrated Mardi Gras early. My brother-in-law is expected to deploy to the Middle East in a few weeks, so of course we had to have a party!

Pots of red beans and rice, shrimp creole, and of course our standard lumpia were devoured quickly and drinks continued to flow well into the morning.

Mardi Gras comes a little late this year, but perhaps that's a good thing because it just extends the party season!

A Fleur-de-lis of Cupcakes & King Cakes 

My Molly, a New Orleans native!

Partying well into the morning!

The Last of This PC

Well, there went the time!

I intended to get my holiday message up but I've had some trouble with my dying PC.

The good news is that my temperamental PC will soon be replaced with a new Mac.  I've taken on a few new projects and it will be great to finally have something reliable to carry them out.

Stay tuned for a new project I'm launching that will surely make you hungry!