Annabelle, Olive, and Kermit

Annabelle's taking a few minutes before she heads off to the foot of the bed to ask you to do something. She wants you to join Olive and Kermit's blogathon to raise money for Haiti. It's really simple -- just go to the New York Times list of charitable organizations, or do what Annabelle did, and donate to Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders. It doesn't matter what you decide, as long as you go ahead and make a donation.

Thank you!

Fitting in

I've always had a hard time fitting in. Aside from my own little tribe of siblings, I had no group to belong to, no community when I was young. I made a terrible Girl Scout, and I didn't make friends easily. I felt outside, never in. As I grew older, a gradual shift occurred, beginning in college. At last, a place I belonged! Well, sort of. I was scared and insecure. I held back.

Years passed and I noticed a further shift; I had connections to small communities of weavers or spinners or journal-writers, places I felt I fit in, and people didn't blink an eye as they included me. How strange! I was still insecure, just not so scared.

Now here I am, nearly fifty-two years old, and I marvel at how comfortably I fit in. I have friends and communities, things to do and opportunities to seize, and doors to open. Lucky me!

When I stop to think about the terrible events at Virginia Tech, my sadness comes from way down deep, from where my own loneliness, fear, and isolation used to live. I can't let myself imagine how it must have felt to face the man with the gun, or to be the man with the gun.

All I can do is wish that Peace will come and comfort everyone who has been hurt.