Think critically about WTC collapse
I thought those round table folk were critical thinkers. When I show a video of the World Trade Towers collapsing, the toastmaster says the blasts are from computers morphing into thermite. Seismic activity was detected across the Hudson. A series of sudden blasts were recorded. The towers were nuked and Osama Bin Laden was a patsy. It’s time we faced the truth because the tower destruction gave justification for our invasion of the Moslem world. Not right.
Tod Tenhoff
One Size Fits All
“Oh please don’t let that curtain fall open.” The boy was inside the dressing room pulling on the third pair of jeans his mom had handed through the curtain.
She said, “Hey honey…see if these will fit.” The boy prayed they would. He desperately wanted to walk out of that store with his new 501 Levis; the ones with the red tag on the back pocket. The tag that said you belong. You’re one of us.
The boy got the jeans part way up his big thighs, tugging them up a little higher before he gave up. He sat down on the small seat in the corner, unfortunately placed just opposite the full length mirror. The very mirror that now mocked him.
The boy dropped his head, tears rolled down his chubby cheeks. He stifled a cry with his shirt sleeve.
Oh please don’t let that curtain open …let me just stay in here forever, he thought. Fitting into the jeans would have meant finally fitting into his life.
Mom patted his back as they walked out of the store together. She said, “They just don’t have your size. We’ll get more of that other brand you like to wear.” She bent down low and kissed him on top of his head.
The problem is pain comes in one size fits all. The kind of pain you can’t see, that pain fits like a glove. The pain of the heart so often invisible to the outside world
That pain is custom tailored.
The boy, now a man, sees himself in the mirror, he still sees the fat little boy looking back at him. They see in each other’s eyes the unspoken burden of quiet desperation.
Only now the man doesn’t lower his head. He doesn’t cry. He simply tells that boy to dry his eyes. He tells him to stand tall. He says with years of confidence behind him,
“You matter….you are here for a reason. You were born on purpose young man. You were born to live on purpose, your purpose. Love yourself.”
You never know who you’re talking to in life. No matter where you go in this world, you are going to cross the path of that little boy, or young woman who wants only to fit into their own life.
If you are reading this, I want you to know that I see you. I see you as the beautiful person you are. You are a miracle. You belong and you matter.
Chris Story
Thanks for Fun Run help
The Snomads would like to extend a big thank you to all those that helped to make our annual “Fun Run” a success. We would especially like to thank the following local businesses for their generous donations:
Lower Peninsula Power Sports, Alyeska Tire, Scruggs Automotive, The Grog Shop, Petro Marine Services, Bear Creek Winery, Ulmer’s, Safeway, Desperate Marine, NOMAR, Boss Hogg’s, Tire Town, Wise Services, Gregoire Construction, Car Quest, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Eagle Enterprises, Homer Saw and Cycle, All Season’s Honda, Kachemak Gear Shed, New Homes by Needham and Kachemak Auto Parts.
Thanks also to those who came out to play, to the volunteers who worked so hard to make the run possible, and of course, Mother Nature, who provided the snow.
Cindy Weatherly, for the Snomads
Support for poetry lauded
Dear Editor and State Legislator,
During the week of Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, Homer High School students had the opportunity of working with two visiting poets, Dasha Kelly Hamilton and Kima Hamilton. Their appearance in each of our classrooms is possible through the Artist in Residency program hosted by the Bunnell Street Arts Center with support from Rasmuson Foundation and US Artists. Support also comes from the Homer Foundation, ArtPlace America and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as private donors.
The English teachers at Homer High would like to thank these organizations for making this week possible for many reasons. The synergy between the visiting artists and the students created a fun, engaging, and poetic atmosphere. Dasha and Kima are also very skilled at pulling out the writer within and allowing students a safe space to explore their own ideas on the page. The poetic activities culminated with an exciting “Poetry Slam” of student performances and awards where students, often too shy to get up in front of others, found the courage to share their work and personal stories. This is the magic Dasha and Kima bring to the classroom, they awaken our students in a new and exciting way while modeling how to find their voice through poetry. Now let us see what some of our students have to say about their experience with Dasha and Kima:
“It was a unique experience that taught me many new intriguing writing techniques.”
“I enjoyed the teaching style they brought to Homer High school, fun experience!”
“A truly magical and enlightening experience — I’d love to have the privilege of being able to have more like it.”
“I learned lots of new ideas and techniques when it comes to poetry and writing.”
“Their enthusiasm for poetry transferred into everyone in the room and made it a fun and interactive experience.”
“I think that it’s a great experience for kids who don’t normally get poetry or art in the school, and I think it’s a wonderful way for students to work with people from outside our community.”
“My experience with Dasha and Kima was very mind opening and made me see the world in a way that I never had before.”
“My experience was pretty mind-blowing; they helped me widen my outlook on life and made me see the world in a different way.”
“It was very refreshing, thought-provoking as well. They made things a lot more clear and understandable for me. They were very fun to learn from.”
“I was thanked for being honest with them and it turned from an all right day into a good one.”
“Dasha and Kima were not only engaging and fun, but they helped us employ our persuasive skills in a new way.”
“Dasha and Kima really engaged with us individually and challenged us to think intellectually with an open mind to challenging concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to work on poetry with them and wish they could come again!”
These poets obviously made a difference.
Sincerely,
Heather Reichenberg
Language Arts Teacher
Homer High School
Foundation keeps helping hospice
Hospice of Homer wants to give a heartfelt thank you to the Jenson Fund for awarding our agency a grant via the Homer Foundation. The grant allowed Hospice of Homer to recently update our donor database software. This will improve Hospice of Homer’s ability to record and track donations and to thank the supporters who make our work possible
Thank you to The Jenson Fund and to the Homer Foundation for their generosity and for supporting Hospice of Homer’s commitment to provide dignity, connection, and mobility to those in our community who are ill or isolated.
Jessica Golden, Executive Director
Hospice of Homer
