 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
In the summer of 1963, a new family moved into the yellow house on
the corner, right next door to ours -- two exceedingly well-groomed
little girls, with shoulder-length curls pulled back tightly in elasticized
baubles, and crisp pinafores. Although the differences between us
seemed insurmountable at first, gradually we all became friends. Elaine and
Kathleen's mother found me entirely frustrating though. From the day
I pulled all of her carefully placed border plants out by their roots,
until the day I locked her oldest daughter in our tool shed for a joke,
then forgot to let her out, Mrs. Sutherland would beg, scream and plead
with my mother to "tame your child."
> > r e a d o n |
| |
 |
Sharing some classroom materials with me, my five-year-old's teacher
explained that slowly, first grade curriculum has been pressed into
the kindergarten level. Journals once reserved for first grade are now in
her classroom, complete with rigid, grid-lined pages the kids must scrawl
their beginning writings in. That alone might not be much, but when you
figure in the lack of naptime, a once-sacred kindergarten tradition that
allowed kids a chance to wind down during their new schedule, and teachers a
sanity breather in an otherwise hectic, noise-filled day, it signifies much
more. The niceties of kindergarten in an atmosphere that mirrored the
nurturing spirit stay-at-home mothers once provided, are slowly waning. But
does that mean those homey niceties aren't needed?
> > r e a d o n |
|
|
 |
Many people have no idea what a Vegan is, and when they do, they
don't understand how or why a person would want to be one. People ask me,
"Why are you Vegan?" and "How can you stick to such a restrictive diet?" For
me, veganism was the realization that all animals, including birds, fish,
reptiles and insects, are equal to humans.
> > r e a d o n |
| |
 |
Smitty had taken me into his confidence. I knew he didn't have to
tell me the truth, but our relationship was not about lies -- we respected
one another too much to not tell the truth. Even though it was against my
values, I decided against telling anyone his plans because I knew
Smitty was making a rational decision and, I wanted to respect his wishes.
> > r e a d o n |
|
|
|
