Girl on a Bus

As I was driving home today, I sat at a red light behind a school bus. It was a long light. I started to notice the girl sitting on the back of the bus was in a wheelchair and her head kept bobbing back and forth. May the sun was hitting her and it was uncomfortable? Maybe she was talking to someone? I kept observing. What I then saw, tugged at my heart strings. She was crying. I scanned the bus to see if there was anyone to help her. It look liked she was the sole passenger at the back of the bus and I kept thinking - how can I help her? Strange as this may sound, I tried to help her by talking to her silently in my car. "It's ok....it will be ok...you are almost home." The bus continued on and I arrived home wishing I could have done more.

The Women's Conference 2008

I've followed The Women's Conference the last 2 or 3 years in large part because of Maria Shriver. Her speeches are so compelling, compassionate and filled with first hand life accounts that are so personal and intimate - you want to hear more.

You realize she is a real and an admirable person. She spoke at length about her love of family and in particular her love for her mother who is the foundation of her very being. This I can relate to. She elaborated on her fear of her mother dying and of her fear of going out on stage for a particular event. and that made me think about a conversation at a dinner party. I was interested to hear such an accomplished speaker such as Maria Shriver share her view about overcoming such universal fears . It goes to show - we are all human.

Christiane Amanpour is a longstanding favorite journalist of mine. I wish I had my laptop available to share her presentation. She spoke about Afganistan and how for a time, as a result of US support, women were able to enjoy more social and educational freedoms but when American turned their attention to Iraq, those social advancements dimished. This was of interest to me because I just met a physician from Afganistan who is actively seeking to expand hospital services in his home country. These topics don't usually come up in day to day conversation.

Condoleeza Rice...some discussion points:

• The glass ceiling will go away when women help women.
• It's ok to be the first and not have a role model that looks like you. Example: Sally Ride Realize You can find a role model in any age, color, ethnicity and religion.
• You have to find the road that works for you - there is no particular route - you have to create your own way.
• One's failure can lead to redirection in which you can be wildly successful. Example: Condoleeze Rice's failure as a concert pianist and her passion for studying Russian. She acknolweged as a Black girl from Alabama with no Russian blood, had never been to Russia, it didn't make conventional sense.
• Don't let conventionalism stop you.
• Condoleeza Rice - why she is single - she hasn't met anyone to date that she wanted to marry and spend her life with was met with applause. I must admit - I quitely applauded in my living room - as I feel the same. But - I sure am looking forward to meeting a life partner who is a great husband, a best friend, a savvy business partner, and activities companion. Too much to ask? I don't think so!
  
  For more information go to http://www.womensconference.org/

The Women's Conference Pledge

As each year passes faster than the next (just as my mother said it would) it has become increasingly important to live a good and full life.

Days and months fly by and you wonder, where did the time go? What have I done recently that is important? The pledge below is part of the Women's Conference. Read it. It is certainly worth sharing and really thinking about.


1 I pledge to "show up" in my life as myself, not as an imitation of anyone else.
2 I pledge to avoid using the word "just" to describe myself. For example, I won't say, "I'm just a mother," "I'm just a student" or "I'm just an ordinary person."
3 I pledge to give myself 10 minutes of silence and stillness everyday to get in touch with my heart and hear my own voice.
4 I pledge to use my voice to connect my dreams to my actions.
5 I pledge to use my voice to empower myself and others.
6 I pledge to serve my community at least once a year in a way that will benefit others.
7 I pledge to ask myself: "Who am I? What do I believe in? What am I grateful for? What do I want my life to stand for?"
8 I pledge to sit down and write my own mission statement.
9 I pledge to live my own legacy.
10 I pledge to pass it on.

Off the Wall

The Palos Verdes Art Center is presenting "Off the Wall" - an art exhibit in the Beckstrand Gallery. The opening reception is the Friday from 5-8 pm. This is my first art show and I have two photographs of Neptune's Fountain that will be on display. I also have photographs on display at Skin Haven Spa in Los Angeles. (skinhaven.com)

FDIC and the average Jane

The news that we have been bombarded has not been pleasant. But don't let this rile you...take action to protect yourself, your home and your assets.

I called a couple of banks and investment firms to see how they would respond to questions regarding the safeguarding of hard earned money. The banks were FDIC insured for up to $100,000 and the investment firm is insured by FTIC up to $500K.

I asked if something were to happen, how would got my money and how long would it take? I was referered to the following website: http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/index.html

You might find it interesting reading.

Happy Birthday, William Carlos Williams

With the wonders of google alert, I was pleasantly suprised to receive the following awaiting me in my inbox:

Happy Birthday, William Carlos Williams findingDulcinea - New York,New York,USAWilliam Carlos Williams was the first child of British-born William George Williams and Puerto Rican-born, Raquel Helene Hoheb, born on September 17, ...http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/happy-birthday/2008/Sep/William-Carlos-Williams.html

To those of you who may not be familiar with William Carlos Williams, he was a Pulitzer prize-winning author, a compassionate doctor and I am proud to say, a relative of mine. I never met him in person but he was a steady presence in our household growing up. His books sat in a revered place on our family bookshelf in the living room which also displayed an Etruscan vase, a centuries old Buddha given to a relative for providing electricity to the palace in Siam and a mahogony chess set. Although WCW was not alive when I was born, he had a steady presence through conversations in our family. He had asked my grandparents - who were both physicians - to oversee his practice while he was on extended leave in Europe, in the literary circles of Esra Pound and others.

It wasn't until I was in high school that I read a few of his poems, and in my naivitee - they did not ring a bell. A few more years past and in college, I became interested and read his autobiography which I lapped up since it included the rich history of Raquel Hoheb. I remember being suprised that he had referenced Wanamaker soap - because for years - that was the special soap my mother had ordered. It came in a pretty box and was stored in our linen closet for special occassions. Small details...but yet...they provided a thread of connection. And as more years past and I pursued my master's degree in healthcare administration and read his book "The Doctor Stories" ....I felt like I knew him. He came to life for me as he described helping patients that had very little means, patients that were from other countries, stories of life and death.

From time to time, he comes to life again. week at a medical tourism conference, I met a physician from Tunisia and she is an avid reader. She is a general practitioner who is devoted to her patients. We talked about late night rounds, and that only 2% of the graduating medical students are going into general practice. Before I knew it, I was mentioning "The Doctor Stories" and soon I was telling her about my distant relationship to the author. I guess I am just proud of my family. What can I say?

What I find so intriguing about WCW is that he combined two passions that were so different from each other and was incredibly successful at both. I have my own collection of his books now, and today I will make it a point, to celebrate his life by reading his works.

Happy Birthday WCW!

A chain mail prayer to read at least once

This morning, I received one of those chain mail messages from a friend. Typically I delete chain mail messages. This one though, I like enough to post because it has a good message regardless of religion.

May today be all you need it to be. May the Peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.

Why I like it: Basically the message is about making the most out of your day. Life is short.