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I love teaching! It connects me with so many amazing individuals, such as Robin Keefe, the beautiful and vibrant President and Founder of BookEnds, a non-profit organization about "Kids helping kids for Literacy." Robin and I met at UCLA Extension 10 years ago. In this photo, she's standing behind me and we're surrounded by some of BookEnds' "Reader-Leaders." This group ranges in ages 7 to 15 and we've just had a public speaking workshop. I was astounded by their knowledge, sophistication and performances! Since 1998, BookEnds has donated 1.5 million books to children, libraries and schools. Research on literacy shows that access to books impacts children's ability to read, their comprehension, spelling and vocabulary. So now, Robin, her Board and the Reader-Leaders of BookEnds are committed to bringing Los Angeles up to the national average of books per students. Their goal? 7 million books! If you're a book lover, find out how you can help by going to http://www.bookends.org/.
This blissed out picture was taken during the last session of "Public Speaking for Professionals" at UCLA Extension in Dec 08. I've got a broken leg inside that big Darth Vader boot and had recently come from a transformational hospital experience, in which I got, at my core, that the universe loves and supports me. I also saw how several inner conversations echoing through my mind - some for decades - had come together to create the accident I had. And there was a note of drama when I thought I might not get to vote for President but- did you know, there is a system in place that allows for hospital patients to vote at the last minute? It was one more occasion for me to count my blessings. All in all, this has been an unforgettable experience of insights, allowing others to serve me (my husband - a gem -drives me to my classes!) and for nature to take it's always dependable course. Now I'm almost ready to walk and drive again and my husband is perhaps even more thrilled than I am!
