For My Mother, Born August 7th 1935, Support the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace

Mom’s 70th Birthday with my niece and nephew


There is so much about my work at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace and my life in West Virginia that makes me think of my mother.  She would have hated the snakes and loved the birds!  She would have loved the country homes, but hated the widespread poverty.  I often find myself taking pictures of things in the Pearl Buck Birthplace, brightly colored birds, or unabashed wildlife staring at me defiantly from my yard and thinking, I can’t wait to show this to Mom!
She would have been very proud of my work here, though like my father is now, she would have been concerned about me getting by on the modest stipend of an Americorps Volunteer.  Still she would have approved.
Continue reading

How to Help in Japan or Libya

Smoke billows from a fire after the massive wave destroyed houses and roads in Kisenuma city. Photo: Reuters TV

The news from Japan is overwhelming. In effect the nation is dealing with three crises, two natural disasters that have already costs thousands of lives and another potential nuclear meltdown. I am hopeful the problems at the reactors will be contained, though there has already been some leakage. Japan is already devastated. Death tolls are expected to reach 10,000 or more. That number is hard to grasp and Japan far away, but we must wrap our heads around it and step up to help. Japan has done so for the US in its times of crises.
Continue reading