I made a vow to pick up every hitchhiker I ever find after receiving a number of rides from strangers when I really needed it. When I was 19 I drove with my brother and a couple of friends up to Mount Desert Island in Maine to spend a week camping in Acadia National Park.Continue reading “Hitchbot is Dead. Long Live Humanity!”
Tag Archives: philadelphia
Helping kids find their voice with Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss was a prophet. The Lorax is a creation care manifesto, The Butter Battle Book is a telling allegory of the cold war, The Sneetches is about racism, Horton Hatches an Egg tells the story of a nonviolent sit in. I love Dr. Seuss. So I jumped at the chance to participate in aContinue reading “Helping kids find their voice with Dr. Seuss”
Why are you doing this?
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my bench on Locust Walk at the University of Pennsylvania holding my “tell me your story sign”. It turns our it was parent’s weekend and I got two stories from proud Penn parents. One man, D, came up to me and said, “Ok, you’ve piqued my interest.Continue reading “Why are you doing this?”
Tell Me Your Story, Penn
My friend, Howard Pinder, came up with this great idea. The “Tell Me Your Story” sign. I’ve been emulating him at the University of Pennsylvania this week. It’s pretty fun! People look at me when I’m holding the sign, many look away when I meet their gaze, they look away and smile. Many give aContinue reading “Tell Me Your Story, Penn”
Circle of Hope’s Public Joy
I was driving down the Broad Street on Sunday when all of a sudden I had to pull over abruptly in the center “parking lane.” My friends, Forest and Ben were playing guitars in front of the library at Broad and Morris! It was a beautiful morning and these beautiful people were making some beautifulContinue reading “Circle of Hope’s Public Joy”
Dear Philly University Students : an open letter (it’s about Jesus, ok?)
Dear students, Welcome to Philadelphia! I want to be your friend. What is your name? Will you escape your own personal zone long enough to connect with me? Most of you won’t, but that’s okay because I’m pretty sure some of you will. But really, those people who are ready to connect are the anomaliesContinue reading “Dear Philly University Students : an open letter (it’s about Jesus, ok?)”
Being There- Why you have to show up
I was lying on my couch reading Game of Thrones on Monday afternoon when I heard the megaphone start blaring. “Oh yeah, it’s the protest. We’re shutting down Woodland Ave!” I grabbed Oliver, my 2 year old son, and we ran down the street to join the crowd. We were blocking Woodland Ave. to sendContinue reading “Being There- Why you have to show up”
Divided Diversity Defied
Last time I went to Sacks Playground I think it was my friend Zack’s 8th birthday party (but that was only a couple of years ago). A woman I talked to at this playground on Monday hadn’t been there in a while either. Our similarly aged boys were playing with each other so we wereContinue reading “Divided Diversity Defied”
Trying to be question marks on July 4th
When you wear a sandwich sign some people will yell across a crowd to you. I learned this and a lot of other things at the Party on the Parkway on July 4th, this past Thursday. The first person to yell across the crowd got my attention by reciting what he had memorized of theContinue reading “Trying to be question marks on July 4th”
Grace says they don’t want to talk to you
A three year old is holding his mother’s hand in one hand and a much too real looking toy handgun in the other. A well dressed dad and ballet dancer daughter emerge from the subway. He drops her off at the dance school and returns toward the subway. A tiny girl, hair dangling what seemsContinue reading “Grace says they don’t want to talk to you”
“Good Morning” means something… I hope
I stood outside in the rain today for an hour to see who would talk to me. Between 8 and 9 in the morning, especially when it isn’t raining but even when it is, South Broad Street’s sidewalk is a river of people streaming to work. This morning, the bells of St. Rita’s started andContinue reading ““Good Morning” means something… I hope”
Today, if you hear his voice 