Phone call from far away...

I was doing some major puttering around the house today - all those things that should be done, but aren't - like organizing outgrown boots for other moms whose kids can now wear them...that kind of thing. Perfectly normal, albeit far down the list of important must do things.

My phone rang and it was my wonderful friend from Baltimore. She sounded happy and excited - and then she posed a question. Guess who I'm standing with? Now, the possibilities are almost endless, as you might imagine. And given that we had worked together at not one, but two jobs in different parts of the Baltimore area, the number was growing. She couldn't keep it inside - and she said - I'm with *really wonderful young woman that we met when she was 14* and in one of our pregnancy prevention/intervention programs.

I was so excited - and then I got the best thanksgiving treat -- I got to talk to that young woman. She's a mom now, married, with two little babies. She finished college and is a social worker, and she is also in ministry. For years I've wondered about the young lives we touched in some of Baltimore's darkest hours, on some of the darkest streets. And today, I got my happy ending. She's doing well, and she told me that each time it got tough she thought of the three mentors she had - S, D and me. We all worked together on a program - and she was one of the ones we loved - we loved her for her energy, and her smarts and her joy in life - and we were also scared that those very things we loved about her would make her extra appealing to the characters on the street - the ones involved in drugs, drug running, guns and gangs.

And the worst didn't happen. She told me it was hard, and at times it tested her belief in herself and her belief in God. And she told me that when it was hardest she reminded herself to look for friends like S, D and me. This wonderful young woman said that what made her think about the future was meeting the three of us - and seeing that we all came from different backgrounds, different communities and different cultures - but that we were tight - and made it work because of our differences - not in spite of them.

Over the years I've come to learn that not all endings are like this - in fact, memorably, I was watching the news on one very hot Sunday night in August - and a young man - again - smart, funny and right on the edge of the cliff... was "perp walked" into the Northeast Division in Baltimore City - on a murder charge. I cried all night long, and in the fifteen years that have passed since that night I still think about him.

I don't care if the turkey's dry, or if the corn bread is overbaked. Because I got my thanksgiving today - in a phone call - from a young woman who is making a difference - because, as she said "You, Miss D. and Miss S. - you helped me believe in myself - because the three of you believed in me and I like to think you never stopped". We didn't.

Enjoy the turkey, the fixings and the friendships. XO

One of the highlights of trying to be organized is remembering to cut to the chase.

Why waste time microwaving precooked bacon when you can just pop the precooked refrigerated bacon on top of the frozen waffles, and toast it. A one toaster meal - sort of. A hot breakfast in the morning. And food police, if you are reading this, it's totally cooked.

So the day presented itself and I needed a photo of the kid and the dog. In a particular pose, with particular props. On any other day I would lovingly set the stage, get the kid and the dog together, and have fun. In the 7 minute morning, I had to make every second count.

I went upstairs to the bookshelf and found a bright and sturdy picture book. I went to the kitchen and got the cold cuts - ham - and then went to my wallet, where I got out two bucks. I now had all the important props, and two participants following me to see what was going to happen. The element of surprise was totally on my side.

No time to waste - the late bell always rings at the same time. I told the boy if he wanted to work for the cash he had to sit on the floor. I told the dog the same thing, except she worked for ham. Once the boy mastered the trick of hiding the ham (see I am smart - it's closer to flesh color than the turkey pepperoni) the dog willingly looked over his shoulder. And once the dog was in position the boy made it his business to earn the cash.

Minutes later the photo was good, the dog was fed and the kid was adding up his pay and plotting his next purchase. Mission accomplished in record time.

The week was off to a good start.