When I awoke this morning I felt my age of somewhere between the beginning of time and the present. Peeked outside to see a feast. A perfect morning with bright sunlight, a virgin snowfall, and the sky a deep sea blue. So what it was 19 degrees. So what if the wind made it feel like 6. Two pairs of pants, layers of sweaters, two pairs of gloves, heavy jacket, scarf and boots made it feel almost like summer. A 12 year old kid grabbed her surf snowboard and headed toward the hill behind a nearby school. There were only two other children there with their dad. After several sweeps into the soft powder, I asked for a quick photo. Immediately after there was more surfing, climbing the hill, and some hoots of excitement. The snow hugged the trees and carpeted the road, and allowed me to grasp a wisp of youth.
This is an excerpt written for The American Red Cross when a fire left many families homeless: It is a rainy Monday morning and it marks the third week where a 24-7 Red Cross shelter has remained open in Bergen County, NJ. Volunteers and staff silently file into a stark room to debrief on the status of the shelter. The sole volunteer who was on duty through the night is bleary eyed. Styrofoam cups filled with coffee clutter the meeting table and business begins. They recap how two-hundred people were left homeless from a 5-story apartment fire. Seventy-five children are among the population. There were no injuries, but all property was destroyed: clothing, furniture, toys, books, and all items relied upon for day-to-day living. The subject of whether donations are tapped out is discuss while so much is needed to bring these families back from the ashes. The day's orders include distribution of funds, vouchers, and emer...