Books Worth a Look

  • Little Bee by Chris Cleave - This book is a must read. Better than anything else I've read, it takes you vividly into the life of a person in the 3rd world who has no choice but to escape. It is brilliantly written & works well as an audio book. Often I've sent info about the wonderful refugees I've met in Europe. We know only so much of their plight as it is painful for them to recall much less live through again by recounting it. But over time it is clear what they've lived through. This book is excellent as you discover the horrors of their world. Somewhat how to me, it is like being in Europe near a Concentration Camp. One has an obligation to visit it. 'Never to Forget.' In this case, to have our eyes opened.
  • Garbage King by Eliz Laird - The book is set on the streets on Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia and here lives Mamo and his sister Tiggist. When Mamo's "uncle" offers a job, he soon sets out on a bus to work. Little does he know that he is actually being sold into slavery...

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Toivo Saukko - a good man dies 7/2/10

Laura's grandfather & my former father-in-law passed away yesterday morning at age 91 while in hospice care at his daughter's, Dot, in Ocean Pines, Md.

Toivo was a simple man, was devoted to his wife and family. Laura took him shopping, took him to doctor's appointment & kept him up to date with his meds for the past 7 years. I recall a delightful image of him in his tuxedo dancing with Laura at her wedding in May 2009.

All of us convened for Christmas dinner each year. It was a treat finding him a Grisham novel. A post card I sent him from Oxford, England arrived on July 1st.

May he rest in peace. we will miss him.

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REFLECTIONS & ARTICLES

Thoughts on the amazing people I get to meet.

Rich, my 19 year old friend, soon to be Franciscan and recent community member at Haley House in Boston. An article he wrote.

http://www.capuchinfranciscans.org/pdf/2008%2003%2011%20CVO%20Update%20A%20community%20of%20two%20tables.pdf