Best Kept Secrete in DC

Ealin is and immigrant from El Salvador who has been drawing since he was 5 years old. I met him on the Metro when I was going into DC this weekend. He works at an organic restaurant on 19th street. Ealin is very talented young artist who creates amazing sketches in pen (yes--I said pen). But I am sure that most people have never seen his sketch pad. He is struggling just to survive and suffers from not knowing how to get ahead in the United States or how to market himself or go to school. I hope his talent is not lost. Ealin generously gave me a picture exhibiting flowers and a butterfly—he is such a kind spirited young man. The picture said in broken English, “Love doesn’t make the world go round; it is what makes the ride worth while.” May he get the love he so desperately believes in.

Alex Does the Impossible

The great thing about children is they think that anything is possible and so it is. They are the ultimate dreamers. In keeping with the theme that anything is possible--Alex at the age of 8 years old completed the 3rd Annual Jaycees Soft Shell Metric Century 23 mile bike ride on the Eastern Shore with his father in Christfield MD on Saturday, May 29th. See the web site at: http://salisburyjc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=300091. Alex is pretty amazing! But what was more interesting is that he even fell off his bike and got right back up. These are without a doubt lessons for life.

A New Kind of Mom

For those that ever thought that being a mom was trivial and indistinct, they have never met Kris O'Krepky. She is a new prototype in “Momming.” Kris is one of the most loyal mothers I know. She dotes on her two sons Will and Finn. They were, they are, and forever will be the center of her universe. She drives her kids 20 miles each way before and after school to give them a great private school education. In addition, Kris is fiercely devoted to her husband whom she has been married to for 20 years (something rarely seen in today’s society). To see Kris is to experience a seemingly inexhaustible power house. Kris is the happiest when she is constantly in motion. She always has a project going whether it is re-arranging her furniture at home or re-arranging her life. When she is not running around doing a million things, she can be found curled up with a stack of books which she goes through like most people eat jelly beans. With this much energy it is no surprise that two days ago Kris did something life changing for her and her family. She passed her exam and was appointed to the Foreign Service Department. It will only be a matter of time before Kris leaves town to start her new life abroad; This is a job that she is well suited for and will be a great use of her skills. Indeed the United States will benefit by having Kris as an ambassador on foreign soil. As they say in the Walt Disney Children’s Movie, Mulan—she will bring Honor to us all.