So much to appreciate and to celebrate:
* One daughter, after three months of training and along with some friends, completed her first 1/2 marathon, cheered on by her husband, her three children, and her mother.
* One daughter left Miami after two and a half years and arrived in Kansas City to join her fiance and to complete the final ten weeks of her job with the Knight Foundation, before celebrating her June 21, 2014 wedding.
* Soon to retire from her 42 years working in the public interest world, Ellen — wife, mother, grandmother — is profiled in Chronicle of Philanthropy, witnesses one daughter’s first 1/2 marathon run, spends extended time with her three grandchildren, and squeezes in time to find a possible dress for her other daughter’s wedding.
*And I, Richard — husband, father and GrandPapa- – and partner in the establishment and operation of a school for troubled kids and their families for 32 years, spent the weekend in New Orleans. There, along with four other founders of The Family Foundation, Inc. and The Frost School, I participated in planning for the Foundation’s expanded mission for its final ten years, and successfully found a bit of time for the delights of New Orleans.
Definitely a weekend to remember.
Land Wayland said:
And I thought you said you were retired. Clearly you have discovered that “retired” is just a code word for “Still doing lots of good stuff, but no one pays me money to do it” and “I may get up when I want to and wear what I want to, but I will not do nothing”
If you truly want to do nothing at all, then you have to tell people that you are “seriously retired” which means “I have withdrawn from the world I used to live in and am now living in a world of my own construction with my own rules and I really don’t want to be bothered”.
Richard, I don’t see you ever being “seriously retired”.
Richard said:
Land,
Your first paragraph is 100% on target.
Your second one is pretty good too, tho it sometimes feel as I am now living in a world of my own construction (mostly) with my own rules (sometimes) and I really don’t want to be bothered (by the worries and anxieties that accompanied my previous salaried life).
Thanx for your thoughtfulness and wisdom.
R
Eric said:
CONGRATS TO ALL! Annie, super proud of you. Beth, I hope you realize this is Annie’s chance for revenge for the picture of “cooking you.” Ellen and Richard, nice to know others appreciate all the work you have done for Tikkun.
Nancy Cedar Wilson said:
Very impressive schedule for your whole family for the week-end!
(My daughter-in-law also ran in the Rock’n’Roll–one month after surgery, mother of 4, and sponsor of a “Girls On The Run” group in suburban Maryland.)
But Ellen wins the grand prize for meaningful social action! Altho you come close, with the marvelous Frost School under your belt–that institution helped so many troubled kids–some all the way from Virginia, that I knew–
You guys know how to live RIGHT!
Barbara Chernov said:
Ellen & Richard,
After all of the important work the two of you have done to “give back”, you definitely deserve lots more weekends of joy, pleasure and celebrations. With the two beautiful daughters you have raised, I am sure there are only good things ahead.
Ellen, congratulations on your upcoming retirement. I am sure you won’t really “retire” and will be as busy as your husband is, just with different pursuits. Hopefully you will allow yourself more time for other pleasures.
I am grateful to know all of you and love being able to share in your growing family and new pursuits.
Love Barbara