Monday, July 07, 2003

Some news: John Robb is leaving UserLand. This is part of a bigger transition, one that we're not ready to talk about yet. It should be, net-net, good news for Manila and Radio users, and for the weblog community. We weren't ready to announce, John surprised us by writing about his departure on his weblog. He's a surprising guy. Anyway, part of my reason for being in Calif next week is business. I think UserLand will do fine, although things are still uncertain, but that's life in the big leagues. Thanks John for all your help, and best wishes to you and your family for much continued success. Onward! [Scripting News] Userland is a great product. But all organizations depend on great people. Best wishes John. Dave I hope that you find the right person. It would be such a tragedy to let all this go 10:12:16 PM    comment []

My friend Jay Jay, our Heinz 57, loves children and is truly my best friend. As a boy, on every birthday I wished for a dog that looked just like him. It took 50 years of waiting but here he is. He is not only a friend but an alter ego  like Augustine is for Natalaie. He talks ofr me at times and has his own voice and view of the world. Later this week he will join my site as a regular contributor providing I hope a ground level, and more grounded,  view of reality. There will be a prize for the one of you that gives me the best idea of what breeds make up the total Jay - please help. 9:45:48 PM    comment []

Learning by Play - What kids look like when they are having fun My daughter Hope is teaching a small class of kids how to cook this week in our cottage. Don't they look great!   9:35:48 PM    comment []

Losing a Child - Loss and Suffering - Nature's Power to Heal   The Lake in fall The International Children's Memorial Place opened this weekend on Prince Edward Island. As a parent I cannot imagine how I would cope with the loss of Hope or James. I think that when a child dies, part of us dies as well. For me, as with many others, formal religion offers little support. But Nature can and does.heal this wound.  It is not just family who are hurt by the loss of a child. It is hard to reconcile the loss of a school friend and this happens often. Many of us are confronted by the early deaths of school friends in car accidents. My roommate at school Jamie Borwick died in a car with his brother Freddie on Freddie's 21st birthday. I was working in Botswana in the desert as a diamond prospector when I heard the news - I was 18. Living in the open and being able to look up at the star filled night sky helped me see that Jamie had made the shift into eternity. Bill MacLean is a remarkable man who lost his son a few years ago. His dream was to create a place where family and friends could connect with the power of nature and , if they wanted, to each other, in surroundings that were "healingl". Bill has done this. Located at Scales Pond on PEI, the International Children's' Memorial Place (ICMP) is I think the most beautiful place on a beautiful Island. The lake is like the lake where Arthur found his sword.Excalibur. Early on a summer morning, the mists hover on its surface. The Dunk River travels majestically in a cathedral of trees. There is a pathway along its length. The water from the lake rushes through a dam and a fish ladder boiling with life and energy. You can plant a tree where we hope to create a new hardwood forest. There is plenty of space to be alone and there is a the choice of meeting other people. You can bring your dogs, swim and picnic. You can just visit a special place. You enter the "Kingdom of Nature". The site is about 30 minutes from Charlottetown and from the Bridge - in the centre of PEI. See the maps on the site. The Dunk     7:51:10 AM    comment []