Have you ever noticed how mountain climbers only take pictures when they reach the top of the mountain? No one really wants to take pictures of the the struggle, the turmoil, the difficulties experienced on the way. They simply want to remember that they ultimately made it...And there's the picture to prove it -- they made it to the top of the world. It becomes a defining moment; one that let's the viewers of the photo in on a little secret -- they endured whatever the journey threw at them and they made it to the top. I like to take pictures that reveal the blood and guts of the journey. There may be several memorable moments, and also those that perhaps one would not like to remember, but at least the climb has been documented. This analogy holds true with life also. Some view taking pictures of the journey as insignificant or even annoying; or perhaps in some cases not representative of the way they remember the moment, but when all is said and done, at least there is some documentation of the thing we call daily life.

When I wrote my thesis many years ago, I was trying to articulate the differences between the way men and women communicate on the job. It was written before the onslaught of personal computers and so the research was done by hand, and consequently the information I found was relative to my geographic space and my energy levels. Shortly after I defended my thesis, a book emerged that was entitled "You Just don't Understand: Conversation between men and women." As I studied this work by Deborah Tannen, I wished that I had written the book, or at least that it could have been available when I was writing my arguments. It seemed to articulate many of the differences between communication styles that I wanted to point out. Knowing something and being able to do it is quite different. There is always a gap between what I know and what I do. It has become my life's quest to shorten that gap. This lesson was one of the most important things I gleaned from my experience at the RUSK institute in New York City. I was able to focus on improving what I do, rather than just adding to what I know.

I have been reading alot lately and reading directly influences my writing. I want to glean insights from my reading. Currently I'm involved in a book called "The Help". It is written from the perspective of the colored help that was popular in Mississippi during the 60's. It seems to me that much has changed since then, but again that's from the perspective of a white woman. It is hard for me these days to read something or see something, and remain unaffected. I seem to empathize with the slightest of provocations, and while this makes me more teary than I'd like to be, I find myself grateful to feel emotional about the things that are at the core of mine or other's very being.