As a resident of Adrian, Michigan, I am deeply saddened by the double murder of an Adrian couple by their 17 year-old son. I would be shocked and upset by this tragedy even if it weren't so close to home, but the community is kind of like a small town, and any crime against another seems like such an assault on all of us.

My youngest son is a Junior at Adrian High School, in the same class as the teenager who did the shooting. I recognize the father from his photo in The Blade, although I probably only saw him in passing at some event. When I asked my son if he knew the boy, he said, "Yeah, that's just crazy. I can't believe it." And yesterday, I (and all the other parents of Adrian High School students, I'm sure) got a recorded phone call from the Superintendent of Schools, telling that there had been a tragedy involving a student, and urging us to hug our children and talk to them about it. Yes, it's crazy.

Several lives have been ruined by this event. I find it hard to understand that some odd or inappropriate behavior had not been observed earlier in this young man, that might have alarmed someone enough to get some help. But we don't know the secret thoughts of others, and asking what could have been done to prevent this (or to prevent something like this from happening again) is a guessing game. Terrible things happen, and can't be undone.

But horrible events like this do change us, if only in that we might pay more attention to a troubled person who needs intervention. We might appreciate our family more, and show them love we might have been stingy with before. We might think about anger and how we can learn and model anger management so that emotions have less control over us and others. We might focus on what is really important in life, and let go of the trivial, in order to make our lives more meaningful.

No, there isn't a silver lining to this cloud. But we go on living, we pray for those who have died or whose lives have been permanently altered, and, hopefully, we find a way to counteract hate and fear. I propose treating others with more love to do just that.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 3:24:10 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

If you are an Education Department student, you know that the Praxis tests are essential to getting through all the steps to eventual graduation and licensure as a teacher. What you may NOT know is that the WIN Center offers sessions in PRAXIS I PREPARATION, to help you get ready to take the Praxis I tests. Don't miss out on this great support opportunity!

The facts:

Sessions are held  

• Friday, 9/26/08        10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
• Monday, 9/29/08       9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Thursday, 10/2/08     3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 10/4/08    12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 10/30/08    3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, 10/31/08        2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

No, you don't have to take all the sessions - just one! The sessions are FREE to registered students, faculty and staff, and are held in the WIN Center. Call the Center at 419-824-3748 to reserve your spot. Seating is limited, but walk-ins will be accepted if there is space.

Get in there and get some practice with the Praxis!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:50:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

In the larger scheme of things, it might not seem like a big deal. After all, what harm could it do? Blonde girls know they're smart even if people generally think that telling "dumb blonde jokes" is okay, right?

Or maybe not. A put-down is a put-down, no matter how harmless the intention. If I had a blonde daughter, I wouldn't want her within hearing distance of someone inferring that blondes don't have a lick of sense. Children have a hard enough time growing confidence as it is, without having adults knock them down.

When did blonde jokes become popular? I don't know - I just know that I have endured them for far too long, smiling politely while wanting to conk the offending jokester on the head. What could they possibly be thinking, telling a joke like that to me?

You may be thinking that I have no sense of humor. You would be so wrong! I laugh at the most obvious of amusing things, and at the least obvious. I find mirth everywhere. I try not to laugh inappropriately. Sometimes when I am under stress, I find myself laughing uncontrollably, because suddenly lots of things seem funny. I guess that's a good stress-reliever, so I'm okay with it. 

But wait - what does NOT telling blonde jokes have to do with anything? Well, it has to do with being aware of your words and your attitudes. This covers most anything - like my mother always said (and probably yours, too), "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

The only way to grow and evolve as a kind and enlightened human being is to pay attention to the kindness of your actions. And since learning how to be more "present" in this world leads to greater happiness, I encourage you to pay attention.

You never know what you might learn. 

Monday, September 08, 2008 5:06:11 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Live & Learn is a new Lourdesworld Blog for 2008.  Welcome, Live & Learn!

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 10:38:58 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] |