Relay For Life

Here are a few pictures from the Relay For Life we did at my college for the American Cancer Society on Friday, April 11th. To date, we have raised more than $12,000. I raised about $1,000 myself. The donation deadline is actually in June.


Members of the organizing committee. I'm the second from the right in the back row next to my friend, Terri.




The luminaria lined the lake in front of the college.




A close-up of the luminaria. This was probably the most poignant part of the whole day. I did pretty well through most of it, but the emotion was a little stronger during this time. My wife's memory is never far from me. It was even closer this night. One of my students, Angie, came back to school to walk with me. I really appreciated that.

I'm sure we will do an even better job next year.

From last night's Artwalk

this diamond sutra doesn’t cut it

normally the barefoot poet
should have intrigued me
wire-framed glasses long brown hair
her picture outside and inside the gallery
slightly smiling, knowingly implying
that she has the secrets I have stopped
trying to uncover in my nighted journey
maybe it was the cover and title of her book:
the human experience, so precociously
promising but the face of a child innocent
painted in clown white nose red eye framed
too removed from the midnight terrors
of Bozo and John Wayne Gacy, It
maybe it was the couples milling around
sharply pressed newly bought jeans
wine glasses held at waist height
oddly accented comments on art and
artists whose works were on the walls
of the massage slash pilates parlor
did you know so and so was with
you-know-who and what a fabulous
deal for that condo a steal at only
or maybe it was the evenness of her tan
the precise cut of her so straight hair
the designer dress that yelled Lincoln Road
or was it the titles of her other books
teambuilding that gets results
perfect phrases for building strong teams
executive writing: American style
rule #1: stop talking! a guide for listening
the Buddha would not carry this beyond
the riverbank some things must wash away
barefoot poets should not be so perfect
so polished so correct so corporate

Oh really?

The happiest time of your life is old age, study says
Associated Press

What a crock of shit.

The Raven- Edgar Allan Poe

The genius of Poe and the brilliance of Vincent Price.

Relay For Life®

Though I have been donating money to various cancer funds and to friends or students who have done cancer walks before, I've never had the opportunity to be personally involved in an event. I did volunteer to help with one of the Susan Komen events last year but was rejected as a volunteer, which I did find upsetting. I had already sent them money. This year, my campus is sponsoring the first Relay For Life at Broward Community College. I was asked to be one of the faculty sponsors. I am also the captain for the Student Publications Team since I have been the faculty advisor for the literary/art magazine for the past 18 years. Because this is somewhat of a last-minute thing, planning (to me) seems somewhat haphazard and will go right down to the wire. It is a good cause, though, so we are doing our best to make this a good event. The fund-raising goal for the event is $30,000, which is quite ambitious. Because it is our first time, it will be a 12 hour event rather than a 24 hour event. I imagine I'll be out there all 12 hours. It isn't about distance or time on the track but just being part of the event. Many activities are scheduled. A complete list of events and more information are available on the website. I am, of course, doing this to honor the memory of my late wife, Alberta Mary Ellingham, whom I lost in 2005. I have set up a personal page for anyone who wants to make a donation. I've already achieved my goal as I made a donation for my wife and my friend, Vicki Hendricks, who also made a donation.

I am looking forward to this.



My wife and I when we visited my daughter in Boston. This was Boston Harbor.