Forney Charities
Improving communities by helping residents, one person at a time.
Category: Uncategorized
From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters
If your high school American history class was anything like mine, it was not the most exciting. Actually, mind-numbing boring. Unfortunately, our teacher, Mr. Roberts, struggled with a rather severe handicap. He was wheelchair bound. He also struggled with a less than dynamic personality. … Continue Reading “From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters”
Shut up in My Bones
Like many of our nation, on January 20 our family tuned in to the ceremonies on that festive day, freezing cold. The breath of frozen vapor of the guests leaving the open door of the Capitol to take their seats was clearly visible. Cold,… Continue Reading “Shut up in My Bones”
A Severe Mercy
A favorite scene from “The Simpsons” is when Homer cautions Bart against attempting to cover up something from his mother. “You couldn’t fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had a electrified fooling machine.”[1] That spark of divinity — dare… Continue Reading “A Severe Mercy”
The Synchronicity of Love
This last week the citizens of Claremont were treated to another hateful polemic against our proposed supportive housing development for the unhoused. It was a fearful screed of half-truths and myths about those of us living in back alleys and in cars, in parks… Continue Reading “The Synchronicity of Love”
A Glory Attack
The other day as I was driving down Central Avenue in my newly repaired van (that’s another story), I was enjoying immensely the clear skies and the view of the mountains. I had on the blues station and was feeling completely at peace having… Continue Reading “A Glory Attack”
An All-Encompassing Love
As we come to one of our signature Hallmark holidays, Mother’s Day, I first want to salute all the moms out there. I know that my mother was the person in our family I could count on to buffer our family from my father’s… Continue Reading “An All-Encompassing Love”
Lord, We Do Not Know Where You are Going
When I was in sixth grade, I became a Boy Scout. That was a bit of a difficulty as they had a fee to be paid and my dad wasn’t interested in anything if it wasn’t free. Mom prevailed. I was put in a… Continue Reading “Lord, We Do Not Know Where You are Going”
The Past is a Foreign County
We all remember the “good old days” differently. I can still see in my mind’s eye my mother pulling into the Richfield gas station in her ’48 Buick Roadmaster convertible. We’d hardly have arrived under the awning only to be swarmed by attendants in… Continue Reading “The Past is a Foreign County”
Destiny or Fate — Your Highway?
When I was sixteen, like many kids my age, I was more than excited to be going in to the DMV, prepped for the written exam and ready to get my learner’s permit. After I had waited for what seemed an eternity for a… Continue Reading “Destiny or Fate — Your Highway?”
Night Watch
When I worked for NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, I was sent to, among several places, Seattle, to look at some of the most effective programming being done to address the homeless mentally ill. Much of this work centered around re-purposed churches and… Continue Reading “Night Watch”
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