The Burrow

  Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton I watched my anxiety grow.  I stood on the outside comfortable and secure, and I watched it flourish, all on its own.   There was an awesome power behind it, Mike Mulligan's steam shovel digging the hole, harder and faster and deeper and with a perfectly square edge.   There was no way out of the hole.   I could sit there, at the bottom, with Mike Mulligan and Mary Ann.  Stuck.  A building constructed over my head, comprised of bricks named Christina-Taylor , and Alex Teves , and classes of kindergarteners , pressing on my heart as I imagined myself walking around town in an orange t-shirt. I have orange t-shirts.  One is from a girls' trip to NASA while attending a convention of the National Charity League, an organization I'd have introduced to CTG when she entered 6th grade.  One is from the Jane Goodall lecture  G'ma and I attended, sitting on foldin...

for Christina-Taylor, Dorwin, Judge Roll,  Gabe, Dot, Phyllis who were taken from us that sunny Saturday morning. For Gabby, who continues to inspire. For myself, looking at the world from a different perspective. For Hadiya Pendleton , whose friends started it all. For the schoolchildren in Connecticut and the educators who died with them. I thought that your deaths would change the conversation....... I'm still hopeful. Denizens, if you can, wear something orange today and let the world know that you care.

Hadiya Pendleton | Sun-Times library I'm wearing orange today.  I have my orange American flag pin on, too.   I want to remind the world that hunters wear orange to keep themselves and one another safe.  I want to remind the world that I don't care if you have a gun, as long as you are sane and trained and careful.  I want to remind the world that this is not a great deal to ask... to remind them that Christina-Taylor would be thinking about high schools right now... to remind them that visiting with one's Congresswoman should not be an occasion for violence. The #WearingOrange campaign was started by the friends of Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago high school student gunned down a week after she and her classmates performed for President Obama.  Her parents, Cleo and Nate Pendleton, penned this Op Ed for the Chicago Sun Times . I'm probably breaking all kinds of journalistic integrity doctrines, but I am reposting it here for you to read.  If you'...