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Gary's Wish List tells the story of Gary's remaining time on this earth. His mother, author and educator Mary Louise Selph deftly discusses all the ramifications of learning of her son's diagnosis. The guilt, the sadness, the feelings of defeat and desperation, the shock, confusion and inadequacy. And the anger and loss of faith.
Gary's words, in letters he wrote to friends and family, along with conversations with his immediate family shine a light of understanding and courage in the face of such a huge disaster. We learn how Gary finds the means to still be a teenager...and their reaction when the chemo wasn't working.
Pneumonia, weight loss, hair loss and weakness follow as well as a near-death experience from the chemo that was designed to strengthen Gary for a bone marrow transplant. During the brush with death Gary had an out-of-body experience that enabled him to relate everything that happened even though he was unconscious! All that was followed by the transplant, and protective isolation and radiation.
The treatment helped, but only for a while. Gary succumbed after nine months of a valiant fight. His funeral was held on what would have been his first day as a high school senior.
Gary's legacy is courage and the sacredness of life. Gary's Wish List is another. Mary Louise Selph has found the courage to write a page-turner of a book that enables the reader to walk in her shoes, and Gary's, too. In this reviewer's opinion, Gary's Wish List is a means to find peace through understanding!
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Prior to reading this book, I knew that Roe vs. Wade originated in Texas, but I never actually understood how much things changed for women of my generation. Both women and men alike will marvel at the antiquated norms Weddington faced as a young woman and how she ultimately overcame them. For all of the frustrations I presently voice about the status of women in the world, I am not at all certain I would have her personal courage when faced with such overwhelming sexism.
As a Texas state legislator, she was responsible for an equal credit act, a rape reform bill (co-sponsored with another new female representative named Kathryn Bailey) and the state's Equal Rights Amendment. To realize that one woman had accomplished all of this is simply amazing and inspiring.
Although there is not as much White House era musings as I would have prefered, the fact that she got in when few presidents of either party appointed large numbers of women is really signifigant. Not satified with her own personal triumph, she then worked to ensure that future generations would not have the same hardship. Working alongside Midge Constanoza, Weddington used her position to encourage more women to get involved in policymaking.
Also heartening is Weddington's inclusion of steps to protect reproductive choice at the book's end.Unlike some other books on reproductive rights, the message comes in loud and clear: Defend choice every day and without compromise. The battles may be long and weary, but the nation cannot afford to abandon the 30 year old (at least in spirit) promise of women's bodily autonomy.
Even though the original version of the book was released during the 1992 elections, it is a message that bears repeating in every presidential campaign. Vote pro-choice and vote often to protect women's right to life.
As a young woman, it helped me understand how far women have come in the past century and be more thankful of women leaders, like Sarah Weddington.
This book thoroughly covers all the basics -- explanations, case studies, resources and more. But the best asset of the book is that it is a true WORKBOOK where parents can use worksheets and templates to do things like keep schedules, record observations, track phone calls, plan for meetings with teachers or specialists, and record test scores and teacher comments.
Many of our parents use the book on an ongoing basis -- their copies are "worn and a bit tattered" which is evidence of the book's long term value to them.
I recommend the hardcover version, which is actually a three-ring binder format so you easily can add your own papers. You will quickly find that this book is an ideal tool for supporting your child's special education.
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Through the memories of Choona, now known as Tom, who is very, very old, we learn of how he, as a young man, at last learned of that part of his family's history about which no one would speak & yet everyone looked so wounded. The Long March, when his people were forced to walk from Florida to Mississippi all through one fearsome, killing winter.
The Long March is rich in American history & memory. The marvelous drawings create a magically real place. This is a must for anyone who loves looking at other ways to live in community; other ways of teaching the spirit to grow & learning about courage, wisdom & respecting the memories.
An amazing book - to be read & read again & again & the pictures to be studied & dreamed over. Beautifully evocative.
This is a truly delightful book. The drawings are lovingly created and the story is both touching and well written. What makes it even more compelling is that it is based on a wonderful true act of human generosity over 150 years ago, from one impoverished people to another, who, although worlds apart in both distance and cultures, had a common enemy, in hunger and oppression.
The author travelled to Oklahoma to research the book and has gone to great lengths to ensure the drawings are authentic as well as inspiring. I particularly like the drawings of the great-grandmother and indeed,the clever shadow of the American eagle when Choona raises his arms in the final drawing as well as the subtle, celtic symbols to be found in this same drawing. "The Long March" is a must for the millions of us with Irish-American heritage - every Irish American child should read this book!
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The Beaux Arts estate, built by architects Delano and Aldrich, with formal gardens designed by landscape architect William Welles Bosworth, is a treasure-trove of rare antiques, fine furnishings, and invaluable artworks, most notably, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's (the last family member to occupy the estate) unparalleled collection of 20th-century sculpture.
Written by Nelson Rockefeller's daughter, Ann Rockefeller Roberts, and photographed by Mary Louise Pierson, his granddaughter, "Kykuit" provides intimate details of family life that breathe live into what might have been just another coffee-table book about the fabulously wealthy.
"Kykuit" is a must-have for anyone interested in exceptional gardens, architecture and fine arts.
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