Wow!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned being nominated for a Just Post Best of 2009 award?

Well . . . I won!



So. Excited.

And honored. Truly. All of the posts were fantastic - I had a hard time voting in a few of the categories.

Thanks to Alejna and Holly for creating Just Posts, highlighting so much great writing, and for working so hard to put together the awards. And heartfelt thanks to anyone who voted for me.

It's great to win, but even cooler that I discovered a whole new group of bloggers to follow. Congrats to everyone who was nominated and to the winners! You all deserve a round of applause!

It's an honor just to be nominated . . .

OK, admit it. Haven't you always wanted to be able to say that? To be chosen among your peers as one of the best and say, "it's really great just to be here among these talented people"?

Today, I can say it.

Alejna at Collecting Tolkens nominated my post about deceptive food labeling as one of the best Just Posts of 2009.

!!!!




I'm truly amazed and honored to be included. Truly. I've already read through a few of the other nominated posts and they're so, so great. Alejna has organized the posts by category to showcase several talented bloggers writing about a variety of important social issues. Please go read them and vote.

Maybe, just maybe, you can even throw a vote my way. :-)

Just words, just post, just hope

This very talented blogger nominated this post of mine for an October Just Post, which is a monthly round up of posts about activism and social justice. (Wow!)



And she also wrote a fantastic post of her own recently. Go check out her blog; you won't be sorry!

On a somewhat related note, Mark took the girls to the library about a week and a half ago, and they came home with this amazing book called This is the Dream, by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander.

Tonight is the first time I had a chance to read it to them, and I found myself choking back tears. It's a pretty poignant book as it is. The illustrations in the first half of the book depict White/Colored water fountains, schools, restaurants and libraries. The middle of the book features images from the Civil Rights movement - the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the early days of school integration and, of course, marches lead by Martin Luther King, Jr. And the final section of the book shows scenes from modern day America: blacks and whites eating and learning together.

Reading this book one week after America elected it's first black president is, in a word, extraordinary. It is difficult to look through this book without reflecting on the struggles of so many, not so long ago. Their marches, protests, sit-ins and speeches helped carve Obama's path to the White House - a path that just 30 years ago (hell, just 10 years ago), seemed impossible.

Yes, there is still rampant racism in America. Yes, this country still has a very long way to go. But last week's election results are a huge step in the right direction.

I remain proud, joyful and hopeful about what the future will bring. And thankful to those who paved the way.

Rosa sat, so Martin could walk…
Martin walked, so Obama could run…
Obama ran, so our children can fly.

She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me!

So wow!

Hannah, over at I'm Not Hannah has given me this wicked cool (you can take the girl out of Massachusetts, but you'll never take the Massachusetts out of the girl) award! Check it out:



::blush::

Seriously, that is way cool. I'm humbled. And really, really happy. Thank you, thank you. :-)

This reward comes with instructions:

- You can put the award picture on your blog.
- Link to the person who awarded you.
- Nominate at least seven other blogs that you love.
- Put up links to those blogs.
- Leave messages with the blogs you nominated.

So, in no order, here are some of my favorite bloggers. I'm way too tired to say something profound about each and every one of them, but I assure you that they're all fantastic writers and storytellers who will touch your heart and make you laugh (maybe at the same time). Go check them out - you'll be really glad you did.

1. Binkytown for having one of the world's cutest babies.
2. Mayberry Mom for being so amazing.
3. The Minnesota Matron for being my political twin.
4. Jennifer at Thursday Drive for opening her heart and soul so eloquently.
5. Amanda at Tumble Dry for writing achingly beautiful stuff like this.
6. Laryssa at Ryssee's World for being an awesome cousin, friend and daughter.
7. Urban Pedestrian for injecting wit and wisdom into ordinary, every day things.

Bonus: The Miss Elaine-ous Life for her gorgeous kiddos and great attitude about every thing.