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This question was asked by Eric Daniel Metzger, the director of a new film, Reporter, (HBO documentary, premiered Feb. 18) about how the writer and NYTimes op ed columnist Nicholas Kristoff finds his stories in the heart of the Congo, honing in on one individual at a time, whose suffering is so great that it outrages the reader enough to inspire action. I saw this interview on David Brancaccio’s excellent program, NOW (Feb. 12).

We are living at a time when the daily news is so horrific that we’re shutting down to tragedy and settling into a kind of psychic numbness, finding it more and more difficult to think or care deeply about people and issues that are half a world away.

Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn have written a book, Half the Sky, which deals with violence toward women worldwide and what women are doing to turn their despair into prosperity. Many of the solutions in poverty-stricken and war torn Congo are being initiated by courageous and determined women against all odds; women who have suffered through the worst fighting since WWII, been repeatedly raped, their children kidnapped, their homes destroyed. This devastation has lasted seven years with more than four million dead. I recommend that you read this disturbing, powerful , and inspirational book.

When David asked what we can do to help the people suffering in this war, the answer came: “Figure out what moves you most and take your own path. Look on line under Congo Crisis/Help.” I did this and the first thing that came up was Women For Women International. My eyes were opened. There are so many things we can do.

Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn are speaking at my high school alma mater, Emma Willard, in Troy, NY, on Feb. 23^rd. Last year at this time I wrote about Greg Mortenson’s presentation at the same venue. I congratulate E.W. on introducing their students to such important world issues.

The only difference I can think of is that I was the only person on cross-country skis I encountered during my five-mile circuit between my daughter Martha’s house and mine. It was a veritable blizzard, so maybe they passed me in the white out.  And oh, it was so beautiful! You know, winter wonderland and all that, with eight inches of snow weighing the evergreens down so you had to duck beneath a canopy as you glided by. The roads hadn’t been fully plowed (one pass a winter does not make…or something like that) and if a lone car or a plow happened by I simply dived into the nearest snow bank. On one occasion, coming back in the dark and wearing my headlamp, a plow came within two inches of me. Scary. I can still move fast when my mortality stares me in the face.

I know, this is child’s play compared to Washington, DC, but it was also manageable, for which I’m grateful. Here is my proof.

Isn’t this just like life?

First you’re up….

Then you’re down. And so it goes…

For some videos of this perfect day, go to Martha’s blog, which you can find on her website: www.essentialsomatics.com She has some really good ideas for exercise in a snowstorm.

Hat’s off to my grandson, Adam Bixler, 17, who is the tympanist and percussionist for the Youth Orchestra of Essex County, which toured Austria last summer. He performed on drums Saturday night at the Hat City Kitchen in Orange, NJ, sitting in for a couple of numbers with my son-in-law, Gary Shippy’s, band, Walk The Dog. It was a swinging evening all around.

Interesting tidbit: Orange is called Hat City because it was the manufacturing center for Stetson hats in bygone days. Surely some of you out there remember Stetson hats.

For those of you who love opera, let me recommend the recent HD performance from the Metropolitan Opera of Bizet’s Carmen, starring the stunning Elina Garanca as Carmen and the masterful Roberto Alagna as Don Jose.    It’s being shown in specified theaters around the country and is the most superb Carmen I’ve ever seen. Acting, singing, staging. It’s another flawless production by Richard Eyre. See it if you can.

Are you tired of winter? Do gray days and freezing temperatures make your bones creek? Well, lighten up, throw off the gloom, and kick up your heels the way you did during those glamorous, carefree days of yore…the irrepressible 60’s.

My daughter, Martha, attended a party, dressed like Judy Carne from Laugh-In, that great comedy show from the late 60’s and early 70’s. She was the perfect “sock it to me” girl, using my old Barbie bubble wig, which she said resembled road kill after getting it out of the children’s dress-up box, and one of my classic frocks, waiting in line to be sold on e-Bay. The orange wooden necklace, incredibly ugly earrings, and boots are also mine. Authentic, or wot? See…it pays to be a pack rat!

Feast your eyes on my beautiful baby. And enjoy reminiscing.

Sock it to me!

It’s been awhile since I gave you a theater update, so here goes. I enjoyed Carrie Fisher in her one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, and a new play by the always-challenging David Mamet, Race, but the highlight of the season for me was Part 3 of Horton Foote’s magnificent trilogy, The Orphan’s Cycle at the Signature Theater.I look forward to seeing Part 1 and 2 before it closes. I don’t know any other playwright who has captured the voice, dreams, and sorrows of everyday Americans like Foote. He will be sorely missed.

Old friend, Carol Goodman, paid us a visit from her new home in Williamstown, MA, and we spent a delightful evening at the theater. We enjoyed Donald Margulies’ new play, Time Stands Still with an excellent acting ensemble led by Laura Linney, Eric Bogosian, and Brian D’Arcy James, and finished up with the hilarious Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Nora Ephron and her daughter, Delia. Carol and I wear our theater addiction well.

I haven’t forgotten Rule 6 for intrepid travelers. Tune in next time….

Jen Vitello is one enterprising young woman! Studying at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning within the University of Cincinnati, she specializes in Graphic Design and has had five internships, one of which was print design for Christie’s Auction House in New York City. But this was not enough for Jen. She wanted to travel, to understand different living conditions and cultures, and to design in a way that would improve the lives of others. Enter Global Vision International, an organization specializing in conservation projects and critical humanitarian initiatives. Jen volunteered for an expedition in Kenya and spent three months (from October to December) working on environmental and community development programs in the villages of Shimoni, on the coast, Mkwiro, on Wasini Island, and Kidong, bordering Tsavo West National Park. In fact, on clear days in Kidong, she had a view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, where I was a year ago.

Her team lived under all kinds of conditions (mostly rural and very elemental) and learned to respect the traditions of dress and the devotion to prayer in the Moslem communities. They worked with local men and women in their conservation efforts, educating them on the benefits of environmental sustainability. In the coastal Shimoni Forest, they conducted behavior studies on the Angolan Black and White Colobus Monkey and worked to develop forest walks that would promote eco-tourism and be run by the local community.

Through a partnership with Kenyan Wildlife Society, her team also did research on marine mammals (such as Bottlenose Dolphins, Humpback Whales and Green Turtles) in the surrounding Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park. They studied the impact on marine life caused by the increase in tourism, helping to ensure that it does not become destructive to the dolphin population. This was an eye-opener to me, who thought it was OK to swim with the dolphins on my last trip to New Zealand. I now see the effect this can have on such marine animals.

Aside from working on the East African Coast, Jen got the opportunity to travel to Tsavo West National Park and work with elephant ex-poachers. The sustainable livelihood projects she assisted with revolved around the creation of a local cultural center, and included the design of large information panels, restaurant menus and packaging for handmade crafts.

The creativity that emerged when working alongside the local villagers was most inspiring to her as a designer, and made a lasting impact on her perception of the design process.

Having returned to Cincinnati to finish her last semester of school, Jen is eager to apply what she learned from her travels in her work. She has a new understanding of the Moslem communities where she lived, as well as the needs of the men and women in these communities. To supplement these observations, she’s taking classes in Swahili, as well as Conservation and Economic Development in the Third World.

Most importantly, however, her strongest ideas have been validated: that designers have the power to change the quality of life around them. Essentially, they are problem-solvers and can use their creative ingenuity to make sustainable designs, which are useful in the everyday lives of people everywhere.

To follow the progress of Global Vision International’s projects, check out their blog: http://gvikenya.blogspot.com

Enjoy these pictures from the three locations where Jen worked.

Walking to Funzi

Jen settling into a mud hut in Kidong

Mwiro Beach cleanup

Photographing dolphins

On the lookout for dolphins. Surveying for boats and dolphins

Painting, varnishing, and dusting information panels

Showing off information panels

Participating in tug-of-war with local children

Studying the butterflies

Photographing the butterflies

Using a panga to clear paths in the forest

GVI volunteers with local villagers

all those who have suffered in the past and all those who are suffering right this minute. Those fighting tyranny in Myanmar, Tibet, and China, and those whose country has been devastated and loved ones killed by one of the worst natural disasters in their history.

It would be superfluous for me to try to add to the many accounts and comments I’ve read about the heavy news coming out of Haiti. I don’t know anyone who isn’t saddened, or anyone who isn’t contributing in some way to alleviate the suffering of these people. It makes anything I have to say at this moment seem frivolous. Yes, life goes on and all we can do is be grateful for our myriad blessings and be mindful of those who are going through such intense grieving. But we also must help in any way we can—financially or physically, on the spot. I think that this time the world will come to the aid of this beleaguered country and set in motion real, lasting reform. This is my fervent hope. But it must be backed by action. And we must all, together and individually, make our voices heard.

The only other comment I have, today, relates to a country I visited twenty years ago and has become one of the most repressive regimes on the planet. I’m truly heartened by the possibility that Google will not tolerate continuing censorship, and may refrain from doing business in China. It’s easy to become cynical about big companies with huge profits, and to suspect their decisions as being disguised self-interest. Well, maybe this time Google will stick to its guns. It has plenty of money, and the good will resulting from standing up to the Chinese repression of its internet activities will far outweigh any financial losses. This is my opinion. And I’m not alone.

That says it all as far as I’m concerned. The only thing that keeps me going during these difficult times, with war and misery everywhere, is incurable optimism and the knowledge that there are lots of others in this world a helluva lot worse off, so instead of complaining, look around and do something constructive. Ever hear that? My eldest daughter, Cary, returned from a month in India and was held up by last week’s snowstorm. Grounded in Newark, she had to stay at Martha’s through Christmas. How wonderful for the family! She brought with her news of our Tibetan friends and some of the six to eight-year-old children who are still making their way across the plains and mountains of Tibet, seeking refuge in Dharamsala, India. Several more friends have volunteered to sponsor these children, so the work of compassion and support continues. That’s something to be thankful for, as they join so many others who give their time and money, unheralded, throughout the year, to care for others.

I’m trying to get over making New Years Resolutions, because, to my horror, they’re almost the same as those I wrote in college. It definitely is time for a change!  But then comes that wonderful day…January one…when I walk up and down the streets of Maplewood and think all things are possible and, yes, I have it in my power to turn over a new leaf. So what always goes wrong? Why, even though I have blessings coming out my ears, is there still a restlessness about “what to do next” that I can’t shake. So I say to myself—maybe writing a funny book about the family would put things in perspective. But four of my children are still around and might just send me to one of those death squads that the tea party people warn me is just around the corner. Perhaps a good resolution to keep me upbeat would be to stop reading the paper and listening to so much in-depth analysis on PBS, and stick to Masterpiece Theater, New Yorker cartoons, and Jon Stewart. But, alas, they just couch the bad news in humor. Still, it sure beats the NY Times at breakfast. And is good for your digestion. Tune in next time. I still have many more travel rules, and they just get better and better the more you use them.

Behold, my new poinsettias. For all of you who love this symbol of Christmas, I must tell you that I have learned one big lesson…taught to me by my horticulturally-advanced son, Tom. You do NOT, repeat NOT, over-water them and, after you have, put them on a radiator, hoping they will dry out and revive. Now you have steamed them to death. In years past, I treated my poinsettias to benign neglect and kept them for months. This year, however, I became over-zealous, and below you can see the result. Let this be a warning to all. I’ll tell you in a few months how the above plants fared.

A final word to theater buffs. I did get to enjoy an uproarious off-Broadway comedy, The Toxic Avenger, with my like-minded grandson, Thomas Bixler, and we’ll be seeing the new musical, Memphis, next Sunday. This will be my second time. It’s that good.

The Plainfield Symphony is taking a break after its wonderful family Christmas concert, but will be back with Shostakovich’s 5th symphony in February. In the meantime,

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL…and keep warm!

It’s a Peterson tradition, started by Cary so many years ago that I can’t even remember, and now Martha, in Cary’s absence, is carrying on “with a little help from her friends.” This year’s party coincided with our first big snowstorm, which really didn’t hurt it at all. In fact, with a roaring fire and good fellowship, it actually enhanced the gathering. Of course, it meant that any evening parties in New York were impossible, which meant that I missed a big one at Don Harley’s. But it’s a good thing I stayed close to home. By 9 P.M. the car was buried and a pair of cross country skiis was the transportation of choice. Ain’t winter grand?

This will give you a taste of the talent gathered around the table a week ago. Jenny Vitello, hot off the plane from three months doing an internship in Africa, still retained her lead as artist extraordinaire, but there were dozens of other houses too numerous to show. Here are two views of Jenny’s house.

Here are two views of Jimmy Siuty’s masterpiece, which now rests on my dining room table. Am I lucky, or wot? It all fits so well with the Christmas tree, decorated with trinkets and treasures collected over the years, and like the faded Santas and wooden elves adorning the mantelpiece, keep Christmas tradition alive and well in the Peterson family. Hope you and yours had a merry one.

Sound familiar?  Hey, I’m all for challenging the old brain, but why did I pick the busiest time of the year to do it? Blame the Black Friday sales and my children, who are dedicated Mac users and are tired of my PC complaints. End of story.  Be prepared, dear readers, for a wealth of new photos, once I learn the I Photo system and 900 other details necessary to make it all work. As I said, I’m up for challenges!

I finally raked all of my leaves, with the help of Adam, my youngest grandchild, and now I’m waiting for that big snowstorm that is promised, just in time to guarantee a white Christmas.

You can't rake without an iPod

And a blower makes it even easier!

This year it was quite a gala Thanksgiving celebration, with Martha’s family and two other close families down the streets, the Galantes and the Vitellos. Daughter Cary is still roaming around northern India and Nepal and I’ll have a report on her as soon as she returns on December 20^th.

Cheryl Galante, MP, and Gary Shippy

The end

Last week I treated myself to a two-day visit with Judy Wyman-Kelly and her family in West Hartford, CT, very near Hartford, where I spent four years of my early childhood.  The occasion was Leah Kelly’s Christmas concert. She did double duty playing the trumpet in the school orchestra and singing in the choir. I never thought I would voluntarily take myself to an elementary school concert, but let me tell you that they have improved, vastly, since my children were in the early grades, when the only way you could survive was wearing earplugs.  It was a delight and very much appreciated by this surrogate Grandma.

An opera update includes the dress rehearsal of the magnificent production of Richard Strauss’ Electra with the stunning Deborah Voight, and an unusual, very dark rendition of Janacek’s From The House of the Dead at the Metropolitan. Concerts include Peter Serkin and the Shanghai Quartet at Montclair State’s beautiful new auditorium, and plays include Sarah Ruhl’s unusual In the Next Room (the vibrator play), the delightful The Marvelous Wonderettes, and the mediocre (in my opinion) Burn the Floor.

Just to see if you’re keeping up, here is my Rule #5 for efficient travel. It may seem self-evident to young people, but there was a time when we did NOT have ziplock bags. How we survived is anyone’s guess. These wonderful plastic containers can be found in every possible size, including huge ones that I’ve used to line my duffel bag when trekking in the mountains. I pack everything in them, which allows me to organize my belongings for quick reference: sweaters in one,  underwear in another, toiletries and medicines separate. You can even label them with permanent ink so you can find them (using your headlamp, of course) in the middle of the night. I’ve even used them to cover my pack on rainy days. I don’t bother with an umbrella, by the way, since I wear a rainproof jacket and my hair is drip dry, so why bother? I’m not vying for Miss America.

You don’t have to be a professional writer to pack journals or loose leaf notebooks and pens. And you notice that I use the plural, for if you’re going anywhere for any length of time you’ll use more than one. And you might find it difficult to buy what you want in a foreign country for a reasonable price (twenty years ago ballpoint pens were $20 in Zimbabwe, but I know that’s changed…they might not even have them now!).  On my first round-the-world trip I filled fourteen large spiral notebooks, staying up every evening to record the amazing adventures that took place during each day: conversations, impressions, misadventures, and minute descriptions of people and places. And it was from these detailed accounts that I wrote the book, Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy?

 Hey, you say, today I can simply record my trip on e-mails sent from cyber cafes. But that’s not the same as sitting quietly with a notebook on your lap and mulling over the day’s highlights. And you can’t paste mementos and post cards into a computer, or keep a record of places you stay and people you meet along the way. You think you won’t forget anybody’s name, address, or e-mail. Trust me, you will…but not if it’s in your handy journal!

 I know I sound like a nut, but one other thing that is very important when keeping a journal is the quality of paper and the type of pen. I’m sure Staples wanted to kill me as I scribbled on numerous back pages to see which one could take which pen without bleeding through. Get good quality or you won’t be able to use both sides of the paper. And while you’re at it, take a couple of Glue Stics for any photos or cards you don’t want to lose. They also give your journal extra pizzazz. And try to write at least a couple of sentences a day before you crash.

 Theater update for Broadway addicts: Thoroughly enjoyed the humor and singing in the musical, Shrek, which I saw with Judy Wyman-Kelly and Leah Kelly, who will soon celebrate her 11^th birthday. We were lucky to see the fabulous Sutton Foster of the original cast. Also saw a short play by Alan Ayckbourn, My Wonderful Day. He’s the prolific author of the screamingly funny Norman Conquests of last season. This play was not as good, in my opinion, but the acting was superb. It was part of the Brits Off Broadway celebration during November and December. Finally, there was the spectacularly staged Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera. One of Puccini’s greatest! Among the famous arias is my favorite, the moving Nessun Dorma.

…is what I’m doing today, after returning from an energetic week in Southern California, visiting my sons Robert and Tom. Right off the bat I was treated to a gala 21^st anniversary concert by the Agape International Choir, which, you may remember, sang at the Democratic National Convention in August, 2008, and in which my son, Tom, participates. It’s an integral part of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City (www.agapelive.com)  Talk about energy! It was a combination gospel, spiritual, and rock concert of original music that literally blew me away!

After that it was a whirlwind of visits starting with old friend Karen dePlanque, who met me in Del Mar for lunch, a walk on the beach, and a glorious sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I was so excited to see so many seals, except that they turned out to be hardy surfers in wet suits. What does a city girl from NJ know?

Next, I connected with Ruth Abel, and had a three- hour lunch at the famous Warehouse Restaurant. Ruth is a dynamo, who participates in many philanthropic projects, my favorite being APECA (Association Promoting Education and Conservation in Amazonia) in Iquitos, Peru. I urge you to visit www.apecaperu.org and read about some of their projects, such as training health providers, and initiating water and reforestation projects so needed by people in remote areas.

The main reason to visit L.A., of course, was to reconnect with my western sons and daughter-in-law, Gwen Abel. We had a blast and these pictures capture some of our peregrinations, from work to play. It’s nice to be sitting in a Jacuzzi in November after walking on the levees and bridges that separate Marina Del Rey from Playa Del Rey. And to see the hundreds of sailboats and fishing birds that inhabit this second largest man-made bay in the world (I think Dubai is now the first).

Robert and Tom. It's sunny in California!

The bay at Marina Del Playa                                                                                       

Standing on the edge of the bay...

Mexican food at the end of the day

As I’ve reported in the past. Robert has invented an exciting new game using his “almost golf” ball, and travels to college campuses, parks, neighborhoods, and corporate headquarters across the country to set up interesting courses for tournaments, some as fund raisers and others just as fun-raisers. His most recent one was for the L.A. County Park Foundation. Catch it on his website  along with some neat videos of the tour. http://www.offcoursegolf.net

Tom is also full speed ahead on his new business, White Roof Systems, LLC. Some of you may have read about this amazing new paint that, when applied, lowers heating and air-conditioning costs by over 30%. It’s catching on like wildfire in southern California and Tom has just completed a massive job at the Anaheim Hilton. Here is a shot of him putting the finishing touches on this famous hotel.

Anaheim Hilton

 My final Sunday in L.A. was spent at the Agape International Spiritual Center, where 5,000 young people (young compared to me, at least!) attend three services and listen to the inspirational message of the Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith. What a great way to end a trip!

Tune in next time for a review of plays and Rule #4 for travelers.