Was proud to be at the conference.
Thought the world of the organizers.
Loved the kids.
Glad to be wearing my red sox hat.
The reporter was real cute.
Overall it was a great day… talking about tough stuff.

Link if embedded video does not play

“I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this, and am happy I lived long enough to find it out” -Roger Ebert

Read more:

Harold: “Don’t Die Maude, I love you. I love you.”
Maude: “Oh Harold. That’s wonderful.. Now go love some more.”

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

Those against gay marriage or in favor of the military ban…might feel different if they met the gay and lesbian kids in TEARS I meet after assemblies. Kids who feel terrified and isolated. They come to me with heavy hearts and secrets. They feel they have no one to turn to. They don’t want to be reduced to a stereotype or receive special treatment. They just want to be able to relax a little and enjoy life. But they are filled with anxiety and and occasionally self medicating and they feel alone. Simply because they were created the way they are. Which in case you don’t know..is perfect:) They are perfect:) These are not someone else’s kids. They are ours. And if my daughter someday says “Dad, I’m gay.” I pity the poor person that ever tells her there is something wrong with her or denies her any right or privilege that straight kids receive. If you think Charles Bronson and Bruce Willis kicked some ass…Holy Crap! You will see me go all Liam Neeson. “I have a very special set of skills”

So It’s simple…We all have the power to make people’s lives better. Easier. Filled with more love. Who would not want that? Regardless of what your faith or personal feelings are about the sexual orientation of others…It really does not affect you what “they” do. You will not be turned gay. They will not harm your children. They do not want your money or taxes. They just want to BE..And be left alone…Like you:) So if you are against gay marriage then fine..Don’t have one. And if you are in the military and love this country imagine how you would feel if you were dishonorably discharged and terminated from federal employment and lost the ability to take up arms and defend the greatest country in the world…. because you are straight. Enough is enough. This is a civil rights issue. Let’s correct it and be done with it.

I am officially abandoning all interest in civics or politics or any political party until they confront this and correct it. If it means I don’t vote ever again. I don’t care. Fine. The hell with all of Washington. They are wrong. I am on the right side of history like Harriet Tubman and Emmet Till. When the suits and ties in DC want my vote…They know what to say and DO to get it.

When did I as a straight male come to this realization or decision? Well it’s been in my head and beliefs for a while…But the epiphany was last night. I was reading Horton Hears a Who to my daughter. She sat with suspense and dread as the evil kangaroo and her children and all of her friends in the jungle were screaming and threatening an innocent elephant because he simply believed that some people, a minority “speck” it may be, existed and deserved to live. The more he fought the more they mocked him. But the people on the speck did the only thing they could. They just simply said loud and clear. We are here. We are here. We are here.
And their voices were not heard until EVERY single one of them raised a cry in unison. We are here.

We are here.

When we deny basic rights, freedoms, respect, civility, and inclusion to anyone we are, in essence, saying you do not exist. It is the height of arrogance, hatred, and fear.

But when we include. We are open. We love. We are human. We are better people. We are as a nation that city on the hill. We can truly “be all that we can be.” When we look around us. And say.
We are here.

to anyone who needs to hear this song today.
i present to you three minutes and fifty seconds of a holy moment known as Here Comes The Sun by Nina Simone

Most likely there was a time.
When either your mom or dad.
Held you close. Looked in your eyes. And from the very pit of their soul. Wanted to sing a song or exclaim how wonderful you are
and how great you make life and how just having you in their life sometimes was the only thing that gave them real joy
in times when life was very hard. Most likely.
Hopefully.
Maybe.
Just maybe. They sang a simple song with you. Hopefully you remember it. It’ll make sense someday.

“You are my sunshine. My only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are grey.
You’ll never know dear How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away. “

and one time I was speeding on my big wheel when I was like 5 and yanked the hand brake on the right rear wheel and spun around and stopped and almost flipped over.but somehow. someway. I leaned back. and got control. that was a good feeling. I chase it everyday.

xoxo-john

When I have a new journal and a stack of blank pages
spiraled together between two covers
Writing down how I feel is delicate.
It involves not pressing too hard
so that the marks my pen makes
will not leave too big an imprint on the paper underneath.
Which is to say the places I will write in tomorrow.
Why dent it and color it now.
Why ruin it before I get there.
Just press hard enough for today.

The following is a tribute video put together by a fan of comedian Artie Lange. Artie is a brilliant comic and wonderful sidekick on the Howard Stern show. He also happens to be an addict. After a stretch of sobriety and recent relapses Artie stabbed himself nine times with a kitchen knife in a suicide attempt. Although any attempt at suicide is tragic, sometimes I think the mode of a suicide attempt can tell you a lot about the person and the thoughts behind it. A person who jumps off a building is “letting go” for instance…But to stab yourself nine times shows a level of self hatred, darkness and sadness that is so beyond words…And should tell us all a little something more about this insidious and evil disease of addiction. If there is any hope, love, and grace in the universe tonight let it be with Artie and guide him back to health.