Excellent writing as usual. Wishing you a Merry,Healthy, and Happy XMAS!
EuroYank | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 4:05 am | #

Scot, how I welcome the way you bring things down to the moment. It slows time and makes life seem longer by the way to savor the details. You notice more details in what I write because you have shown me the value of detail to a reader.

A mile is still a mile after all. The details can make it interesting and a wonder to explore.
Thank you. Have a wonderful holiday.
Liz
ME Strauss | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 6:09 am | #

Euro,
Thank you, and a Merry Xmas to you, too. It's always good when you stop by.
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 9:55 am | #

Liz,
You're welcome. Your visits and comments are always looked forward to and welcomed. I appreciate how you give me a good sense of what I've accomplished with a writing, and to know whether or not I've created the desired effect. Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 10:01 am | #

Hi Scot,
I'm pretty sure I could never do the work you do and I have nothing but admiration to you and others who can and do.
I often tried to imagine what it would be like to work with troubled youth (or whatever the correct term is) and through you I get a glimpse of what it's like.
I'm sure it takes a lot of work to get where you are and with each new kid you have to start from scratch, adjust, change, be flexible to that new kid's specific problems and needs.
I'm sorry, this is getting very long, I'll stop.
But I just want to thank you for sharing these stories about your work with us.
Oh, and by the way, if you want a white x-mas you're welcome to come here, it's as white as it can be
melly | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 5:45 pm | #

Melly,
Thank you for that. Your comment is welcomed and appreciated. I have noticed on the news that you've had a good taste of winter thus far. I'm sure we won't be too far behind. Merry Xmas,
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 6:53 pm | #

You should be so proud of the work you do. I just told my son the other day how unfair our society is that pays people 50 million to play baseball and the people that take of society get hardly anything. I hope it sinks in.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
rdl | Homepage | 12.22.05 - 11:24 pm | #

Thanks, rdl. It is amazing how out of skew things seem to be sometimes, especially with the salaries of those who play professional sports. Merry Christmas,
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.23.05 - 4:40 pm | #

Merry Christmas, Scot. You fill my heart with your writing.
B | Homepage | 12.24.05 - 2:36 am | #

Getting the balance is hard isn't it? Your work must be both frustrating and rewarding, but I'm guessing from the way you talk about it that the rewards are tangible and lasting.

I hope your holidays are refreshing, in its most basic sense. Merry Christmas. Lorna
Lorna | Homepage | 12.24.05 - 4:57 am | #

B,
Thank you for comment. It is good to have you as a reader. Merry Christmas,
Scot


Lorna,
Thanks for sharing your perspective on that. Merry Christmas,
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.24.05 - 6:16 pm | #

Scot- Very elquent portrayal of kids on the edge. I can tell you put your heart into your job.

You wield the word semiotics well. And it's true kids "succumb" to their lives, which overwhelms them with power brands. We had it good, and mellow, by comparison. (aren't you in your 40's?)

Anyway, Merry Christmas. May you receive the light of the stars from inside your heart.

David
David Thomas | Homepage | 12.25.05 - 1:38 am | #

Hi Scot! Merry Christmas!

I followed you from Garnet and am truly overwhelemed by all I read! What a good day to visit this site for the first time! Hope to keep coming back.
Shankari | Homepage | 12.25.05 - 4:41 am | #

Dave,
Yes, it did some a lot more "mellow" during our youth, didn't it. Thanks for your comment and compliment. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.25.05 - 9:55 am | #

Shankari,
You're welcome. I appreciate your visit and comment.
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.25.05 - 9:58 am | #

Visiting you and your kids and that sprawling sunset on the highway was a great ending to Christmas for me. Hope you had a wonderful day!
Patry Francis | Homepage | 12.25.05 - 11:22 pm | #

Patry,
Thank you. Appreciate your visits and your comments. A wonderful day to you, too.
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.26.05 - 1:11 pm | #

It takes a person with a very special heart to work with kids who have been titainium hardened by life.

You have the gift to see beyond the exterior, and I for one and grateful that people like you are there for them.

My dear friend and wise woman, The Magical Maggie once told me "Its easy to communicate with teenagers, if you remember to ignore the tone of voice, and just listen to the words. The tone drives adults crazy. They respond to the tone instead of the words. Thats what causes the problems."

As the mother of two, im working on that...gritting my teeth to the scraping sound of the chalk board, and working on that, with all the love I can muster.
Kelley Bell | Homepage | 12.26.05 - 8:52 pm | #

Nice Blog, DOG!

joke :O)
Jake the Snake | Homepage | 12.27.05 - 2:39 pm | #

Kelly,
Your friend is wise indeed. It's very natural to react to the tone rather than be responsive to what's been said. But to succeed with kids, it's something that has to be practiced everyday. My son had a lot to do with how I changed my perspective. I don't remember what the situation was, but after I had reacted to something he did, he looked at me and said, "Dad, I'm just a kid." I don't think I've been the same since. Thank you for visiting, and for your kind, thoughtful comment.
Scot

Jake,
Thank you for visiting. Your comment is appreciated.
Scot
S. L. Cunningham | Homepage | 12.27.05 - 3:19 pm | #