All Comments By Laura Shaw

My mother died from cancer right after I turned 14. My father died from cancer when I was 17. I am now 71 years old. A husband 3 grown sons and a grandson and a long carer as a teacher a state park employee. My loss of family early on in life taught me to be independent, to depend on myself and finally to gracefully except help the it is offered. I baked cookie all morning and fed the hungry and homeless at the clocktower in downtown Santa Cruz CA today. I was once hungry and alone at Christmas. Giving to others and hoping for peace in the world is how I celebrate Jesus, who was a great teacher-as were many others. I will never forget having a broken-down car in a storage city at Christmas and the great kindness that was given to me by strangers.

My son who chose to live in Colorado as soon as he graduated from High School in Santa Cruz came home for Thanksgiving and showed compassion for his brother's lack of money or time and helped repair our home then went back to Colorado where he lives and works as a contractor rebuilding other peoples homes.

Religion is a feeling inside your soul of wonder at the universe and beyond . A church or temple or Mosque or gathering is a group of people that want to share in prayer and contemplation about their idea of their come to...moment. All people who survived prayed for something...Even the Cave men and women. We are one people one planet and one community here on Earth. Lets act like it. remember how you were raised and who raised you. Act locally then pray globally. I'm listening to the Guthies right now. Woody Carlos his sisters his kids. Pete Segaer.. Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, John Lenon, Steven Stils,l and Steve Van Zandt. I sing along I sing in the Westside Gospel and Folk Song Choir now in Public. and in Private I sing in the Threshold Choir.