We are fortunate to have a special Fourth of July salute to Teresa Heinz Kerry, another evocative Pittsburgh memory from Jessica Szabo:

The Little House Part 2: Little Touches of Pittsburgh

The little house 26 miles outside of Pittsburgh sits waiting for its copper pipes, re-claimed fixtures, and tankless water heater in what I can only imagine is a beautiful green Pennsylvania summer. I haven’t been home in a few years because of the cost of travel, and have had to rely on little touches of the Pittsburgh area to get me through: a few pounds of Nicholas coffee, some photos sent by relatives, the Post-Gazette online in the morning, (more…)

I am so honored to be part of the “THK Blog Tour” (schedule here), intended to publicize and open up to the blogosphere this year’s Conference on Women’s Health & the Environment, which will take place tomorrow in Teresa Heinz Kerry’s own beloved Pittsburgh, just a little over a month before the 100th anniversary of environmental activism pioneer Rachel Carson’s birth.  Although it is the first time in the conference’s history that it is being held there, Pittsburgh, home to the Heinz Family Philanthropies, has long known at first hand of Mrs. Heinz Kerry’s passion and hard work on the combined issues of the environment and health (particularly of women and children.)

I was very excited to see that tomorrow’s conference on the theme of “New Science, New Solutions” is filled to capacity and I can’t wait to see the speaker videos and podcasts which will be available here as of April 29, 2007.

Thanks to Meredith Efken for organizing the tour, and submitting my questions to THK.  My questions are basic in the extreme because I simply don’t know very much yet about the issues involved and I want to know a lot more.

When I was thinking of what I would like to ask Mrs. Heinz Kerry, I found myself thinking (more…)

It’s been almost five months since this blog’s first post and I want to thank everyone who has stopped by to leave encouraging and thoughtful comments. Every comment has inspired me to continue to share my personal thoughts on this great statesman and his remarkable wife and family.

I’ve had a lot of ideas related to the theme of this blog in the last months; Senator Kerry has continued to earn my admiration and respect with every action and decision he’s taken. I hope to post some of those personal perceptions in the near future.

Since late October of last year, both of my elderly parents have had health crises. Most of my time and energy have been occupied in travel across the country to help them directly and long-distance caregiving when I’m back home. I’ve seen some of the best and the some of the worst of how our society handles the basic issues of care and compassion for those members of our communities who most need assistance. The work of John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry to improve our world and life for all Americans has given me heart and hope when things seemed darkest.