fordj's blog

My partner, Roger Haenke, and I hosted the Dining for Dorcas Summer Garden dinner Saturday last week, Jul 31. We consider it to have been a huge success. We had never thrown a dinner party for 25 people before, at least not one where we were cooking everything ourselves! So we were a little stressed that we had so many coming over, expecting a gourmet meal. The guests were right to expect an excellent meal, because we had asked them to make a significant donation to Dorcas House in return for their supper!

A Good Lead
by Shirley Ann Kinsey

“Christian! Yo recuerdo que tu eres un buen lider!” On my first trip to Dorcas House in November, Christian, age 10, led 11 adults and 28 children on a two-mile trek to the nearest park. Assigned to the head of the line with him, I had been impressed by his leadership abilities.
It was now December, a Monday morning. We – four Seattle-area teachers and two San Diegans – entered through the Dorcas House rusty green gate pulling suitcases full of supplies. Christian flashed his winning smile at me as I greeted him with a side hug and the compliment.

Smiles, the Universal Language

When I was a child, a longtime ago (in a galaxy far away) there was a song sung in camps that nearly every one knew. The first line of the chorus goes, “There are smiles that make us happy. There are smiles that make us blue…” If you watch any of the colorful Mummer’s parade from Philadelphia on New Year’s Day, you may hear one of the banjo bands play and sing the song.

Open Wide

Everyone likes to think their family doctor or dentist is the best around. My dentist is Dr. Russell Okihara. I’ve been going to him for my dental needs since I first moved to San Diego in 2001. He attends St. Paul’s Cathedral and is a member of the cathedral Chapter (vestry.)