The Langbehn-Pond Family ~ the accidental activists

all the LP kids  

visiting Michael on his last day at Fircrest Institution before he moves to 24hr community supervised living on 8/1/08

here is lisa – leaf – on the tree of life at the organ donation tree in Miami

so when kelli O’donnell saw the kids she recognized them right away – and said “wow you’ve grown”.  Great pic kids with Kelli in Maimi Feb 07, and again nyc July 08 – do you think they grew?

while walking through PTown, sweltering in the humidity – not a moment lost to the thought that 17months ago today, this minute the kids and I were pacing at Jackson Memorial as Lisa’s soul slipped away. yes the pain fades at time but other times it is sharper than ever.
The kids truly look like they are having fun, all 3 have found a group of “cruise friends” to hang with. David is even getting up and doing Karaoke (only b/c Tony makes him he says). Katie is playing with Chels O and running with a bunch of 11 and 12yo and Danielle the usual shy one has found a bunch of girls her age and has enjoyed the teen program much more this time.

None of it escapes up being on vacation, being on the Rfamily cruise all without Lisa. It is all there at the front of our mind – but we do our best to find some joy.

Next Year’s cruise is out of Vancouver BC on July 5 up to Alaska. Good likelihood we will be on that one too.. it’s just a way of honoring our loss.
Peace

Ro and Danielle

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain mostly is in step with conservative thinking on social issues, but is not necessarily willing to incorporate those views into federal law, according to this article. McCain, who has an adopted daughter with his wife, Cindy, is opposed to adoptions by gay and lesbian couples, saying, “I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no, I don’t believe in gay adoption.” He also is against equal marriage rights, but views the issue as one that should be decided at the state level. The New York Times

~~~~~~~
so if you didn’t have enough reasons why NOT to vote for McCain how about this one?  So if kids need two parents – what about committed gay couples like Lisa and I?  If our country doesn’t allow more gays to adopt then nearly 1/4 of a million kids will continue to languish in foster care.  And with the divorce rate of heteros near 50% yet the rate of gays far far less.. how does it make sense that we (gays) would not provide a stable home for children?  Shame on your Mr. McCain

here is the picture of the day from the St. Pete’s Pride Parade last month.

ahh. the l-p’s are back together, kids came in at 9am.. we wisked off to a People Magazine photo shoot.. ok so this was so exhausting! I could not do it for a living. hair/ make up changing clothes – and holding still for 50 shots of the same pose. the kids did great and came away with a bunch of new cloths, very kind people working for people. Story should be out late july, early august. Saw Mary Poppins, this afternoon – pure magic the kids all enjoyed it. great staging – amazing. ate an early dinner and now back at the hotel watching a movie together – how I missed the kids. Off to the boat of pure happiness tomorrow – reunite w/ myanna and her gang. Peace

ok i’m cheating it’s not quite midnight but i’m packed, need to get to bed and will be flying all day tomorrow to nyc.  get the kids on saturday finally, miss them terribly.  we leave for canada on the cruise on sunday.  only use our cell phones if it’s an emergency – we learned last year “cellular at sea” is quite pricey!  so here is our pic of the day.  peace

boarding the boat on 2.18.07 (Kelli O’Donnell with the kids)

So leaving for nyc tomorrow – pretty much just a travel day – meet up with the kids on Saturday.  I have missed them so much!  We will see Mary Poppins on Saturday, board on Sunday the 13th in NYC – then up to St. Johns, New Brunswich, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor Maine, PTown, Newport RI and back to NYC on the 20th.  So while at sea, there will be few if no updates since interent is expensive and difficult to connect. 

peace all