Observations from my Backpack

 Off the grid...in a look alike phone booth. It's working, gathering and writing non stop for 3-4 hours. I can only say that my journals are in tact, with dates, and correct spelling thanks to spell check. Where did I store my journals going back 10 years, within my emails. Can you imagine how the tech people look at me when they see my thousands of emails. Are you sure you want to keep these?  Glad I did...here is an example of what can now be shared. More to come. Friday, September 18, 2015 - Burke High School - Mayor of Charleston open forum Can you imagine a reporter asking a person campaigning for an office, a question and stipulating (asking nicely in this case)  that they can only respond in three sentences - basically to summarize?  (in other words, simply answer and to get to the point?) Well, that's what happened tonight, in a classroom at Burke High School.   Our team of SIX Backpack Journalists in a classroom stood, introduced themselves -with their names first, the

 Hello Aloha Moon -  🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 I am in awe of the universe, and the planets  I keep on my Apple watch face the planets LIVE!  I am totally fascinated when I see Jupiter whirl about.  Yep it's real.  And sometimes when the clouds are not blocking, I see the bright moon.   Let's go a few years back. A Backpack Journalist attending the STEM Event in WASHINGTON, DC, discovered Dr. Jim Sowell, GA Tech and his project with the US Air Force -Aloha Telescope. Dr. Sowell was here in Charleston at the Stem Festival and many of the A Backpack Journalists attended and were able have a hands-on experience viewing the skies. So now the Aloha Telescope is on line and January 30th - you can register to follow along and visit the moon from your computer! Share with your school teachers - families and friends. Linda Dennis - a sky watcher always, loving the stars and planets! https://astronomy.gatech.edu/

  /Today I finished up the introduction.  For 5 hours in this area designed like phone booth. I found a quiet that made it easy for me to as they say:  "pound the keys".  And my friend who encouraged me to "go off the grid" was so right!  While I can't say the words came easy, but they indeed seemed to find the memories and bring them back in full color. Where did I find and connect with so many people that helped launch the A Backpack Journalist program? Well, it started believe it or not with offering arts and crafts to 2000 children as they went to work with their parents at The Pentagon on the "TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO WORK DAY".   Pallets of craft supplies were loaded into one of the most secure buildings in America.  All donated by vendors who were supplying to Walmart, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Many vendors came also, and one of my favorite pictures is of Danny and his girlfriend and me all with bright red aprons on and lots of smiles.  I should ad

Dear family, friends and neighbors: I have found I have to go away and out of sight in order to finish this book.  ( On Becoming a Backpack Journalist - a catalyst to finding oneself.  For teens and just about anyone in search! - working title only...)  From an idea: "Teaching writing and journaling to help the stresses of deployment for families and teens"  - to weeks of Rand research and a Pilot agreed upon by a National Guard state, the A Backpack Journalist program was set to launch. Supported by research by Dr. Fred Medway, USC Psychology Researcher on the effects of deployment on families and children. Remember 9/11? Following 2001 - 2011, many deployed to serve our nation in war,  from the Reserve Components of our US Military, leaving  family and kids behind. Next in 2013 - 2022 -we were home in Charleston, SC with Civilian Kids in Title One or local schools. Military and civilian kids who spent time in the A Backpack Journalist program as teens, are now young adults

 Years back I was mugged once by a young man, clearly on drugs, with his boxcutter.  Had not the wind stopped, I wouldn't have heard the click of the box cutter that prepared me to raise my arm and protect my neck area.  As it was, I ended up hugging him and he with his box cutter came down my back, and ultimately I had 50 or stitches there.   However, that's not the important piece of my story.  Important is that I am partially deaf in. one ear, and the fact that the wind stood still and that amplified the click so I could quickly prepare myself for danger how to defend myself.   God was there with me.  Who else could have stopped the sounds of the wind?  I had always asked God in my prayers to keep me safe.  He did So yesterday, this time the wind blew me back away from danger.  Imagine this.  I love where I now live in downtown, and nearby is a bus stop that is free.  From this stop I can travel to the main terminal and then select a section of the Lowcountry to travel to, a