Category Archives: Character

Guest Post: James Pelham, age 16, on Thinking (or not)

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Kay Pelham

In a program, when something goes wrong, the program crashes. It sees its current state versus what its state is supposed to be, then goes ‘Hey! These aren’t the same!’; but rather than thinking about what led to this difference, … Continue reading →

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Thoughts on Empathy and the Education of James Pelham

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Kay Pelham

What is it I want to say about Empathy? So many things are running through my mind that I want to share with you, but mostly it is that I want you to understand that that is the end-goal of … Continue reading →

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Towards a Philosophy of Remembering

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Kay Pelham

I wrote here about the value of remembering and my own failure to have as much written on my heart as I think I should. My friend Cindy is a big proponent of Remembering. In her “Morning Time for Moms” … Continue reading →

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You’re Better Than You Think You Are: Life Lesson from a Cello Lesson

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Kay Pelham

I have been playing piano for 49 years. One year and a half ago I began cello lessons. I have attempted other instruments through the years, but this was the first that I took seriously enough to go beyond buying … Continue reading →

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‘Times Were Much Simpler Then’

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Kay Pelham

I’m listening to a wonderful interview (video at end of post) with historian David McCullough, whose most famous work is probably his John Adams biography. Don’t let the title fool you; in this hour-long interview he talks about much more … Continue reading →

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‘Only Human’

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Kay Pelham

“Wow! that was very thoughtful of you!” “Oh, it was nothing, I’m only Human.” “Way to see the potential consequences of your actions and choose to act differently.” “Oh, it was nothing. I’m purely Human.” “You planned an awesome party … Continue reading →

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To Be or not To Be

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Kay Pelham

I am currently reading A Circle of Quiet, the first of Madeleine L’Engle’s Crosswicks Journals. She uses and discusses the word ‘ontology’ a lot in these writings, and it’s really making me a little crazy because, although I’ve looked up the definition … Continue reading →

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Celebrate, or Keep on the sunny side

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Kay Pelham

With a little help from my friends, I chose Celebrate as my word for 2018. I don’t remember exactly how he put it (as I am wont to do), but Jack’s hope for me was to stop myself when I’m … Continue reading →

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The hypocrisy of glorifying what you won’t imitate

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Kay Pelham

My little status update from Facebook this morning: I think that most folks who honor and glory in the founders of this nation and their actions, would rather just do that, and not imitate those actions. We love those stories … Continue reading →

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Lessons of Integrity from Fathers

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Kay Pelham

For many years my two favorite literary dads have been Atticus Finch and Pa Ingalls. This year I was introduced to Charlie Moody in his son Ralph’s memoir titled Little Britches. I loved just about everything about this man as … Continue reading →

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