Karen's page.

It's almost November as I sit here at my computer, and I would love to write something holiday-ish. But nothing about what's going on here in the Baltimore/DC area, where I live, is leaving me feeling the least bit festive.

I have every confidence that, by the time you read this, our local sniper will have been caught and the operative word around our nation's capital won't be "duck." But, for the moment, things feel a little weird.

I am not bringing this up to bum anyone out (the evening news does enough of that) but to make a larger point. About candy canes.

I am currently working on GL'S next blockbuster Bye Bye Boredom! GL's Big Book of Fun (look for it late 2003--hey, these things take time). This book will be jam-packed with great things to make, do and create so, basically, you'll never be bored ever again. And one of the ideas I had for the book was to eat candy canes while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Childish, obvious and a surefire recipe for tooth decay? Of course. But the idea is to devote a little space in the book to celebrating life's small, simple pleasures. Like catching snowflakes on your tongue or picking the first daisy you see in the spring. My editor thought these suggestions were totally moronic. And I guess I see where she's coming from. But, especially in this post-9/ll world, isn't appreciating the sweet, simple stuff kind of the point? I think so.

We devoted a lot of space in this issue to an article on how to get what you want out of life--be it something as small as a better grade in math or as big as becoming the next Britney (or Michelle or Vanessa or whomever). The freedom to have goals and go after them is one of the great things about living in this country. They don't call it the American Dream for nothing. And, in it's own way, this pursuit is what makes every day exciting and challenging.

But as each of us go for the big, important stuff, I also think we need to spend some time doing some of the simple things that make us smile. Like, say, eating candy canes while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Karen