The good folks of the Harold Hunter Foundation brought crazy happiness, and positive stories, and a ‘do what you love to succeed’ message, to school kids in the Bronx on Friday. I haven’t ever seen that many genuinely thrilled kids in one place, ever. Steve Rodriguez of 5Boro, Luis Tolentino and Rodney Smith of Shut, Chad Muska, and Rob – an E.R. doctor who’s last name I forget – all presented to a small group of middle school students, did a skate demo in the school yard and then conducted a signing frenzy back inside. I was just as thrilled as the kids to be there and take photos of the whole thing thanks HHF! and thanks Satoko!

Park Deli’s owners, Valentine Leung and Michael Sclafani are young entrepreneurs and new parents who are holding it down by keeping their side jobs as a dress designer and window decorator.

took noam to the skate park w/ his friend marcus and his mom this past weekend. even though he was a pain in the tuchas this morning – throwing fits left and right, not letting me get work done, etc… He’s always had a problem with playing by himself, not getting attention.

i can sympathize – or i try. i know he was very eager to get outside and skateboard, and hang out with marcus. understandable. while i intellectually know that children his age cannot, generally speaking, empathize with others to a large degree, emotionally it is hard to put up with his lack of patience. in turn, i become impatient, upset and frustrated that i am left with no time to get any school work done,dedicating all my energy to noam. With all of noam’s fussing i got cranky, misplaced things, forgot to bring pads to the park later, and so on.

the morning was made all the more difficult by the fact that janet didn’t get in touch w. us until 1:30 p.m.. by that time noam was utterly stir crazy. yet i can’t blame them for taking care of sunday morning business – grocery shopping and schleping clothes to the laundromat. as a full-time single parent going through school she has has a great deal of responsibilities and quotidian tasks to attend to.

instead of going to the nearby skatepark we drove over to the Hudson River Skatepark near 30th street. I’ll post photos and video clips soon. they are a lot stricter there, pads and a helmet are both required for kids. it’s a lot harder to get to, but it offers a new and exciting environment for noam. it was marcus’ first time there and he had a great time.

“I conquered my fear dad!” noam hollered w/ delight after zooming down a steep, curved ramp. it’s been incredible to see his skills and, in turn, confidence increase over the past several months, years actually. i constantly remind him that even pro skaters fall all the time. you have to fall to grow. it’s a lesson that i need to learn as well.