I saw the Hunger Games movie last night. I liked it a lot and felt it captured the tone of the first book well. It showcases the best and worst of humankind. The power of hope, of trust, of love. The despair of poverty, hopelessness, starvation. The silliness of vanity. The rage of injustice simmering just below the thin veneer of civilization. The power of speaking simple truths in simple but honest ways. Of not letting others dictate how you will be; who’ll you’ll be. Of never giving up no matter how hopeless the odds seem to be. Of friendship and how others–including total strangers–can provide help just at the right moment in exactly the right way. The power of a hug and reassuring smile or comment. The fear dictators have of the people. The misery of slavery. The power of loyalty to those worthy of our fealty. The ways that people in power purposely divide people and pit them against each other to keep them weak and pliable. The power a uniter can have against the dividers. How one person can standup to mighty powers and make a huge difference in the world. How a simple kindness can save a life, heal a wound, and create ripples of change for all humankind.
The Duck Who Flew Upside Down
Click on Image to See Amazon.com Listing
Rusty Bear and Thomas Too
Click on Image to See Amazon.com Listing
Clyde and Friends 3 Books in 1!
Click on Image to See Amazon.com Listing
Slices of Life
Click Image to See Amazon Listing
Palpable Imaginings
Click on Image to Go to Amazon.com Listing
From the Heart of a Grateful Man
Click on Image to Go to Amazon.com Listing
Reflections of a Grateful Man
Click on Image to Go To Amazon Link
Heart Whispers
Click on Image to Go to Amazon Listing
russtowne
Poets Corner
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
So true, we never can appreciate the power of a hug, smile or reassuring comment .. until we experience it for ourselves.
Love your site!
Cheers,
Amma
Thank you, Amma, for the electronic hug, smile, and reassuring comment that I just received from you! ;-D!
May your adventures provide all that you seek and lead you to even greater inner peace.
Russ
Aww thank you! And I just got one back!
Best wishes for all you do!
My boys want me to take them to see the movie, especially my 10 year old son…it seems very violent from a clip I watched, however, they’ve read the book so…I guess I will take them…
Hi, Dave. I remember having to make such decisions when my children were of similar age. I learned that some children are ready earlier than others for such films and experiences, and discovered the nightmare test. If a child had a nightmare or trouble sleeping related to the movie or experience I figured that I blew it and exposed him or her too early. Fortunately, there were few nightmares, and for the ones that did I took the opportunities to help that child work through the fears that came up for them.
I also figured if there were no nightmares I probably was being too protective. It’s a tough balance for every parent and I certainly didn’t always get it right.
Now I’m weeks away from being a grandparent for the first time and looking forward to it, secure in the knowledge that he will have two great parents who will do their best to do a job that nobody always gets right.