An old man escapes from the retirement home his son and daughter-in-law have placed him in and returns to NY to once more become the man he was. A Jewish lady yells out of her apartment window down to a man delivering ice, that one act is the beginning of a story of love and sacrifice. A young homeless girl huddles in a doorway in lower Manhattan and begs for money to feed her child little does she know how she will change the life of a rich Wall Street financier. Melodious sounds of a violin being played fill the canyons of the upper west side of Manhattan; the musician is a phantom driving a world renowned violinist and his wife to distraction trying to find out his or her identity.
What is a WWII fighter plane doing sitting in an old shed in upstate New York? Why do three crows sit on a telephone wire in west Texas, watching an old man go about his work? How will a shadowy figure in an alley behind a shoeshine parlor and barbershop impact the lives of two old men, and why late one snowy Christmas Eve are a man and his grandson sledding down a hill? The answers to these questions are revealed in Quartet. It is a book of four short stories, dealing with four different and diverse human beings in very different circumstances: an ex-USAF fighter pilot who is disillusioned upon his return home after WWII, an old drunk in west Texas, the owner of a shoeshine parlor who finds himself capable of compassion and, finally, a war widow who is taught a life lesson by her son and his grandfather. Their lives, though very different and diverse, have a commonality about themaitas called the human spirit.
In this inspiring memoir, “an unfailing champion for all children . . . shares his ever- committed life story . . . What an example he is for all of us” (Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund). After spending three decades in journalism as a newspaper reporter, editor and publisher, Dave Lawrence dedicated his life to a new mission: making sure every child has a real chance to succeed. A prominent advocate for children across the country, David helped found The Children’s Movement of Florida, an organization that launched in 2010 with the purpose of making Florida’s children, especially in their early years, the top priority for state investment. In A Dedicated Life, David tells his story from his time at the Detroit Free Press and the Miami Herald to his “retirement” at fifty-six, when he transitioned into his new calling and began making significant strides in Florida’s pre-K programs, parent skill-building, and so much more. “This special book is the story of a good man who has lived an impressive, fascinating, full life dedicated to his family, his profession, his faith and his service to others, especially the youngest and most vulnerable among us.” —Jeb Bush, Florida’s 43rd Governor “[A] highly principled man applying his talents and values in a transitioning America.” —Bob Graham, Florida’s 38th Governor and former Senator
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