Parenthetical to "oz"

I am quite sure that everyone who visits my Web pages realizes that "Oz" is a major part of my life. But by the same token I know that everyone also knows that my life is composed of many other facets. Hopefully it makes for a well-rounded person when you have many interests.

About two years ago I was a guest in one of my daughter's homes in California and she handed me a script that her husband had written. That evening and through a goodly portion of the night I read the entire manuscript. I know that people refer to well written material as page turners but I had dubbed this one as a page burner because I could not get through a page fast enough to see what the story would revel to me next.

The book might as well have been in a foreign language to me to start, as I do not normally read mysteries, shoot 'em up bang 'em ups, or stories with lots of tough talking language in them. However my daughter, Connie, had warned me before hand that I might not like it because it was written very realistically. My son-in-law is a professional police officer and had spent a number of years in the United States Navy. I know that it is a reality of life and so I determined that I would read it regardless of the language. Within a few pages I was hooked. It was so real, so compelling that I burned my way though the book by about 3 AM. I was left breathless and thinking that this could really happen. This of course was written before the 9/11/01 incident. The title of the book is Domestic Terrorism. This is not the story of foreign terrorists but our own home grown teen terrorists. This later really hit home with me as I had 2 grandchildren who were students at Santana High School in San Diego County the day a young man killed two of his own friends and wounded 13 others.

This book is entertaining of itself but I feel more importantly the reality of the world we live in is worlds apart from the world I grew up in. Every parent or grandparent, anyone who daily deals professionally or even peripherially with young people should read this book. It could happen and more importantly you could help stop it. I really believe what Mrs. Clinton said; "It takes a village to raise a child." If we don't want worse to happen with our kids, then it is everyone's responsiblity to help them grow up well educated, strong morally and become productive adults. We are all responsible for the kind of world we shape in our kids.

Beyond that I would love to see Bruce Willis play this roll in a film version as the main hunk of a man called Wes MacGregor. Without Wes' genius and skill the United States would be quite a different place if indeed this could happen . . .

I am just waiting for the next book in this series of Wes MacGregor's magic. Make no mistake about it, the magic is all from the pen and imagination of my Son-in-law, Jay P. Farrington.
I am exceeding proud of this man and of course my daughter, Connie who is also part of the law enforcement that deals with our kids. I am so very proud of both of them and their daughter, Allison, who is now 16, a junior in High School, carrying a 3.5 GPA. She is a very talented singer and actress with the school productions and is headed for College in 2004 to become RN or a primary teacher.

Please take the opportunity to read more about Jay's book on another web site: http://www.domesticterrorism.net/ Lots of additional information to peruse and there is even a chapter available to read-Or, if you like send my son-in-law an E-mail note. Tell him I sent you. I hope you will purchase the book and enjoy it every bit as much as I did.

Thank you for indulging my love for my family and their special talents and humanity.

Donna Stewart-Hardway
" God bless us everyone."

Postscript: When you check out the other web site at http://www.domesticterrorism.net/ check out the jacket of the book. It is the picture of a young boy. His back is turned to you. In one hand a skateboard and the other an automatic weapon. So graphic!