The Trouble With The Alphabet » News & Events

Observations on the Go

Caryn — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:38:51 +0000

So I made it to New York to get some much needed encouragement from some like minded people and to brainstorm some collaborative marketing efforts. It was a short trip, a day, and I am again sitting in an airport hoping to get on a flight home. New York is a great place to get a dose of the world…the good, bad and the ugly. They are all here in numbers that will forever boggle my mind. Whenever I am here I extend myself to the nth degree in an effort to find the good amidst the chaos. I am always surprised at how being nice to a person who doesn’t look at all “nice” will bring a smile that might not have been shared in a very long time.As I find my way through the confusing labyrinth of subways and streets that seem to never end, I am aware of how insignificant we each are on our own. I imagine the thoughts people might be running through in their minds as they hurry past me, and I wonder where each one is on this complex road we call life. For me the sensory overload is almost too much so I intently watch lives intersect in what seems to be a world of “every man for themselves.” A woman on the subway declares to the passengers that she has multiple sclerosis and is struggling to raise a child on her own. She asks anyone to give what they can to help her. No one appears to be listening as I’m sure her story is one of hundreds these people encounter in their simple efforts to move around in their lives. I give her the $3.00 I have in my wallet. I don’t believe doing this makes me better or worse and I doubt it has much effect on this woman’s life whether her story is real or fabricated to cover up some different tragic back story. I just know doing this makes me feel like I am present…not detached, numb or so deeply enthralled by my own life and struggles that I am deaf to another.Later in the day we are buying our subway fares to get back across town and a very attractive woman asks me for change for a dollar bill. She needs coins and as much as I want to help, I can only find two in the mess at the bottom of my purse. I give them to her and she hands me the dollar bill which I decline to take. To me giving a person a couple of quarters does not seem like a big gesture but this woman genuinely didn’t understand my refusal to take her money. She gave me back the quarters and walked away. I wonder why it is so hard for us to accept kindness without feeling the need to in some way pay for it. It’s no longer kindness in that case, merely a trade. I was disappointed because for whatever reason, I wanted to be allowed to be kind and carry with me what that feeling does for my soul.

As we waited for the train next to the stairs that came down from the street level, two women with a young boy between them came rushing down. They were each holding one of the child’s arms and in their hurry they pulled him too fast and he fell down the last few steps…first on his face then on his back. He was about five I’m guessing and as he lay there crying I had to resist the urge to run over and comfort him. Both women were screaming at him to get up. As he was finally yanked to his feet and told to shut up, I had to turn away and fight to keep the tears in my eyes from beginning to fall. I got on my train and prayed silently for that little boy…and as much as I could, for whoever those women were. I also prayed for myself to understand what it is I should do the next time I am witness to the uglier side of humanity. Should I have said something? What if saying something made it worse? As I sit here in the airport now every crying child brings that moment in time back into focus and I find myself lost in this one question…”What will it take to change humanity?…What will it take?

New Floor Puzzle!

Caryn — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:51:16 +0000

It’s here! 2 feet x 3 feet of “WOW” The chunky floor puzzle for kids. Available now by emailing us. Not available through the web store for at least a week. Don’t miss out for Christmas…ORDER NOW!

Happy New Year to all!

Caryn — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:52:23 +0000

Been so busy that I just haven’t had the time to update the site…so here I am. It’s a new year and we are starting it with a big plan!

Myself, Brock and our two little guys, Blaze and Cruz will be hitting the road in Feb. for a 6 month signing and speaking tour. We will be living on a motor coach, I can’t even imagine with the little guys, but it’s what we are committed to doing in order to get in front of as many people as possible.

I will be doing book signings at different Whole Foods to benefit Whole Planet, independent bookstores, rotary clubs, high schools, colleges and churches. If there is an event you would like me to speak at or a book signing you’d like to arrange, please contact either Brock or myself so that we can get you on the calendar.

This is going to be quite an adventure so watch for my daily blogs once we get on the bus!

Peace and Love,

Caryn West

Borders in Broomfield, CO Dec. 4th

Caryn — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:41:43 +0000

Meet Author/Artist Caryn West while she signs copies of her new book The Trouble with the Alphabet. She will be signing books and answering questions about the project from 4pm-6pm in the store located on Flatiron Crossing Drive in Broomfield. This store has named this day Educator Appreciation Day so other events will be taking place as well.

Borders Bookstore
1 West Flatiron Crossing Drive
Broomfield, CO 80021
303-466-7007

December 4th 4pm-6pm

November 30th 2008 – Borders in Park Meadows

Caryn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:45:40 +0000

Meet Author/Artis Caryn West for her first Borders booksigning in Park Meadows Mall. She will be onsite signing her new book The Trouble with the Alphabet from 1PM – 4PM. Come meet the artist and discover this year’s perfect gift… a book that changes everything.

Nevember 30th 2008 1PM-4PM
Borders Bookstore
Park Meadows Mall
8557 Park Meadows Center Drive
Highlands Ranch 80124
303-708-1735

November 23rd – Boulder, CO

Caryn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:38:48 +0000

Meet Author/Artist Caryn West while she signs copies of her new book The Trouble with the Alphabet at the Alternative Christian Marketplace at the First Presbyterian Church in Boulder, CO. This is a gift fair for local, national and international artisans and the perfect opportunity to do some holiday shopping. This year, with all that is going on in the world, make it a year of giving “gifts that give back”

November 23rd, 2008 12PM-3PM
Alternative Christian Marketplace
First Presbyterian Church
1820 15th Street
Boulder, CO
720-352-2647

November 26th – Evergreen, CO

Caryn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:27:53 +0000

Meet Author/Artist Caryn West while she signs copies of her new book The Trouble with the Alphabet at Safeway on Evergreen Parkway. The busiest grocery shopping day of the year is so often a time of stress as we hurry to take care of last minute details. This year, take a breath and take a moment to consider not only why we have so much to be thankful for but to have a look at a briiliant gift to consider giving this Christmas. A labor of love, The Trouble with the Alphabet is a book for everyone.

November 26th, 2008
Safeway
Evergreen Parkway
Evergreen, CO 80439

Dec. 5th – Steamboat Springs

Caryn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:16:55 +0000

Author/Artist Caryn West will be signing her new book The Trouble with the Alphabet at Off the Beaten Path bookstore in Steamboat Springs, CO. The event will take place on December 5th which is also the 1st Friday Art Walk. On display in the bookstore will be the 26 vivid and compelling portraits of children from around the word that are included in the book. Please join us, meet the author, see the images of the world’s children, learn their stories and move with us from apathy to activism. Make this years Chrismas gift “the gift that gives back.”

Friday December 5th, 2008
5PM – 8PM
Off the Beaten Path bookstore
68 9th Street
Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
970-879-6830

The Trouble with the Alphabet at Ditto Gallery Oct.24th-Dec. 20th

Caryn — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:28:18 +0000

The Ditto Gallery in Denver will host a two month exhibit of the original paintings, poems and books beginning on October 24th and ending on December 20th. The Gallery is located in Denver’s Golden Triangle Museum and Art district.

The address is 1224 Speer Blvd. Denver, CO 80204

If you would like to attend the Opening Reception on the 24th 5-9 pm
please contact Brock West at
brock@ttwta.com