KPCC

 Posted 2/17/10. A warm thank you to all of you who commented on my post last week about Leah and my four children. Here are some reader responses:

       From a father: “This is a very touching story. I’m not ashamed to admit I did tear up reading it…While I did not ‘need’ this personal story to confirm my respect for you and Jennifer, it does not surprise me in that I now see beautiful Leah reflected in each of you and who you are and what this world desperately needs more of in the sacred callings of Mom and Dad.”

       From another father: “I do remember Leah's passing some time ago. I appreciate your guts and integrity to not put it away in some far corner of your life and never speak of it. Your speaking of this may even help someone else, so good for you.”

       From an aunt: “Thank you, Kevin, for addressing this oh so personal and gut wrenching topic. I love all your children equally and with all my heart.”

       From a long-time friend who participated in a memorial ceremony for Leah after her death: “This is very beautifully written, and I think important. Of course I knew about Leah. I still remember planting the tree for her. The other thing worth mentioning is that you can give parents hope by mentioning this. If they lose a child, they can realize others can follow and live. You are very brave to write about this so publicly. But I believe in the truth. It can be very healing. So many other countries embrace and acknowledge death in a way that America (in general) does not, and seems to be afraid of doing. I have a dear college friend whose three year old died (I think he would be 25 or so now), and she still does a ceremony of some sort on the beach the day of his death. Thanks for your writing.”

        And now for something completely different: Wheels of Change continues to draw attention of the most pleasing kind. It has been nominated for the Cugnot Prize, which is awarded by the Society of Automotive Historians to the best historical car book of the year nationally and internationally. Wheels of Change has also been nominated for the James Valentine Memorial Award, which is given to the best California car book of the year. Finally, it will be a contender for the 2010 Dean Batchelor Award for excellence in automotive journalism, presented by the Motor Press Guild. The winners of these awards will be named later this year.

       Thursday Feb. 18, I will be talking cars with host Patti Morrison on KPCC 89.3 FM in Los Angeles. Sunday Feb. 21—two days after gum surgery! Aaah!—I will be showing slides and gumming my way through a historical “lecture” at the Benicia Historical Museum at 2 pm. in Benicia. Monday, Feb. 22, Paul Kilduff of The Monthly will interview me for a Kilduff File podcast to be broadcast later in the week (I think). Wednesday, Feb. 24 finds me at the San Jose Rotary Club. I show up, they feed me lunch, and I talk a little cars. If nobody throws anything at me, and so far nobody has, the day is a success.