Still haven't gotten over the death of Nina Simone, but I continue as best I can to remember that I was once, young, gifted and Black. Most recently, Becky Thompson and I traveled to Egypt to the Gaza Freedom March which renewed our faith in the "people" as we witnessed people from around the world who came to make sure that the people of Gaza are not forgotten. We also write books, the latest one When the Center is on FIre: Passionate Social Theory for Our Time, a sociological look at recent American traumas including Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, Abu Ghraib and Columbine; and try to stay balanced and sane in this stressful world. I teach sociology at Vassar and Becky teaches sociology at Simmons. She is also publishing poetry. Our next book will be about embodiment and collective memory and we think we may start to write any day now.