The Full discussion is archived on the Unschooling Discussion list (at google groups, so it was still there in 2021), but below are the highlights of reports on Marty's doings at Mary Gold's Life is Good conference in Corvallis, Oregon in April, 2007: Sandra Dodd: Marty (18) has been gone for over a week, and won't be back for many more days. I'm starting to miss him. He called me from the runway in Seattle to say he had arrived, I got an e-mail from Diana with a photo of him the next morning (a very sweet mom-to-mom gesture), and I talked to him yesterday. He was excited to have seen a big crab in the wild, on a post at the beach. He didn't get to hold it because he couldn't reach it. ![]() Karen Tucker: That's nice. It was a surprise to see Marty at LIFE is Good—didn't know he was coming. But I tell you, he was the best unschoolers Talent Show host I have ever seen. And he was the biggest Duck, Duck, Goose player, too! :) Erica Iwamura: I loved reading this. As a new unschooler (about a month into the journey), the worry still creeps in. I love hearing about how Marty treats and respects the little ones because of how he was treated and respected himself. My boys are 7 and 5 and I am just looking forward to their relationship improving as we grow WITH each other everyday. Thank you for sharing this, Sandra! Erica Diana Jenner: On 4/27/07, Karen TuckerChristy Mahoney: Marty did a really great job at the talent show. Our trip was worth it just for the talent show! He called my daughter's name early on, and she said she wasn't ready yet. He was very gracious, and she really appreciated it when he introduced her later and thanked her for being patient because she was super nervous. Robin Bentley: And you should have heard Christy's Darcy sing a capella! What a lovely, clear voice! I think she sang Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" (I'm not totally up on CA's song titles Mary King: When my daughter went up on stage to do improve comedy, she got nervous and really just ended up talking to the crowd. Marty graciously eased her to give him back the microphone when she told us she wasnt sure what to do next. He made this situation comfortable for her when it really could have made her upset. He really is a great kid. Christy: ...even in a world full of unschooled people, I don't think very many people are like Marty. He really seems interested in people, and he was the only teen that I met at the conference that exhibited this quality. Jill Parmer: I liked that the conf. wasn't so big and had the chance to chat longer and laugh with Marty, and others. The day after the conf, we went to the beach and took Hayden with us. The conversation of the kids just whirled around, but seemed to be telling of how unschooling works in their confidence and pure joy and intense seriousness... Luke and Hayden both 8; this part of the conversation was about teenagers. the discussion scattered out a bit there and much is left out here, so seeming references might be to things I left out; sorry Jenny: You can let him know too that my husband was impressed with him too. His almost exact words were, "Marty was one of the best talents in the talent show. He has a great people and stage presence."
AlysonRR: During the Life is Good talent show my 5-y.o. daughter was outwardly self-assured when going to the mic, but started to forget the words to her song ("Itsy Bitsy Spider", for anyone there), and Marty and the entire audience helped her out. It was very sweet, and she came back to her seat shining and wanting to go back up again for another song. I didn't get to stay for the whole thing, but the Talent Show was one of the neatest things I've seen - so many supportive people, ready to support any kid who had the interest to get up there. Definitely a highlight for our family. Christy: Alyson, there's a really sweet photo of Marty and your daughter in the talent show at Mary's blog (photo placed up above) And Brenna had just as much fun with your daughter! Erica: I had to go and look too. That pic is frame worthy! Adorable. You can see in his eyes how much he loves children! Shonna: Diana's recount of Marty being chased by a little girl was priceless...and the tears are streaming down my face! That little girl was one of my 4 year old twins! She was completely smitten with Marty, and so excited that he chose her to be Goose! Once we were home and browsing through our photos, there was one of Marty kneeling down and whispering something into the twins' ears on stage at the talent show! Viola piped up "I like that boy, he said 'You were awesome!'" They were beaming with their memories of Marty and how kind and gentle he was with them! Gillian: Marty was a *huge* part of the conference - at one point Craig commented that everywhere he went there were Marty and Madeleine helping somebody out or doing something useful. If you watch the conference movie, M (or M or both) are in every second shot I think. Marty participated up to his eyeballs, and it would not have been the same conference without him. Robyn Coburn: [quoting]:Marty participated up to his eyeballs, and it would not have been the same conference without him. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandaroo/472683778/in/pool-lifeisgoodconference/(and a few after that one)
More Life is Good photos: More Marty Dodd and his super-hero myspace (Above Average Joe) and his regular myspace: (the name changes periodically)
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