Compassionate, Loving Human Being!

Ruth McKinnie Braun

Today’s blog is dedicated to Ruth McKinnie Braun a wonderful, compassionate woman who passed away Saturday, long before her time. Ruth was a former writer and reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune until 2008, when she left to start her Web site, Suchasmartmom.com

Ruth was good at everything that mattered:  her marriage, being a mom, career, and maintaining friendships. She was ego-less, smart, self-confident, bright and always willing to share with a warm smile.

Ruth and I were not close buds. We were as they call, business associates in the work world.  She definitely had countless friends who admired her for who she was. She was a person of integrity, hope and strength for many. I believe Ruth had no idea what an impact and role she played in their lives and the sudden departure  from this dimension.

We had many conversations in the coffee room before our days started about how things were going. She covered education and I was the Newspaper In Education Coordinator.  We had a lot in common wanting to help kids, parents and their teachers. I nominated Ruth and John Gilmore to receive the International Reading Association Award’s for their efforts toward education and literacy. The award is called “Celebrate Literacy”  and I was a recipient a few years later and feel honored to be included with these writers.

My last day at the Union-Tribune in 2006, Ruth asked me to come into her office. She asked what I was going to do and we spoke for about 10 minutes.  I told her I wanted to help children to see that anything is possible.

We spoke several times about getting leads for advertisers for her Web site and just last Friday, before she passed on,  I emailed asking her to connect with a special group in Encinitas that wanted to know more about Ruth.  When I found out that Ruth was gone, I emailed the sad news.

Life is about meeting compassionate people who are passionate and loving. That was Ruth.

Ruth’s request was for donations to be made the Polinsky Center for Children. A group from Love Heels is donating a therapy puppy in Ruth’s name to the center so her love will definitely go on and on.

Ruth is a perfect example of living your life in the moment and the only thing we leave behind and take with us is LOVE.

Ruth leaves behind two young children, Emma and Noah and her dear husband Gerry.

Bless you dear Ruth.

P.S. Life is calling us all the time to be real and have courage.

P.S.S. Living life in the moment and realizing that this moment has nothing to do with any other moment in our lives is critical.

Create a wonderful day for yourself.

Laura and her Angel Kitties