Lifelong Commitment

* Lilia Serio Powell, 42 Occupation: Coordinator of Talent Search, a federal program to help minorities Organization: United Way of Orange County board member Address: 18012 Mitchell Ave. South, Irvine 92714. (714) 660-7600 Lilia Serio Powell can pinpoint the moment she became interested in doing charitable work and helping others. It happened, she said, 30 years ago at Miami International Airport. She was 12, and she and her 11-year-old sister had just fled from communism in their native Cuba.

One afternoon in 1978, when I was 24, I lay down in my apartment and decided to "face reality." It's a term I had just read in a Self magazine, and I decided to give it a shot. Here was my reality: I weighed 275 pounds, ate everything in sight, watched TV all day and all night, smoked cigarettes and other things, drank alcohol to excess and had a loop of negative thoughts, feelings and memories working through my brain and body. After the reality check, I decided I had two choices: end it all right there, or get up off the bed and figure out what was wrong with me. Slowly, over the years -- through therapy, support groups, making amends, helping others and seeking spirituality -- I untangled the morass of negativity that had nearly destroyed me, and I have gone on to live a happy, sober and relatively thin life.

One afternoon in 1978, when I was 24, I lay down in my apartment and decided to "face reality." It's a term I had just read in a Self magazine, and I decided to give it a shot. Here was my reality: I weighed 275 pounds, ate everything in sight, watched TV all day and all night, smoked cigarettes and other things, drank alcohol to excess and had a loop of negative thoughts, feelings and memories working through my brain and body. After the reality check, I decided I had two choices: end it all right there, or get up off the bed and figure out what was wrong with me. Slowly, over the years -- through therapy, support groups, making amends, helping others and seeking spirituality -- I untangled the morass of negativity that had nearly destroyed me, and I have gone on to live a happy, sober and relatively thin life.

Re "As Marines Ship Out, Their Pets Put Shelter on Emergency Footing," Feb. 3: As the wife of a retired naval officer, I can relate to the uncertainties and upheavals being experienced by our military personnel. Those uncertainties and upheavals that are part of the job, however, were the very reason we didn't have pets during our years in the military. Companion animals are not amusements to be discarded when they are no longer convenient. They are sensitive beings who deserve a lifelong commitment.

Re "As Marines Ship Out, Their Pets Put Shelter on Emergency Footing," Feb. 3: As the wife of a retired naval officer, I can relate to the uncertainties and upheavals being experienced by our military personnel. Those uncertainties and upheavals that are part of the job, however, were the very reason we didn't have pets during our years in the military. Companion animals are not amusements to be discarded when they are no longer convenient. They are sensitive beings who deserve a lifelong commitment.

After reading Robin Abcarian's "Mother of All Surprises Is Birthing in Toyland" (April 9) regarding the Mattel toy that simulates pregnancy and birthing, I have not been able to get it out of my mind. First, creating a new life is a serious, lifelong commitment that should be undertaken only after a great deal of thought. It does not fall into the realm of fun and games. With the teen-age birth rate at an all time high, we should not be encouraging little girls to be preoccupied with pregnancy and birthing.

Marriage is an institution designed to recognize the lifelong commitment of two people to love, care for, support and protect each other. Our laws recognize this union. Insurance companies and hospitals recognize the interrelatedness of the two people and provide joint benefits and bestow joint responsibilities. It is important to protect the institution of marriage. But I can't help wonder how Proposition 22 would do that. A yes vote would prevent an entire group of people who have made this lifelong commitment from being married.

While I appreciate The Times making the effort to differentiate between the individuals who call themselves golf professionals and those who are PGA professionals ("Teaching Wedge," April 5), I feel it's necessary to clarify several points. Electing to become a PGA professional is a lifelong commitment. To begin an apprenticeship, aspiring professionals must pass a playing ability test and pass all three levels of the Golf Professional Training Program which is approximately a four- to five-year commitment.

Richard D. Colburn, a wealthy businessman whose own dreams of being a professional musician fueled his generous and lifelong commitment to music and music education, died Thursday at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 92. "He'd been very tired the last few days," said his daughter, Carol Colburn Hogel. "But, still, this was unexpected."

Paths of Glory: As Kirk Douglas recovered from injuries suffered in an air collision, the American Friends of the Hebrew University honored the 74-year-old actor and his wife for their lifelong commitment to the arts. The group bestowed its Scopus Award to the couple Saturday in Palm Springs for their contributions to the arts and their humanitarian work. The actor's wife, Anne, and son Eric attended the black-tie gala to accept the award.

While I appreciate The Times making the effort to differentiate between the individuals who call themselves golf professionals and those who are PGA professionals ("Teaching Wedge," April 5), I feel it's necessary to clarify several points. Electing to become a PGA professional is a lifelong commitment. To begin an apprenticeship, aspiring professionals must pass a playing ability test and pass all three levels of the Golf Professional Training Program which is approximately a four- to five-year commitment.

Marriage is an institution designed to recognize the lifelong commitment of two people to love, care for, support and protect each other. Our laws recognize this union. Insurance companies and hospitals recognize the interrelatedness of the two people and provide joint benefits and bestow joint responsibilities. It is important to protect the institution of marriage. But I can't help wonder how Proposition 22 would do that. A yes vote would prevent an entire group of people who have made this lifelong commitment from being married.

After reading Robin Abcarian's "Mother of All Surprises Is Birthing in Toyland" (April 9) regarding the Mattel toy that simulates pregnancy and birthing, I have not been able to get it out of my mind. First, creating a new life is a serious, lifelong commitment that should be undertaken only after a great deal of thought. It does not fall into the realm of fun and games. With the teen-age birth rate at an all time high, we should not be encouraging little girls to be preoccupied with pregnancy and birthing.

* Lilia Serio Powell, 42 Occupation: Coordinator of Talent Search, a federal program to help minorities Organization: United Way of Orange County board member Address: 18012 Mitchell Ave. South, Irvine 92714. (714) 660-7600 Lilia Serio Powell can pinpoint the moment she became interested in doing charitable work and helping others. It happened, she said, 30 years ago at Miami International Airport. She was 12, and she and her 11-year-old sister had just fled from communism in their native Cuba.

*** 1/2 Alex de Grassi and Quique Cruz, "Tatamonk," Tropo. This unusual album finds New Age guitarist De Grassi collaborating with Quique Cruz, an exiled Chilean multi-instrumentalist inspired by a lifelong commitment to the preservation of Andean music. The duo's compositions are airy, nostalgic, and heavy on the quena, the charango, the ronroco and other traditional instruments.

Christopher Jarvi, the city's longtime community services director, has been elected president of a national organization that promotes parks and conservation efforts around the country. The National Recreation and Park Assn., which has 23,000 members, is a nonprofit group dedicated to improving communities. Jarvi was elected president this month based on his lifelong commitment to the group's goals, officials said.