May 31, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Wonderful Weather.

Thursday was the most beautiful day at the ranch.

The sky was bright blue with wisps of clouds along the horizon, and always with a breeze to keep me cool. Nothing dramatic occurred during the day, just the normal chores of feeding the fish and giving the cattle their treats. I did clean out the garage at the ranch house, and while sweeping and pitching wondered how attics and garages always fill up with stuff. A person has the garage or attic all organized and six months later the place is full again. How does this happen? Anyway, the garage at the ranch is now clean and orderly. In the garage we have a gun safe. The combination is so complicated that the lock never gets locked, and our neighbor Robbie thinks it is a safety hazard, so in the morning, a locksmith from Kerrville came out to fix the lock so we now can open the darn thing without spending 21 steps. Now everyone is happy. I walked twice both morning and afternoon and saw several cardinals but only one vermilion flycatcher. Usually it is reversed. And as Friday we go to the lake, I did the laundry and changed the beds. It seems silly to say, but with the life we live, knowing when to change the bed gets confusing. I guess I need a better system.

Thursday evening we ate at The Bavarian Inn in Fredericksberg, with our friends Loren and Royce-Ann. It was lots of fun seeing them again and catching up with their lives. The renovation of their old house is coming along very well. Perhaps they will be able to spend Christmas 2008 in their new/old home. People here live a long time, and they are involved with elderly parents to assist. Not an easy thing at all. One piece of German chocolate cake was shared by all four of us. It was wonderful, as was the whole meal. I don't recall that the food was a good the last time, but perhaps I am getting used to Texas food.

Temperature of eighty degrees in the day, and sixty five degrees at night certainly makes for a wonderful climate.

May 30, 2008. Harper, Texas. Used Books.

Every time we order books I think of him. The sign outside the large old house said "Classic Used Books", so in we go, the four of us. Ken and I, Mary and Walt are in a little town in Wales, just wandering around checking it out. This house has three floors full of books with every room full of bookcases full of books stacked from floor to ceiling. There must have been millions of books in this old house. On the left of the center hall is a room where the walls are made of glass, so we can see a man sitting at a large book laden desk, typing. I went in, but he was not a bit interested in talking to me, so I left and proceeded to poke around all the other books.I bought a book by Simeon Potter, "Our Language" which is a lovely useful little book published in 1950. I told Ken about the sign in the office that said Classic, so he went in and was able to get the man to talk. Now in the room was a computer, but there he was using a typewriter. He finally get interested in us and it turns out that his business of selling used book has been revolutionized by the Internet. This was about eight years ago but he told us many interesting stories about sales of specific books and the Internet. We asked him if he had all his books on the Internet, but he looked aghast. " I have twenty thousand books on the Internet, but I can not possibly do them all. It was an interesting and enlightening history of the used book business, but it took us quite awhile to break through his reserve.

Now we order used books on the Internet all the time and we love the system. Yes I know, nothing beats browsing through used book stores to find a treasure, but when you have specific books in mind, and the books are out of print you can find those books at your finger tips, rather than traipsing through book store after bookstore trying to find the specific titles. Yesterday I was reading again a little book given to me by my good friend Beverley "Short Trips in the Hill Country". We have visited every place in this book, but I was interested to re-read the book to see what I missed, and what I missed before was the information the author gleaned from several reference books. So with Ken at the computer and me reading out the authors and titles we have ordered these reference books. They will come soon. I am so excited to have my own copy of "Texas Houses in the Nineteenth Century". We did the same thing in Nova Scotia, when I was interested in antique Canadian furniture. I asked my friend Bob if I could see his reference books, and it turns out he had none. Now we have a wonderful collection of books on Canadian and East Coast antique furniture, all stacked up in the office just over the desk. I love them.

Now from those reference books, Davis the cabinet maker, is making three pieces of furniture, all from those books. It all started from that conversation in Wales.

May 29, 2008. Harper, Texas Double D Ranch.

Ken loves gadgets. The first time a so called atomic watch became available, he bought one. and he has used it ever since. The best thing about this watch is that it is always correct. I on the other hand always keep my watches fast, which does not please Ken, so with his atomic watch, he does not need to depend on my incorrect watch. To make things worse, I own several watches, and every watch is a different amount of minutes wrong. So Ken has been happy with his watch...until now, when his watch stopped working. Of course, he bought a new atomic watch, but this one is a solar powered watch with every gadget known to man. Now when his watch arrived, it came with a book three inches thick of instructions. Immediately, Ken commented that this watch must be difficult to keep running, with all these pages of instructions. We both laughed, because we both know that Ken is stubborn, and will get this watch running properly...eventually.

The first thing that has kept us laughing was that he could not get the watch set at the correct time. The watch ran well, and kept good time, but it was always a few minutes wrong. He would set the watch to the correct time, and it quickly reverted to the wrong time. Of course, the book was at home, so he down loaded the instructions to his computer. Eventually he figured out how to set it and he was happy. But then we changed time zone and the watch does not automatically change the time, so he tried to change the time. Of course he could not do it, so yet again, another download on yet another computer to get the instructions for this stupid watch. He commented today, that he thinks he has these instructions of every computer we own. So once again, I saw him with his watch, leaning over the porch, trying to get the right signal for his watch, so his watch will keep correct time. Ken is stubborn and he will get this watch to work properly, once he gets all the directions. In the meantime, we laugh about his watch all the time.

May 28, 2008. Harper, Texas. My Mother.

My Mother was everything a child could want a Mother to be and as I grew up she became a good friend. Here is a story that was typical of my Mother. Our Songster Brigade,(read church Choir) toured England in 1960. The trip was 18 days, and every day we went to another city to give a concert. We gave three complete concerts, so every third night we sang the same events, including the solos, quartets and anthems.There were about eighty people in the group. We heard these same performances so many times that we could all sing them in our sleep.

Jean S. sang a soprano solo, "Allelula". By the end of the tour we had heard enough of Allelula". We were also not accustomed to being together all day and all evening with these same eighty people. One evening, when we were getting ready for the evening concert,a bunch of us were in the rest room taking turns to use the commodes. One of the toilels would not flush properly and when someone asked my Mother why she was not using that toilet, my Mother bust into song, to the tune of Jean's solo Alleluja,"It will not flush, it will not flush, It will not flush it will not flush", and she continued in the same vein until the end of the chorus. If you remember the solo, the only words are Alleluya. It was very funny, and everyone was laughing very hard, until Jean came in the door. Mother did not see her, as she was singing at the top of her lungs with full arm gestures. Bit by bit, the laughter ceased. Finally Mother saw Jean, went over to her and said, "Jean, the toilet at the end is not flushing so do not use that one." She laughed, Jean laughed and everyone roared together.

That tells everything you need to know about my Mother. Now remember she was Mrs. Brigadier Buckley. She was the sargeant of the Songster Brigade of the Danforth Songster Brigade, at that time the finest singing group in the Salvation Army. One would think she would be a proper person always concerned about the spiritual welfare of the group, and she was. But she was also fun and funny, and only proper in bits and peices.

May 27, 2008. Harper, Texas. Making Money.

It is amazing to me when I meet a person who is in love with their job, especially when they have chosen a job that seems so fraught with hassle. Then add up their financial rewards, which seem meager, and I just wonder how and why the whole endeavor began. Once again we were driving the back road from Fredericksburg to Harper. The sign on the front of the new building said " Meetings and Events", The stone building was attractive, but the best part was the sign underneath, saying "Limestone Grill". Another sign out by the road said merely, restaurant. We were hungry, so in we went. Now we have passed this sign fifty times, and never paid it any attention, but the timing was right . In we went to check it out. Immediately in the vestibule of the building I see about 20 older folks gathering for a meeting, and I can see a room with tables and chairs on the left, and determine that there really was a restaurant here. I asked if we could lunch and this very attractive woman of about fifty gave me a royal welcome. Ken and I quickly went through the cafeteria line, only to find out that we should have paid our bill first. But they found us eventually and we chose our lunch. And what a good lunch it was. Ken called it good old home cooking, which is not necessarily a compliment, but the food was tasty and plentiful with lots of options. During lunch, we are discussing the ownership of this place. It was clear the group of folks were here for a meeting and lunch, because they left our room and disappeared down the hall. But we could not tell whether this place was run by the county or the township or the state. When we were almost ready to leave, the same nice lady came over to see if we would like anything else. Of course we had a series of twenty questions, all of which she answered.

It turned out that she and her brother own this facility and her boyfriend is the chef. They serve lunch and dinner five days a week, but their real deal is the special events. This weekend they are having a RV. convention, and two weeks later a motor cycle show., followed soon by a gun show. "The Red Hat Ladies" come for lunch once a week, and every six months they have a whole day session. So this nice lady and her brother bought this land and built this building, with accommodation for three different events at the same time, or one major event. In front of the building they have spaces for 150 cars. Behind the building they have one acre in gravel parking, and 4 more acres of grass. Inside the center it looks to be about the size of five basketball courts. So this is quite an undertaking. The boyfriend came over to say hello and invited us for lunch tomorrow too. Now my question had to be was the issue of the idea. How on earth did they chose this idea for a business? And more importantly, will they survive? The group of older folks were from the Baptist church, and they have a meeting and lunch once a month. It appears they are busy. I can not imagine why anyone would choose this employment, but they were both thrilled to be doing their jobs and paying their bills, so I guess that is all that is needed. The next time you are in Fredericksburg and stop at "Street Dreams", this restaurant is right next door.

May 26, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Lazy Day.

I discovered several things today. First I was spelling crokinole incorrectly and secondly, one of the rules of the game is new to me. Now I have been playing this game all my life, so I was surprised to learn this new rule, but there it is, in black and white in the rule book that came with this new fancy board. Because I know the game, I did not read the directions, but when Suzanne was playing with Abigail, she consulted the rules, and low and behold, the new rule appeared. It is a nasty rule too, but now we all play by the rule book. I always wonder what all the other things I know for sure to be right might also be wrong. I will never know, until I read every rule book. All week end, this game has been played by every person, except Ken. He does not play crokinole because I always beat him. The best part of the game is that beginners can play a decent game and have fun, so even the twins could get in the game and enjoy it. But do not play against an expert. You will loose the first round.

Today was a lovely lazy day. Samantha and Allison stayed in their night gowns until they left for home. Suzanne and David, Sarah and Abigail took a boat ride this morning, while Ken was up early planting in the garden. I stayed home with the twins, where they played very well, drawing on a large piece of paper on the floor and working with some clay. I hope I live long enough to watch these children become adults, so I can see the talents and enthusiasms translated into occupations. It is very difficult to predict future behavior, but it well certainly be interesting to see where those talents are put to good ends. With your own children a parent is mostly in survival mode, so you don't really watch the character traits you see in their behavior, but with your grandchildren, I can just sit back and watch the behavior. For instance, yesterday while getting ready to leave the sailing camp, I suggested that Allison, Samantha and I get on the boat as the dock was crowded and all the sails, boats and boards were being put away by the kids, parents and officials. Samantha took the bow of the boat, while Allison sat on the side of the bow. Both girls were very tired. Allison started to fiddle with the end of the line, and discovered that she could get the line over to Samantha's leg. Now a parent would separate the girls. I on the other hand did nothing but watched to see how Samantha would handle this mild aggravation. What she did was certainly not going to work for her, but she persisted with her action, was to complain and whine to Allison. Finally she asked me for help, but I suggested two other actions she could take which would lead to success, but these were not to her liking. I then suggested that what she was doing, which was not working, was kind of a dumb thing to do. This was really not to her liking, and she turned her back to me and Allison, pushed her face close to the boat and did not move until the boat was home. Then the three older girls spent an hour in the lake playing together, followed by a hot tub, a cocktail hour, Pizza dinner and bed, all done cheerfully. As an adult, stubborn is mostly a good thing, so Samantha has it in spades. And she forgets and forgives very quickly. We'll see what she does as an adult. I will enjoy watching the process.

May 25, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Sailing Camp.

From 7 to 17 said the brochure. Sailing camp at the Canyon Lake Sailing Club, Saturday and Sunday for two weekends. Sarah and Abigail were keen to attend but Samantha and Allison were too young, so on Saturday David took Sarah only as Abigail was not feeling so well. Suzanne and the other girls stayed home and played games. David took Sarah over on the boat, and ended staying the whole day, helping out with his boat to monitor the sail boats. And what a day they had. Their system was to spend about fifteen minutes in the class room, then take the kids out to the boats, where the boats are fitted out with sails. After all the kids could set up and take down the sails, they all went in the boats, two to the boat, where the protected harbor kept them safe. It was amazing the amount of learning that took place, mostly by trial and error. David talked to the director, and he told David that classes and theory go right over the children's heads, but putting the kids in the boats on the water catches their attention. At the end of the first day Sarah went solo right out of the little protected harbor, around the marker, and then back to the protection. But a lot of funny scenes transpired too. One young boy, about ten, was sailing fast toward shore, and could not remember how to turn, so he ended right up on the shore. Several times the boats had to be towed in, because the sailors could not turn the boat around. It was all in good fun, and certainly the kids had a blast.

Today Ken and I went over to watch the action. I loved watching the kids catch on to sailing. The camp was run by three men and six teenagers, all accomplished sailors. One of the high school kids was calling instructions to a ten year old girl. He called out "push the tiller over." Nothing happened to make the boat move, so he called out "push the tiller the other way of over." And like magic, the boat sailed away. In the afternoon, they had races, first as relays and then in solo races. Sarah was the first on her relay team. She had to go out to the far marker, then go around the marker close to shore, then bring the boat over to the dock so the second sailor could jump in and take over for the second lap. Sarah did well, but she came up to the dock about two feet too far away, but rather than take time to do it again properly, the next young sailor just jumped in the water, climbed in the boat, while Sarah jumped out. All very neatly accomplished. And in the solo races, Sarah came in third. The most important part of the classes was that she loved it. The kids were fun, and the most part for her was being in charge of the boat, all by herself.

I watched all afternoon, and several times other parents and grandparents were reminded by the camp director about coaching or instructing the kids during the races. This camp wants the kids to think for themselves out on the boat, not wait to be told the next move. Evidently some parents and grandparents continue to give the kids instructions, even though the philosophy has been explained to them. David said that at first blush it seems like bedlam with kids and boats everywhere, but at the end of the two days, a lot of learning had taken place, but the best part was the confidence you could see on the faces of these kids. They felt like sailors.

May 25, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Sailing Camp.

May 23, 2008. Nuevo Vallarta. Speed.

This whole week our speed was put at the slow speed. I am not sure why, but we enjoyed the lack of hassle. We did not go into the big town, Puerto Vallerta, nor did we get on a public bus. We did not go to any new restaurants for dinner, instead we ate out for lunch and brought a box of left over food to pick at dinner. We did not go to the exercise club. So everything we thought we were going to do this week turned out to be false. But what we did do was helpful and pleasant and healthful.

After breakfast we read for a couple of hours, then we walked for an hour or two, usually ending up at some very nice restaurant for a late lunch, More reading in the afternoon in the apartment, a drink down by the water, another walk in the early evening followed by a very light dinner. Yesterday on our late afternoon walk, we spotted an iguana about two feet long, also a great blue heron. Our journey took us along a new road, where the houses fronted on the canals, and I tell you, this is a good way to feel poverty stricken. These houses are huge, and beautiful. And the boats parked by their docks are spectacular. Once again we took the new tourist trolley to a new restaurant on the other side of the canal. After our delicious lunch we strolled around the canal and met a couple who were selling a condominium. Turns out they are both agents, although she was nursing their new baby, but the husband, Aldo Zaldo, showed us the condo, which was for sale for $235,000. American, on the Marina. As we rejected Marina living in the past, we admired the unit and thanked him for showing it to us. But we are spoiled by the bold Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific sunsets.

The best part of the week was that we walked every day. The second best part of the week was that we did not over eat. Now tomorrow we go to the lake house in Texas, where David and Suzanne and the four girls will be waiting for us and where we will be delighted to see them.

May 22, 2008. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Persistence Pays.

On Tuesday afternoon while on a long walk, an old open trolley car drove by. We hailed the driver and asked him what he was doing. He told us that this a tourist trolley, free, and it drives all around Nuevo Vallarta, all day. Of course he could not answer all our questions because our Spanish is so bad, but we thanked him for the information and told him we would see him tomorrow. Now this a welcome new addition to our town and we decided to take the trip tomorrow. While waiting for me outside on the hallway, Ken saw the trolley, so we decided to catch the train across the street. But the trolley did not come. Next plan was to walk down to the shopping mall, but no trolley there either. I suggested we walk down to the hotel and down we went, but it turns out the trolley only goes as far as the mall. While walking back to the mall, we saw the trolley leave without us, despite my loud whistle. So we waited, and waited and waited but the trolley never came back. It was actually an interesting wait, because the bus stop is busy with all kinds of sizes and shapes of people. Finally we gave up and went back home, pondering all the while the little man with the schedule at the bus stop.

The first thing I spotted was his Converse High Top shoes. They were shoes from my youth. His were purple. Then I noticed that he had a little black bag, and every so often he would consult his list in this little bag. So I moved to sit beside him. Now he had a very bad limp, and with every opportunity, he sat with his bad leg propped up on the bench, of course in the shade. He was a heavy set man of about 45, nicely dressed in a white polo shirt and blue pants. The most important thing about him was his face. He looked very happy and pleased with himself. While I watched him consulting his black bag, it was clear he had the bus schedule and he recorded the bus arrival at this stop. At every bus, he stepped onto the bus, recorded the time, and gave the driver a copy, all the while chatting away, laughing and smiling. If a bus arrived, he called out the destination to those waiting. This was a man on top of his data, and it was a pleasure to watch him in action. As an aside, when he saw me watching him read his schedule, he moved. The bum.

But today our persistence paid off. This morning, crack at dawn at 11:30, we walked over to the bus stop at the mall, and after a wait of three minutes, the trolley came to pick us up. We drove the whole route twice, because we spotted a new restaurant on the other side of town. Wonderful lunch, followed by the trolley ride home. Persistence pays!!

May 21, 2008. Nuevo Vallerta. Indulgence.

Once upon a time I was having massage. The masseuse was working on my shoulders, when all of a sudden the table tipped toward my head. Now, as my arms were tucked into my side, I could see that very soon I would be on the floor head first. But the therapist caught the table just in the nick of time. Neither of us said a word, but it did make relaxing difficult. Today both Ken and I had a massage. I love massages but it is only recently Ken has agreed to like them. I was thinking today, during my massage, when I began indulging myself, and the answer to myself was that I have no clue. I recall being asked by Alice, my friend down the street and around the corner from Lancaster Drive, what I did for my self? My response was to be shocked. " My self was the least of my problems," said I. She told me her system, which was to demand from her husband one hour each day for herself, to either run, or go to the gym or library. It seemed ridiculous to me, and as she divorced soon after, I guess my response was correct. But sometime between then and now I have learned to indulge myself. I do not recall my Mother ever treating herself or indulging herself in frivolous activities. Maybe it is all a money thing. I probably started to give myself treats when we had disposable cash.

The second Christmas Andrew lived in Japan, Ken, David and I visited for three weeks. Ken arranged for three different Timeshares in three different places of the country, and Andrew bought a used car which we used to get around. All went very well. Andrew by then spoke Japanese and was used to highway signs, so between living in apartments with kitchens, we lived very inexpensively. Until the last night that is. The three of us were to leave the Monday of a holiday, and Andrew had to drive up to his little town the same day, so we decided to stay at a hotel close to the airport. There were only two. The first one we went into was charging a huge amount of money, so we drove across the street to the next one. Their rates were even higher, so back we went and humbly book ourselves two rooms. In addition, I organized a 12 course dinner on the top floor of the hotel overlooking the runways. In the afternoon the men went down to the most wonderful onsun or hot tub facility complete
with wine and cigars. And we all had a massage. It was a most wonderful time to finish our vacation. But the cost of that one nights stay was more than the three other weeks of expenses. It was worth every penny, but we were so pleased we had been frugal for those three weeks so we could indulge ourselves.

May 20, 2008. Nuevo Vallerta. Reading and TV.

I have read many statistics about television usage, but I have never believed it. Until now. Our neighbors at the apartment are very nice folks, actually related to my first Broker in Real Estate. Also they were in the property management business for years in Bethesda. When they turned the business over to their children, they sold their Chevy Chase home and moved to their summer house on the Chesapeake Bay. But as their several children and grandchildren live in the Washington area, they decided to buy a place in Chevy Chase, for the many times they came to town. Staying with their children was not so convenient they found. They come to town about once a week for a day or so at a time. Now I know some people keep their TV set turned on all the time, without watching, and I always assumed the statistics take into account the TV set turned on for 7 hours a day, not watched for 7 hours. But every night these good folks have their set turned on every night, and they watch it, because when the phone rings, the sound is turned off. I know this is true, because when I go to bed to read, I can hear the very low sound coming from their apartment. I have been astonished that they watch TV every night all night. I really want to ask them, but Ken would object. But I have always been nosy while he is not. In fact, Ken does not hear the sounds from next door, but I listen for them, and wonder whether they ever read. Now my brother and sister-in-law have the happy talent to read and watch TV at the same time. But most folks are not as clever!!

How to handle the TV usage with children is not easy I know. I only know how it worked with us. Ken and I are used to reading. Andrew read, in fact if he was sent to his bedroom until his behavior improved, he would not come out for hours. He would be happy as a clam reading his books. David, after his homework was finished, wanted to watch TV. The family had a meeting and all decided that through the week, no one would watch TV, but on the weekend, the boys were free to watch at any time. Now David was in first grade and could read well, but he did not turn to reading for recreation, but when he was TV deprived, and he could not go outside to play, he turned to his books. The weekends were no problem, because of our old farm and our active social life, which almost always included the boys. So it worked. Ken and I explained the reason for all of us to not watch TV, and the boys happily agreed, especially with the weekends left to them. Now David reads far and wide. Most interesting of all, both families watch very little TV, as both daughters-in-law want more for their girls than watching TV. And that is a good thing.

May 19, 2008. Nuevo Vallarta. Words,

We needed a Thesaurus. I ordered ice cream for dessert. Two spoons were brought along with the dessert, so of course Ken helped me. Ken commented that he did a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand he saved me from eating the whole bowl of ice cream. On the other hand, he ate half of it himself. Now this is the question posed by me. " What is the word that describes one action, but has opposite effects? Is it a paradox, or a conundrum or what? We needed a thesaurus, but as we were sitting at our favorite lunch spot at the end of the hotel, no book appeared. What is the answer? Where is my Mother when I need her?

Speaking of Roget... There is a new biography "The Man Who Made Lists: Love, Death, Madness, and the Creation of Roget.s Thesaurus". I read the review in The Wilson Quarterly. Also in the same edition, a section on infrastructure for America's future. I have been waiting for someone to pay attention to our infrastructure, which has been neglected for about thirty years. Now we need to do something about it, and fix the bridges and roads and trains. We moved to Washington in 1970, and we looked at the roads that were on the map, once upon a time. But the roads were never built. Now everyone screams about the traffic. Where were they when the decisions were made to not build all those roads? Where was the political will to plan ahead, not just respond to crises? The real issue is, what we are leaving out do devil our children in 20 years?

Trying to figure out the future is impossible, but sometimes the future is totally wrong. " In 1876, Western Union decided that telephones would never replace telegram messengers. In 1971, AT&T turned down the opportunity to run the Internet as a monopoly. In 1980, Ma Bell concluded that cell phones would never replace landlines." This is the first paragraph in the Get Smart article in the Spring edition of The Wilson Quarterly. Oops!!

May 18, 2008. Nuevo Vallerta. We Like It.

They serve great breakfasts in Mexico. After a good and long nights sleep and a big cup of coffee, we wandered over to the shopping mall for breakfast. We ended our meal with a large plate of fresh fruit. Our discussion pertained to the question of why we like this place while other friends and relatives won't come to Mexico at all. Our reasons for our pleasure here are many. The weather is one, in that it is predictably warm. Another reason is the foliage. The blossoms are just lovely. Something is in bloom every season. But perhaps the most important reason we come here is that we have absolutely no responsibilities. We arrive at the apartment and everything is working well and in proper order. Ken does not have to prune the bushes or hire someone to cut the cedars. Having no car here, we must walk everywhere for restaurants and markets, so getting exercise seems easier. Of course, we have enough time to go to the very good fitness center too, and we like that too. All in all, we decided over breakfast that we did a good thing buying these ten weeks here. We like it.

We will be here for one week alone, so have decided to buy no real food for meals, but eat out for lunch and just pick at fruit for lunch. We still feel full from Abigail's dinner, so we need to give our stomach a rest. Our plan is to use the bus to explore the area every day too. Ken has a list of good restaurants that we have enjoyed in the past and we plan to keep going down that list. The week will fly by, I am sure. We can not fathom why our friends and relatives won't come here, but it doesn't really matter. We are happy here.

May 17, 2008. Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico.

I don't know this always happened to me, or it just arrived with aging, but a day of travel means I am not good for much that evening. Ken is even worse. Tomorrow we will be fine, after a good night sleep. I am not quite sure what it is that make me so discombobulated. But it is certainly consistent. I often wonder how these folks fly long distances, then have important meetings the same day. My I.Q. drops the evening of travel.

Abigail chose well, asking to celebrate her birthday at The Melting Pot. Our dinner last night was fun and festive, as well as eating good food. Fondue was popular when we were young, in fact we had two pots and many long forks. But I gave them all away when we moved from Franklin Street, as we had not used them for many years. Now they are back in fashion. The Melting Pot has been open several years in San Antonio and is doing well. David recalled birthday dinners at Benihana's in Bethesda, and the feeling is similar. The four girls loved the action, and by the time we were finished, they all felt like chefs. Of course we ordered the feast, so we had four courses. They brought stuff to play with, but the evening just flew by. No question, celebrating your ninth birthday at The Melting Pot meant for a memorable event, and Abigail was happy.

In order to get to our spot in Mexico, you go to Houston, then direct to Puerto Vallerta. While waiting to change planes, we went to the Continental lounge, using our American Express card. The lounge was full of business men. And they were all drinking. Do all business men drink at noon when they travel? I have not noticed this before. My goodness, this drinking added to the travel will decrease expertise! I think I am just getting old.

May 15, 2008. Harper Texas. Fancy cars.

It seems foolish to say, but until you go in the door, you'll never find out what is going on inside. Street Dreams, Classic Cars, is on the sign in front of this large metal building, but it is difficult to tell what they do. The place is a bit outside Frederickberg on a quiet rural lane, on the road less travelled we take from Harper. We have spoken about the place often, trying to figure out what they do or whether it was a museum or showcase. The only clue from the road is two old gas pumps displayed in the window. Today we went in and what a surprise. In front of our eyes were about seventy vintage cars, all in perfect condition and ready to be sold. No one was there, so we just started looking at this display of the biggest cars that we knew well from our youth. We had forgotten that cars were so big. Finally a man appeared and Ken asked if this was a used car lot. He said, "No, this is a toy store."

We spent a long time choosing the one we wanted, but we could not agree. Ken wanted the '36Chevy truck, and I wanted a two seater Thunderbird, very long and very sleek. And I kind of liked the '53Olds, white with very round everything. Other than those two sentences with Ken, we were alone in the whole building. Not another soul in sight. We loved it. But I needed my Friend John B. because I know nothing about old cars. Their web site is streetdreamstexas.com, or Info@streetdreamstexas.com. Of course these cars are expensive, ranging from Fifteen to eighty thousand. But they are in perfect condition and ready to buy. The interesting thing was that no one was there to take our money. And that was a good thing.

Today we had a mission. Our grandaughter Abigail is having a birthday next week, and her choice of a gift was art, so in we went to the galleries in Fredericksburg. Several years ago I stopped giving toys to the girls, so rotate between books, toys, art or a shopping trip. Sometimes I choose and sometimes I ask them to choose. This year Abigail chose art, and art she will be given. The Whistle Pic is our favorite gallery, but we love to look but never buy there, and we can not quite figure out why. Perhaps they treat us as poor relatives. We certainly always look that way. At The Fredericksburg Art Gallery we have purchase many pieces and we were successful today. It is actually quite difficult to choose what will appeal to a nine year old today but she will still like at forty. I am excited with our choice and am anxious to give them to her tomorrow, where we are all going to The Melting Pot for her Birthday dinner. We will have a grand time.

May 15, 2008. Harper, Texas.

Actually, it is all my fault. This morning we left San Antonio to check out our latest completed project at the lake, prior to paying the final bill. The project was a renovation of the project completed last Spring. Unfortumately, the system never worked properly, so we had to hire another contractor to fix the problems. The repair turned out to be more expensive than the original construction. The whole idea started with me.

We were sitting on the deck at the lake enjoying ourselves. Our plan was always to keep the landscaping no maintenance, so to get to the lake we have a wooden walkway, with both sides left in their natural state. Once a year David cuts down everything on both sides of the walk, and the wildflowers and shrubs come up again. It looks wild and rugged but attractive. I decided to myself that the girls would enjoy a pool and stream with the wild bushes removed so they could run around. Ken thought it was a good idea too. We did not ask David and Suzanne. This was signifigent, because by our rules, if you want to buy an object over $100. you have to all agree. If you do not ask for approval, you have bought the object yourself. It's a good rule and has worked well since we purchased this lake house together in 1994. So now we are stuck for the whole bill.

Ken and I contacted companies to come and give us a bid, and the young man we chose was by far the lowest bid. We hired him, and he and his wife worked like dogs until it was complete. We were not in town,but David checked it out and everything worked and looked beautiful, so we paid him. He built a pond on the lower level, where the water is pumped up into two small ponds, then courses down two separate streams, finally joining tpgether before it falls into the lower pond. It looks and sounds great, and the girls love it. We also had him plant a bunch of flowers and bushes. Now it is lovely, so with chairs situated here and there you would think you are in heaven. The only problem was the pool at the bottom was too small, so every time we ran the fountain and stream, the water level was so low more water had to be added. We called our first man Eric. No answer. No place to leave a message. We are stuck. But he did complete the job and it worked, kind of, and we paid him the agreed price. The problem was that he seriously under bid the job, and he was not about to spent a minute more on this same job.

Ken found a local company who seemed to agree with Ken as to the solution, so we hired them to fix the error in size, plus plant two more trees. Now it looks great, and functions properly, without having to add water. David and Suzanne and the girls will love it. But as Ken reminds me when I complain about the cost, it really was all my idea.

May 14, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. An Older Couple.

How do these folks get through their days? We are in Baltimore, waiting in the long line to go through security. Now in recent years the security checks are efficient, but not yesterday. We were back to the old days or just post 9/11 where the travelling people lines were long and the checking people lines were short. So I had a lot of time to watch. Our line seemed to stop moving, so I tried to find what I could do to get things moving, or at least switch to another line. I discovered the difficulty. Two older folks, about our age, could not seem to figure out the system. Now while waiting to move along these lines there were many posters explaining the procedure, but somehow they did not pay attention. Finally after about 8 minutes, the officials asked them to step aside so the others could bet past. First they tried to go through with their shoes on, then without removing their jackets. The third time she had her purse on her shoulder, so back she went. He thought he was finally finished, but no, his belt had to be removed. And the final indignity was he had sent his boarding pass through with his jacket. Now this behavior was common several years ago, but not today. Have they never flown before? They seemed to be a very pleasant middle class couple who were well dressed. I bet they are going to tell all their friends all the trouble they had at security. I certainly hope they have a sense of humor. But I still ask myself, "How on earth do these people get through their days."

May 14, 2008. Travelling.

This aternoon we fly to Texas. Sarah and Abigail are taking part in their school show, so we will be able to accompany Suzanne and David and Samantha and Allison and beam with pride. It is a wonderful world. But, plans don't always go according to plan so we are not ever sure of arriving on time. The sun is shining and Southwest is effecient, so we hope to arrive on time to make the opening of the show. Those girls love shows. When there is no show at school, they make up there own.

This morning we are holding our sales meeting at the home of one of our agents. She and her husband built a new home, and the agents are very interested in the final product. She graciously invited us for an event, so today we will tour her new home and hold our brief meeting there. Our meetings are always short and sharp. This comes from sitting through so many boring meetings in my life, and I hate to bore other folks. Also our agents have high energy, so keeping them sitting still for long is always difficult. But they are always fun. So now here we go. Bethesda in the morning, San Antonio in the evening. It is a wonderful world.

May 12, 2008. Bethesda, Md. Girls and Farms.

Those city girls are not a bit squeamish. They catch crawdads in the creek, salamanders in the pond and tadpoles in the muddy tadpole puddles. Watching Mary Frances catch salamanders is like watching a heron at work. She stalks the side of the pond very slowly, then she is very still. until she pounces and catches one in her hands. She shrieks with glee to her Dad. If the water is too deep for her boots, she steps out of the pond, dumps the water out of her boots and then puts them back on her bare feet. Actually, she is about the size of a blue heron. The only difference between her and a heron is Mary Frances does not eat the salamanders or tadpoles or crawdads.

That brave Killdeer nipped the back of their dog Tex. The girls and I went to see the progress of the nest every day at the farm this weekend. They were careful, but the bird was not happy for them to get too close. Sunday morning we walked up to say goodbye, and Tex came with us. This did not please the Killdeer, who when we walked away. flew at the dog and bit his back. He yelped. This is one brave bird.

Ken set up out tent and tent fly and dining fly at the farm this weekend. He thought the girls might like to play in the tent or sleep overnight in the tent, and he wanted to see if the equipment was still in good condition. Ken and I camped all ever North America using very inferior equipment. As soon as we had the disposable income, we bought new equipment. That would be in the last 60's. Of course, we bought our first farm in 1973, so we stopped camping so much. But Ken wanted to know if it would still work. The girls were excited to camp outside in the tent. I predicted that they would last one hour before coming inside to their comfortable bed. Kate thought I was too much of a pessimist. I suggested that Andrew could sleep out with them and they were very happy, planning stories to tell their Father. Then they told me they were going to tell ghost stories. I figured 15 minutes would be the limit. Full of anticipation, they carried out their sleeping bags and pillows and flashlights. Then the three of them went to bed in the tent. Ken and I came down to hot tub and could hear their voices. Then I heard a yell of Andrew's voice. Soon after, Mary Frances walked over to the house. Kate told us next morning that she lasted an hour. Andrew came in soon after. But the girls loved the tent to play in during the day. They just want both parents out in the tent with them. And no ghost stories.

May 11, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Japanese Food.

Would Hagerstown, Md. have the best Japanese restaurant in Maryland? Most people in the know will say no. Definitely not. Hagerstown is not the culinary hot spot for any food, let alone the increasingly trendy Japanese food. Ken and I know better. The House of Kobe is the best Japanese restaurant in Maryland. We stumbled on this place ten years ago, when we were looking for a dinner spot on the way to the farm. The sign was new, and we suggested that we better eat there now before they closed. Well, we were wrong. The places has prospered and is always full. The same sushi chefs who were there years ago are still there, so when we arrive they greet us royally. The family relocated from the Washington area years ago, imported these three chefs, and they are still going strong. Now we stop for lunch, but the food is just as good only cheaper. So when you go to Hagerstown, and you like Japanese food, go to The House of Kobe, at 757 Dual Highway. You will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and the prices. And that is good.

Hagerstown is another small city that we have been watching. Before the ease of transportation it was a factory town, but since we first drove through on the way to and fro the farm in 1973 it has been a city in decline. But maybe it is looking up. I met a couple who moved to Hagerstown to retire. He was musician, who played in the National Symphony, and they wanted to be near enough to the Capitol to attend concerts but not so close that the cost of living broke the bank. So they moved to Hagerstown. Turned out that they love it. He teaches basoon lessons and she works as a Real Estate agent. So perhaps Hagerstown is becoming a retirement community. I hope it florishes. I do not this House of Kobe to disappear.

May 9, 2008. Bethesda, Md. Bigger or smaller.

Everett is another small town in Bedford County, Pa. It is about 30 miles east of Bedford, on Highway 30. For the past 25 years we have been to both towns, to shop, or attend auctions, have lunch, or poke through used furniture stores. In 1973, both towns were in decline. Over the years they have both changed, but in the opposite direction. More businesses in Everett have closed and more have opened in Bedford. The question I always ask is how one town flourishes and the other one flounders. Part of the answer has to do with built in anchors that keep the town on an even keel. Small University towns in the Midwest are doing well. Bedford has the court house for the county, and all the personnel comes along with that function, such as attorneys and clerks. And the County fair ground is in Bedford. But at one time the population size of the both towns was almost identical. It is my belief that some smart dedicated person in Bedford decided to pull together a group to map out a long term plan. Then, bit by bit they implemented the plan. Until now, people like us have not really noticed what was happening. Until now. Now I have little contact with the history of the two towns, but I bet if I poke around talking to my friends I can figure it out.

Now Molly is coming to the farm for the first time. Kate and Mary Frances enjoy the farm, so all the family is spending the weekend at the farm. We will be there, so it will be nice to spend Mother's Day together. Andrew has resigned his position with his company, so they need a break as he searches out a new position. Our mind set is very positive, but of course, everyone in their family is anxious. This a lot of stress I know. Onward and upward is our motto. Christina is a trooper and fortunately, she knows how to be frugal. I do not know how she figured it out, but she has, and that is a good thing. Now on to the farm for the weekend.

May 8, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Bedford, Pa.

What a surprise to discover that the little town of Bedford has become a fancy shopping destination, full of high end trendy shops. Bedford is the County seat of Bedford County, and when we first saw the town in 1973 , it seemed that it had once been a busy important town, but now it definitely was neither busy nor important. It was sleepy in 1973 when we went to the office of the attorney doing the settlement our first farm. The old town was in the process of loosing the businesses to the outlying areas. Dusty antique stores were everywhere. For a few years the downward trend continued, as Walmart and the Tractor's Store opened out closer to the highway. But bit by bit,the old buildings in town were restored, one at a time. First a big building built in 1778 or so was opened as an art association and shop. The the very old house next to it was all gussied up and opened as an Inn. Across the street opened a very nice small restaurant, and then another down the street. The antique stores are no longer dusty with last years dust. Starting six years ago, we noticed Bedford looking much more alive. Now an Italian store selling cheese and all other things Italian has opened. They seem to be doing just great. This is probably because the old Bedford Springs Inn and Golf course had opened last year, after a many million dollar renovation. Now the wealthy of Pittsburgh and Washington and Baltimore are coming for the Inn, then coming to Bedford to walk areoun this charming town. There are even several ladies stores selling elegant dresses..

It is interesting to have observed the transformation. We have been going to Bedford regularly for the past years, but it wasn't until last Saturday that we finally realized that the old Bedford has gone and now it is transformed into an interesting town with a history, which it always had, and also a place to stroll and shop and spend money. When we were having lunch in our favorite very good restaurant, people kept coming in carrying fancy shopping bags. After lunch we too wandered around and spent some money at these fancy stores. Ken bought a cook book for Christina, which he said was self serving for him, because every recipe was made of Chocolate. And wouldn't you know, Christina made chocolate souffle for desert on Wednesday at our weekly dinner. And it was good.

May 7, Chevy Chase, Md. More Friends.

Recently I read a book written by Joseph Epstein, called "Friendship". It is an easy read. He is a very good writer from Chicago and I like his writing very much. His name pops up in all sorts of places. It seemed to me that many of his friends were attached to the world of his work and that when he stopped working, the emails and invitations would cease. But as I am interested in the world of friends, I read it. He made an interesting point early in the book, that many folks he met and enjoyed never followed up with his invitation to meet for lunch. He was puzzled, because he felt that both parties enjoyed their conversation, and spoke about getting together. On reflection, he decided that the social calender was just too busy, and in order to get any real work done, all invitations had to ignored. Certainly makes sense. My friend Wendy, as she ages,has decided that she does not enjoy house guests, either at their Potomac House or in Nova Scotia. So they built a guest house for Family and friends, so her privacy stays intact, except for meals or visits. She also will only entertain those folks she loves. " Life is too short to pay attention to those folks I do not like", says Wendy. Age certainly has it's merits.

I have always wanted to live in New York for one music season. For this one season only I would attend every concert and opera. And I would throw in a play on a day without a concert. Of course I would live downtown Manhattan and walk to the Lincoln Center and eat every meal out so as not to cook. Just one season is what I want. I love to read the New York chronicle by Jay Nordlinger, in The New Criterion. He reviews the events of the past month, and tells me who has sung and played and conducted. I live vicariously though him and envy every word. I feel so stupid too. He writes about these wonderful musicians, and I have never heard of them. We have not planned a stay in New York for the season, and we probably never will. I think you have to be much wealthier than us to live in New York and attend all the concerts. But I would love to do it, some day.

The New Criterion is a wonderful magazine, because the articles have lots of topics that I know nothing about. I have always suffered by the lack of a classical education, and I have been trying to play catch up all my life. This May issue has a special section on Education, specifically a liberal education, so I will read it with gusto on the plane to Texas. Both Ken and I took professional degrees, as we needed to make our money, but we made sure the boys went to a small liberal arts college in order to get a good base of knowledge prior to going on to a professional degree. Of course, Lincoln only went to one year of school ever in his life, and he certainly made up his deficiencies by reading. And a cousin who never went to college is the best educated person I know, because he felt he had to make up for his lack of an education. So I guess it is laziness on my part. But however it happened, I have huge gaps in my knowledge, and the little magazine helps to fill in those gaps.

May 6, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Friends.

I have often wondered, of all the people we meet in a year, how we end up being friends with some and pay no attention to others. On the surface, Fred and Phyllis Ross would not seem to be compatible with us. But by virtue of our differences, perhaps we have ended up as good friends. We met in 1980, or rather, Phyllis and I met while playing tennis. After the tennis session, while drinking a soda with the ladies, Phyllis mentioned that she was a nurse and her husband worked as an asset manager. It wasn't until much later that I discovered the assets Fred managed were their own, and that Phyllis volunteered her nursing services in order to keep her nursing license active. Phyllis and I played with this same group of ladies for six weeks, then I was moved to a different group. In the meantime, Phyllis invited us over to have dinner with some other friends. Now what is interesting is that they are not like us at all, but we have a lively interesting time every time we get together. Fred Ross was not born Fred Ross. He was born in Poland in 1937, not a good year to be born Jewish in Poland. Eventually, he and his Sister ended up in Israel and at at age 18, he emigrated to Montreal to be with his Uncle and to go to College. He is an engineer by training and inclination, so this is one thing we really like about him. He knows how to do things. After his graduate degree in the US, he had a series of failed businesses. But with the deregulation of telecommunication in the offing, be built his company, then sold his company for enough money to retire at 42. He has not had a job since. The other aspect of his personality that intrigues us that , for Fred, the sky is always falling. Now both Ken and I are totally optimistic, so our differences give for many disagreements.

Phyllis is main line Jewish middle class Philadelphia. She is a birder, so when we are together, she can tell us about the birds we can not identify. The both of them like to travel. After retirement, they took four major trips a year, but after a few years, they ran out of places to go, especially as Fred has a very narrow window of acceptable places to go. Fred loves Switzerland, and they spend two months there every summer, up in a charming village high up in the Alps. And they winter in Florida in a Condo they inherited from Phyllis' parents. Fred drives a motorcycle and tows his bike down to Florida each year. Also he owns a cycle in Switzerland too, so every day when the weather is good, the two of them head off for a trip on the motorcycle. It turns out that Phyllis gets vertigo in cars, but not on the cycle.

Some things we share. The both couples have boys, three for them and two for us. We all like to eat good food. And, other than Phyllis, we enjoy good wine. The four of us are always on the move. We enjoy our grandchildren. Neither of us complain, either about our situation or our spouses. And we all read a lot, so we share books and topics. But our differences are what makes our lives together interesting I think. They are certainly good friends, but you can't imagine two couples so different!!

May 5, 2008. Bethesda, Maryland. Weekend.

The drive to the farm on Friday was as pretty a drive as you could find anywhere. The dogwood trees were in bloom as were the azalea bushes. As we had lunch in Potomac, we drove on the back roads all the way to the farm. We never drive the back roads up to the farm, just the way back, so the look of the roads in the opposite direction is different. These old roads have been in place for many many years, as are the houses along side of the roads, so the mature lilac trees are huge and beautiful, all the way to the farm. It was a lovely drive. The Alleycat Creamery is open for the summer, just outside the Road Kill Cafe, so when we stopped for milk we ate a dish of our favorite ice cream. One scoop costs $2.25, and the scoops are huge. We would like to have a dish every day, but we limit ourselves to once a weekend. The dogwood trees are in bloom in our woods too. They are ephemeral in their wispy kind of way. Other than these few weeks, I never remember we have so many dogwood trees in our woods. The XM radio played lots of brass pieces. So our journey was delightful.

The Goose is on her nest by the pond, and she has stayed there all day and all night. Soon we have goslings, we hope. This is the fourth year the geese have nested in the same spot. We hope for better results this year. A Killdeer couple has built a nest in the driveway by our hill house. They take turns sitting on their four eggs. They are very brave birds. If you approach the nest, they run right at you, screaming at the top on their lungs. If you get closer than six feet, they start the wounded wing trick, pretending to be injured to lure you away from the nest. But we put a board in front and behind the nest, so no one would drive over the nest. They are such pretty birds. I hope they hatch next weekend.

May 4, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. The weekend.

Friday morning at the school was delightful. Mary Frances is in the second grade, and their class gave reports on Greek Gods. Each child made an oral report, using Power Point visuals outlining important points during their presentation. Togas were the order of the day along with prompts to go along with their speech. The children made their own Power Point presentation. Very impressive indeed. Mary Frances, for the record gave her report clearly and distinctly. The lady sitting two chairs over who did not know I was the grandmother, said to her husband " I could hear every word she spoke". My Mother would have been pleased. Now, I wonder why they did not have the children stand up on a platform. Mostly we were not able to see the faces of the children. They had the whole morning devoted to the Greeks. They had outdoor games of a lot of Olympic events, followed by a light lunch of Greek food. We had to hurry over to see Kate's presentation, so only returned for the food!!

Kate is in fifth grade. Their class made up original songs and music, set to poems of their choice. They all chose nursery rhymes. Working together in groups of four or five, their presentations were remarkable for their versatility and humor. Using many instruments along with singing, it was clear the kids had fun. Back in their class room they recited together the 139Th Psalm. Now, go and read it. It's long, all 24 verses long, and they did it very well. Memorizing is back in style. They played a game against the grandparents. " Are you Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? " is based on the TV program, which I have never seen, but it was fun and funny. All questions were from the third, fourth and fifth year courses of study. At the end, prizes were awarded as to whether or not you were smarter than a fifth grader. Kate is tall, but in this small school, there are five girls in the fourth and fifth grades who are as tall as her. Way to go girls.

Now I should just keep my mind shut and not make things better. I have already made a suggestion for Mary Frances' presentation. In Kate's class, the psalm was beautifully done, but would have been much better if there had been some solo speaking, or a few small group readings. The whole psalm, presented in the same tone and pitch becomes boring. And it is clear the teacher has never had any elocution training. It was a treat to see these 15 fifth graders memorize and speak the verses. But it would have taken very little more thought to have made the presentation better. I am pleased with the presentation, but I just can't help myself figuring out how to do it better. This is a trend in my life. No doubt about it.

May 2, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Grandmother.

Today we go to Grandparents Day at the Fourth Presbyterian School. This is the first time we have been in town to attend this auspicious event, but by the luck of the draw, we are here. And we are happy to see the children in action. I don't know when these events began. I do not recall any such event in the life of our children and certainly not in my life as a student. My recollection was that the parents only came to the schools when the child was in trouble. Not now. We have attended several such events at the Texas children's school and heve enjoyed them. The first thing we noted was how difficult it was for the children who did not have grandparents attending. The children looked forlorn. Now the name of the day has changed to Grandparents and Friends Day, which is a good thing. Being a cynic, I am suspicious that the whole day is a fund raiser. But the children love the event and work very diligently to prepare for the event. Mary France's class is giving a presentation about some Greek myth. I am going to be interested which one is chosen. Kate's class is giving a play. We will enjoy and beam with pride at their accomplishments. Both girls do well in school and enjoy the process, which is a blessing.

After the morning at the school, we have been invited out to lunch with Christina and the girls by Linda Creath, who is the other Gran mother, called Mormor, in the Danish fashion. She is the perfect Grandmother, as opposed to me, who misses many events and doesn't babysit. Linda and I are good friends. Our lives have always been dramatically different. When you look at us we both look kind alike, in that we are both pleasant ladies who can talk to people, but the directions of our lives have been dramatically different. One day soon I will write about Linda Creath, but before that, I need to find out is she reads this little web log. Today will be a day to enjoy. We missed the Christening of Molly last Sunday, but we are not going to miss Grandparents Day today.

May 1, 2008. Family.

Today my sister turns 73. Other than my brother, who is older, my sister Carol has known me longer than any other person alive today. It is interesting to contemplate that Carol has seen every age and stage in my life. I have had the good fortune to have gotten along well with my brother and sister, not only when I was a child at home but also as an adult both single and married. My family background was English. Both my Mother and Father came to Canada with their respective families in the early years of the twentieth century. Of course they brought with them all the customs of the English Family. There was nothing exciting about my family but there was every thing in place to allow a child to grow and develop in their own way. My parents were committed to their job as Salvation Army officers, and they were always very busy. They loved their children but as Carol once said to me, our parents did not center their lives over their children. This for me gave great freedom. I never recall being asked about homework. I was responsible for tracking my work and my time management. I do not recall a major argument with my siblings or parents. Now I was the youngest child and was well loved. My sister looked after my hair until she left for college. My brother kept me in small change. In other words, I was spoiled and indulged.

My family was not demonstrative. The "I love you" that you hear at the end of every conversation was never said to each other. It is by deeds and actions that the tale was told. Public display of affection was not common. When times of stress, there was no yelling or moaning. It was do your duty with a straight back and a ready smile. But the family did and still does is help each other in any situation where help is needed. My family is the opposite of a helicopter Family, that is always hovering. As children and as adults, we were allowed and forced to make our own decisions. But all family members helped each other and still does. My sister was and is very skilled with her hands. She made all her own clothes when she was 12. She knits, and does everything else I can not do. She was a good sister to me. When my boys were young they spent time with Carol at their cottage on the lake in Ontario, just south of Owen Sound. One summer, David spent all summer up there. I was in a car, driving to a meeting. One or the folks in the car has five children, all either at college or working. In that three hour drive, she talked on her cell phone at least ten times. I finally got fed up with these inane conversations, so I asked her why she talks to her children so often. The response was that they were a very close family, and they like to keep in touch. "Nonsense", says I. " You are not allowing your children to think for themselves". Well, that did not happen to our family. And for that I am eternally grateful!! Now...Happy Birthday Carol.