Tea and Tweets

Tea Time

Written by Nicki Wilcoxson

It’s Tea Time! I have my tall glass with the Texas Tech logo on it full of ice and good tea. I am such an ice freak that at all times I absolutely have to have a full glass of ice with my tea so it is icy cold! Oh yes, and a straw—not sure why, but I always have straw. Right now, I am getting my caffeine fix, but after lunch I will turn to decaf. If you don’t have your cup or glass of tea (or coffee), I’ll wait a few minutes while you get comfortable.

Now, let’s talk.

My backyard birds have been on my mind quite a lot for the last couple of days. The weather has been extremely cold and bitter, and I never cease to be amazed at their ability to survive. I was also a bit of an abusive caretaker in that I didn’t feed them as much as I should have, and I could see the disappointment when they swooped down to the feeders to find them empty or almost empty. The two squirrels that frequent our yard were really puzzled not to find the usual peanuts and seeds that they have come to expect. On the whole our birds are a pretty spoiled and greedy bunch, but they do give me and even Jim moments of amusement and real pleasure as we watch their antics, listen to their sounds, and admire the beauty they bring us, so we continue to provide food and shelter.

Living where we live (in Amarillo) we don’t get the large variety of birds that some of you might in more wooded areas and environments that attract the songbirds, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and all the other birds that I only see in my bird identification books, but I have learned a few things over the years. Whereas, at one point I would look out and see only “sparrows” –just little brown birds, now I know that there are all kinds of sparrows and what I used to think were sparrows could be finches of all sort and colors. I have also learned that if I want to attract a more diverse selection of bird visitors I can’t just toss out seeds and assume that they all like the same thing to eat. (Big mistake on my part.) Now I know that I have to provide nuts (peanuts) for those gorgeous and rowdy blue jays, safflower seeds and black oil sunflower seeds for the much desired cardinals, fruit in the spring and summer, and suet for everyone.

Not only that, some have different preferences for “dining areas.” The doves and some of the other birds (quail) are mainly ground feeders so we have a feeder sitting under a tree in an open space. The cardinals, blue jays and many of the others love the feeders that are up in the trees or hanging from the deck roof, and the poor woodpecker that only appears in the winter needs a feeder that allows him to hang and eat his desired fare. Then there are some smaller birds that love to pick thistle out of bags hanging from branches. Of course some birds are just little greedy guts and eat almost anything, anywhere. I could continue to talk about how much they hate “cheap” seeds full of milo, and other things they just kick on the ground and leave to grow into weeds, and how surprised I was to learn that robins don’t have any interest in the seeds and the feeders, but instead scour the flower beds and lawns looking for worms and bugs, but suffice it to say that getting to know the birds and their personalities has been a real adventure.

As I have watched my feathered friends, I have learned many things. Not all birds are alike. They don’t eat the same things; they don’t eat the same way; they don’t all look alike, and I am quite sure if they were able to talk to me, I would find that each species would have strong and differing opinions about what we humans should be doing for them each day. They certainly don’t all like each other and often have big-big disagreements which they for the most part seem to work out over time. They sometimes band together for protection and to drive off predators. The have rules to follow. They are very territorial. Most birds are good and loving parents, and it is possible to watch the cycle of life and death right in our backyard. Additionally, they can be shockingly cruel to one another at times, but they have an amazing sense of survival.

Despite the fact that my birds can be pesky and messy and I certainly don’t always appreciate their actions, I continue to value their visits and appreciate the unique beauty and style of each one. They are a diverse group and all I have to do is watch and listen to them to know that I would miss them if they failed to come back to our backyard.

So very much like the humans in their lives. So very much like the humans in our lives.


Tea Tip: Jasmine Tea—a wonderful blend of green and black teas flavored with orange peel and jasmine flavor along with flavors of chamomile, lemon grass, and other natural flavors.

Jim and I tried it yesterday as a hot tea and enjoyed it thoroughly. We give it a 5 bag rating! (that is very good) Thank you to Jennifer and Yahn for sharing the Jasmine Tea with us!

E Pluribus Conundrum ... Liar, Liar ... and Enough Already....

The Looking Glass
by Jennifer Johnston





United States of America

I have been absolutely giddy with hope and joy this week ... beginning with the uplifting "We Are One" celebration in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, continuing with the stirring inauguration of President Barack Obama and the ceremonial inaugural balls ... as well as the first three full days of the Obama Administration, which saw the repudiation and overturning of some of the excesses and arguably criminal acts of the benighted presidency of George W. Bush, including but not limited to the end of torture by the United States of America (yes, we did torture under Bush ... his disingenuous denials to the contrary), a date certain for closing the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison, and the restoration of funds to international organizations which support planned parenthood, including birth control and abortion counseling and services.

Not all of you will agree with me. Some will agree with me entirely, some in part, and some not at all. At this juncture, some of you will be gnashing your teeth and calling me some rather unflattering names, and others will be cheering me on ... some of you will have stopped reading by now ... that is diversity, and that is your right. And it is my right to write ... and think ... these things.

We live in a democracy ... perhaps the greatest form of government on earth, but also sometimes the messiest ... because by definition and nature, it takes into account (and ideally respects) wide diversity of opinion. What this means is that under any given Administration, at any given time, there will be a large number of people who do not agree with the policies of their government, or with their fellow citizens, on any number of matters. Still and all ... if we are to survive and function as a democracy, we must learn to reconcile our personal views with those of others ... and with long settled national and international standards of ethics and decency. There are certain things where there is no room for compromise ... specifically on the issue of torture, or in Bush-speak, "enhanced interrogation techniques."

Torture is wrong, wrong, wrong ... ab initio ... there is no reason and no justification for it. It has been proved over and over again that it does not work. Waterboarding, and certain other practices deployed and used during the Bush Administration, have been recognized as torture at least since the days of the Spanish Inquisition, and likely long before that. For my Republican friends, it is worth noting that their recent standard bearer, John McCain, decried and repudiated these methods, also calling them torture. Indeed, after World War II, we tried and sentenced Japanese officers and government officials for sanctioning and perpetrating such atrocities on U.S. military prisoners. I doubt that Bush and his minions will ever stand trial for the war crimes they have committed, which is shameful yet expedient, but that does not mean they did not commit war crimes. I was raised to believe that the United States of America is a better country than Spain under the sway of Tomás de Torquemada, Germany under Hitler, Cambodia under Pol Pot ... but we failed ... our government failed us ... miserably in this instance. The end does not justify the means ... and does invariably lead to the day when the definition of "enemies" will be revised downward to include Americans who disagree with their government. I am sure there are those of you out there who think I am traitorous for even suggesting these things and might benefit from a little bracing water in the face ... a long soak in boiling oil ... and I rest my case....

Bush lied about a number of things ... not the least the cobbled-up, cynical "reason(s)" for going to war in Iraq; searching for non-existent weapons of mass destruction which he and his neocons knew weren't there; lying about yellowcake uranium and the presence of Al Qaeda in Iraq (there wasn't one until Bush ordered the attack) ... but there are too many to enumerate here. As noted author and commentator Joe Klein wrote in the January 19, 2009 edition of Time magazine:

"This is not the America I know," President George W. Bush said after the first, horrifying pictures of U.S. troops torturing prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in April 2004. The President was not telling the truth. "This" was the America he had authorized on February 7, 2002, when he signed a memorandum stating that the Third Geneva Convention -- the one regarding the treatment of enemy prisoners taken in wartime -- did not apply to members of al-Qaeda or the Taliban. That signature led directly to the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. It was his single most callous and most despicable act. It stands at the heart of the national embarrassment that was his presidency.

Under any of various theories, Bush was either clueless, complicit or complacent ... or most damningly, all three. And I refer you to, among other things, the truly outstanding book The Dark Side by Jane Mayer, and the December 2008 report of the Senate Armed Services Committee, if (to borrow a line from Jack Nicholson) you can stand the truth.

May the Bush Administration not rest in peace ... I hope its sins of commission and omission haunt all of them for years. I daresay that history will not be kind to these miscreants, though they desperately cling to the delusion that it will. And one day they will answer to a higher power for what they have done, and reap what they have sown, if not in this life, then in lives to come.



Page 1 of the United States Constitution


Having covered that, there are a few other things which I hope will now come to an end. Among them ....

Enough Already with lying e-mails, such as that President Obama is a Muslim (he isn't), isn't qualified to be President by circumstances of his birth (he is), and that he is not really President because Chief Justice John Roberts bungled the oath of office. These nasty, sleazy, tabloid-journalism lies (perpetrated by Faux ... er, Fox ... News, as well as other looney toons out there in e-mail land) constitute bearing false witness, prohibited in the 10 bedrock commandments of Judeo-Christian theology ... and also adjured in Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, Hindu teachings, Wicca and other world faiths. For those who don't follow religious teachings there is the matter of ethics. If you profess a belief in the Bible, or the Torah, or the Koran, or other teachings or philosophies, then I urge you to follow your faith and refuse to pass along such garbage. Check your facts ... and get your information from some source other than Faux ... er, Fox ... News and those blowhards Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, et al.

Enough Already with manufactured controversies meant to divide and inflame us. I speak specifically of the "outrage" of being wished "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Not all of us are Christians ... or follow any established religion. Just be glad that someone wishes you well ... and if you want to answer with "Merry Christmas" that is your right ... as long as you are pleasant about it.

Enough Already with the Electoral College. This antiquated institution has outlived its usefulness by at least more than a century and should have been dispensed with long ago, to leave the matter of a Presidential election to the majority of the popular vote. Had this been the case in the 2000 presidential election, we would have been spared this long nightmare.

Enough Already with non-standardized (and in many cases, suspect) voting machines.

Enough Already with the shibboleth that "nothing happened on Bush's watch" in the seven years after 9/11. Prior to that, there was the Al Qaeda attack on the World Trade Center in February 1993 ... and it was eight years from then until 9/11 ... and Bush had nothing to do with that.

Enough Already with the crippling fear of Islamic terrorists that drives many of us. All terrorists are not Muslim ... think Timothy McVeigh and his cohort, who took down the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. Not an Arab or a Muslim in the bunch. Terrorists come in various shapes, forms and ideologies ... the Ku Klux Klan, other White Supremacist groups like Aryan Nations, people who bomb abortion clinics, and kill abortion doctors, and harass abortion workers and women who have made the choice to have an abortion. All of these are terrorists. It is highly unlikely that a bunch of wild-eyed fanatics could ever succeed in taking over this country ... and the world ... and turning it into a Caliphate or white supremacist paradise. There is a possibility that someday, some lunatic (of whatever political or religious or nihilistic persuasion) will succeed in detonating a nuclear device in an American city ... which will truly be a tragedy. But we will go on, with our American spirit ... so long as we don't sell our souls and our Constitution to some snake-oil salesman who promises specious security in return for our freedoms and our humanity.

Enough Already with the question of whether or not there is global warming and whether it will be disastrous to our planet and our country. There is and it may be ... and we have already lost much valuable time because of the obfuscations of the Bush Administration and their corporate cronies.

Enough Already with the misguided and dangerous movement to teach creationism and/or the misnomered "intelligent design" ... or other junk sciences ... in our schools. If you want to pass along your faith to your children, do it at home and/or in your house of worship. Don't inflict it on other children who deserve the chance for a first-rate education.

Enough Already with mindlessly repeating that America is the greatest country in the world. It has been ... and it can be again ... but after the past 30 or so years (dating from the time of Ronald Reagan), as explained by commentator Jeffrey D. Sachs, compared with Canada, Western Europe and Japan, we have the highest rates of child poverty and infant mortality, the lowest life expectancy, and the largest budget deficit as a share of gross domestic product. And, U.S. 15 year olds rank among the lowest on tests for math and science abilities. "...: our mostly private health care system ... is twice the cost of Europe's mostly public system, yet with worse outcomes." (emphasis added.) All this is deplorable ... but fixable, if we have the will.

Enough Already with petty partisan posturing, such as the Inaugural Day hissy fit thrown by Senator John Cornyn of Texas in refusing to unanimously confirm Hillary Clinton as President Obama's Secretary of State, even though he acknowledged at the time that he would vote for her confirmation the next day. Even John McCain (for my Republican friends) chastised Senator Cornyn for this "gratuitous" gesture.



The Philadelphia Convention and signing of the U.S. Constitution painting by Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952)

Enough Already with electing politicians on the "lowest common denominator" theory. I want someone who is smarter than I am to be the leader of the free world ... we all should, if we wish our country well.

Enough Already with sleazy, divisive political figures such as Rod "Helmet Head" Blagojevich, Ted "Extreme Makeover" Stevens, William "Cool Hand" Jefferson, Elliot "Call Me" Spitzer, Sarah "On A Clear Day I Can See Russia" Palin, Joe (actually Sam) the "Unlicensed" Plumber, and Darth Cheney.

Enough Already with the idea that there are "real Americans" and "other Americans." We are all Americans ... and as such we are entitled to disagree with our government and with each other. To borrow a line, I bleed red, white and blue ... my heart swells and my eyes become faucets every time I hear a well-rendered version of The Star-Spangled Banner and America, the Beautiful (and yes, I know the words) ... I can actually recite verbatim the Preamble and certain Articles to the Constitution, significant portions of the Declaration of Independence and the entire Gettysburg Address, usually with choking voice and tearful eyes. I do not for a moment think that I will agree with all of President Obama's decisions and policies ... and rest assured that I, along with others, will take him to task if necessary. But he can hardly help but be so much better than his immediate predecessor.

E pluribus conundrum.... with truth, and liberty and justice for all....

)O(

THE REST OF THE STORY

Written by John David Steed

For those of you that attended our reunion in Childress this past October know that there were some of our classmates that you would recognize anytime anywhere and some that you would need to hear them talk a while to make that recognition. There were two couples that I would have recognized anywhere at anytime--Gayle and Kay Ann Whitten, and James and Nicki Wilcoxson. Shirley Neel was also a person that everyone would have recognized. Not that our other classmates didn’t look good, many had changed just as I have. I occasionally look in the mirror and wonder who that is looking back at me. My thought is as long as we have good health and a bit of joy in our hearts, things that we still look forward to and have somewhat enjoyed our journeys in life, then we are blessed.

Some of you may or may not remember that had it not been for bowling, James and Nicki quite likely would have never met. Nicki moved to Childress because her father would be operating our new bowling alley, which by the way, is now a farm supply store.

For those that were at the reunion I started to tell a story about being on a city league basketball team with James Wilcoxson about 30 years ago. If you were at the reunion you know that Wilcoxson looked great, very fit and toned. 30 years ago when I attended the first practice Wilcoxson didn’t look quite as good as he does now, he was slightly over weight and was wearing a full knee brace, but It was quite obvious that he still had that magical touch with the basketball. The other players realized if we wanted to win, that we needed to get the ball in the hands of the player with the knee brace. Wilcoxson made an exceptional 80+ percent of his shots from anywhere in the field. Wilcoxson was not in condition to stay in the entire game. When he came out we had another player that could hit 40-50% of his shots. While Wilcoxson was on the court our team would get ahead and while he was out our team would lose the lead. Fortunately Wilcoxson was able to stay on the court long enough that we won every game, and by the final playoffs his conditioning had improved enough that he could stay on the court the entire game, otherwise we would not have won the City Championship. I stated that I only shot once, that is because I wanted to win and with me shooting that would not be likely.

I was always amazed by the eye hand coordination that Wilcoxson exhibited in basketball, baseball, and golf. One night during our Senior Year Darrel Manuel and I saw James and a few other people in what was then a Gulf station, which was across the street from the Courthouse. Darrell and I pulled in to see what their discussion was about. Someone had bet Wilcoxson $20 that he could not stand in the parking lot and drive a ball up and over the courthouse. James had sent Johnny Mc to get his golf club and when Johnny returned he had brought the wrong club. After scolding Johnny for getting the wrong club, Wilcoxson stated he could do it even with the wrong club. Several people went to the other side of the courthouse. Wilcoxson told them to stay near the Childress Women’s Club, which was across the street on the opposite side of the courthouse. Wilcoxson placed his ball, took a couple of practice swings, and then hit the ball which disappeared into the darkness. The people that had gone to the other side of the courthouse came running back; the golf ball had rolled right up to the women’s club. I have now played golf for several years, have had as low as a 12 handicap, but on my best day I could never imagine making the shot like James did so matter of factly What a gift and I am so pleased that he chose to coach and hopefully guide some young athletes.


When we first spoke at the reunion we were asked to remember what we had said that we were going to do after High School. I thought that I was completing the statement which I had made on our Senior Personality articles that was that I planned to go to college and major in Science and Phys Ed. and become a teacher and coach. When I said I did that for three years, some thought I had only gone to school for three years. I meant that I had taught and coached for three years, not that I had gone to school three years. I hated teaching but I loved going to school. I earned my B.S. ed. in August of 1967, I had stayed out of school one semester to earn some tuition, but after that I went straight through and finished three months late. I earned my Masters of Education in 1977. In 1991, I had an abundance of money and time and decided to enter a MBA program at USC. I earned my MBA in December of 1993, and I earned my Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1998. I am only adding this information because my friend Gayle Whitten asked me 3 times if I finished. It was the next day that I realized I probably had not been very clear, about achieving the goal that I had set to teach and coach. I love education and if I had no responsibilities and piles of money I would have stayed in school forever.

I hope that all of you stay in good health and spirits and that we can see each other again. I especially enjoyed my visit with Moose Meek, I think our sense of humor is quite similar. I wish that I would have had more time to speak to each of you, but I had to leave the next morning. Hopefully we can meet as a group somewhere, I would be willing to host a group at my house sometime, and would enjoy showing any car guys or girls my collection of cars and motorcycles, which includes my 1957 Yellow Ford, which Shirley Neel asked about.

Until Then, Stay Healthy, Smile and Enjoy

John David Steed

Tea Time

Written by Nicki Wilcoxson

Greetings from the Wilcoxsons in Amarillo!! Hopefully it isn’t too late to wish each of you a happy 2009. Since my last post on Reflections in October of 2008, I have had time to be involved in multiple projects other than blogging Unfortunately, most of those projects revolved around Thanksgiving and Christmas—which by the way—were great family times and we enjoyed them very much. I say unfortunately because I still have multiple projects waiting to be done. Where does the time go and how do I get so little accomplished?

All of that having been said and requiring little or no contemplation or discussion, I want to say how excited we are to be back with a new blog that I sincerely hope will speak to all of you from the class of ’63 on at least some level of interest. One of the goals for “Voices” is to present a variety of posts written by several members of the Class of ’63. Some of us will have a series of posts and some will just share a post from time to time. Everyone is welcome to write and all that is required is to contact either Jennifer or myself so we can plan a time for you.

My series is going to be called “Tea Time”. I am a total tea freak and because it is my sole source of caffeine other than the occasional bite of chocolate, I look forward to and enjoy “tea time’ throughout the day. For those of you who must have your coffee, java, or cuppa joe, I give you permission to substitute the concept of a coffee break when I speak of tea time. Every one of us, and that includes retirees, find it nice to take a break from whatever chore, job, or work that we perform during the day. It is so nice to settle in a comfy chair in a comfy place and just chill for a time. “Tea Time” provides time for each of us to enjoy our drink of choice which for me is naturally, tea—hot or cold. Even better, how satisfying it can be to combine tea time with friends and good conversation or a good book, or just a quiet time for contemplation, meditating or writing. By now I hope you are beginning to get an idea of what you can expect from “Tea Time” on the blog. I invite you to fill your favorite mug or glass with tea (or coffee if you must), settle in your chair in front of your computer and take a break with me while we consider a variety of topics, issues, and ideas and enjoy our time together. We will find time to talk about a book or two, maybe an occasional movie, current events, and whatever else comes to my mind. Additionally, I will be compelled to share my latest “tea tip” or other tea related fact. I might even be persuaded to tell a joke or share a funny story, but be forewarned that I am the world’s worst teller of jokes!

Until next time, I leave you with the message on my favorite refrigerator magnet:Let the Voices be heard!!

Blowin' ... and Spittin' ... Sometimes Twistin' ... in the Wind....

The Looking Glass
by Jennifer Johnston



Peter Newell Illustration, 1890

Happy Inauguration Day!!! Next Tuesday, January 20, 2008 is the day when Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, takes the oath of office, with his hand on the Lincoln Bible. And today marks the inauguration of Voices from the CHS Class of 1963, the new blog dedicated (but not exclusive) to the Childress High School Class of 1963 ... and coincidentally (grin) the commencement of my personal series of posts on the Voices blog, which will appear collectively under the heading The Looking Glass ... along with any prefatory, ancillary titles which may come to mind....

I chose this title because a looking glass not only reflects the image of the person looking into it, it also shows other people in proximity and picks up impressions of the room or space just behind and adjacent, albeit sometimes in softer focus. There are tales of magic looking glasses which allow one who believes (and has imagination and the proper mindset) to see into the future, as well as the past, or to travel through time and space and lives. A looking glass may also reflect our thoughts and opinions, as well as our fondest memories and deepest desires, like J.K. Rowling's Mirror of Erised (spell it backward ... or hold it up to a mirror!) in her Harry Potter series. And Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871) is a treasured tale from childhood, wherein Alice (of previous Wonderland fame) is able to pass through a looking glass to an alternative world of startling imagery and disorienting space/time distortions ... where she meets my old friends Jabberwocky, the White Knight, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and The Walrus and the Carpenter, among others.

So, succinctly, The Looking Glass gives me lots of room to roam as I explore and discuss diverse subjects ... whatever meets and greets me when I close my eyes, take a deep breath and put myself in the mirror's hands. Of course in an alternative universe, mirrors may have hands ... and tell tales ... render commentary ... show us where we've been and where we are going ... and give us glimpses of what may lie on the other side ... and beyond....



Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States

Who knows what memories of ye olden times (ca. 1963 ... grin) we may revisit ... what preternatural, numinous creatures (including of course but not limited to Guinevere the Druid Goddess) we may encounter ... what spiritual, metaphysical realms we may enter ... what magical mystery tours (with a nod to the Beatles) we may join? With luck ... and sometimes a little blood, sweat and tears (with a nod to the musical group and to Winston Churchill), on our journey(s) we may just gain a semblance and remembrance of things past, a dollop or two of knowledge ... and in the process enjoy the trip!!!! There, at the signpost up ahead (with a nod to Rod Serling), a caveat:

It helps to be broad of interest and adventurous of mind to enter ... or enjoy ... this ride!!!! Otherwise, traverse the glass at your own risk....

I hope to see comments from some of you from time to time, but I know from Nicki's and my experience on the Reflections blog, comments may be few and far between (and occasionally non-existent). If any of you want to tell a story or share a memory, I would be delighted to publish a short piece or even a longer post written by you, under your byline, within the Voices blog ... pretty much on any subject you'd like, with very few exceptions, though there are obviously some places we simply will not go, whether in posts or comments. Photographs and stories about you, your kids, grandkids, great-grandchildren, pets or whatever lights your fire (with a nod to The Doors) are always welcome. (All this nodding is seriously affecting my balance ... although sometimes it's so hard to tell ... grin....)

I absolutely draw the line at pornography (like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, writing in Jacobellis v. Ohio, 1964, I know it when I see it!), blatant and egregious profanity, slurs on parentage (even if appropriate ... grin again) and canned "talking points" promulgated by one group or another to be mindlessly regurgitated by true believers. I do encourage you to participate, as sui generis voices do add so much to the rich texture of the blog.

There will be other regular contributors to Voices making their appearances, under their chosen posting titles, in the days to come, so do stay tuned and in touch.

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who has been so concerned and caring during Yahn's recent illness and surgery to remove a portion of his lung. All your good thoughts and prayers meant so much to both of us, and you are such treasured friends. Special thanks to Nicki and Jim, Raenell, Linda Kay and Wayne, Lynn, Clara and Don, Joby, Pat, Driscilla, Jack, Sheila, Johnny G., Sharon Woolfolk Buck and a couple of others for all their calls and cards and messages; to Chris and KC for their "near and dear" proximate support; and to "the Bish," Phil Tutor, who despite his own busy schedule took much time over a number of days to call Yahn and check on him, and to talk with me too. We appreciate all of you and others who e-mailed so very much. As Nicki reported on the Reflections blog, Yahn is recovering at home, is cancer-free, and will not require additional treatment (chemo, radiation, etc.). Given the diagnosis, he has received the very best prognosis.



I believe it is inarguable that without the networking and reconnections that were made via the Reflections blog, Yahn and I would not have had such a large, wonderful, sustaining group of friends who wished us well ... a tangible manifestation of at least one reason Nicki and I came to believe that reincarnating (a subject of extreme interest to me!) the blog as Voices is a good idea at this time in all our lives.

Having said all that, I'll take leave until next time, next topic ... and will anticipate Tuesday morning when I will chill the champagne, deck the halls, prepare the tapenade and crostini and raise a glass of Veuve Clicquot with friends at 11:00 a.m. C.S.T., toasting our new President, on this truly historic occasion. There is a palpable electricity in the air around here, as there was at the time of the election, and many celebrations are planned in our area, particularly in our Bishop Arts District, all day Tuesday and into the evening.

I wish President Obama well in all his endeavors, as should we all, particularly at this very difficult time for our country, and for our world. The winds of change are blowin' indeed.... L'chaim!!!

)O(