SSA Blog #032      By Michelle Drew     December 16, 2005

Good Morning to all. I'm back in New England for the short term at least. We are very much looking forward to having the holidays with family, and in our own home. Being on the road for the better part of 2 years now, we have had pretty special oppotunities to meet people of many cultures and walks of life. We have also seen much more of the georgraphy, the wildlife and lifestyles of Americans. There were so many wonderful surprises at every turn.a But it sure feels great to be back home. Robert is still in Wyoming where he will be going ice fishing with his friend Stub, who is a resident of the area.

Robert has the digital camera and will regale us with photos and fun from frosty Green River, Wyoming. Although I have taken most of the photos in Wyoming, Robert has taken the 3 finest I would say. He has a great eye for composing shots, he's just a little slow on the draw, as is the digital we have been using. Soon we will be changing over to a better camera, which will keep us happily taking and sharing pictures for a while to come.

All Good Thoughts

The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.
Sarah Brown

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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared
to what lies within us.
William Morrow

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I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.
Harry S Truman  

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If you're going through hell, keep going.
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
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Isnpirational Reading

ARE WE REALLY THAT DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER?

I enjoy a story about baseball great Joe Garagiola. He once stepped to
the plate when his turn came to bat. Before assuming his stance,
however, fervent Roman Catholic Joe took his bat and made the sign of
the cross in the dirt in front of home plate. Catcher Yogi Berra, also
a devout Catholic, walked over and erased Garagiola's cross. Turning
to the astonished batter, Berra smiled and said, "Lets let God watch
this inning."

And I suspect that God, who does not root for one team only, smiled.

I likewise enjoy the story about an old Quaker who stood during the
church meeting and told his fellow Friends about a young man who was
not a Quaker and who lived an undisciplined life. This young man
invited a pious Quaker friend to go sailing one day. A sudden storm
came up and the wild young man was drowned. Having made his point,
the old Quaker sat down.

Silence returned to the meeting until the old man once again arose.
This time he said, "Friends, for the honor of the truth, I think I
ought to add that the Quaker also drowned."

And I suspect that the heart of God, who does not arbitrarily sink
ships, was filled with sadness for both losses.

It is true that the sun shines on all of us - good and bad alike. The
rain falls on each of us, regardless of religious affiliation. And I
wonder, are we really very different from one another?

by Steve Goodier