LIBRARIES

She writes again.

My beloved wife, SWMBO, has some thoughts on her mind.

I turn it over to her.

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I just read a long article about book banning in schools and small town libraries around the country. (USA)

It scares me to consider that that might come to my town.  But it could.  I live in a very conservative area of the country.

When I was very young, my grandmother took me to the local library, where her cousin Nellie ruled.  She showed me around the whole place, then to the children's books.  When I left that wonderful place that day I was the possessor of a brand new library card with my name on it and four books.  Four books I could keep and read for two whole weeks!  I was rich!

My life has been enriched beyond measure by libraries wherever I have lived.  The idea that a few radical operatives could start deciding what I can and cannot read makes me afraid for my country.

I hope it does scare you too!

NONAGENARIANS

Some time back I posted about a friend of mine in Phoenix who I had recently touched base with after many years.

I hadn't realized how many years it had been until Sam Lowe told me he was now a nonagenarian, i.e. a person who had lived into his 90's.

Fortunately (as the case may be) I find that I am far, far younger than Mr. Lowe.

I'm only a sprightly 83.

A mere octogenarian.

But then a picture came to me of a gathering of old-timers and I realized the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.

It was taken over 70 years ago when four young men were about to go their separate ways in life.

They are, from left to right, Jack Burbidge (who just recently passed away at 91), Wayne Taylor (my big brother), Bob Jensen (who provided the photograph), and Jack Edwards.

The latter three are all 90 years old now.

They are pictured, I believe, outside of what was then the Presbyterian Church in Stanley, North Dakota, a small town where they all grew up.

They were collectively known as The Four Horsemen.

It was a different time then, an era of double-breasted suits and wide neckties.

I doubt that any of them, in those sun-dappled days of youth, ever entertained the idea that one day, they might become known as nonagenarians.

Who among us ever thinks of growing old?

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 So how's your week been so far?

Fun?

Frolic?

Phantasmagoria?

Well, okay then, let me try to cheer you up.

IT'S FRIDAY, GOLDARN IT!

There, feel better?

Well, there is always some humor on this day.

Pecks . . pecs . . see?

Whatever.

That's it folks.

The rest is up to you.

The rest = go out and have a gorgeous weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . ohhhhh . . )

THE ARTIST'S LATEST

 Our very talented daughter, Gayle, aka The BAD (Beautiful Artistic Daughter) has yet another new project she has added to her amazing output.

She calls them Solar Lamps.

I think I'd call them Solar Light Towers.

And I think I'd also call them beautiful.

Like their creator.

What do you think?

A GATHERING

It's become a thing - these gatherings at "The Pie Place".

I think I picked the spot years ago because it is about midway between Prescott Valley, where I live, and "The Valley", the metropolitan area centered on Phoenix.

It's the Rock Springs Cafe, famous far and wide for their huge selection of pies.

In case you're new here, this is all in Arizona, U.S.A.

The gatherings are lunch groups of half a dozen or so former colleagues in the television news business who worked together at KPNX-TV (formerly KTAR-TV) in Phoenix.

Since I'm writing this I can disclose that the ages of the participants are now in their 70's and 80's.

Yesterday's gathering was prompted by the visit to the Valley of Tim Dietz, who was a photographer at The Dozen (a relatively new title prompted by the station's Channel 12 location).

Tim only spent a few years with us.

He was a Midwest boy who was appalled and nearly overcome by the heat of Phoenix summers.

He escaped back to Denver, Colorado, where he had interned at a sister station while in college, and spent the rest of his long career there, ending it as a vice-president of the business.

Tim and I have remained friends through the decades and when he contacted me and said he'd buy me lunch if we could meet somewhere halfway of course I suggested The Pie Place and began rounding up some other pals of days gone by.

So, here they are . . older, grayer, heavier . . but still friends.

Wally Athey (photographer extraordinaire), Ron Brooks (instant sportscaster, deputy sheriff and whatever), Tim Dietz (the sort of retired exec), Roger Ball (photographer, assignment editor, news director), Bruce Taylor (your scribe), Mike Martin (film editor, computer whiz), and the ever-young Baseball Steve Torbeck (photographer, 12 Country one-man band).

Now you might think that senior members of our society like these would be a dignified lot.

Well, you'd be wrong, and apparently our waitresses caught the vibe.

As is often said of gatherings like these, the lies and the gibes flew fast and furious.

Good times, good pals.

NO GRATITUDE

I just came home from a quick trip to the grocery store to buy cat food.

I told Sweetie Pie that I'd brought home *twenty* cans of her favorite.

She said, "Only twenty?"

Some cats can't be satisfied.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Wow! What a week, eh?

Never thought it would happen.

The Diamondbacks traded for a relief pitcher and then sent him immediately to the Minors.

Who'da ever imagined.

Oh yeah and there was some other stuff happening in the news but we'll just leave that to others.

What WE'RE here for . . and YOU, I'd venture to say . . is to have our ribs tickled.

So shall we begin?

We shall.

What's that?

TWO Star Trekkies?

I'm sorry, I just couldn't decide.

But you can now decide to have a delicious and decadent weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .