Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

A month that has always been important for many reasons...granted, a lot of them are emotional ones. For instance, it is the month of brides and grooms and their anniversaries forever... even when one or both are gone, (or divorced) as the families of each respective union will continue to mark and remark the day observed originally. We could never forget the day of our parent's anniversary, nor would we wish to. Our own anniversaries continue the poignancy of recall, whether the later years measured up or not. Somehow, more momentous than birthdays, superceding them, and rendering a mere calendar date that certain glorious significance, wedding anniversaries reign supreme, and June is historically the bride's first choice. Don't forget the June brides you know!

Another date in June is the more flexible one with the third Sunday assigned as Father's Day. Various types of fathers are commemorated in various ways by their offspring, as well as their own spouses and later descendants. Not that those males are only remembered on the appointed day of celebration! Indeed each of us treasure certain memories that stand out with a special glow. Such a time is recorded by our poetess, Clara Blair, with her poem "Roller Coaster." Her spouse John Blair shares the indelible memory of a sadder time, entitled "Riding The Bus To My Father." Both Clara and John include other poems this month: she with "Telephone," and "Aunt Lela;" John with "Don't Shout," "Gulls In A Fog," and "Keeping My Counsel."

Judith Alexander penned the exuberant "Gimme Some More" and the sadder "My Throat Has Lost Its Song." Another sad and reflective poem, "The Tears," was written by Courtney Sterenchock, who though only thirteen, describes clearly the helplessness faced in fearing the loss of a loved one.

Single romantic offerings include the ironic "Love Play" by Noreene M. Bailey; the idealistic "My Perfect One" by Peter Tonge; and Phillip Hennesy with "For You." Sheila Keith expresses a delightful joy in "Riding In The Wind!"

Flag Day, June 14, is well noted in "Salute The Fallen," by John D. Strain, who immortalizes in verse a fellow countryman. Bruce Clifford sent "Eye for an Eye;" and M. Jay Mansfield shows the grim "Darkstar."

Please also check out the article "Do You Remember Me?" for more emphasis of Flag Day. The beautiful scene at the bottom of this column, Stars and Stripes, (© SuperStock, Inc.) of American flags flying free, is from WEBSHOTS.com where by signing up one is able to download pictures to their own computers.

The other article, "The Crescent and The Cross - Chapter I" continues the discussion begun with an introduction in May. This series of informative essays is written by Dr. Sam Vaknin.

Columns are fewer in number this issue as some of our writers are vacationing, and others are loaded down with pre-vacation chores and deadlines. However,

our lovely Cassandra sent "Cassandra's World;"

LC Van Savage plumbs the Invention dilemna in "Consider This ;"

Leo C. Helmer brings us outdoor ideas in "Cookin' With Leo ;"

Mattie Lennon bemoans scarcity of plaudits for female savy in "Irish Eyes;"

Pete Miller leads us onward and outward in "Stellar Notions;"

Gerard Meister shares his humorous insight and research in "Thinking Out Loud."

The solitary short story in this issue should be required reading. Author Susan's "Golden Absolute" reveals an all too common, though hidden, side of relationships. If it makes you uncomfortable, perhaps it is 'hitting too close to home.'

Since it seems that no one ever reads this column ... at least by the lack of comments it receives, zilch feedback, perhaps no one will miss it for the next couple of months while your editor (that's me) has surgery to replace her knee. Counting recovery time, she expects to be back on the job by the middle of August, or at least by the end thereof. The issues however, should be promptly released during the first week of each month, and if you didn't get your submission in, you can still submit from the site and our webmaster can do the editing. If you do want to help in the crunch however, please get your July and August columns, poems, etc. in no later than June 20, so the editor can prepare them for publication.

See ya whenever!