Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

APRIL...

Can you believe it is really already April of the year 2000? Soon it will be Easter, and then a mere week until the month of May comes rolling down the line.

This month has already fostered some very strange weather across the nations of the world. Indeed, extra 'weather' activities have been noted beyond our world as detailed by a report service received daily from NASA. Unusually high solar bursts, waves, and magnetic active 'storms' have occured. This in turn causes at the very least a change in our view of the sky, bringing aurora borealis displays further south, for instance.

One thing the unusual weather, warmer than normal for this month, has done, is bring out the flowers and the migrations of birds and butterflies throughout eastern and southern areas of America, at least. One thing this editor does for herself (and tries not to feel too self-indulgent) is birdwatching. In the Saint Louis, Missouri, area the birders are very friendly and keep in touch with one another with an email bulletin board. (one can subscribe if in missouri, or nearby, at mobirds-l@muhealth.org.) The subscribers sound alerts about casual and unusual birds for their area to allow other birders to get a chance to also view the birds and add to their life lists. A recent notice of interest to more than the Missouri area is this one:
"Subject: R-T Hummers reported near St.Louis
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 07:34:43 -0500
According to the migration maps on the great website of Lanny Chambers (of Fenton, MO) RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS have been reported already in about the lower half of MISSOURI including the St. Louis area. The time is NOW to put out your feeders. :-) Check it out yourself at: http://www.hummingbirds.net
Then click on 'migration maps' from the home page."

Alas, although the ruby-throat comes into East and south Texas, in our desert section between the Pecos River and the Sandhills State Park the species of hummer appearing for the summer and nesting is the black-chinned. This tiny species also inhabits the Davis Mts area as high up as the McDonald Observatory where one can also gaze downward to view the soaring Golden Eagles with wingspans up to six feet. Life lists are important but the beauty of the birds, and the interaction of the various species around feeders or in the wild, is more interesting than adding to the list. (It is added to, however, and has grown considerably since visits in Missouri.) The point is, all this bird activity is spurred by the changing seasons... but birds aren't all that react to such triggers.

Changing weather always affects peoples moods even when they don't realize or admit it. Thus, again this month we have many facets of thought and ways to express such ideas within our issue. There is a thread through all of the work that links our hopes for a peaceful day to our sometimes fervent expectation of a peaceful afterlife.

Our columnists reflect, for the most part, much the same dreams and desires as do our authors of the poetry and articles and stories herein. We hope you browse through the entire issue, and if you find something especially pleasing for you, let the author know...either directly or through our email. You can also post your comments to the Forum, and briefer thoughts to the Wall.

We, like parents, try to give you the best of everything, but only you can make your choices...and only you should. Musing on such parental hopes last month, led to the following verse:

Protection

Ah, that we could protect our young
From all things we think bad...
And if we did, what all they'd miss...
Some things for sure they'd wish they'd had.
But we, in our wisdom, would stifle them, I fear,
And never let others come too near...
And hold them so tightly,
their Beings would sear,
And shrivel and die, inside and out...
If we were in control of all they're "about."
Mary E. Adair

And for all our hopes for our young ones, a poem that crossed our desk this month, having originated in Nigeria, we were told, assures us that we can still measure up to some good deeds in our lives despite our mistakes. We have a chance to make it right if we don't wait too long. So check out the listing under poetry titled "NOT a Job Interview!"

We are continuing to re-publish some of the poetry lost when we crashed last Fall.. hmmm, fell in Fall... Anyway, be sure to select JoBi Wilson's poems for a bright outlook, though her "Symphony of You" is rather reflective itself. . Two of our writers in this section hail from Great Britain... Ms Heller and Mr Hennessy, each bringing new perspectives with their verses. Also, fans of Ken Berry (count your editor in this group) will be excited to see what his poetry touches on this issue.

A new author to our magazine is Naomi Mahoney who recently lost her father who struggled most of his life with the little understood illness of Schizophrenia. Her poem "You Make Me Whole" appears this month.

One of our chatting friends who prefers to only publish under his nic of LSeeker had many poems in our previous issues that were lost, but for April we bring the recently written, "Remembering the Gypsy," which really sets a mood.

By the way, the Gypsy poem reminds me that a lot of us seek predictions in one way or another... such as the stars. Leo C. Helmer, in his authoritative researcher mode, has compiled many less commonly known facts about how and why we turn to such seeking, as well as when it all started in his article, "Astrology."

Our columnist Connie, too busy this month for extra authoring duties, has a good standin, her sister AngelLPN, a real LPN who contributed the Easter Message. As ever, Cassandra's words paint pictures for us, and we are able to step into her world and enjoy the sights; and in "Cookin' with Leo" you can nearly taste the good food as you read his cleverly written recipes. The movie review column focuses on Cheri's viewpoint of the Oscars with some comments you may agree heartily with, and others with which you may differ.

All in all, a lot of good reading awaits you. And if you wish to add to next month's issue, as they say, send them cards and letters in... but really, our submission forms are simple to use, and work a lot quicker.

Hey! Get started reading! See ya in May!!!