Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Yes, the calendar has turned another page. It is being fervently hoped that this page will be welcomed joyfully and filled with many occasions to remember. Families are coming back together to share the same roof in many parts of the USA, and for some though it may start out from necessity, the benefits will become apparent. Not only can utilities and the cost of groceries be shared but the wonderful fellowship of relatives can enrich lives and develop memories for the youngsters which can bless them throughout their lives.

When our nation was young, families clanned because it was a good way to survive. You shared chores and the harvests, the ups and downs, the beauty and the dismay, and were strengthened as a unit because of the experiences, good and bad. It is what helped make our nation strong. So if you are beginning a period of moving in together, look on the bright side and deliberately make the best of everything. A Cheery Heart Doeth Good comes into play here; a quote? Perhaps, but certainly a wise way to apply oneself. Mostly because of these thoughts, your editor is reprinting a poem from 2001, which was written when leaving Saint Louis to return to Texas, but is appropriate for these times, "Moving Day."

Another poem by yours truly is "Condolences," a more somber verse, but still could be regarded as good advice. Bruce Clifford, who has been moving into a new career position, sings a couple of songs for us with "Guardians of The Sun," and "Life Before Life." Both are on the dreamy, reflective side.

John I. Blair submits an eclectic mixture of poems for March. Sometimes his work is so themed for one subject or another that the group seems like a step by step documentary of one subject. His feline poetry has been lauded and he has perhaps written more poetic sequences concerning cats than any other poet. We'd like to see a chap book published on simply his feline compositions. Two poems this time speak of impressions and the weather of January, though both ("January 3" and "The First Day of The Year") were written in previous years, one can recognize their own winter season in them. "Bee Ledge" and "Coyotes" explore nature and its challenges, while "Nerves" and "In The Midnight Forest Of My Mind" tender emotional concepts of unrest, even dispair, and are a departure for his work.

You won't find MailBag Column this issue, but here is a helpful link or two:

Blood Clots/Stroke - "They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue" and other ways to recognize danger signs.

Check Your Tires
NOT A JOKE! This takes a little time to watch......be sure and watch it to the end. Very important to take the time to look at this video on tires and share with others. (Note: There is a short commercial that comes on prior to the story on the tires.)

Snow Motor... for the tractor lovers
This is a really neat video of a tractor-snow-machine invented by Henry Ford. Watch the whole thing. It's a video copy of an old film that doesn't have sound... but it's pretty neat. It was even adapted to cars.

Ireland's Own Radio Show
This link courtesy of Mattie Lennon leads to an archived show from February 28th. Enjoy!

This is the month of Lent and you can check out an article by Helmer a few years back, All About Lent, Easter Dates, and..., but it is also St. Patrick's Day so this year in "Cookin' With Leo" you will find a recipe for "Making Very Good Irish Cream." Though Helmer attributes most of his recipes to his Italian Fairy Godmother, this is from a late friend who sailed the same seas as Leo during WWII, Richard (Dick) E. Hoshor. (see pic, right) There are many fond memories of visits with Dick and this is one of the tasty ones.

LC Van Savage puts you in the bosom of her family as they celebrated Valentine's Day 2009 in her column "Consider This." She also authored the informative but funny article, "A Stench By Any Other Stench Stinks The Same."

Gerard Meister comically spins a woe-filled essay on everyday life as a Floridian senior citizen. Don't miss "Thinking Out Loud." Both Eric Shackle and Thomas F. O'Neill {"Introspective") chose the birthday of Darwin for their columns, and Shackle expanded to include Lincoln, Braille, and Mendelssohn, all born in 1809. The column includes some very nice links, so do a bit of surfing.

Shackle's article, "Former Pin-Up Girl, Now 102, World's Oldest Columnist," discusses how one lady is keeping on keeping on. Mattie Lennon, "Irish Eyes," displays a typical anecdote like the kind he needs to launch his next project, "Mad To Go Again." Remember to click on each author's byline to find their biography and a list of clickable titles of previous work published by Pencil Stubs Online.

Perhaps you have a poem or a favorite story you've written that would enhance our pages. If so, please do submit for consideration. As always, we do not pay nor do we charge to publish.

See you next month!