Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Spending Christmas Day and New Year's Day with family not seen often during the year, as everyone works and time off is rationed individually, makes the Season special. With four and five generations present plus lots of friends who are like family, one cannot but reflect on the happiness being shared. Lots of folks gathered to enjoy the meals and tree gifts embodies what this time of the year has always meant for your editor. Love and Joy and Cheer abound.

One article ("2016 Forecast" by Michael John Fierro) details the year ahead as his numerology defines possibilities for us. Last year Fierro did the column "By The Numbers" with each month explaining how you can seek out your own best path with the accuracy only numerology offers as your name and birthday is unique to you. All of that information is still available to you by clicking on his byline for this article. You will wish you had if you don't as everything about numerology is carefully discussed.

The other article ("Beauty in The Midst of Chaos") is by your editor's lovely great granddaughter Bethany Davies who finishes college in 2016 and has plans to walk down the aisle with her fiance Blake. She has a blog to share her thoughts, "Absolutely Beautiful" - which explains a lot about her attitude toward life.

"Any Town" and "Start A New Day" were sent in by Bruce Clifford. Bud Lemire shares "To Be Free," "Don't Laugh at Them," "The Gift of Christmas," and "The Best in A Happy New Year."

John I. Blair has penned three new poems, adding to the ones he has published before (Blair is our most prolific poet.) These are "21rst Century Druids," "PICC Line," and "The Age of Lonliness." Phillip Hennessy has another poem that is now being used as song lyrics: "Don't Be Ordinary" which is done by Lilia Ricci. There is a link to hear it on youTube included with his lyrics.

"Armchair Genealogy" by Melinda (Carroll) Cohenour, continues her Native American research with the Iroquois and the research involved boggles the mind. One source has them arriving from Siberia, so are they native or immigrant?

With his column, "Introspective," Thomas F. O'Neill explains the way that Christmas is regarded and celebrated in Suzhou, China, where he teaches. Pennsylvania born O'Neill is a world traveler, and has found his niche in the education of youngsters in public schooling there in Suzhou, from where he continues to pursue his altruistic personality and lifestyle.

Mattie Lennon in "Irish Eyes" tells of Christmases Past with his own tale plus a memory by Liam MCauley. LC Van Savage uses her "Consider This" column to recognize and give a farewell to her ferry captain. Rod Cohenour, in his "Cooking with Rod" teams up with his wife this column to share a scrumptious Chicken-Poblano Tortilla Soup recipe they developed together. Judith Kroll brings us two of her insightful poems for her "On Trek" this new year.

Third and Fourth chapters of Clara Blair's novel "Emeralds for Emma" are included in the Story section as is the children's serialized "Adventures of Ollie-Dare." Chapter 9 by Rebecca Morris, is about the bear going for a balloon ride, another entertaining segment for kids of all ages.

Thanks again and Happy New Year to Mike Craner for his expertise and patience that allows this little ezine to continue its mission of encouraging writers, experienced and beginners, and to promote reading.

We begin Volume 19 with the February issue just in time for Valentine's Day!! Watch for us!