Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Love. February is that shortest month made special by centering itself with that time to celebrate Love, to celebrate being loved, to celebrate loves you know and have known: Valentines Day. Remember who you love, why, when, how, and realize that time of loving can never be diminished by whomever or whenever you love again. Use the good that came of it to enrich your memories and do not let anything that was not good cloud your memories. You loved and were loved. Cherish that. You can even use the good memories to help yourself recognize beloved choices in life now and in the future. Love.

Some of our authors addressed love in various forms and fashions, for instance, Bud Lemire's poem "Running Bird" relates the simple love of caring and nurturing is showered upon humans, animals, fish or fowl. His "Chop Suey" recalls the way his mother showed her love on his birthdays. Other poems by Bud this issue are "Jigsaw Puzzle," "Hummingbird Moth," "Michael," "Paper Fortune Teller," and "Copy & Paste." The last one is about something Bud doesn't love.

Bruce Clifford's two poems are "Secrets in The Mist" and "The Fighting," both addressing difficulties in maintaining a loving relationship. John I. Blair sent us poems filled with "Memories," which is the title for one of them. "Anniversary," "Coping," "Primal Scream," "The Strip Pits," and "The Twohee and The Mockingbird." The latter is obviously about birds but not as obviously about how we as humans can be found acting the same.

Dayvid Clarkson's talents include photography, and one of his recent photo's can be found with the pleasant, thoughtful content of his column "Reflections of the Day." Thomas F. O'Neill's column "Introspective" mentions how people, no matter where they live, tend to form their beliefs and fears from those same opinions being a part of their 'growing up' process, expressed by figures of authority they accepted as children.

Mattie Lennon's "Irish Eyes" updates us about the current 'mystery' in Ireland which is actually about incidents in the past. All's well that ends well, but this tragedy seems to be ongoing.

Armchair Genealogy by Melinda Cohenour, sister of your editor, is using her column to point out that one of the benefits of checking your family tree is finding out the genetic health factors that pre-knowledge may allow one to avoid. As an example she has a tribute to our mother who lived such an exciting and active life, but had Alzheimers in her later years. This is another example of love for this issue's theme: love of family.

Rod Cohenour in"Cooking With Rod," romantic that he is, offers the recipe that he wants his wife to fix to celebrate their anniversary on Valentine's Day.

LC Van Savage's column "Consider This," confesses to a personal failing, which she cannot bring herself to quit. Her article "Aunt Jeannette" enumerates the reasons love is not a big part of the tale.