Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

On August 15, 1945, news of the Japanese surrender was announced to the world. This sparked spontaneous celebrations over the final ending of World War II. On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was held in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri. At the time, President Truman declared September 2 to be VJ Day.

Your editor was ten years old on VE Day (Victory over Europe) May 8, 1945, and to her and her sisters Noralee and Jacquelyn and her best friend Billy Charles (William Charles Meacham) who lived across the street, VJ Day that August meant now the war was over so !bicycles! We had been saving our allowances for the duration, and had been admonished by our patriotic parents that we could not spend our piggy bank funds for bicycles until the war was over. How could a child understand that first the factories had to clear excess materials, dismiss many workers, arrange funding, and most importantly - retool - before manufacturing bicycles. I finally got my girl's blue Swinn approximately two years later. The story "Remembering VJ Day...The First One" is the personal account of that event as it happened.

The excitement and celebration of VJ Day was usurped as a September remembrance in a deadly and atrocious manner by the events occurring 9-11-2001, when the hijacked planes crashed into New York's Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Commemorating the date and the effect of the loss is the reprint of the poem by Chris Alaniz who was in the 5th grade then - "9-11 Poem."

Bruce Clifford's poems are "Crystal Clear" and "Deep in Thought" for this issue. Judith Kroll's poem is titled "All Things Joyous" which is a echo of how Judith prefers to regard life. Bud Lemire has two poems, "Do You See Me?" and "Some of My Friends Are Butterflies," with one of his photos to illustrate the latter. Bud has a Bud's Poetry Blog and a Bud's Photo Blog to add to when he finds time in his busy days.

John I. Blair sent six new poems for September. His goal each month is to compose at least six to challenge himself. He does it so well. Here are the titles: "Jewels of Opar," "Distant Thunder," "When A Gnat Dies," "People Who Smile," "Mars Summer 2018," and your editor's favorite of the group, "When I Allow It."

Linnie Jane Joslin Burks, your editor's maternal Aunt, was a prolific poet, even during her 32+ years serving as a Southern Baptist Missionary with her husband Dr. Edgar Burks. This issue we share her poem "Parents." The picture shows the two of them after retirement from the missionary field settled down in Springfield, Missouri. Your editor was there to visit in 2007. Both are deceased now but their good works live on.

The Burks with Mary E. Adair

Marilyn Carnell is our new columnist whose column "Sifoddling Along" brings her experiences to share in an engaging manner. We introduce her in an article "Meet New Columnist Marilyn Carnell" which will remain as her Bio. She also has a poem for September, "I Am Enough."

Melinda Cohenour's "Armchair Genealogy" focuses on the extraordinary saga of one of America's patriots who belatedly chose to turn his coat and side with the British - Benedict Arnold.

Thomas F. O'Neill in his "Introspective," is pleased to hear from his former students via email while he is back in the USA for a year's sabbatical. His column discusses the importance of teachers in our lives.

Rod Cohenour being under the weather, we present an "Encore Cooking With Leo" with one of Mary's breakfast recipes. The link is to Leo C. Helmer to allow readers to access his other fascinating recipes and articles. Judith Kroll aka Featherwind discusses handling changes we may be facing and tells of some reassuring instances in her experience in "On Trek."

Mattie Lennon's "Irish Eyes" handles an array of subjects from the Pope to Scumbags with his usual aplomb. Always on top of things in Ireland, he reports in goodly humor and an exactness seldom found in the newspapers.

LC Van Savage "Consider This" found delight in the visit of several young friends which evoked memories of herself growing up.

Ovation for Mike. We heartily appreciate our webmaster Mike Craner without whose patience and expertise this ezine would not have been in its 21rst year.