Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Finding it difficult to imagine what great strides our lives may be taking in this new year. Perhaps AI, the Artificial Intelligence that is enthralling everyone, could predict an outcome, but, hey, that by its very nature would most likely be "Artificial." Guess we shall just wait and see. Hopefully our authors will be bursting with new visions and liklihoods to pour into next issue which shall be the first for Volume 27 of this Art and Literature eZine.

Walt Perryman's "One Day After Christmas" poem also displays a photo of his wife Laura and him during the Christmas season. His encore poem "About New Year's Eve" is not only timely but excellent advice. Bruce Clifford's "The Blame" is his only composition this time. John I. Blair is still under the weather, but fortunately we have a treasure trove of his poetry to bless this January Pencil Stubs, including his prize winner poem "Sputnik." (Details included.) His other three are "Hay," "If Time Is A River," and "Taking The Sun in January."

Bud Lemire's "In The New Year" is spot on, and his other three are "When I'm Gone," "The Elf on The Shelf," and a beautiful tribute to his late sister, "Dottie." There is one from your editor, "Not The Me" that is on the reminiscent side.

"Introspective" by Thomas F. O'Neill welcomes the New Year, while Marilyn Carnell's column "Sifoddling Along" reveals plans of several projects for her coming days, and likely months. Judith Kroll's column "On Trek" is so like her--we have met and I can speak knowingly--and is a comforting essay. Pauline Evanosky's column "Woo Woo," is intriguing, as she's one of our authors who has learned to use the various AI sites and shares her expertise. Our new columnist Ara Parisien in "Medium-Author-Spiritual Teacher" discusses visitations and various examples of them. This is a subject your editor has been looking forward to reading.

Rod Cohenour's "Cooking with Rod" features a scrumptious recipe and he confided that he considers a serving to offer three of the small chops from his French Onion Pork Chops. "Armchair Genealogy" by columnist Melinda Cohenour looks ahead to the new year as an opportunity to delve more deeply into family connections, with the continued quest for info for five "brick walls." Mattie Lennon of Dublin, nostalgically tells about his "Best" Christmas, and previews a new book for his "Irish Eyes."

We recognize and gratefully bless our good fortune in knowing our co-founder and webmaster, Mike Craner, whose knowledge and expertise keeps Pencil Stubs Online actually online We know how busy he was during Christmas season as he "plays" Santa on an excursion train in Virginia, delighting children of all ages.. We place our confidence in him as we have in the past and shall continue doing so.