<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpd2e23027yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">A Year</p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">August 1 I will be 76 years old,<span> </span>I reflect on this turning.</p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">In June we had a different vacation.<span> </span>We took a Viking river cruise on the River
Elba.<span> </span>WE started with two days in
Prague, then 5 days on the river and 2 days in Berlin.<span> </span>It was a more pampered way than we have
travelled with tours every day, excellent meals and drinks included.<span> </span>I wondered if I would have had the endurance
for a longer cruise.<span> </span>We followed this
with 10 days in England.<span> </span>Highlighted
more touring by train, staying with Stuart’s sister, Brenda and visiting His
brother Malcolm.<span> </span>I also met and
immediately bonded with Quaker, Bill M – we are both penpals of Joseph on Texas
Death Row.</p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">One of my favorite actions in England is to visit the
multiple small thrift shops.<span> </span>(Every
charity from Air Ambulances to P.E.T.A. seems to have one in every local High
Street.)<span> </span>After shopping in some on our
day train trips and having a longer wander in Watford High Street I observed my
purchases:<span> </span>assorted Knick knacks for
gifts, 3 blue handkerchiefs, a blue dress, blue blouse and blue, print
skirt.<span> </span>I do not do this consciously.<span> </span>I have worn them all since I got home.<span> </span>One young woman at Meeting affirms “Blue is
good on you.”<span> </span>Without my asking.<span> </span></p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">I just read <u>Iron Boy</u> by David Marshall.<span> </span>So did Stuart.<span> </span>When I talked to our daughter Lis, so did
she.<span> </span>I remember many years ago being
asked if I grew up in the Order.<span> </span>“Yes,
but I was 20 when I came.”<span> </span><span> </span>A world of difference in being 20 and deciding
and 6 and told this is where we live.<span>
</span>Thank you, David. </p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">In February the State of Texas executed my friend of 16
years, Richard Tabler.<span> </span>When we were
travelling, I learned of the death of Martha (SKY) Dempster.<span> </span>Martha was my college roommate, invited me to
RSI, and was my bridesmaid.<span> </span>It has been
ten years since we talked; a loss.<span> </span>I
also lost Donna S, a dance instructor here in Austin.<span> </span>Then 130+ died in floods between the Texas
Hill Country and Travis County where live. </p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">In the midst of life, you know.<span> </span>My year has been given to activity familiar
with the exceptions being the last two months.<span>
</span>Being Quaker, Religious Society of Friends.<span> </span>My shorthand definition “Go cheerfully
through the earth responding to that of God in everyone.”<span> </span>Some of that translates into direct care; I
am currently clerk of Care and Counsel, our local pastoral care committee. <span> </span>Death Row and other prison visits are
important to me.<span> </span></p>
<p class="ydpa3f53858MsoNormal">I dance. This one of my communities meets twice a week for choreographed
play,<span> </span>I continue to keep an art journal—now
on Volume 6.<span> </span>We are lucky enough to
live an hour or less from our children, Elisabeth and Christopher and from our
grandchildren.<span> </span>LIFE IS GOOD.</p></div><br></div></div></body></html>