First, I want to say a big heartfelt thank you to those of you, my colleagues and friends, who responded to my earlier GoFundMe request on behalf of our local Neighborhood Climate Action Redlands (ANCA Redlands) efforts. Second, I want to say thank you to all of you, who are now members of my collegial council as we try to navigate the turbulent and heating-up waters of the 21st century. We have done marvelous things as a body. I just remembered the night Lyn Mathews invited Dave McClesky, Frank Knutson and I to her little retirement community apartment and said those words or something like them. And our good friend and mentor Georgianna McBurney was constantly expressing similar sentiments. I am thankful for all we have done as a people, trying to keep alive the dream MLK spoke of so eloquently just before he was struck down. Third, I am thankful for all you as the Order dispersed have accomplished and been able to share in vicariously through the gift of the internet and social media, with all its flaws and pitfalls. Fourth, I am attaching a copy of the vision and goals our ANCA Redlands crew have been operating out of and implementing for these past two and a half years. If anything we are doing at the local level looks like it might be of value in your piece of the globe, we are happy to share it. It was the work of our colleagues in Denver who started this ANCA thing that inspired us to give it a go here in Redlands. You can Google ANCA Redlands or click the link <https://redlands-anca.hub.arcgis.com/> if anyone you know might be interested. And just in case anyone missed my GoFundMe appeal, I am happy to share that here as well—Click Here! <https://gofund.me/58b7b70b> Fifth, and last, I am sharing a couple of poems. The first one was written and read to my writing group on the occasion of the mass pardoning of the January 6th insurrectionists. The second was in response to Linda asking me if I had written my birthday poem yet. (Our gang here was in the habit of composing birthday songs for milestone birthdays and sadly, as the gang has dwindled, so has our practice). So the poem I wrote seemed to be more fitting for a song. The reason for sharing is that we all have a story to tell. I don’t want any of yours to be lost. The inspiration for the song is the great Merle Travis immortal hit “Sixteen Tons.” I have included an attached MP3 file to the version I chose with a little help from AI. *A Very Personal Poem* (on the occasion of the pardon and release of 1500 January 6th Insurrectionists) I woke up this morning. Does that mean I’m woke? I’m approaching number 88, Grateful that I ain’t broke. I may be badly bent. I feel like something’s missing. I can’t tell where it went. If you know, don’t tell me. Maybe I’ll give it up for Lent. Can’t find my rose-colored glasses. Maybe I’ll borrow yours. I watched them all get passes. They just walked out the door, To join the huddled masses Still yearning to know the score. Milan Hamilton January 23, 2025 *Eighty-Eight Years* 1. I – was born one mornin’ in the Great Depression, Raised on the plains on a reservation, Got an education but I’m still not done, My life rolls on ‘til the setting sun. Chorus: Ya live eighty-eight years and whatta ya get? Another year older and ya ain’t dead yet. St. Peter’s still a-waitin’ for the dice to be rolled. But I’m not goin’ ‘til my story’s been told. 2. It’s 2025 and where have I been. The years flew by – It’s beyond my ken. I better get a-writin’ ‘fore I’m too damn old, Before they lay me down – stiff and cold. Chorus: Ya live eighty-eight years and whatta ya get? Another year older and ya ain’t dead yet. St. Peter’s still a-waitin’ for the dice to be rolled. But I’m not goin’ ‘til my story’s been told. 3. My life is a song – hasn’t been sung yet, No one to sing it but there’s no regret. I’ll sing it myself when the darkness comes, And go out dancin’ on the grim reaper’s drum. Chorus: Ya live eighty-eight years and whatta ya get? Another year older and ya ain’t dead yet. St. Peter’s still a-waitin’ for the dice to be rolled. But I’m not goin’ ‘til my story’s been told. *Milan Hamilton, January 25, 2025, Thank you Merle Travis* - Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2@gmail.com