Still Writing...

I am still writing letters but not able to keep up with the blogging.

Please visit my Third Thought site. Sign up for 52 Weeks of Creativity.

And thanks for stopping by.

Tee Hee (17)

My daughter does a spot-on imitation of a tiny pageant competitor: the frozen smile, mouth partly open, head turned to the judges as she promenades the aisle.

Yesterday I received a flyer inthe mail about the Regional pageant coming to Portland on June 7th. At the lower right corner there is a picture of a BABY with a CROWN. OMG is all I have to say.

I'm sending it to my daughter for a little chuckle.

Be Well (16)

A friend of ours is walking the Cancer Journey. Happily in 2009 'cancer' is a word, not a sentence. Still, it's not always obvious what to say to someone who is coping with illness.

When we walked the Cancer Journey a few years ago we found the simpler the better:


We are thinking of you.

We send you love and good thoughts.

(image from Payapa Cards--buy them)

Home, Sweet Home (15)

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam
Be it ever so humble there's no place like home

The newspapers are still full of articles about the housing meltdown. Each statistic has thousands of personal stories behind the numbers (poor Detroit and all the people who lost their homes there).

Having a place to call home is at the foundation of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. We need the security of a nest.

So, it is a happy occasion when friends and family relocate out of choice. In the last month my delightful brother and sister-in-law have moved into a new place in the city (of Bruckmuhl, Germany). And good friends have found their new home in Washington state.

I get to send 'happy home' cards and congratulate them all!

Correspondance from Obama! (14)

Here's another good thing about writing actual letters: you might get a return letter. Imagine my excitement when I opened my mailbox and saw an elegant, creamy envelope with this return address:

The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Yup. Obama wrote me back!

He thanked me for my kind words and acknowledged the outpouring of goodwill. He also encouraged me to 'reaffirm our enduring spirit and choose our better history. All right then!

I am going to write a letter back and compliment his expertise in this enormous change effort. He must have some extremely good organization development consultants working with him.

I think the signature might not be original. But, I understand. He's a busy man.

Thank You! (13)

I just celebrated another birthday and was gratified to hear from so many dear ones. Of course, it helps that I posted a blog and it's linked to Facebook. ;)

I ask you, 'Why not kick off a celebration for yourself?!"

So this week I am writing a few thank you notes. I am always touched when people take the time to shop and send a gift. Each time I am surprised and delighted.

Thank you!

Happy Birthday (12)

Last week I sent a birthday card to my brother who lives in Germany. He is not quite a year younger than me so for the next three days we are the same age. And a fine age it is.

My siblings and I grew up in Salt Lake City. Our parents came from The Netherlands and fully embraced their new culture. Here we are on Halloween in 1963. I am the eldest, looking pretty serious. And then we stairstep down--four children in five years (!). The chap in the skeleton costume is the Birthday Boy and in this photo you can already see the impishness.

We were so lucky to have had a GREAT childhood. And today I am remembering the good times....from the old days, from more recent years and envisioning our visit this September.

Love you Ray.