Phanna Duriyavijitr
Nang Rong
Buriram
Thailand
December 3, 2007
Dear Phanna,
(cc: Family and Friends)
Thank you for inviting me to the Taeng Ngan, the wedding, of your former student Wiphawadee (Ut). Ut married Blake, a young man from Karratha, Western Australia.
As I understand it, here is "the story":
Luoyang
Henan Province
China
January 18, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
My old friend Konrad is curious about my traveling lifestyle. He writes, "How did it all begin? How would you suggest one get started?"
The reasons for my travels are varied and complex and Konrad deserves a proper response. In the meantime, I can offer two simple answers to his questions:
Luoyang
Henan Province
Peoples Republic of China
Sunday
January 20, 2008
Yesterday: Light Snow
Today: Heavy Snow
Tomorrow: More Snow
Dear Family and Friends,
Back in 1974 my wife Alice Dawn and I moved from Philadelphia to Boston. On our very first drive on the suburban country roads I noticed an unusual sight. A tall, thin, red, ten-foot steel pole was attached to every fire hydrant. At the top of the pole was a small, red, metal triangular flag. What the hell? It took me only a moment to guess the meaning of that particular artifact. I pointed it out to Alice and asked for her interpretation. Alice was no fool and she quickly understood. We both shuddered.
Allendale, South Carolina
October 10, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
Phil Harris was a charismatic singer and an energetic band leader back in the "Big Band Era." I can recall his (black and white) TV appearances on the Jack Benny Show and on his own program with his wife Alice Faye. Phil Harris could really put over a song, especially his signature number, "That's What I Like About The South."
Barksdale Air Force Base
Bossier City, Louisiana
October 29, 2008
One of my favorite television programs is "The West Wing." In one episode the President has been shot and the senior military advisors are worried that a foreign enemy might try to take advantage of the moment. When the military men ask the White House Chief of Staff what message the United States government should send out, the actor, the late John Spenser thinks for a second and says, "Don't mess with us tonight."
"Don't mess with us" was just what I was thinking when I visited the museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. East of Bossier City, Barksdale is the home of the Eighth Air Force. The slogan of the museum is "Come see the Might in the Mighty Eighth."
