Dear Cousins, If you are not familiar with the life and writing of Wendell Berry, you are missing a human phenomenon, a man who gives the world lessons in wisdom and beauty, and lives by what he propounds. A very rare thing. Mr. Berry lives in Henry County, KY, the homeland of his ancestors, and mine. Unfortunately, I've never been to Henry County, nor have I met Mr. Berry, although I regard him with the reverence due a national treasure. You can find a bit of biography about him at the following site: http://www.english.eku.edu/SERVICES/KYLIT/BERRY.HTM And more links to his works and philosophies: http://www.alteich.com/links/berry.htm Here is one of his poems I especially like, as contained on the "Thoughts Worth Thinking Page" http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/berry/berry.html The Peace of Wild Things When despair grows in me and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting for their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. My Smith, Watts, Markham etc. family had connection to the Berry family, and when they rode on to Missouri, lived in Cass, Johnson, Jackson, and Calloway Counties. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@teleport.com ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads