Dear Folks, This evening, earlier than usual, my neighbor Dawn and her son, my buddy Jamie came a-knocking on my door to take my trash out to the curb. The first one to enter my kitchen was Jamie followed by his mother. I took one look at Jamie and saw that he looked absolutely handsome. He was wearing a long sleeved white shirt, a black and white tie, black pants and black shoes. I ohed and ahed over him and Dawn explained that she had just picked him up from his school orchestra concert this evening. In addition Dawn told me that he had just been picked as a member of the All Star team of Little League baseball. Of course that meant that I needed a hug from him and he timidly returned the hug. Note: I wonder if he's getting a bit too old for a "grandmotherly" hug. He's now ten years old. The first chance I got, I mentioned his recent tour through our museum with the rest of his fourth grade class. I asked him if he had noticed my being there. Oh, yes he did. I told him that I noticed him too and it looked like he was afraid I'd rush over to him and give him a great big hug. Oh no he wasn't but he agreed that it would have embarrassed him to have me hug him in front of his class. I asked him if he had enjoyed the tour of the museum and the village of Youngstown. Oh yes he did. I also asked him if all of the rest of the kids enjoyed it and he admitted that some of them didn't. Oh well, you can't win them all. Dawn and I agreed with each other that we were thankful that this recent high heat wave had broken--the temperature right now is down to about 65 degrees. I had opened one of my windows this afternoon and the house has cooled down to around 75 degrees without benefit of my central air conditioning. Jamie piped up that they didn't have air conditioning in his school. What?? One day this past week the temperature had reached 96 degrees and even with the classroom windows open, the kids plus the teacher must have been suffering horribly. All three of us had a good conversation together but they couldn't linger. It was around 9:00 and Jamie had to get out of his good clothes and go to bed. I always enjoy talking to Dawn on her weekly Wednesday visits to my house but I especially enjoy it when she brings my buddy Jamie along with her. It isn't easy to get him to open up but when he does, I could talk with him forever. vee

Vee, In the singing words of the character Brad Allen in the movie, "Pillow Talk".... You are my inspriation, Vee-e! I've been reading your stories every since I subcsribed myself to this list. Then, this morning (as I realized was doing something my mother always did) I sat down and wrote what I am calling a "Family Memory" story about that activity. So, I say to you - - - - - - - - THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! Leslie Kohler