Dear Folks, I procrastinated as long as I could today to go out on safari and run the errands that needed to be done. By 3:00 everything was packed into my car and I headed to Youngstown to return my library books and borrow four more. I had a good conversation with Jan the librarian and Kate the assistant librarian. We've known each other for years. Just as I was about to pull out of the parking lot, Sue Dietz and Bill Owler came out of the building. I opened my window and yelled out to them. Of course Sue and I had had a long talk at my kitchen only a day or two ago but I hadn't seen Bill in some time. All of us have worked together up at the local historical society museum at one time or another. But Bill was especially pleased to see me. He told me that he missed me up at the museum and hoped I'd come up there soon again . It was nice to hear him say that and it gave me food for thought. (Bill is in his 80s.) From there I went to the post office where I made certain that my tax returns got into the mail. In addition I finally mailed off the CDs I had prepared for my sister Norma and brother John of the story I had written "Pilgrimage to Our Roots," the story about Norma and my genealogical adventure into Germany where we found the roots to our Housman/Haussmann ancestors back into the 1400s. This time, though, I inserted many photographs that I'd taken at the time that would add to the story. As usual when I go to the post office the postal clerk and I exchanged pleasant insults with each other. We both ending up laughing our heads off. I drove the few miles to the super market in Lewiston, found a nearby handicapped parking space and worked my way into the store. With the store's handy-dandy motorized shopping cart I managed to pick up all of the items I had on my list along with a few more that I couldn't resist. When I checked out and paid for everything, I knew that I'd need help in loading everything in my car. A nice young man accommodated me and as he walked along with me with my shopping cart he noticed the baseball cap I was wearing. It was my US Navy, Retired, one. When he questioned me about my being a fan of the Navy I told him that I had spent 30 years in the Navy. He was really impressed. He told me that he was considering joining the Marines. I told him that Marine Boot Camp was pretty rough but at the same time boot training/basic training in all of the branches of the service were rough. He asked me many more questions about military life and I gave him straight answers. I told him that the first ten years of my Navy life were my "happy days," but that the second and third ten years seemed to go down hill from there. He really paid close attention and after he'd loaded all of my groceries into my trunk, I felt that I had given him some food for thought. My next stop was the gas station on the Indian reservation a few miles away. They actually have a "Full Service" lane and I no more pulled up when a pleasant attendant came up to my car, filled up my tank, took care of my credit card and handed me the receipt. Before I drove off, he said, "God bless you." Now is that full service or what?? I got home at the late hour of 5:30 but I was still filled with the pleasant memories of my safari. All of my insignificant plans for such a trip were certainly more than worth the effort. vee