You never know what life has in store for you and that's as it should be. Sometimes we can get a glimpse of what lies ahead based on our actions. If I constantly drive my car at high speeds, I can expect to be involved in an accident sooner or later. I drink 2½ cups of coffee every morning and I suspect that somewhere along the path of life it will come back to haunt me. I've read reports saying that an exact amount of coffee is good for your health, and then other reports say that coffee contains elements that are bad. So, many decisions we make in life give us an idea of ​​what lies ahead. I've always tended to believe that God has designed our path, but I'm starting to think that He leaves much of it up to us. Jerilyn and I have several people in our lives who are suffering health-wise, and we suffer with them because they are a very important part of who we are. Certainly suffering is sometimes caused by our genes, but I suspect much of it is lifestyle and the effects of lifestyle choices normally appear after the age of 40. My philosophy is: “good health is a gift until the age of 40, then you have to work for it”. However, all this does not exempt us from worrying about those we love. We all know the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We know this because it's in the New Testament, but did you know it was said by Confucius 500 years before it was written in the Bible? So the belief that humanity should treat others kindly goes back a very long way (2,500 years?). With all the violence in our world today, it gives us pause if we have lost this essential part of us which is conscience. Sometimes I think we wake up every morning, read... in the middle of a newspaper... abandon work in a cavernous building under artificial lights for most of our lives. During all these years, my main goal was to provide a decent life for my family, without realizing what I was missing in life. In the hoosegow, prisoners are allowed out into the daylight for an hour each day, to look up and see the sun and the beautifully blue sky. Looking back, I am saddened by how much I missed and how little I knew about all that I missed. This all reminds me of a quote from EB White: "People are, in fact, more sensitive to the idea of ​​being considered stupid than to being considered unfair." This could all be stupid thinking on my part. I hope so. I wonder, when we get to the end of life, do we worry about the things that aren't done? Sending a letter is a good way to get somewhere without moving anything except your heart…..Phyllis Theroux