Wow, it's been a hectic week.  And it's only Wednesday!  But my week started out fun.  Well, my kind of fun anyway. 

Last week, I emailed a letter to the travel editor of The Oregonian newspaper, to let her know how much I enjoyed the Sunday Travel section.  I don't normally send letters to the paper but I was so enthusiastic about all the travel articles on that particular Sunday that I just had to tell her.  As it turned out, it was her last week as editor and she was especially appreciative of my letter of praise.  In addition, she wanted to print my letter in the "Letters to the Editor" section.  Cool!  I emailed her back that I would be happy to have them use my letter.  I also told her how my homeschooled kids and I had learned a lot about the world from the travel section.  My comment was, "You can leave with a smile on your face for a job well done!" 

I guess since I used to be in the printing/publishing business, it makes me think more about the people who work hard to produce newspaper, magazines, printed stuff like that.  I always want to let the people responsible know that I appreciate their work.  I do that with books and their authors, too.  Or should that be authors and their books.  Anyway, it made me really happy to encourage her at that particular time in her life.  Like God had a hand in the timing. 

So last Sunday, I went and bought a paper but didn't open it until I got home.  The paper was in perfect condition ... except for one little part of the Travel section.  You guessed it - the paper was crimped and wrinkled right through my letter!  Oh, it's readable though a bit blurry along the wrinkle.  Bummer.  But that's life.  I didn't write the letter to exalt myself but to praise the efforts of the Travel writers.  And I doubt that every paper in Oregon is crimped in that spot!  Mission accomplished.

And my sweet, wonderful Mom?  Did I mention that when our phone conversations come to an end and we make our goodbyes, she always leaves me with some horrible news item she just has to share?  Oh, it's awful!  I avoid stuff like that 'cause I just can't handle it and my own mother has to torture me!  I mean, here I was ordered by my older sisters not to worry Mom with any bad news and yet she tells me these terrible things happening to people and in the world.  It's just not fair.  It takes me days to forget some of this news (currently, I'm still getting over what she said yesterday).  How do you type a scream of frustration?  

I'll leave you with this:  I was standing in line in the electronics dept. at our Fred Meyer store, waiting to pay for my photos.  There were at least eight TVs on the wall, blaring their obnoxiousness and shifting images.  I told the lady behind me that I didn't have TV at home and that this was an assault on my eyes and ears.  She asked if I had kids.  I said that I did.  She asked if our kids ever complained about what they are missing.  I said, "Nah, today they spent the afternoon building a fort."  (Thanks, Carrie, for the idea!)  They're not missing a thing.