I hope this message finds you well.  Birthdays and holidays sometimes get crowded together, but we do our best to appreciate both.

Bette Davis once said, “Old age is no place for sissies”, and there are two relatives that should take courage in this.  Let me introduce you to each…

Diane Marpe is my sister-in-law on Mona’s side of the family.  Today she is celebrating her __th birthday.  Only Diane can fill in the __ blanks.  She’s a native Minnesotan who’s defected to the land of Clinton.  Diane has tried to distance herself from Bill-ville, so she picked the furthest point from Little Rock she could find.  It was either Bentonville or Piggott, and Bentonville just sounded better.  Diane and her husband, Joel, have two beautiful girls, Leslie and Stephanie.  I’ll pick on them when their birthdays come around.

Diane, happy birthday.  We miss seeing you.  I have one more quote for you…

“Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard there’s nothing you can do.”
Golda Meir

The next birthday wish goes out all the way to Naples, Italy, to my newphew, Christopher Hutton.  Chris is Rod’s eldest son, a very special guy, and tomorrow Chris turns 16.  Chris has many talents and is developing his web design skills.  You can see his work at http://www.huttonhomeschool.com. 

Happy birthday to you, Chris.  If you haven’t already, feel free to remind your dad that you are now of legal age to drive.  You might also remind him that driving is undoubtedly one of the best – and most adventurous – ways of discovering Italy.  Your quote of the day is…

“In youth we learn; in age we understand.”
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916, Austrian Novelist)

To everyone else… Happy Thanksgiving.