Autobiographical

After ordering it a size too large, it simply did not fit. She was aware that she had put on a little weight, but this... Perhaps it was just a misplaced button. No. The top button was too tight and the second gaped.

Overcome with disappointment and depression, she looked one more time in the mirror. Then she carefully took the skirt off and fastened it to its plastic hanger. The thought that she no longer had the figure of a 15-year-old should have occurred to her years ago, but self-image is stubbornly resistant to change.

The next day he showed no sensitivity as he callously suggested that she might lose weight before next summer. She managed to control her hurt. "No. I'm not sure I can keep it off," she answered stoically as she stuffed a marshmallow with peanuts and popped it into her mouth.

War!

This is what it looks like when bunnies nibble through "bunny-proof" netting.

This is what it looks like after bunnies use the wind protection you installed for your 6-inch trees as hiding places. (Notice: no tree.)

This is what it looks like when Grandpa declares war on Mother Nature.

Phase two features a pellet gun.

Phase three involves hog wire and more re-bar.

Robert Lee Gould

I received word Aug. 4 that after a five year battle with emphysema due to the effects of a lifetime of smoking, my father, Robert Lee Gould, died at the age of 78. The picture to the left was taken around 1958.

The delay in this report is attributable to a promise extracted from Mr. Gould's current wife, Mrs. Knelda Gould, not to disclose the news of his death to anyone, including the local news paper. After several months of deliberation, Knelda decided that his children should know and subsequently wrote to Denise.

Of tangential interest: Denise's reaction, as conveyed to me was, "Bazaar." My reaction was, "Closure is nice." Granny's was, "That selfish S.O.B.!" That's about as close to swearing as I have ever heard out of my mother.