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Pat Raia's avatar

We have been stringing words together in order to leave something behind before we even got out of college, John.

What would make anyone think we, at the ripe old age of 70+ would not continue to do it?

For better or worse, we leave the words to posterity - that that's a lot more than many people do.

Happy New Year, My Dear. P

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Patris's avatar

What a good life - and such good words about it. It’s both sunny and a bit snowy here in Philadelphia, I think as good a metaphor for what’s to come. My new years wish: May it be more sunny than snowy to all who gather here!

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Bonnie Ramba's avatar

I chuckled harder than I should have at your George Washington portrait! You are a brilliant man! I especially loved the heartfelt ending here, and think I would also like to shop in the “Beyond” section. My goals for the coming year are higher than they ever have been. All the very best to you in 2026!

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Jeff Pomerantz's avatar

John- have you visited the Roosevelt estate in Hyde Park, NY? For those readers who love history it is a fascinating place. And for those readers who have (or had) relatives who grew up in the Depression it will give you an appreciation of what they had to go through. Hopefully we will never have to see that level of suffering again in the US.

One of my favorite history books of that time is The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester. It’s no longer in print but can be purchased on EBay.

A little trivia on Roosevelt. He had a photographic memory. He used to challenge people to pick two points on a map of the U.S. Then they were to draw a straight line connecting them. Roosevelt would list in order the names of all the COUNTIES the line intersected!

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