Updated Tuesday, August 06, 2002
May 31, 2002
Jim and I and Susan (Sooz) will be going out sailing on Saturday. I met Susan Wednesday (two days ago?!) and we hit it off very well. Sooz, as her brothers called her when they were young, lives in Tampa and works at the University (College of Business).
Jean and David sent along another picture:
A few more flowers and we are finished.
May 25,2002
Just stole this, thought it was cute:
May 23, 2002
David and Jean sent this:
Here is a picture of David's newest completed project. A new front porch. I have to get busy now and do the landscaping. We will paint the porch white to match the trim on the house. Jean
May 14, 2002
Donald wrote:
Something is weird about my dhmail
email. My sent mails
sometimes disappear and me received mails sometimes don't
show up in my inbox. This mail from you was not in my
inbox for example. However, there is a link to read
unread mail and I found it there! For now, please send
all mail to both dhmail.net and ibm.us.com.
Thanks,
Don
A friend Dawn sent this:
I Believe
I believe- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I believe- that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every
once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I believe- that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I believe- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest
distance. Same goes for true love.
I believe- that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I believe- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be
the last time you see them.
I believe- that you can keep going, long after you can't.
I believe- that we are responsible for
what we do, no matter how we feel.
I believe- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
I believe- that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs
to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I believe- that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I believe- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the
best time.
I believe- that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down
will be the ones to help you get back up.
I believe- that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that
doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I believe- that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've
had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays
you've celebrated.
I believe- that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you
have to learn to forgive yourself.
I believe- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop
for your grief.
I believe- that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love
each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
I believe- that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change
your life forever.
I believe- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something
totally different.
I believe- that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who
don't even know you.
I believe- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend
cries out to you you will find the strength to help.
I believe- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I believe- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too
soon.
May 13, 2002
Friday night was Fiddlers, we gave a performance at a University! Saturday morning seven of us homeowners got together at 6:30 AM and coated our driveway and the parking lot. It now looks much better. When we get new awnings the whole complex would look brand new! Jim came over and we played chess, he had beaten me 4 out of 5 last time and he beat me three games straight, then I came back and beat him 4 games straight!!
I went up to dad and Betty's after that and we went out to dinner with the Hatches (Rev. and Betty Hatch were implemental in getting dad and Betty together). Then the five of us played dominoes till late. I went and stayed in dad's spare bedroom for the night. I went to church with them Sunday morning the out to lunch and back home later in the day. I made a wooden figure for Sue and went to bed!
Quite a busy weekend. Amy had called but the phones were tied up so I could not get back to her.
Postcard from Donald:
May 10, 2002
Jacque and I went to Charlie W's for dinner last night and had a great time. Jacque sent this today:
Our President
Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women
as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but military
people see it right away. Watch: When President Bush leaves his helicopter or
Air Force One, the honor guards salute and face him as he disembarks, then turn
their faces towards him as he passes by. They continue to salute his back as he
walks away. This kind of salute has not been seen in the previous eight years,
though it is customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief. You see, soldiers
aren't required to turn and face the President as they salute. They are not
required to salute his back. They are only required to salute. They can remain
face-forward the entire time. And that is what they did during Bill Clinton's
entire Presidency. Our soldiers were forced to obey Clinton's orders, but they
were not forced to respect him. From their salutes, we can surmise that they did
not. Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? He doesn't even know how to
bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed whenever he speaks!
The following incident from Major General Van Antwerp may give us an insight.
Gen. Antwerp is president of the Officers' Christian Fellowship. He lost nearly
all his staff when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11. His executive officer LTC
Brian Birdwell was badly burned and in the hospital when President Bush visited
him. Our President spent time and prayed with Brian.
As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian's bed and
saluted. He held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and
bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief never initiates
a salute, except in the case of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. The
injured soldier did not have to return the salute. But he did, out of respect to
his President - a Soldier's President.
Congressman JC Watts (R. Oklahoma) said, "Character is doing the right
thing when nobody is looking." The nation and world learned some of what
our last President did when nobody was looking. That President has been
disbarred -- the worst disgrace (other than imprisonment) to a lawyer. CNN will
have a difficult time shining his or his wife's tarnished images. In this time
of war and danger, I am so grateful to have a President whom the soldiers salute
--fully.
On Special Report with Brit Hume, (hosted by Jim Angle), at the close of the
show when they normally have some funny video clip, they showed President Bush
and the First Lady on their way to Marine One to leave for Camp David for the
weekend. As the video starts, the First Lady is leading the way into the
helicopter with the spaniel dog on the leash, and the president is right behind
her with the Scotty on the leash. As the First Lady entered the chopper, the
Marine at the gangway saluted and held his salute. The Scottie the president was
walking decided it wanted to squat right when he got to steps. The president
pulled on its' leash, but the stubborn Scottie persisted in squatting. The
president bent down and scooped up the pooch and entered Marine One. After he
entered, the Marine cut his salute and returned to the position of attention.
Seconds later the president reemerged from the helicopter and out onto the
steps. The Marine was standing at attention, head and eyes straight ahead. The
president leaned over and tapped him on the left arm. The startled Marine turned
his body toward the president and received his returned salute!
I was so impressed by this true act of respect for our military people by our
president! He really does get it. Most any other person of his stature would
have just continued his journey, disregarding the neglected return salute. Not
George W. Bush. He is earning the respect of the military community, not
expecting it -- as most have and would.
President George W. Bush -- The man who admitted to having a drinking problem in
younger years, and whose happy-go-lucky lifestyle led him to mediocre grades in
college and an ill-fated oil venture. Who mangled syntax, and whose speaking mis-steps
became known as "Bushisms."
He came within a hair's breadth of losing the election in November. While votes
were counted and re-counted, Bush quietly but confidently waited at his ranch.
Make no mistake, his orders were carried out, but he stayed in the background,
faithful and confident. Bush named Jesus Christ as Lord of his life on public
TV. On September 11, he was thrust into a position only known by Roosevelt,
Churchill, Lincoln, and Washington. The weight of the world was on his
shoulders, and the responsibility of a generation was on his soul. So President
George W. Bush walked to his seat at the front of the National Cathedral just
three days after two of the most impressive symbols of American capitalism and
prosperity virtually evaporated. When the history of this time is written, it
will be acknowledged by friend and foe alike that President George W. Bush came
of age in that cathedral and lifted a nation off its knees. George H. Bush the
elder reached over and took his son's hand. In that gesture his father seemed to
say, "I wish I could do this for you, son, but I can't. You have to do this
on your own." President George W. Bush squeezed back and gave him a look of
peace that said, "I don't have to do it alone, Dad. I've got help."
What a blessing to have a professing Christian as President.
Please take a moment after you read this to "pray for him". He truly
does have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Pray that God will sustain
him and give him wisdom and discernment in his decisions. Pray for his
protection and that of his family.
May 8, 2002
I have been very busy making wooden toys! Jacque came over last Saturday and we went to the FES picnic. The student that won the scholarship was great, she was very happy to get the scholarship and now has her first year in college paid for. On Thursday Jacque and I have been invited out for dinner, Friday Fiddlers is giving a performance, Saturday the condo has asked for volunteers to help coat the asphalt (what fun!), and Sunday I will be going up to dad and mom's. No time to veg!
Yesterday
we had a virus get in, it was panic city here for a while. It was a virus
that picks at random an email address from one's address book and claims it is
from that person (to get the recipient to open it I guess). Everybody in this
office has received one. Each email has interesting (sometime compelling)
subject lines and all come with one, two or no attachments. When you click on
the email it tries to replicate but
if you cancel the "open or save" routine it cannot go any further.
Finally I found the computer that was infected and killed it.
Amy sent the following pictures:
Jacque sent this along:
NEW School prayer:
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
May 3, 2002
I am going to the FES picnic tomorrow to award the scholarship, Jacque is coming with me! The recipient is on standby so she may not make it though!
David sent an email:
Grampy and Payton. If this isn't the
face of a proud grampy I don't know
what is!!!
May 2, 2002
AL wrote:
Wellie was born at around 8:00 PM last night, a May Day gift to us. She is a dark-reddish brown color and I hope will make good Wellington. Al
Jacque
Me
May 1, 2002
Hi John,
We're having a great time. We have done Rome, Tivoli
and Orvieto and are on our way to Siena and Florence.
Had a problem with my laptop so I can't get mail at my
regular address. I also can't seem to pick up my voice-mail (touch tone
problem). If anything comes up please mail me at dherrick@dhmail.net
that I can pick up from Internet cafes.
Don
I had the same problems in Mexico and Grand Cayman, there is nothing like home, but it is great to get away!
2002 | Dad's | February 2 wedding |
2003 | John's | 1st week in May |
2004 | Donald | |
2005 | David and Jean's Housewarming party, Pocomoonshine Lake, Princeton, Maine |
|
2006 | Darrell & Marilyn | |
2007 | Dan | |
2008 | Sue and Al |