Thank you very much, Charles. And also Tracy.
>As I told you privately, whatever your personal struggles have been your "nattering" this year has been refreshingly balanced and I think shows a good direction. It's not about how many times somebody falls down - it's about how many times they get up and what they do afterward.
>
>Good luck with all of it to a guy who I think wherever his head goes always has his heart in the right place.
>
>Merry Christmas! May your new year be filled with accepting the things you cannot change, but changing the things you cannot accept - and being okay with the difference. Remember, gravity isn't just a good idea ... it's the law.
>
>Be well.
>
>>I actually got that thread title. It is the title of a short story (spelled a bit differently) by John Cheever, who remains one of my favorite writers. Despite some sordid details about him that came out after his death, and even being mocked in a Seinfeld episode, he is right there in the top bunch. The "red book" of his short stories remains a classic IMO after all these years.
>>
>>This is as good a place as any to say I plan to go offline. I have always spent way too much time here and lately I have been spending way too much time on Facebook as well. It isn't healthy for me. I keep getting into skirmishes and wind up unhappy about them. My mind is already like a walk through a bad neighborhood so I don't need to aggravate it. Most if not all of it is my own fault, I realize that. I just want to get to a better place. This has been a terrible year for me and I want to change things. There are better things I can do with my time than natter away online.
>>
>>We'll see if I can stick to this. I tend to be better at making plans than following them. But this is the plan. I will still be checking email and anyone is welcome to contact me there (
mbeane@inbox.com).
>>
>>I can't leave without a music link ;-) Martin Stephenson is an English musician who has never achieved huge fame but has left behind some terrific songs. Here is one of them. It builds and builds and builds.
>>
>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4hHB5Wb4w>>
>>Also seek out "Salutation Road."
>>
>>Even when we have disagreed I have always enjoyed your posts. That goes for many others here. As the old saying goes, if you're trying to figure out the problem usually the fastest way is to look in the mirror. I have looked and want to make positive changes. The good and bad sides of me have always been at war and I want the good side to win.
