What a glorious, colorful fall season we’re experiencing here in Michigan.
With the cloudless skies as a background, we’ve had days and days where trees, bushes and flowers showed their magnificence.
We’ve probably had years when the reds were more brilliant, but the blendings of fall colors this year of 2005 couldn’t have come off an artist’s palette any prettier.
Whether looking up from street level or looking from a hill across treetops, Mother Nature has provided us with splendorous scenes.
If there was ever a time to stop for a while and just look at the beauty, it has been this fall.
Its like a renewal for the soul.
Weather in Michigan can do that for us. Many of our snow falls, our April sprinkles, our tree blossomings and our sunsets are to be envied.
We have enough days to complain about our weather, so we should relish what it has brought to us this fall, and be thankful. ? JAS

By Bill Kalmar
Special to The Review
Back when my generation was preparing to return to school, back in the Dark Ages, we only needed a couple of items on the first day. Our list consisted of a Duo-tang folder, a pencil case, a #2 lead pencil, and maybe a protractor. Other than that, the schools provided the necessary materials for us to matriculate. And if we took our lunch, it was in a brown paper bag. Or maybe we had a Lone Ranger or Green Lantern metal lunch box with a thermos. Unfortunately, back then the thermos bottle was glass lined so we went through a number of bottles during the year if it was dropped. And of course, any books we might have taken home at day end, were secured with a rope or belt.
Today it is a whole different situation, one that will impact every parent and student in the Lake Orion district. And Lake Orion is not alone in the expenses parents will encounter this September when their offspring register for the coming school year.? Other districts have similar expenses.? In fact some schools in California charge a $2,000 registration fee for sports!? But one needs to look no further than the ‘back to school? ads in the various papers to determine that it takes more than a pencil case and protractor to make it through the school day!
First of all, whether it is grade school or high school, many students need a laptop computer. Seems homework assignments are prepared and forwarded to students on their laptops. And of course, homework assignments are then sent to the teachers in the same fashion. With the average cost of a laptop computer coming in around $700, it almost equals the cost of a four year education at a private high school back in my day!
But the list only begins with a laptop. Students also need flash drives to secure and transfer information. And instead of a rope or belt to band together their books, we now have personalized backpacks some resembling the type of equipment that adventurer Bear Grylls would require on one of his many treks through the jungle!
Furthermore, how can we expect our students to walk between classes without a pair of earphones linked to their iPod or MP3 player? And not just ordinary earphones but why not some Bose Quiet Comfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones at a cost of $300!
Brown paper bags are gauche! As such, why not opt for a designer insulated lunch bag as featured on Amazon for $135? It includes a thermos and silverware ? and not a glass lined thermos! Shouldn’t our children have the correct accoutrements and utensils when they dine on peanut butter and jelly?
Then let’s not overlook these items: Elmer’s glue, combination lock, dictionary, thesaurus, blunt tipped scissors, calculator, crayons, several #2 lead pencils, a hand sanitizer, a disinfectant, maybe a financial calculator, some Kleenex and toilet tissue. Not only do we as parents need to supply our offspring with school supplies, we now have to supply the school with cleaning supplies! Teachers are also coming to school with extra paper and other supplies which are not supplied by or are in short supply from the school district. So the whole system is out of kilter
Teachers not only have to prepare lesson plans but also have to prepare shopping lists for items that should be supplied by the district! A sad commentary! The answer in my mind is to do a full court press on education and that means properly funding the schools so parents and teachers don’t have to outlay large sums of money before school even commences. Teachers should teach and parents should encourage and coach. Neither should be hampered by being supply agents for the school!
Where you ask do we get the money to do so? From the millions and billions of dollars we send to foreign countries every year for which we receive little if any thanks. It’s time we refocus on our own country but with the clowns representing us in Washington we have little chance of succeeding! It is a farce in the making and, having said that, permit me to close with a verse from the Broadway play ‘A Little Night Music? that symbolizes what is going on in our nation’s capital and why our schools are in such disarray
‘Don’t you love farce? My fault I fear. I thought that you’d want I want. Sorry my dear. But where are the clowns. Quick send in the clowns. Don’t bother they’re here!?
So if parents are looking for a clown to entertain their child and his or her friends at a birthday party, contact your Congressman in Washington! Maybe I should send my Congressman his own metal lunch box emblazoned with the new government mascot ? Bozo the Clown! Larry Harmon, the original Bozo might have died, but his spirit still lives in Washington in many of the politicians!

It seems it was just last week when I sat down to write my introduction column — my obit, as they called it –although, it has actually been two and a half months. How the time flies when you’re having fun!
Over the course of this internship, I have learned many valuable lessons and have been put to the test multiple times. I have been taught things the hard way, which I can guarantee I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have learned that journalism invites procrastination, and meeting deadlines last minute is more stressful than jumping out of a plane. (I imagine they’re pretty close).
I have been extremely blessed to have had such a humorous, laid-back boss (Don Rush), a talented co-reporter to look up to (Gabe Ouzounian), as well as the receptionist at the good ol? Lake Orion Review office who constantly helped me with any questions I had (Jody Osborn). These people are really one-of-a-kind people. And they put a lot of effort into creating the best paper they can for this community each week.
I also want to thank the people who took the time to talk with me and make this experience as enlightening as possible. When I go back to school to continue my studies, I will not forget the kind personalities, as well as the intricate ones that I have met and learned from.
Finally, I wanted to give a big thank you to the Lake Orion community. To those of you who read my articles each week and/or sent kind words about my work, your support is greatly appreciated. To those of you who didn’t necessarily care for my stuff, one day in a few years I hope you come across my writing, wherever it may be published, and see that it has improved- as I know it will.
Until then, take care Lake Orion, I’ll be talking to you later.

It’s been light for an hour or two. Before the day heats up, I take a meditative walk through the garden. As I walk out the front door, I take a deep breath and exhale. I walk slowly and notice the newly built spider web on the front porch. I could spend the rest of the morning sitting in my Adirondack chair studying the spider’s web’so strong yet fragile; beautiful yet deadly. I notice the water jewel-like droplets on the draping strands. No meal as of yet for this spider. He’s welcome to a housefly, or two.
The sweet, heavy smell of the oriental lilies greets me as I make my way along the front walk. I stop and study an Annabelle hydrangea. Each white flower head is made up of many delicate, beautiful white flowers. Each flower is as perfect as a rose. One hydrangea flower head really is a bouquet.
The hostas provide waves of green, chartreuse, blue, and yellow in the dappled shade. A house sparrow chirps his annoyance from the nearby crabapple tree. A female cardinal, silent in the winter, sings a sweet song. I hear the baritone note of a bullfrog and a splash. Bumblebees and honey bees are busy in the zinnias. I find their soft hum soothing, like a ceiling fan over your bed at night.
The white Shasta daisies dance with the yellow Achillea while the hardy Russian Sage, with its delicate blue flowers, feathery leaves, and curved branches adds softness a perennial border along with subtle scent. Joe-Pye Weed provides breakfast for a Monarch butterfly.
The vegetable garden is preparing its bounty. The tomato plants are filling in their allotted space and holding on to their still-green fruits. I rub a basil leaf between my palms. My hands smell like summer.
The rugosa roses are at their prickly best. I planted these because they remind me of beach vacations out east. The spruce trees smell of Northern Michigan and the leaves of the quaking aspens bordering the wetland provide the only movement on this hot, still day.
This is what is happening in my garden this summer morning. Tomorrow, I’m sure, will provide a different story.

Science does not have all of the answers to how pain works, yet we know that the mind plays an important role in how we perceive pain. Could this mean that we can change the experience of pain through our thinking?
A friend of mine, Dan Cleary, is an expert in the area of chronic pain as both a patient and a practitioner. Over thirty years ago he was in a motorcycle accident and lost the use of his right arm. He was also left with severe, burning pain due to the nerve damage he sustained.
He tells me that for over five years he was unable to sleep in the way that most of us understand sleep. For days at a time the pain would keep him awake until he would literally collapse for a few hours, only to awaken in tears. Then he learned hypnosis. Within a week he was sleeping six to eight hours a day and since then, he has spent over twenty-five years developing and teaching the hypnotic skills he has learned. Skills he says saved his life. My goal in this article is to inspire you, the reader, to harness the power of your own mind and transform your life.
I met Dan through a teleconference when I began to study hypnosis a few years ago. My first hypnosis instructor recommended his programs to me as the best in pain relief and she was right. What I learned in that first teleconference changed the way that I practice hypnosis and gave me insights to assist clients dealing with a wide range of issues.
One of the first things that I learned from Dan is that as a hypnotist, I assist my client with the experience of pains in their life, rather than the diagnosis: the client is not the diagnosis; they are heroes on the journey of life. Imagine that pain is the perception of a signal from the body: a notification of injury or illness, like an alarm clock: take your hand out of the fire! in this context, is a good thing. When the alarm no longer gives valid information, would it be okay to turn off that alarm? Hypnosis is a great way to turn off the alarm and change our response to painful signals.you follow this column, you will learn effective ways to turn off the alarms that no longer serve you and I will be glad to accept your questions and comments for future articles. Please write or Email Scott Cooper CHt @ 248-933-3368 Scottccooper1@hotmail.com

Now that summer is here and the exuberant colors of spring are fading, it’s time to extend the color in your garden this summer.
My spring garden is mostly filled with pinks from the crabapple, saucer magnolia, and redbud trees and yellows from forsythia bushes and daffodils. I incorporate blues from grape hyacinths and bluebells. I also add a variety of tulips for a jolt of color.
In my summer garden, I have white and pink peonies. Russian sage provides blue color and lacy leaves all summer. Coneflowers add pink to the garden borders all summer and hardy geraniums provide additional pink color closer to the ground. You can find coneflowers with white flowers and geraniums with blue flowers. I just chose what was available locally. I incorporate more white in the summer garden rather than the yellows in the spring garden. I like how the Annabelle hydrangea’s white flowers pop against the green foliage and blue sky.
I am starting to incorporate more non-flowering plants that provide interesting texture. Ferns and hostas are two readily available perennials that come in many varieties. I have a shady area where I grow only hostas. The leaves are in shades of blue and yellow and chartreuse and provide interest until the first frost.
Creating a monochromatic flower garden is also eye catching. An all-white garden, also called a moon garden, glows in the evening and is best planted around the patio so you can appreciate the flowers as they glow in the evening air. You can pick up annuals with white blooms, such as cosmos, sweet alyssum and petunias and perennials, like peonies, iris, Shasta daisies, and phlox at a local garden center.
If your brain freezes up when you start thinking about garden colors and textures and bloom times, simply make a trip to a nursery and pick out the plants you love. As you watch your garden mature, you will notice the times during the year when your garden lacks color. Keep those times in mind. The next time you visit the nursery, ask someone to show you plants that bloom in the color you want during the time you want.
Your garden should make you happy. Do you like bright, vibrant colors or pastels? Do you like orange, yellow and red? Pick the colors you love and you’ll end up loving your garden.

So, the age old question among school-aged people: what are you doing for the summer? Now that exams, the madness, the having to study but not wanting to are all over, summer is here. Students pick themselves up, look around, and think, ‘so, what are we going to do now??
I, for one, know exactly what I am doing. For two weeks, through the Fourth of July, I am going to England on a study abroad trip with an ‘I Heart USA? t-shirt in tow. How lucky am I? I get to go off to Jolly Old England to retrace the haunts of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Austen and Eliot, with students from as far away as San Francisco, to talk for two weeks about my favorite subjects, books and authors. Granted, I had to read four books, write a massive paper and stake my claim to three college credits, but let’s not get distracted with details.
Throughout the summer I will continue with Tae Kwon Do, with a promotion test to my green belt before I leave for England. After the trip I will start digging into my required reading for Advanced Placement English 11 class.
Oh, and Goldie the horse and I will spend some quality time together, hopefully without me landing on my head.
That is the general gist of my summer. Call it what you like: interesting, busy, boring, or insufferable. My point is that everyone has plans. Everyone thinks about what they want to do’be it go to the pool, hang around the neighborhood with friends, go shopping, or just lounge around.
What fascinating, mind-boggling plans have you devised for this summer? I want to hear all about the plans you have. I would love to spotlight what is fabulous about your summer.
E-mail Olivia in care of The Review, at: LakeOrionReview@sbcglobal.net

The facts speak for themselves. Scientific research not only supports the use of alternative health care, hospital’s are increasing both staff and facilities to accommodate the demand. Medical Hypnosis is not only main stream, it is becoming the norm. Combined with acupuncture, NLP and other modalities, the results are excellent.
Since 1950, more than 6,000 articles on the benefits of hypnosis have been published ? and hospitals are taking note. Beaumont and Henry Ford clinics in Clarkston both offer Medical Hypnotherapy because it works fast and the results/solutions last long. Many in the medical field are well aware of the extra gain’s that can occur through the hypnotic experience. Examples include feeling very relaxed, inspired and optimistic. Better eating habits are common as self esteem returns and you feel that you deserve to eat healthy and nutrition is key. And the same with exercise and feeling that you have started a new, inspired chapter in your life.
So what is Medical Hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis is an enhanced state of focused attention in which people demonstrate significantly greater control over both mental and physical functions. Prior to hypnosis, hypnotherapist and client ‘team up? during an interview sessio to help discover possible causes of negative behaviors that need to be amended. Time-Line Therapy and Parts Therapy can be utilized and solutions may arise before Hypnosis is used.
Time-line Therapy is teaming up with your Clinical and reviewing key life events and determining when they occured in your life. An example would be having a surgery, a death in the family and many other trauatic events that have occured. It could be as simple as an authority in your life saying to you, ‘You can’t do that? and because you believed them, your unconscious mind believed it to be your truth. This comment, alone, can be your limiting belief and can quickly rectafied. And forgiveness plays a big roll in both forgiving our mistakes and forgiving others as well.
Parts Therapy- Imagine that inner voice inside of you. You hear it telling you the opposite of what you consciously believe. Your unconscious mind runs programs and for the smoker the program might say ‘Have a cigarette, it will calm you down and make you feel better.? And your conscious mind may be aware of the truth, that tar and nicotine cause cancer and many deseases and it’s best to stop smoking. Clearly, there is a miss understanding with the unconscioius mind. Hypnosis can get the true message to the unconscious quickly, that all cigarettes are harmful, even second hand smoke is bad for you. And when the unconscious mind get’s the truth, it changes the program to ‘Cigarettes will hurt us,, stop that now, or we’ll do more harm to our lungs and the rest of our body, let’s breath fresh air as God designed us to!? The smoker is now free of a very bad habit.
Know that part of you is a child, part is a student, a spiritual being and so on. Internal conflict can be resolved by re asigning the limiting part a new function. A good therapist would ask, ‘What do you really want that is realistic to achieve and how can the limiting part take on a more supportive roll. The client reasigns a roll and the conflict is resolved and better behavior is now supported and affirmed
In his book, An Exploration Of The Use Of Hypnosis In Medicine, Dr Leo Gagnon wrote, ‘Here are the reasons not to use Hypnosis. There are none known.
Periodically, I hope to educate our community on alternative health care. It’s my sincere desire to help my neighbors live more healthy, fulfilling and loving lives. Next time I will discuss . . .
If you have a suggestion or question which can be used for future columns, please send them to me, in care of The Review, lakeorionreview@sbcglobal.net Scott Cooper is a certified hypnotherapist residing in the area.

Our community is concerned about the financial health of our school district and rightfully so.
There appears to be a serious disconnect, however, between what some members of our community think they know about the education of Lake Orion students and reality.
I attended a community event earlier this month featuring several candidates running for the Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education. Their presentations were informative, with all of them acknowledging the financial challenges our district faces.
What struck me about this meeting was the audience. Not so much because the majority was older than me, but some of them were hell-bent on criticizing the quality of education afforded students in Lake Orion and today’s young people in general. Their claims were out of line.
I wonder how many of the people in the audience, especially those that may be at or near retirement age, have spent significant time recently in any of our elementary or middle schools, or our high school. How many have talked to teachers about teaching today, what works and what doesn’t. How about striking up a conversation with teenagers in their community to learn about their future aspirations and how they are preparing themselves?
I am a 30-year resident of Lake Orion. My wife has lived here even longer. We both graduated in 1984 from the old Lake Orion High School. Our oldest daughter is now a junior at Lake Orion High School and our youngest is in 7th grade at Scripps Middle School.
Unlike many of the folks who have moved here since the 1990s, we have hands-on experience comparing the educations we received back then and the opportunities available to local students today. There is simply no comparison. My junior year, we went to school a half day, had no lunch period, few extracurricular activities and limited class offerings. My counselor told me the high school was not accredited at one point. Overall, the kids graduating from Lake Orion today are better prepared for their next steps in life from an educational perspective than we ever were.
During the aforementioned community meeting, a lady claimed our students did not know their multiplication tables, and a gentleman boasted students today cannot do simple math. Another questioned our students? knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, as if this was the only factor in building the character of a quality citizen in our country. A couple people even attacked the technology available to our students today and how they use it.
It is time to stand up and defend our young people. The vast majority of students I know not only can multiply and divide, but they also are taking challenging math and science classes at younger ages.
My 7th grader is learning algebra that I did not take until high school. She is taking a mandatory foreign language class this year, too, with opportunities to continue in high school. My 13 year-old nephew in Lake Orion is competing against high schoolers from other districts in forensics competitions. My oldest daughter is taking an anatomy class modeled after college-level courses. She, along with many other students, also are active participants in the high school’s leadership program.
Critical writing skills and development are integrated into more classes than ever. Students are taking a variety Advanced Placement courses toward college, including significant summer work.
Contrary to the beliefs of some at the community meeting, academic standouts are indeed recognized in the middle schools and high school. The Lamp of Learning program at the middle-school level and National Honor Society are the two most visible examples of this. One can actually earn an academic letter in high school, something unheard of back in my day.
The high school also has a requirement that each student complete community service activities to graduate. I wonder how many people know members of the varsity basketball teams, for example, referee youth instructional leagues at the high school. Some Lake Orion students volunteer at local hospitals – my daughter has spent more than 140 hours on the pediatric unit at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland this year alone. Others volunteer at their churches. Last fall, during the football team’s championship season, a large group of students spent an entire weekend helping the elderly and disabled in our community with painting and yard work through a church outreach program. They missed an important game that Saturday, but nobody complained.
These are just a few of the volunteer activities that I know about. I am sure there are countless more. I argue that these efforts and what the students learn about helping others and giving back to their community are just as valuable as any memorization or history lesson in a classroom. They build character and compassion ? two things sorely missed in our society today.
Let me be clear, I fully agree our schools are not perfect. I tend to be conservative and agree with many that it is time to make the tough financial decisions needed to assure our kids continue to receive quality educations in a fiscally responsible manner. Sacrifice is inevitable for everyone involved, including the teachers in our district. But, anybody in our community who tries to infer that Lake Orion’s kids are not receiving quality educations is truly misguided.
Every school in every district across this state and country has underachievers. Fortunately, the vast majority of students here do take advantage of the opportunities given them and become bright, compassionate and responsible citizens. Painting them with a broad brush, as what took place at the candidate meeting a couple of weeks ago, is wrong. It truly makes me wonder who is really out of touch and in need of a dose of perspective in our community.
Rather than take shots at our students and teachers, we should all be very proud.

We all know that during this last week before Christmas, Santa is checking his list to determine who has been naughty and who has been nice. There certainly are a lot of candidates for the naughty list but Tiger Woods probably heads it up!
As one of Santa’s helpers, I reviewed the list and noticed that all the readers of The Lake Orion Review were on the ‘nice? list except of course for those few scoundrels who take the weekly paper without paying. Santa knows who you are!
During the last couple of weeks, I suspect that Santa and Mrs. Claus are also making sure that all is in preparation for the upcoming Holidays. There are millions of addresses to load into their data base ? the reindeer have to be groomed and ready for their long trip ? and all the elves have to complete the wrapping of the toys and then get ready for the recognition banquet that Santa conducts every year. Santa, being the altruistic guy he is often invites The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to the banquet although two or three of the elves well versed in pugilistic activities are often assigned to keep the Grinch under control. Likewise, I am reviewing our list of Holiday preparations to make sure we have not forgotten something. So here goes:
– Christmas tree is up and decorated ? actually our artificial tree is now twenty years old and it may be time to transport it to the Christmas tree cemetery! Once it is fully decorated it resembles a Currier and Ives scene and would also make Martha Stewart proud.
– Cement goose on porch is wearing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer costume ? the goose welcomes all visitors to our home and changes wardrobe to match the season.
– Outdoor Christmas lights are twinkling ? I won’t win any outdoor Christmas decorations contest this year but at least all the lights are working!
– Eggnog is in the refrigerator ? guess I am the only one in the family that enjoys this Holiday drink. What is Christmas without eggnog!
– Moose mugs ala ‘Christmas Vacation? movie, are clean ? our son and I are huge fans of the Chevy Chase ‘Christmas Vacation? movie and thus we each have our own moose mug. Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie have nothing on us!
– Christmas cards and Hanukkah cards have been mailed ? as is our custom Christmas and Hanukkah cards are mailed the day before Thanksgiving.
– Determine the Christmas Mass schedule ? we used to attend midnight Mass when we were younger but those days are long gone!
– Ham and turkey breast are thawing in refrigerator ? somehow we have a coupon for a free turkey that we won in a contest. Gotta love those contests! Not everyone in the family though likes ham and some don’t enjoy turkey so we have both.
– Dinner reservations for New Year’s Eve have been made ? this is not our year to host the extravaganza so we only have to show up. Been with the same two other couples for close to fifty years to welcome in the New Year! Friendships such as this are priceless!
– Driveway markers are in place awaiting snowplow ? now that I am retired there are certain activities that I disdain and shoveling snow is one of them. But the 4:00AM arrival of the truck to clear the driveway can sometimes be disconcerting to us and the neighbors!
– Driving route to St. Louis to visit grandchildren has been confirmed ? and a stop at The Cracker Barrel restaurant is always on our schedule.
– Camera batteries are fresh ? seems like we never have enough batteries. Our new camera takes pictures and movies. If only I knew how to work it!
– Sufficient supply of wood for fireplace is on hand ? and if we exhaust the supply I noticed that our neighbors have piles of wood in stockpile.
– Make sure my elf hat and shirt are laundered ? besides the elf outfit, I have dress pants embroidered with small Christmas trees. We used to live in Grosse Pointe so that should answer the question you posed, which is ‘why are there Christmas trees on your pants??
– Locate ‘Night Before Christmas? poem to read to grandchildren ? a tradition in our home. I always read this classic to the grandchildren on Christmas Eve. I think it gives more joy to me than it does for them!
– Recheck luncheon reservations for week after Christmas with friends ? just when you thought Christmas dinner wasn’t enough, the week after the Holiday affords the opportunity to chow down again!
– Call out of town friends and wish all a Happy Holiday ? yes, we send out cards but a personal call is always appreciated. I know we like to receive a call from friends in other states.
– Prepare handout for Santa ? we used to leave cookies and milk ? what with the economy Santa now wants cash!
So that should cover it. I’ve checked it once and rechecked it twice. Hope your list is complete and it includes lots of activities with family and friends. And if you are like us, there will be an ample amount of food and of course loads of laughter. Let me know if you want to borrow my Christmas tree pants! That should provide lots of laughter!

Millions of families will be sitting down this week around a table laden with scrumptious delicacies including, in some households, the centerpiece – a turkey with all the trimmings.
It’s also a time to reminisce about the past year and maybe make some plans for the upcoming Holiday Season and the approaching year. Many families use this as an opportunity to recall the events they are most thankful for as each person around the table recites his or her blessings. As such, permit me to list those items I am most grateful for:
Thankful for: our three children, two son-in-laws, a daughter-in-law, and eleven grandchildren who every day bring us laughter and joy. A phone call with the voice on the other end saying, “Hi Grandpa,” can turn a dreary day into a sun-filled experience. And of course with some of the grandchildren a text message is always welcomed even though I have difficulty reciprocating.
Thankful for: Mary, my spouse of 46 years who without a doubt is the best friend and lover one could hope for. Her sage advice, smile, sense of humor and ability to cope with my spur of the moment travel plans are attributes that reflect a marriage made in heaven. Perhaps our meeting for the first time in the basement of a Catholic rectory made this heavenly experience a reality.
Thankful for: my being cancer free for over eighteen months with a prognosis that is excellent thanks to the special care from the doctors at Henry Ford Hospital and of course from my favorite nurse – my wife, Mary.
Thankful for: even though my grandmother passed away in October, she lived to be 105 years of age and provided us with a wealth of happiness and stories. She continues to live in our memories.
Thankful for: the good health everyone in our family enjoys. In fact, Mary and I exercise every day – she at the gym doing aerobics – and me, running my usual five miles everyday and participating in races where I never win but somehow always finish.
Thankful for: the friends we have, some of whom we have known since childhood and new friendships we have formed over the years.
Thankful for: living in a country where we can express our support or lack thereof for various events without fear of recrimination.
Thankful for: our Michigan Governor being term-limited. Whoops, how did that slip in there?
Thankful for: the various family gatherings with our children, their spouses and our grandchildren. Canoeing, rafting, and camping are most enjoyable when surrounded by family. And of course, a scary ride on a roller coaster accompanied by a grandchild somehow makes it almost enjoyable – well, almost.
Thankful for: enjoying the occasional sporting event with my son. Our trip to Yankee Stadium to witness the Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees was a memorable outing.
Thankful for: watching our two daughters and son graduate from college and doing so in four years – a parent’s dream. And watching them grow into parenthood with offspring that are well mannered, courteous and studious.
Thankful for: watching our grandchildren participate in sports, dance at recitals, act in plays, and just enjoy life.
My wish to all of you is that you have similar blessings and that your holidays are filled with family and friends and loads of laughter. And lots of great food and maybe an occasional victory by the Lions!
Bill Kalmar is a Lake Orion resident