I had to chuckle at all the weather reports and cold reactions. Our family moved from Palo Alto, CA to Minneapolis in 1979 -- arriving end of January. The high for that month was minus 2, a concept our second grade daughter spent a lot of time discussing with her dad. They both have analytical minds. It turned out that she strongly resisted applying the adjective "high" to a minus 2 temp. A week later she started second grade at an open school. Typical of MN, when the temp was over 20 a few days later, the kids were sent outside for recess. Lara refused to go. "But it's not that cold," her teacher said, "and there's no wind." Lara was not to be deterred and went to a higher up, the principal, pointing out that children should not be forced outside when it was "this cold." If I recall, she regaled the poor man for so long that the bell ending recess tolled while she was still indoors.

Fast forward quite a few years and we find her at Bates College in Maine. She phoned one evening laughing. All these kids think it's cold here, she said, and it's not even below zero. By then she had lived through MN temps of more than minus 40 when you factored in wind chill. One enterprising fellow made the news by hammering nails into a board with a frozen banana. Honestly, you get so used to cold that if the temp unexpectedly rises above 30, you see runners in tee-shirts, bare-legged.

For a number of years I ran a mile each morning outdoors in MN never missing a day. At the heart of winter you cover everything, even your face. The fluid in your eyes and nose freezes instantly when you step outside. Eyelashes and nostril hairs are iced. Yes, after MN I sometimes feel cold but I also know that I'm not really COLD.  All best, Betsey

The third fund-raiser for the Children's Homes in the Rio Grande Valley will be held this weekend and donations will be added to the nearly three thousand dollars raised so far.  The money is given to the children at Christmas to be spent on themselves as part of a promotion of the local television station.  Included in the show is a return of Elvis (however, he is pushing a walker upon arrival), a couple from the hills lookin' to get hitched, and a special island number on the steel guitar with lovely dancers in grass skirts and one big goof (me) dancing among them.  Music is a big part of senior activity in the valley with jams held nearly every day.  I have enjoyed playing the bass at several jams, some dances, and stage shows over the past two years.    Ron

Now the wheels start turning.  What would you think of a jam session when we all get together for the 50th?  John Rapp still plays the electric guitar and Ron plays the bass.  Bob Strimer used to play the acoustic guitar and I assume he still does, and Tom Ackley was historic on drums.  And Dennis is much too modest about his skills.  I bet there are more who could join in.  Are there other musicians out there?  Can we pull it off?

   Liz and her namesake