When you are down and out, something always turns up-and it is usually the noses of your friends. Orson Welles (1915 – 1985) U.S. actor, director, producer, and writer, The New York Times. My friend Karen came to see me the other day. It was the best thing that has happened to me for awhile now. After the banking fiasco, I have decided to treat the children and myself to an overnight trip to the city. I made the arrangements while...

He is not here; but far away The noise of life begins again, And ghastly thro’ the drizzling rain On the bald street breaks the blank day. Absence, Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) When my mother died, I went blank When my brother died, my world stopped. Death has a strange way of putting our own lives in perspective. In my lifetime, I had 2 close friends who died when I was under 12 years old and 2 family members. My brother died when I was...