In speaking with Deborah today,I may end up with a follow up post to this. Talking about our conversation around women of a certain age. Thanks for your kind response. HUGS!

Bruce: Thank you as well for the history lesson. Maybe just maybe in our life times we can hope that our lovely plush comes home to be produced. We do have some small bear factories here, that have been producing plush for years. It is after all about the safety of our children. That is why these lovely buddies aren't made in huts any more. When we give our children and grand children a buddy that they may likely have for years, we want it to be their pal, a friend they can rely on. Just imagine a world of no safety recalls and lost buddies. How great a change this would be. Thank you again.

Thank you Judy, Leslie and Mark for your wonderful responses. Leslie, I told you I had an idea for a blog post when we met today, I wasn't kidding. These things just pop into my brain. Mark, I am so glad you made the decision to move west. Mostly for the selfish reason that I got to meet you and we became friends. Judy, I never knew I had a twin sister from a different mother and I am so very glad you made the moves you did as well.

I have one I was given for when I went to college. It was a paperback version. It looks like it has gone through a few bouts of hell, but I still have it and use it to this day. But I do have to say that I love dictionary.com too. Because of the attached Thesaurus it makes writing easier for me. The love of the dictionary in any form was instilled at an early age and I am thankful for that.

Warren, I still get nervous speaking in public. Every time I face a new group of students at the college I get weak in the knees and a bit sick to my stomach. But after I get moving it is not so bad, I hope with enough practice it won't take time to get moving each time.

Thanks for your comment Diane. I find it funny that our group has so many commonalities of experiences and as we get to know one another we find out just ho much we have in common.

Leslie: It was odd that your theme of darkness struck a chord. I have these days sometimes I call "Blue". They are days you wake and for no reason it seems you are sad and very blue. They don't strike often but when they do...they can go far into the dark. Your card this week captures that "blue" feeling very well. I am encouraged however to know that these days are a rarity and that they pass quickly. The thoughts of going inward to find light really sum up the feelings well. Thank you for your thoughts and your creativity.