My dog, who is panicked by thunder was hiding in my office this New Years Eve. She has learned that my office, with no windows, mitigates the thunder claps. Winter thunderstorms are rare but it reminded me of my meteorological past.

I emphasized not to wait too long or you’ll find their obituaries instead of making contact. Time has a way of flying by. Some time back, a close friend sent me this poem which I’ll pass on in the way of encouragement not to put it off. It’s called “Jim Died Today” and was written by an American writer Ken Nesbitt.

I understand the dangers of driving. I’ve been driving for 75 years. But in my opinion, the police are altogether too preoccupied, almost obsessed with speeding and downgrading the other violations. Driving 35 in a 25 mile zone is not as dangerous as not stopping at stop signs, pulling out of driveways without looking, not using directional signals and let’s not forget the leaves.

There must be too many people out there with money they don’t need. Richard Pryor once said that drugs are God’s way of telling us we have too much money.