blog from March 2007--from lost drafts

My mom used to write a weekly letter, with carbons, so all us kids and her siblings and in-laws would know what was happening (and usually, quite a lot). Perhaps, a blog is similiar to those former carbon letters in just relating the usual happenings and thinkings.
In a conversation with Harry yesterday, I said, "Some people announce they want to see Africa or the Great Wall or Hawaii before they die. I just want to see this Iraq war brought to a close, our sons and daughters brought back to continue their lives and the people of Iraq and other countries whom we call 'enemies' given a chance to have the fighting around them stopped--all this I want to see before I die. " I crave a chance for this country to start working with other countries and to all choose what makes for peace and justice for everyone, not just for the privileged few--and best of all, I think it is possible!
We attended a foreign film "L'Enfant" at the Fox theatre last week and were pleased to see the following that foreign films have in Bakersfield. The Fox was closed while we were here from '74-82 but opened that fall with community support restoring it to its former state. The lights in the ceiling even twinkle at night. We also enjoyed a "dinner for 8" at a home south of Bakersfield. It was interesting to see that all 3 of the retired men are innovators and experimenters while the young man is doing a start-up company in spacecraft software. It was a delightful evening. We will have four other dinners in the next three months with this group and another 6 groups are also getting together now for their dinners for 8.
Today, Harry tried our new carpet shampooer out on our family room carpet. It looks like it really made the carpet clean again, and I am extremely grateful for Harry's ability and willingness to do this. We want to do the RV, but thought trying it out on a square room might be easier. Speaking of gratitude, I think Harry and I are so fortunate to be able to be together after 50 1/2 years and on top of that, we both like each other and have a lot of fun together.
Tomorrow we drive to Fresno for doctor follow-ups and then next Tuesday, I have agreed to drive an older friend back up with her husband's cremains to the mortuary there. His service was here while we were gone and the burial will happen the end of March while we are gone to Eureka and Corning to catch up with the traveling Dutt clan--Ervin, Harlin and Ardella, Alice, Vi, Gordon and Lorraine.--by Anita

I, Harry, had to be different, because you don't see much of my writing, so it
has to stand out--therefore, this block of my creative writing!!!Yesterday I
rigged up a contraption on my workbench to hold about twenty-four screwdrivers.
Also yesterday and today I assembled several bits and pieces of furniture into one
and-- behold--another computertable was created. Ervin, do you remember
the Tolstoy third and fourth grade picture that you and I were studying when
you and Danny Pat were here? Well, when we came home today, it had fallen
down. No problem, I put it back up and there it hangs in all of it glory and splender!
You can't keep down Mr. Dutt's third and fourth graders!! Right Ervin? RIGHT!