Once again I am seeing red, and have written a Letter to the Editor.

 

It is beyond belief that the people we count on to enact laws to better our lives have instead voted against background checks for gun purchases. While no one believes that would erase the problem (yes, a certain number of people would manage to circumvent the checks) it certainly should improve the odds against guns falling into the wrong hands. But apparently measures that don't entirely solve an issue should are not worthy of implementation. By that 'logic' (as noted by Ms. Simpson) we shouldn't have speed limits because people get away with speeding. I can't count the number of times I've heard someone who has suffered a tragedy be quoted as saying, "If it only saves one person it would be worth it!" How the victims of gun violence (hundreds just since the mind-numbing Newtown massacre, when it looked like things might finally change) must be turning over in their graves!  

Now on to happier things.  We had a delicious dinner last night with Estera and Ben and the two little ones. Julianna cooperated by sleeping through our meal.

  Willie is starting to talk - as soon as he saw me he started saying 'bubbles, bubbles'.  I wanted to get a picture of him that showed his cute shirt, but he didn't want to cooperate.  First I got a great <g> picture of his back (with the split second time delay) and then this blurry one trying to snap it in time.

  Tom tried to come to the rescue... and you can practically see Willie rolling his eyes like a teenager! 

After dinner Ben got a call and had to run out to pick up a beautiful handcrafted porch swing, and we stayed to help out Estera.  For awhile I read with Willie, and then Tom played 'monster' with him, while she fed Julianna; that's quite a production because she's still not eating well.  It was pretty funny when Tom popped up from behind the ottoman, really startling Willie (and reminding me of Alex and the 'bank robbers' on the train.)

We also got to play with one of the puppies (there are three) that they're hoping to sell.  They were told it's a chihuahua mix, but we're pretty skeptical... it's already bigger and broader than any chihuahua we've ever seen. The puppy was not thrilled with the way Willie 'played' with it, and hung out by Tom or me for protection. And no, I didn't take a picture.  Must be slipping in my old age.