Lest you fear that my birthday was really a bad thing 10 days ago, I thought I’d let you in on a secret. I am loved. My mom made a point to plan the Weaver Family Reunion (which she hosted) to land on my birthday because mine was the central August birthday in the family (I think there were about seven of us there that had b-days in August), and it fell on a Saturday when everyone could get away.

Also, when we did get back to IL from the great state of Texas, my children showered me with my gifts—I’d told them it could wait until we got back. I know that I’m loved because I received Batman Pez® and the giant 7 oz. package of Red Hots®. Now if I could only swing enough dough to get real Dr Pepper® instead of DR. THUNDER.

Have a good one, y’all!

Tripping through the nostalgia that is former friends and relationships can bring fond memories, and often does. Then you have a week that is bittersweet. Through the miracle of on-line networking I've made contact with several of my buddies and buddettes from yesteryear. Recently I found a couple of old debate friends and they mentioned another of our cohorts to know if I had heard from him over the years.

I had to admit that, while his name crossed my mind from time to time, I had no contact whatever with this one-time better of my friends since our high school days. The reason for their question was that they had indeed had contact with our friend and wanted to let me know that he had succumbed to a battle with a rare form of cancer. He'd been apparently a successful journalist in his own right, and left behind a wife and two children. I regret that I found out too late to read any of the entertaining movie reviews that had been his bread and butter for his last seven years. So here are some belated thoughts. You can read if you like, this is for me.

I remember Bill. He was funny. He was fun. He was my friend. I'm sorry that I did not keep in touch once I traipsed off to college and parts beyond. From everything that I've found to read about him (written in eulogy) his success as a journalist and film critic were an extension of the Bill that I knew. I'd love to read some of those well-worded reviews. I know that they would bring back the humor that brought a quick smile to everyone who knew him. For his wife and children I pray for comfort even at this late date. May their memory of him be as fond as mine--if not reached from as many years' passing.

Bill Muller

I must report that my computer virus (caught by downloading an entirely different program but attaching itself to said program) is now gone. I am once again able to write, email and yes blog with confidence.

Here's what I got for turning 45:

• A great family reunion with my Mom's side of the family. :)
  
• A sorry virus of some sort that attacked as far as I can tell only the Office Suite--so I can't check my e-mail through Outlook and I can't do any of the Word document processing necessary for my work--Hope I can get it corrected as soon as I get back to Illinois. :(