We are so thankful to have a 24/7 car pass that allows us to visit Arlington National Cemetery any day of the year, around the clock. We received this several years ago when my wonderful, loving cousin Jean was interred there, and, as a family member, we attended the service. Her husband, George, is a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack and a career Navy veteran, so they are interred together.

This forever pass is something I treasure. As we drove through the gates of Arlington, the guard saluted the pass, and I instantly felt a sense of calm and reverence. On our visit, it was a perfect spring day, with beautiful buds opening on trees everywhere.

We walked around Jean and George’s headstone, reading other inscriptions and awards for others interred there. The experience is like reading a roll call of the most amazing people you’ve never met. The headstones are small reminders of the actions of people who gave their all in the service of our country; in many, many instances, people not even old enough to vote are in the company of 4 and 5-star leaders.

I look forward to another visit with my cousin and to paying tribute to the thousands of others sharing her hallowed ground.

Not long ago, 42 Norwegian reindeer crossed the border between Norway and Russia. Russia is seeking $4.4 million in compensation from the Norwegian government for reindeer grazing in a national park.

There is a fence to prevent the deer from crossing; it was built in 1954. Now, with everything Russia has to worry about, you’d think they’d pass on reindeer. Maybe they just need the money.

This year, our church group celebrated Shrove Tuesday with a traditional pancake supper, complete with Mardi Gras beads, masks, and King Cake. With a beautiful sunset on the horizon, we gathered to prepare for Lent, burning palms to ashes. I’ve always loved our outdoor services; this evening, it was perfect in the warmth of the setting sun.

All read my favorite Psalm, 51, as the palms were burning. Over time, I’ve read this Psalm a hundred times; it seems to call out to me just as others do. My favorite passage reads: “Create a clean heart, Oh God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” I can’t think of a more powerful message to guide me.

A London newspaper recently highlighted an interesting trend: more moms are opting for cannabis gummies over their usual evening glass of wine. It’s curious to note that in many states across the country, cannabis has become legal, though it’s not yet the case in Tennessee. The biggest gummy brand in the U.S., called Wyld, is now popular enough to be included in a vanilla protein shake. This truly gives a fun new twist to the saying “breakfast of champions.’

Good penmanship is very important to me; I write every day using real pens and ink. Lately, I have been plagued by thoughts that seem disconnected from my brainwaves to my written word.

I know what I want to write and, often, when it touches paper, it’s garbled by misspelling; I hate that. I suppose the solution is to use my computer in this way, but it isn’t the same as feeling a pen glide over the paper.

My Spring Valley grade school teachers would be very disappointed with me. P.S. – It just happened again two minutes ago. I was writing a check for payment, and before my eyes, I wrote an incorrect amount while thinking of the actual amount.

I enjoy classical art, especially pieces by the French Impressionist painters. I’ve enjoyed visiting museums around the world, and one of the best ever is right in the city of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is home to a massive collection of art, including this particular piece titled “Two Sisters (On the Terrace.”)

I don’t know what it is about this painting; however, each time I visit Chicago, I make a beeline to the museum to say hello to my two “girlfriends.” The colors are vibrant, exciting, and iridescent. When you look at this painting even for a moment, it seems to come alive.

I have a small reproduction of this painting that is hanging in my office. Each time I look at it, I think of how wonderful the original would look hanging in my living room. Hey, if Renoir had been my brother, perhaps he would have given it to me as a birthday present. We can dream, can’t we?

Over time, I’ve taken thousands of photos in places around the world. When I travel, I walk, experience, and enjoy everything around me. I’m always looking for an unusual scene to capture, and this image is one of my favorites.

Early one morning I was walking in one of the main sections of Florence, Italy. In a small square, vendors were setting up their wares for the day; Florence is known for high-quality leather items, and this is a photo of a stack of lovely, brightly colored leather eyeglass cases.

I love the color of the cases, and maybe more than anything, I admire the creativity of the person who made them. Art and craftsmanship are around every corner of the city, and I’m so glad I found this fantastic shopping stall.