I spent 9 years in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Florida and Texas. I just had a lesion removed from my scalp (fortunately benign!) that the surgeon told me was directly attributed to overexposure to the sun. I have a lot of capillaries (spideweb) on my cheeks caused by overexposure to the sun. I was in the military and used hang out at the beach every chance I got. In fact, in Hawaii, I practically lived on the beach. I spent a lot of time outdoors in Texas and Arizona and as a kid in Kansas...well, anyone who lives in Kansas knows how hot and sunny it is here. We wore "suntan lotions" Maybe in the 60s and by the 70s and 80s I was using stuff that was supposed to enhance your tan and not protective at all. About 1984, I saw what the Florida sun was doing to the fiancé of my sister-in-law's brother. I quit hanging out in the sun, totally exposed like that. I made sure I was using good sunscreens and sometimes would wear a hat to keep the sun out of my face. I still hang out, outside, love to go to the lake, the seashore, I used run a lot, I work my farm but I always wear a cap with a brim. When I'm on the farm, I wear an Amish style hat with a wide brim (those guys know what they were doing...). I also wear sunglasses. Repeated overexposure to bright sun can lead to premature cataracts. You need Vitamin D from the sun. Being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air is good for you. Just be careful of overexposure and protect yourself, especially kids. Start protecting at a young age. Get a high SPf and wear sunglasses!

You have plenty of friends, Soultan... I absolutely count you as one of my friends! I think you have more friends than you realize... you're too hard on yourself! :-) If Tunde worries about things that she shouldn't, then she's like me... I tend to worry even though I know in my mind that whatever it is will work out fine. I just can't help it... I think it comes with being a mother!

Teresa always puts together a wonderful swap box. I had her for a partner a few swaps ago. I still use the sandwich plates she got me, almost everyday. Sanders Ice Cream toppings are great. The Sanders Co. was a Detroit institution for many years. The were a lunch and ice cream counter type mall store that also sold their own bakery and ice cream toppings. I was so sorry to see them close up the stores but glad that they continued to sell the toppings. Good job Teresa!!!!!! Nancy

Caring, Loving, Always helpful, Intelligent, Resourceful, Energetic = CLAIRE She'll be 80 this week! She's still healthy enough to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels. Plus she routinely visits about 6 friends living in nursing homes. She serves on her church council. She is very active on the social ministry committee. She just recently stopped driving cancer patients, for Road to Recovery, when the woman she drove weekly for 6 years passed away. Whenever she does a good deed, which is almost daily, she finds something that she feels is her reward - maybe she unexpectedly runs into one of us kids out somewhere (she LOVES when that happens), or she gets a $1 rebate check, or she'll hear from one of the grandkids, any crazy thing like that & she considers it a cosmic thank-you. It's such a wonderful way to look at life. She has often said her proudest accomplishment is that her 6 children (and now the 8 grandkids) all really like each other & get along so well. We are incredibly lucky to have her.