July is upon us, with the hot weather, and the horrible flooding in the plains states, fires in California, Tornado’s all over. Will things ever go back to what was once normal for us? Have you read the book or seen the movie both by Al Gore, about the effects of Global Warming? We are living our worst nightmares. Who would have thought that gasoline would average out at $4.15 per gallon, and we don’t protest, there are no campaigns to not drive, people seem to be just adjusting to the fact that it is so high now and there appears to be no end in sight.

Remember the carefree summers of our youth? The way we lived as families. Not on television, but in reality? This has really changed. What we knew as “family unity” appears to have changed so much, in many ways for the better, in some ways, maybe not so. The nuclear family has changed from Mom, Dad and 2.3 children to single parent families, or two sets of parents or two mommies, even two daddies. Each one serves its purpose, and the world changes, mores change, and blended families are more “normal”. I wonder how long it will take to homogenize the western world, as we know it?

How serious did I become, maybe the heat, maybe life, but, like the sapling tree, I try to bend in the wind and not fight it. Okay, enough enjoy your summer, do things for the inner self as well as the rest of the world. Take some time off to smell the roses, enjoy the evening air, try to see the stars (weather permitting).

. Alright, I had to inject a large wish, that there could be a little more involvement from the members, volunteers to be Proctors, Treasurer, sit on the Board of Directors for MOST, become involved with MERF as the Local Scholarship Chair, contribute something to be published in our newsletter The MOST, host a get together at your home, or restaurant/pub/bar. Let me know, if you have any questions.


Ellen Shaw, Loc. Sec. Mensa of the Southern Tier