Dear Friends, 

AsPat and I approach the end of this year we can look back andappreciate how much your friendship has added to our lives. Someonehas said one does not judge the success of one's life by the numberof one's years, but rather by the number of friends one has acquired.Thanks to one and all of you.

Inone of my previous Xmas letters I quoted several authors whoseremarks played a role in my life, and the feedback was phenomenal.Several sent me quotations that had motivated them and wereinfluential in their lives. With this letter it occurred to me that Imight recount incidents in my travels that have taught me a lesson ortwo. Perhaps you, too, have have such experiences, and have learnedsomething.

IfPat and I thought 1996 passed quickly then 1997 is passing with thespeed of light. The time has come again all to quickly to wish ourfriends the Season's Greetings and our Best Wishes for the New Year.May I ask are the days getting shorter or are we traveling faster? Atany rate and at the moment , we are well and continue to make plansto see as much of this world as possible as long as we can do so. Itis said that the destination of one's journey is not as important asthe traveling to get there. In this regard I can recall threeincidents while traveling that stand out in my mind and which taughtme something.

(1) While Pat and I were sitting in the lounge of the Oberoi Hotel in Delhi, India, a rowdy crowd of unshaven , long haired , bedraggled and unkempt Americans came in and it was obvious they had not bathed for weeks. My initial reaction was that they were hippies or drug addicts from Nepal as that was, at that time, a convenient place to enjoy their life style. I also recalled the book "The Ugly Americans", and momentarily assumed they were typical of the lot described in the book. My embarrassment and chagrin soon turned to admiration when we overheard their conversations, and learned that they had just conquered Mt. Everest!! They had every reason to shout and be merry and, obviously, had had no time to shave or tidy up! Had I not known what they had accomplished my initial impression would have been completely different! First impressions can be bad. My father use to quote Lord Chesterfield who said "Tis not the clothes that maketh a man, but the deeds he doth perform".

(2) A second experience is also one that I shall long remember. It happened in China when I observed an elderly grandfather chewing his food and then, using a mouth to mouth technique, conveyed his masticated food to the mouth of his infant grandson. I've seen birds forage for food and fly home to regurgitate it into the mouths of their young ones, but seeing it done in humans was a new experience. It really touched me deeply.Some people might frown on the practice, but it may have been life saving in this instance.

(3) Another incident that occurred while traveling happened at the Red Fort in India when I was, as usual, employing my camera to record my travels. What happened was I was about to photograph what I thought was a historic site when a typical looking Prussian held up his hand and said "NO, NO". I immediately remembered many occasions in the past when I had observed German tour groups exerting their arrogance, their pushiness, and their efforts to take over a situation. It may have been a stereotype that I associated with all Germans. At any rate, I resented his order and proceeded to take the picture. Nothing happened. However, as I turned the corner I noted a large sign that read "No photographs. Military Institution". I was immediately sorry for my action and for disregarding his kind and helpful advice, and ashamed for not welcoming the advice of a concerned fellow traveler. I learned then not to prejudge people on the basis of stereotypes.

A recent birthday served to remind me that I have embarked uponthe 88th year of my life so I suppose it is fitting that I should bedriving an Oldsmobile Eighty Eight purchased in 1988 An old car foran old man. And yet, who is to say who is old? It is said that anyonewho has stopped learning is old regardless of his age, and anyone whokeeps on learning will always be young. Thus, it appears that it isnot one's years, nor one's physical state, but the state of one'smind that determines one's age. I am content to believe that old ageis the consummation of one's life, like the ending of a play. One'sintelligence, reflection and judgment should be best at our ages.

Count your garden by the flowers,
Never by the leaves that fall.
Count your days by the golden hours,
Don't remember the clouds at all.
Count your age by friends, not years. Dixie Willson

Aged wood is best for burning
Aged wine is best for drinking
Old friends are best to trust
Old authors are best to read.

Thispast year has taken me to Twenty Nine Palms, the Marine Corps Base inPalm Springs, California, and to Washington, DC. to attend the 50thannual meeting of the World Federalists. Our travel abroad was a winetasting trip to Tuscany, Italy and local travels took us to LittleRock, Arkansas to board the Delta Queen for a paddle wheel steamertrip on the Arkansas, Mississippi, and the Ohio rivers to Cincinnati.We also exchanged two weeks of our time shares to spend a week inBranson, Mo. and a week in Scottsdale Az. As always our annualmeeting of DOCA was one of our highlights. Lastly we flew to Oregonto visit relatives.

Charlie and Pat