2008is now in the past. and 2009 is the future. In about 2 weeks we will have a new president. The election was a historic time and it is good that there is seemingly a momentum of energy to make some needed changes in the governance of the country. President Obama will have to be a multitasker with so many things needing attention--wars, hot spots, economy, energy, unemployment, infrastructure, etc. There will be plenty for the commentators to talk and write about. We will get through all of this as we did with the depression and WW2. After all of the adjustments that we had to make then with everything from victory gardens, ration coupons, making your own soap and many other things. We then developed television, semiconductors, computers, jet engines, internet etc. In the future we will develop nano technology, solar power and other electric generation, hydrogen powered cars and things we have not thought about. An example of creative thinking; In the AMERICAN ASSISTANCE for CAMBODIA program in some of the rural school which do nLot have internet access for their solar powered computers they have developed a "motoman" program. A person and a motorbike (or oxcart) makes a round with a wifi on the back and picks up the saved messages and when he gets back to the base which has a connection the messages are uploaded and incoming ones are collected to be delivered the next day. This is a modern version of the PONY EXPRESSof olden times! www.cambodiaschools.com
On a personal note--We are still rocking along here at Drury Place. The last cat scan showed Mary's pancreatic tumors as being smaller. Grandson Zach and Susan have been in Israel visiting a friend during the between semester break. Bad timing but they should be home Jan 10 or 11. We hope that some solution can be found for the unrest in the middle east.
Le Pham Thi Bich
Many of the readers of this blog did not know Bich but I wish to recognize the extraordinary life of this lady. Bich died the last of December of a heart attack and kidney failure. 33 years ago she and her family entered and enriched our lives. Her life was not easy, (loss of her home, escape from Viet Nam, loss of some of her children, raising her family essentially as a single parent—(her husband was in “re-education camp” for about ten years before he could join her in America--). I can not imagine the anguish she must have felt, but never showed, at times. She was very brave, hard working and loving. We were honored to have known and loved her. The country has been enriched by her life and legacy. I am reminded of the Kansas Motto is appropriate, (in a different context), “TO THE STARS THROUGH DIFFICULTY”. Bich’s star is shining brightly!
We want to wish all a healthy and happy NEW YEAR! ALDEN AND MARY
