Greenwald's Latest - He is counter punching to great effect!

[marions ghost]

104. LOL, I'd be better as a speechwriter

--campaign managers must be excellent organizers

What a nice reply. So glad to make anybody feel good in these times! (How I know you = my sis is a serious spotting scope-equipped birder, so I understand that rare species of human. My best friend from way back is a nurse. I know lots of gardeners and am always impressed by the patience required--I call myself a theoretical gardener, in other words, not so accomplished but I stab at it). And then when you mention your Dad...well...

My Dad was emotional too & never disguised it. Loved that about him. Everybody should be who they are. Dad was a journalist & PR guy, but in his latter years he became a minister of sorts--I used to kid him about his burgeoning "personal ministry." He lived alone but reached out to everyone he met and had so many friends and admirers. He had what someone once called an impish "leprechaun smile" (ear to ear) but I still couldn't figure out his magnetism. Once I asked what his secret was with people and he said, "Old journalist trick. You ask 'em about themselves, and then you actually listen." I think professional ministers must also have that capacity. My Dad genuinely cared about people, as I'm sure yours did, especially if he was "almost" a socialist.

At times Dad's friendly nature got him in trouble. Once a sketchy young character from the neighborhood came to his door and conned him out of $80 (my Dad was not wealthy), promising to pay him back. I gave Dad an ass-chewing (I think I called it a "polite stick-up" at the time) and we left it at "kiss it good-by." So about 5 years later Dad calls me and says, "remember that guy?...you won't believe this but he's in a substance abuse program and he just came by with 80 bucks for me!" (with a dash of "told ya so&quot . I know it sounds like something out of Readers Digest, but I promise it's true.

So now I know I'm DEFINITELY voting for you & I'll help you write speeches for pizza & green tea (& tomatoes, or flowers if you don't do veggies). And thanks for the opportunity to go awol from my effort to stay on top of the newz, and veer off into a beautiful side street). to you and yours, mg

--If we could just get some of the big money out of politics...ah the changes we could make...