I’m not sure if you find some of the discussion about “rights” for the mentally ill to be euthanized either confusing or like a Monty Python skit. The Health Minister dismissed those with concerns about the sanctity of life and the possibility that any mental health condition might change, saying, “They’re just ideologues”.  

Seven of us sat together on a pew, another in the row behind and our 9th offered the eulogy and served as a pall bearer for a decades’ long member of one of our groups. We were last together in person at a retreat last Fall, praying, playing and laughing together, sharing our stories as age and stage changed us daily.  

We have a good friend who tells Susan “Say hi to ‘The Voice’ for me.”  Not sure what quality or timbre of my voice has generated that nickname, but it is possible it has something to do with irritation.  

It’s always good to be reminded that our voice, however small it seems, does matter in our families, communities, businesses, workplaces … wherever we spend the hours of our day. 

It was December 28th when we gathered with our kids and grandkids for our Christmas dinner and gift exchange. After much eating, drinking and laughter our grandkids started using their phones to calculate how many days they had been alive. When they got around to laughing at me they found that December 28th was my 28000th day – 28’s were wild.