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Henry's First Message
I am quite elderly really I suppose (72 to be exact) and have recently emigrated to Pennsylvania and got married in June this year. I shall be sending "Letters from America" from time to time (in memory of Alistair Cooke), but we have been having a nice summer and fall and I have not got into the rhythm of sitting at the computer and writing. I joined Shorelink in the summer of '03 and write both prose and poetry, I started on my first novel in January 2000 but all I have written is the prologue and first paragraph of chapter one! So I doubt if it will ever get completed. My interests are railways together with most forms of transportation, digital photography and video making (no not that sort Missus!!). Since coming to America I have become a volunteer at our local library giving lessons in computer basics, digital photography and video.
Henry's "LETTER FROM AMERICA"
#33
September 5th 2010
Today was the annual picnic in the cemetery across the road. I have to say that I know of no other country which has family picnics in graveyards! The hotdog barbeque was actually across a tombstone in the middle of a family enclosure, but, as I have already said, this is America after all. It is held in memory of one Charles Baber who, in the 19th century bought the land and presented it to the City. Apart from hot dogs and hamburgers there were conducted tours of the park, visits to the chapel and the local silver band performed. All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon even with my having to push Joanie in her wheelchair! She is actually making a good recovery with her replacement knee, we hope things will soon revert to normal (whatever “normal” is!)
September 21st
After labour day the political run up to the mid-term elections has got started. As I have said the commercials do nothing to say what that particular party intends to do about specific problems. It seems that it is not the custom to publish manifestoes as is done by the political parties in Britain, so I am none the wiser as to what is exactly going on here! It is generally believed that the Republican Party will gain control of The House of Representatives and possibly the Senate as well. To complicate the issues the Tea Party (of which I already have spoken) has had a few unexpected successes in late date primary elections by displacing the Republican candidate. This shows how much the electors are distrustful of Washington and the White House; all will be revealed in November.
Joanie now has three weekly appointments at the Rehab. Centre. As might be expected this facility has every imaginable piece of equipment including a therapy pool and a host of training aids which would put the best equipped gymnasium to shame. Joanie is doing well and now only requires a stick with which to walk.
Summer is still holding on with temperatures in the high 70’s/low 80’s. I really enjoy the climate here. Despite being a coal mining area the air here is remarkably clean. I have a bugle which I last polished for new year 2009 (21 months ago). It has not yet got to the state of a matt brown surface and in fact is still reasonably shiny. In Hastings, despite being on the coast, the matt brown finish usually appeared after less than three months. I suppose being a bit high up in the Appalachians must help with air quality. At least we have no smog and the only fogs we get are low clouds.
September 25th
Three months to Christmas and we are still well into the eighties, it
has been am amazing month, many days with wall to wall sunshine. We never thought we would have to turn on the air conditioning, in fact we were almost ready to put the units away for the winter. Long may it continue.
The political campaigning season is now well under way. To be frankly honest, I am appalled that all of the commercials being broadcast by the candidates simply attack the opposition mostly, as I have heard, by taking words out of context or downright lying! I shall be glad when November comes so that it will all stop. It is without exception the most negative campaign I have ever encountered. Still, why bother? I can’t vote anyway!
Until next time.
BFN
H
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