News from America

Barbara and Larry keep in touch and send love to all; here
is an edited extract from Barbara's last letter:

It was my morning to work at the Food Bank. With 13%
unemployment in town we were inundated with clients
needing food. We packed a five day food package for
33 families.

From ten to one we were all five busy. I register people
at the desk, send the packing crew a note with name and
number of persons to pack for, the other four wheel carts
around our storage shelves . We no longer give a truly
generous food package. Having directed the food bank for
twenty four years I have to be careful about commenting on
present practices. We have been given a wonderful space
in the new United Way building, a former school building,
but we have to pay rent and utilities, which we did not in a
decrepit building the county allowed us to use.

Here is an edited extract from Larry that is cheering:

American grandson, Jackson, adopted by daughter Barbara
and husband Bill, wants his grandparents to listen to him
play in his band. He is 14. Hooray...the coming generation
is going to save us all with music, love and soccer.

Incidentally, the music lovers who followed Marks performance
(see below) may not know that Marks virtuosity has hit the local
press; see

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/05/21/609947-Montolieu-Performance-musicale.html