Yes, Fran. Flint is about 50 miles north of Detroit, and was heavy into the auto industry. Once auto plants started closing, things went downhill big-time on that side of the state. Grand Rapids’ economy is more diversified, furniture-based. But that industry took its hugest hit in history, too, a few years ago. Michigan’s in incredible trouble.

It was a balmy August evening and I was visiting Washington D.C. on a business trip. I had a few hours and took a tour to the Washington monuments. I spent some time at the Lincoln Memorial and then took the walk towards the Vietnam Memorial. I was prepared for an emotional reaction waiting for the wall to appear. However, in the dark of night the wall did not jump out at me but slowly seemed to come into sight. Much like the war itself, it simply snucked up on me. I knew the black wall with the names of fallen soldiers stood before me but could only see the names lit up by my camera flash. I stood in silence, the sound of the city around me, tourists rushing by, in a hurry to get to the next stop. I felt the presence of the wall, the lives shattered, the lessons hopefully we all learned. Never forget, so we never repeat.

My most memorable summer moment would have to be July 14th when family and friends got together and celebrated my mother’s life (she died in January). It was an evening she would have enjoyed immensely! Great food, live band and most importantly good conversations. Few tears, lots of laughter and fond, fond memories of a woman admired and respected by all and sundry. She belonged to something called the Knights of the Round Table, a discussion group (my how she loved “discussion”/debate) who said her courage and candour would be sorely missed. She belonged to a women’s group called the Seahorse, 9 women, of widely varying ages, who have been meeting once a year for 30 years (they initially met during a women’s rally in Calgary) over a dinner at one of their homes and each person would recount what their past year was. They have even recorded this which I’d love to see made into a movie (now THERE”S a vehicle for actress’ in their prime!! I love to ponder who would play whom, hmmmm). Family spoke, my nephew played a piece on the piano totally spontaneous… beautiful. It was wonderful and this opportunity to reminisce has been lovely… thanks for your ears!

I think, I had the most fun evening of the summer last night: rocking out to Patti Smith playing outdoors at Lincoln Center under a perfect NYC summer sky and having people energized with her always and still powerful anthems / poetry … a friend called her ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage’ … and everyone there, on their feet, seemed to need to hear that : “People Have the Power to Redeem the Work of Fools - People Have the Power”

That sounds awesome!!! Patti Smith LIVE…

The most memorable evening I’ve had this summer … Had this question been tomorrow’s question, I would probably say watching Sen. Ted Kennedy speak at the convention. I am so anticipating that. Actually, yesterday I went to an open house given by some long-time friends. I hadn’t seen them for a while. They have been through some trying times, as some of us on Wow have. They have survived cancer, accidents involving their children, job changes. Anyway, these two people, especially the husband, have for as long as I’ve known them, been the type to see beauty in things others throw away. Literally. Half of the furnishings in their home were rescued pieces: mahogany chairs they found on the side of a road that needed a little filler and a little stain; beautiful glass panels that look like Franklin Lloyd Wright pieces - that were about to be dumped, and now stand framing a dining room; gorgeous floor rugs that were left by a dumpster that just needed a good cleaning, on and on. Even their dog, a beautiful chocolate lab, was rescued in the aftermath of Katrina. The husband put in his own wood flooring. The wife grows her own tomatoes in the back yard. Everything she does has that special touch. A bit of mint in her Pimms drink with ginger ale for example. It seems to me that everything in their home has a purpose. Has a story. Means something to them. There is just so much love in that house. But it’s the beauty, and the life left in used things, sometimes discarded things, that I came away with.

Oh, N P ––––my last read for the night and it was lovely. Sounds like you know some very special people––their character reflects their the character of their belongings.