GIVING THANKS

For me, Thanksgiving day is just another day. But like all other days, today I give special thanks for waking up in the morning, having a roof over my head, being able to watch the Macy's Parade on television, and for the love of my two dogs and a cat. They love me unconditionally.

I also am thankful for my small family and friends. I wish everyone a happy and thankful day.

THE TORCH IS PASSED

I recently acquired the book The Torch is Passed: The Associated Press Story of the Death of a President. It is an illustrated book on the death of President John F. Kennedy. I can now add this book to my collection of great books of history. The book included the most famous photo of little John-John ever taken.

NO JUSTICE - NO PEACE

That was the message on Michael Brown Jr.'s father's t-shirt on television during a news conference today. It is blatantly obviously that there was NO justice in Ferguson, Mo. yesterday. The prosecutor did everything he could during the grand jury to get Darrin Wilson not indicted.

The saying being heard on social media these days is "want to get away with murder (or kill a black kid), become a cop." Cops can kill unarmed kids and get away with it. No person being called for grand jury duty has the guts to do the right thing and indict the cop for doing the wrong thing. So he gets away with murder. It is a tragedy of enormous proportion.

The only hope is that the Brown family will file suit against Wilson and the Ferguson Police Department and win their case just like the Goldmans did in the O.J. Simpson case. There is precedent in these civil cases.

Now Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin can meet in Heaven and together seek justice for the future kids that will be killed by trigger happy cops. There was one in Cleveland just the other day.

TO ALL VETERANS

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

While sitting in the bank's drive-through isle, I noticed a lot of birds lined up on the overhead wires, all facing the same direction.

Being curious, I looked it up online. According to Wild Birds Unlimited, "Birds sit on power lines, trees, roofs or any perch, facing into the wind. Any other direction would ruffle their feathers. It's also easier to communicate."

When I was much younger, I learned that this high-wire bird formation in late fall also means that winter weather is VERY close behind. Be prepared, because winter is coming early this year!