Do you remember a certain New Years’ Eve that stood out from the rest? The one that, whether good or bad, is the one you will always remember?

My own example would be when my third son was in the Army, stationed in Viet Nam, and was in the last year of his three-year tour of duty there.

All during his time in the military, I had been writing a weekly letter. We both wrote regularly - we enjoyed writing in that long-ago world before affordable long distance phone calls, not to mention even the very idea of such a thing as e-mail.

He told me that he often read some of his letters to his friends because they enjoyed the jokes I incorporated in most of the letters. It seems he often got more letters than most, and his friends frequently asked “What did your Mom have to say?”

So in my New Years’ letter I made sure to enclose a lot of jokes, and also raved about a New Year's party which had taken place at a friend's home. There had been lots of fun, music, dancing, and lots of champagne.

Of course, our letters crossed in the mail, as they were both sent out on New Year’s Day from opposite sides of the globe. I imagine all my efforts with the jokes likely fell a little flat when they got to him, because his letter to me turned out to be a real shocker.

He and three other men had spent a long New Year’s Eve deep in the jungle, pinned under their truck by heavy Viet Cong fire. The sun was coming up on the first day of that New Year by the time the enemy finally left, assuming everyone was dead.

Since then I have always wondered which is the real world. Is it the one we here at home see, or the one happening someplace else? With Iraq now foremost in our minds, I’m sure a lot of parents are wondering the very same thing.

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The Journal of the American Medical Association tells us that being overweight is one of the biggest risks for Type II diabetes. This is the type which usually occurs in middle age, and is often called “mature onset” diabetes. Lack of exercise is the second biggest risk factor.

The latest figures indicate that 65 percent of adult American men and over 47 percent of women are at risk. So, as usual folks, they are telling us “eat less, exercise more.” Something to remember while we contemplate a second glass of eggnog.

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Last Saturday, my daughter and I joined many others at Oriole Beach Elementary School, to help pack the myriad donations of food and sundries collected by Caring and Sharing of Santa Rosa. Both younger and older workers packed an incredible number of boxes, and it was an exhilarating experience for the many volunteers.

We fortunate ones seldom realize how many people have to “depend on the kindness of strangers.” And we can guarantee you that many, many people have been made a little happier this Christmas season, when those boxes appeared at their doors.

Let’s not forget to thank the local sponsors at Midway Shopping Center, including the Domino’s Pizza, who kept the volunteers well fed. Isn’t it time for you to become part of Caring and Sharing?

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A policeman pulled a female driver over and asked to see her driver’s license. After looking it over, he said to her, “Lady, it stipulates here on your license that you should be wearing glasses.”

“Well, I have contacts,” the woman replied.

“Look lady, I don’t care who you know,” snapped the officer. “You’re getting a ticket.”

See you next week.