The day was undoubtedly one of the most perfect days of this new year, sunny with a pleasant breeze, and it was warm as I made my way along my favorite walking route.

I passed the school bus bringing the local children home from Oriole Beach Elementary. Each kid hopped off the bus and rushed up to their front doors, pushing them open and calling out "I'm home, mom!"

I used to think "I love you" were the most beautiful words a person can ever hear. But now I am not so sure - maybe both of these phrases really mean the same thing.

Whether it is just home from school, or a home from a three-year stint in Viet Nam or in Iraq, all parents know that, at least for a while, "I'm home, Mom" means all is right with their world.

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Last weekend found me and hundreds of others, family and friends alike, at the opening night of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" onstage at the Saenger Theatre.

As always, Gulf Breeze High School's musical production, with Margie Timmons directing, enjoyed a successful run. Mix together a huge cast of outstanding performers (too many to mention) with lots of singing and dancing and myriad costume changes and you have an obvious winner. Add Kate Turner in the title role of Millie, and Brandon Timmons as Jimmy Smith, her love interest, and you have a prizewinning recipe. Congratulations once again to "our kids" at GBHS for a job well done.

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The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tells us that the most important difference between those who successfully maintain weight loss as opposed to those who lose and regain the same weight is their relative level of physical activity.

If you need to lose weight, it's simple - aim for at least sixty minutes of some kind of vigorous physical activity EVERY DAY.

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For those of my readers who have family members and friends living in nursing homes or retirement facilities, this information may be vital and should be saved.

There may come a time when you are concerned that their treatment may be less than fair. If you worry that someone you care about may be neglected, abused or otherwise mistreated, you should contact the Long Term Care Ombudsman Council. The council protects long term care facility residents from abuse, and anonymously investigates all complaints. The program is also seeking Florida residents interested in volunteering with our local council.

To access the Ombudsman program's services, volunteer, or learn more about residents' rights, call toll-free 1-888- 831-0404 or visit http://ombudsman.myflorida.c om online.

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I was amused to note that the television and newspaper coverage of former President Gerald Ford's career was enthusiastic to the "Nth" degree. It seems his pardon of Richard Nixon was suddenly glossed over, though I remember that it caused a great deal of consternation at the time.

In fact, I see that it was just this past August when Time magazine asked nine historians to rank the seventeen presidents who held office during the twentieth century. Two of their most interesting estimates were:

1. "Jimmy Carter - should have been a preacher" and

2. "Gerald Ford - essentially a do-nothing President."

Well, isn't it nice to know that, after we are gone, every mistake during our lifetime will be forgotten, and only the good, if any, will be remembered?

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A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office.

"Is it true," she wanted to know, "that the medication you prescribed for me has to be taken for the rest of my life?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied,

"I'm wondering, then, just how serious my condition is, because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS.' "

Old age: When former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.

See you next week!