I think today...is a good day to just share some history..not so much about today..but when I was a very young boy...probably about age 5-6 it was Christmas, and after the celebration everyone put their Christmas trees out back in the alley to be picked up by the garbage hauling service...Christmas was over for that year but I can remember specically going down the alley...you could still do this in America in the ealy 50's...and I found a neighbor's small yet very beautiful  tree and I brought it back home..along the way I found all kinds of things to use to decorate this tree of mine...and so on my own level, at age 5, behind the garage I was thanking God for his son Jesus...what a pecaseful moment that was..close to 60 years ago...seesm like yesterday. When I look at these swans and the the magnificent beauty of God's creations here, it is rather hard for me to fathem our country using such force to solve problems...it seems to me that what the animals teach is just what the Lord wanted us to see...sort of a mirroring when we loose our way...I'd say we have lost our way and pounding with more force...I remember when I learned about God and his loving ways..to turn the other cheek..to love your enemies...why not break bread with them, have some tea and learn how to love one another...these past few years losing my parents to old age, diseases and sickness...that is a not what I remember...I remember the sweet moments...yes there were some not so sweet moments too..but I remeber a time when there was goodness in the land and goodness in our earth...so for today...just for a moment today..Id like to thank all the friends, and all the family near or far who wish us well..and to those who are riding on the fence..peace to you too...Marge and I retired to sort of find a new way of life here in the Northland..for me the old life was not working and becoming a real human being seemed to be worthy even if late in life...why not try to share your earthly gifts as an artist so here we are some about 4 years later...and I can say life out of the fast lane is anything but slow..quite the opposite is so many ways...learning about so many things that I did not learn along the way..is like having my own sort of quakes within...shattering old thoughts that have no place in today's truths and seeing not only with my eyes but with the best and trusest part of me, my heart...now that has been a good part of our new life...if I have caused any problems for my freinds I appologize here and now...hoping to make amends so that you may go honorably in peace and happiness. I was very moved not too long ago..a very wondeful native american friend sent me a letter about an American family..who just lost their son in the war in February and at that very moment I was painting a bald eagle..so I asked if possible to share my feeling with this family and I sent the painting to them in honor of John's life...who gave the supreme gift to our land to help his fellow man...no higher honor can one give above giving his or her life for the love of others...so today John...and to your family...your love is alive and well..in so many hearts across this land...who might never had the opportunity to know you we do now...a son of the son.. who too layed his life down for everyone...the essence of our land is that we have come to have a more abundant life...not so much in $ and sense...but in matters of the heart...when the matters of the heart are displaced watch out...and we are in the watch out state...

Enjoy your day...today smile a little, laugh often, and if you can help someone...no matter how small...that is a matter of the heart...and heaven smiles upon you...

Jimmy Springett-artist