Even though I am from Hawaii, I am enjoying the beautiful spring weather here in Utah on this visit. While nothing beats living in a tropical paradise, I think it is good to be reminded of the cycles of life. I'm hitting autumn, in that case, although I'm trying for an Indian summer.

This week's column ran yesterday at:

http//www.ldsmag.com/beacon/070320love.html

Love - the Universal Language

It is about our trip to Mexico for our little granddaughter's first birthday, our adventures and misadventures, but mostly about our ability to communicate with our co-grandparents despite the language barrier.

Check it out.

Read it.

Forward it.

Send fan mail.

Seriously, I so enjoy hearing from people who enjoy my columns, whether directly or through their letters to Meridian, and I have made many wonderful new friends. I had breakfast yesterday with one of them, a good time. We had our meal and then visited at the table until the lunch crowd started to come in, we were having such a good time. I am trying to coordinate the running of my columns, my mail from readers and my consequent "up" so that it counteracts my middle-aged mood swings. I thank you. My husband thanks you.

Last night's Relief Society Birthday Party that I spoke at was about "Sisters Serving Sisters." Ladies, there is no substitute for female friends, no matter how kind and loving and understanding your husband may be. Each of us ought to have at least three-to-five close trusted go-to-lunch friends, the kind you can be totally real with. We should be actively maintaining those friendships, and if your numbers are down, add a new friend. She probably needs you as much as you need her.

Tonight I am doing a presentation on "When Life Gives You Lemons" in Draper. Tomorrow I do the same presentation somewhere else in Draper. I am doing it two more times. Maybe I should record it and lip sync.

I am having lunch today with Emily Watts from Deseret Book to thank her for her support of a recent project DB considered. They liked the idea but decided not to pick it up, although they gave me other suggestions for what to do with it (nice ones). I am getting so good at taking rejection, it is almost a shame that I'm not still single.

Enjoy!

Susan