Happy Hello, Dear Readers,

My restful time in Destin, Florida is winding down. Only one week remains. Then I must return to frigid Iowa. Hopefully it will be warmer by the time I get to Cedar Falls. No more watching the waves roll in from the Gulf of Mexico, no more watching the pelicans landing on the roof tops, no more watching the herons standing on one leg in the shallow water of the ponds, no more watching the sandpipers marching in union with their beaks dipping in the sand.

Life here has not been a total bowl of cherries. Much is happening that pulls me to the outside world. I had an interview with a reporter from the St. Petersburg Times on the Cuban family. Watch for more on this, I will keep you posted. I have returned to my search for photographs of women leaders in Africa. Today I resumed my work with the Associated Press and began telephoning embassies with requests for photographs. Acquiring photographs is time-consuming. I have made considerable progress in revising the manuscript and writing of profiles of women in African countries.

The pelicans, herons, and sandpipers have not minded sharing me with my work , but I have minded a little bit because soon I will not see them for quite a while.

Cheers,

R