AN ECHO IN THE BONE

This is the title of Diana Gabaldon’s latest book in the OUTLANDER series -- the seventh in what is supposed to be a total of eight books in this long, long story. Having just finished it, I have to say that at 814 pages, it was about 200 pages too short! I wanted to keep on reading -- but there I was at the end of the text. What about ... and then there is ... and how about ... well, you get the idea! Ms Gabaldon says it takes her three years to complete one book in the series. At my age and infirmity, I hope I last three years!

Well, nothing to be done, but wait. However, this Wednesday evening I, along with other fans, will hear and see her at a local bookstore. We get to ask questions, and I will have several, I assure you.

Now to the more humorous side of things --

THE NEW ALPHABET

A is for apple, and B is for Boat,
That used to be right, but now it won't float.

Age before beauty is what we once said,
But let's be a bit more realistic instead.

Now, A's for arthritis; B's the bad back,
C is for chest pains, perhaps cardiac.

D is for dental decay and decline;
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line.

F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas, which I'd rather not mention.

H is high blood pressure--I'd rather it low;
I for incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend.
K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forget! What comes next?

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!

P for prescriptions, I have quite a few,
Just give me a pill and I'll be good as new.

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S for sleepless nights, counting my fears.
T for tinnitus; there's bells in my ears.

U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;
V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy" you know.

W is for worry, now what's going round?
X is for X-ray, and what might be found.

Y is another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for zest that I still have--in my mind.

I've survived all the symptoms, my
body's deployed,
And I've kept twenty-six doctors fully
employed!!