Well, the first was on a park bench looking across the short river to Detroit. A gentleman who was doing his social drinking out of a brown paper bag said I looked Irish so he'd tell me that Detroit is north of Windsor, Canada. After a chat, I politely refused a sip of his 85 cents Brandvin sherry and after a great adios I opened one of my undergraduare texts and fell into a beaautiful, black hole as I was introduced to Thomas Merton.
Just recently one of our contributors mentioned the video Humoring(USA spelling) Your Dummy(available from Axtell). All I had left to watch was two more taped episodes from the old Dad's Army so I played Taylor. You know I've spent decades writing and also teaching it, but the penny dropped again. Oh yeah! Steve brilliantly broke down the four or five components of writing a vent skit. Each one was demonstrated with a vent figure. Funny, but now that I'm beginning to write my series which features debates between a theologian and a philosopher, I am a student again on yet another form of writing. Most enjoyable as I begin to revamp my sketches using Taylor's tips. With respect the man is a learned helping people learn. I really hope to meet Steve at vent Haven. Ron Crowley

I was on the tractor..perspiring heavily..and wondering if maybe the retirement from the air conditioned halls of education was the right idea. Then it hammered me! My genealogy courses(based on Irish emmigration to Quebec clicked in. Axtell..of course..it was mixed around letters of "latex"..with an l added after arrival in North America. Now I'm trying to see if Axtell's address in VENTura, California has a stomach talking connection. Okay, it's not Tom Merton level, but to see more check out the new stuff on the vent haven conference site. Ron

Ron, I must say that if anyone ever says, "A penny for your thoughts" they are getting a great deal for their money. When they tell me, "A penny for your thoughts" I throw in my two cents worth.

Thanks Tony. I must say, however that your letters demonstrate the true concept of unselfish teaching. With respect, Ron