Today began the holiday season in my home and so there will be 26 days of a Dillard's Christmas in my house. I also met with my physics group to complete the alterations on our car and after many hours at Home Depot (we tested it down the isle) it now runs 33 meters + (that's an A+!). We had some help from our pal, Gary (older guy who works there who strongly resembles Bill Clinton, except with a smaller nose and chin). Gary helped in such matters as drilling a hole and marvelling at the ideas of it, then explaining it to every passer-by. It was quite entertaining. He also helped us by giving it a name; the Wild Rose, which he had named a pink tractor of his, which had come from a famous woman with a drag race car of the same name. Anyhow.. I began thinking of people; not random people, but particular persons who have really helped me out a great deal. I think sometimes I am oblivious to it; I don't see how much I need someone until a while after. And so I was compelled to say thank you to at least one helpful person before it was too late and marked it with a stamp to be mailed. I think that in our dark days when all the world seems to have turned on us, I think it is during those days when we are least aware of those who help us most. The heroes don't necessarily turn out to be the people we went to to vent or cry, or even the people who expressed the most care. The real heroes are most often in the background, quietly observing and performing the smallest gestures that mean the greatest to us in the end. When was the last time you wrote a thank you note? Carrie