"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." --Henry Ford </p><p><b>Michigan sugar </b></p><p>Whenever Wayne Tex Owens came to visit me and Lara at our office he would always ask me for some "Michigan sugar," referring to my state of birth. </p><p>Tex was just huggable. You smiled when he entered the room and eagerly awaited his slow rendering of one of his stories in his crusty voice. It was easy for him to flirt with Lara about being his girlfriend, because he was so transparent about his love and devotion to his wife of so many years, whom he swore had to be a saint to have put up with him. Tex's eyes lit up whenever he spoke of his beloved grandchildren; he adored them with the same zest he put into everything in life. </p><p>Tex was not a half-wayer, someone who cautiously walked through life. No, Tex was a dig-inner; he wanted to feel everything fully, to have used up every minute he was given. And that Tex did. His leaving this earth has left a gaping hole that will never be filled. </p><p>Tex was an original, a down to earth, hard working, earnest, loving and giving man who would have been happy to have lived in a simpler time. Tex had his other world, where life made more sense, at the place known as the Los Ba&#241;os Sportsman's where he had earned the right to be an honorary director. Master Chef, Tex was a creative man whose chili beans are legendary. </p><p>One of the greatest testimonies to Tex is the circle of grieving friends he has left with his passing. I am so struck by their love for this man, and their eagerness to serve his memory well. So, Tex, I know you are busy in heaven charming folks, but catch. Here comes a big bunch of Michigan sugar.</p><p><b>Birthday balloons</b></p><p>A special happy birthday to darling Angie Jones whose big day is the 20th. Angie is still a newlywed having gotten married on New Years Eve.</p><p>July happy birthday wishes to Margy Barrett, Sherill Foster, Edna Souza, Marion Silva, Cathy Caropreso, Dorothy Serpa, Adeline Shanafelt, Carmen Hergenraeder, Mary Sirsi, Margaret Deniz, Mary Machado, Norma Jean Millsap, Linda Silva, Diane Ballez, Germaine Orlando, Carley Van Someren, Jewell Jackson, Bernard Dennison, Larry Frontella, Don Mallonee, Gilbert Loguna, Larry Bacon, Marvin Greer, Arnold Affonso, Michele Arancibia, and Michael Curtis Jr.</p><p><b>Anniversary bells</b></p><p>Happy wedding anniversary to Blaine and Janice Cobb.</p><p><b>For your health</b></p><p>Darling Fay Davis of the United Methodist Church informs me that their church will be hosting a low-impact exercise class open to the community at no cost beginning July 18 and running for six weeks. The classes will be held at the church located at 1031 Iowa St. on Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Remember to bring along a mat or towel. For more information call 826-4181.</p><p><b>Teddy bear clinic: a day of value</b></p><p>For the past four years Memorial Hospital of Los Ba&#241;os has provided the community with a true service with its Children's Health and Safety Fair and Teddy Bear Clinic. It is a great day of valuable information, instruction and fun for the entire family. This year it will be held on Saturday July 26 from 9 until noon at the Los Ba&#241;os Fairgrounds. The day will include the teddy bear clinic, bicycle rodeo, fingerprinting, hands-on interactive craft station, medi-flight helicopter, education, bounce house and prize opportunities. For more information contact Diane Hambley at 826-0591.</p><p><b>Hot weather watch for your animal friends </b></p><p>Heat can kill, silently, and I try to remind my readers each year of the risk of hot weather to their pets. My friends at Los Ba&#241;os Veterinary clinic tell me to keep your pets safe this summer remember to provide full bowls of clean water and if kept outside, ample shade. They might even enjoy misters of their own pool with supervision. </p><p>Always be careful when leaving them in non-ventilated areas such as garages. Never leave an animal in your vehicle. Even for a minute. If you plan to go on vacation without your pets, be sure to have someone responsible to take care of them while you are gone. Many hotels now are pet friendly, so check ahead. </p><p><b>This and that</b></p><p>The Henry Miller Days coming this October is a golden opportunity to attract visitors. Let's keep 'em smiling and coming back. And while you are at it, hug a duck hunter. Let us use our strengths.</p><p>Mary and Don Glen just returned from a week's visit in Utah with their daughter Shannon Gundry and her family. They encountered a lot of the smoke, which is shrouding our state with its flurry of fires. Now is the time for everyone to use extra caution, as fires are such a threat to our state, stay extra vigilant. </p><p>The Los Ba&#241;os Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their monthly chamber of commerce mixer on July 24 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Memorial Hospital located at 520 W I St.; come out and network.</p><p><b>Salt of the earth</b> </p><p>I was raised in the shadow of the Henry Ford family, my grandfather being one of the founding board, and many of his witticisms have been engrained into me since birth. I figured early on, after romping through their mansion with real gold sinks in their bathrooms, that Mr. Ford had to be pretty smart and so what he had to say was something to consider. As my mother used to always say, consider the source. Henry Ford had some interesting traits, one of which had to do with salt. Yup, salt. </p><p>Whenever Henry Ford would think of employing someone on the executive level, he would take them to lunch. Smiling and forever charming, he would ease his guest into a sense of comfort, waiting for the test. The food would come; Henry would wait, smiling. Would his guest taste or salt first? Slyly he would watch. Ah, here goes the shaker. There goes the job. </p><p>You see Henry Ford felt it said a lot about a person if they salted their food before tasting it to see if it was needed. It spoke about preconceived notions, trained mental attitudes, reacting from rout not from the specifics of a particular incidents, or in this case, meal. The perspective employee could not know in advance if the chef was a heavy salt user, or if the sauces would conflict with the iodine based seasoning. Henry Ford thought each situation had to be considered on its own particulars. </p><p>I have never forgotten that lesson, and have often retold this story. It is a decision we all have to make about how we judge people and situations that come our way. Do we go by preconceived opinions, fall into the pattern of habit or do we taste the food (metaphorically speaking) before we salt it. Shake it or not, until next time, may all your news be good news.