I decided to come in to the office and write a column, the sky was dark and threatening, yup, more rain coming and I washed the car yesterday; smush, yuk, I stepped on one of the numerous olives laying on my driveway that I really need to sweep, opened the car door and poured my open bottle of water on foot. My allergies caused me to sneeze reached for my handkerchief and my open purse tumbled its contents onto my now wet, olive stained foot. "Lovely," I mumbled. Then as I drove my car out of driveway I looked up to see the faint trails of a rainbow. That was enough, I smiled, turned up my classical radio and made a conscious decision. This will be a good day, and God willing an OK column, as well. | Full Story

Jim Cook, one of my beloved veterans and color guard member is standing guard now in heaven. I have known Jim and his devoted wife, Annette, for many years and am deeply saddened by his passing. Jim was always good to his word, and his handshake was his bond. The community has lost a local hero. | Full Story

I had a friend, Freda, who would often send me a note with that line and perhaps a few other words, but the amount of news is not what mattered. What mattered so much to me was that she had stopped from her busy life just to think of me. It made me feel warm, and special. So dear reader, comes this column to you to say Happy New Year, hope you are fine, enjoying the rain, and that sunshine has come your way. | Full Story

It seemed like boo hoo, not hee hee | Full Story

Dear readers, a classic tool of all writers is the closing cliffhanger of "and that's another story." I used it at the end of my column two weeks ago when I wrote of my flight back from caring for my friend who died. I had been so anxious to land and kiss terra firma and to see my husband, Ron. My readers over the years have read a lot about my husband Ron, a man I adore beyond common sense. I felt my tired feet run down the ramp to get my luggage and to get a first glimpse of that tall southern gentleman. I was surprised when I saw my daughter, Leslie Barrow, who lives in Santa Cruz. To say that my radar was set off is obvious, but we made the long trip home to Los Baños with Leslie listening to my stories of that very hard week in Fallbrook, and the loss of someone we so dearly loved. Finally home. Lara greeted me at the door and I walked in to see Ron sitting on the sofa, music should have flared up then, if it was a movie, but in real life there are no niceties and certainly not good timing. The night I was with Don when he died, Lara and Bryan were with Ron at emergency. I did not know then, but my life was about to spin. We have spent the past few weeks with tests and still are making the endless rounds to San Jose and Santa Clara that are reality for Kaiser patients. Ron has small cell lung cancer. Whew! That is hard to say. Cancer hits every home and has certainly hit so many of our relatives and friends that I have been a dedicated fighter against the disease for years. When it hits your spouse, as too many of you know, it is a knock out punch hard to get off the floor from. We have since learned that the cancer has spread and Ron is currently undergoing radiation and then chemotherapy. You live on hope and prayer and are battled by fear and doubt. Yes, you are angry. Yes, you feel helpless. But you ready yourself for the fight. | Full Story

Out with the old and in with the new; time to get a new cat calendar out and start 2009. | Full Story

The rain came down so heavy that your eyes needed wipers. The sound of the downpour seemed to wipe out any other noise, as if you were walking under a thunderous waterfall that flowed straight from the angry heavens. | Full Story

The emotion was palpable, almost infectious. Jan. 20, Inauguration Day was more than the swearing in of the 44th president of the United States. It was the achievement of something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. | Full Story

Yellow; a bright cheerful color that makes you think of sunshine and daffodils; a happy color. Is it any wonder than that it is Josephine Leos' favorite color? | Full Story

Watching the HBO mini series 'John Adams' recently really hit home on how hard our forefathers fought for our right to celebrate the Fourth of July. Watching them craft the constitution, and the blood, sweat and tears that went into our Bill of Updated: Jul. 4, 2008 6:04 AM | Full Story

The news spread quickly through town. Although many had known of Bill Marchese's long battle with cancer, he had always fought back and been triumphant, almost defiant. It seemed impossible that we had lost him. Bill dealt with his trial with nobilit Updated: Apr. 1, 2008 1:17 AM | Full Story