# 136 - November 12th, 2008

Greetings one and all…Are you sitting comfortably - then I shall begin…How was your Veterans/Armistice/Remembrance Day? Suitably commemorative I would like to think. I found myself reading the World War One poetry of Wilfred Owen – truly wonderful and moving literature, I must say – not something to ponder if you feel like being cheered up. Having said that, there is little that can make you feel more grateful for what you have in this life than to be humbled by a read of these harrowing yet beautifully poignant lines depicting one man’s experiences and thoughts of the futility of war...
This leads us very appropriately into the Quote of the Week…This one comes from President John F. Kennedy. I may have used it before but having just seen H.B.O.’s “Section 60 – Arlington National Cemetery” about a quadrant at the cemetery in Washington D.C. set aside specifically for those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq perhaps his words are as relevant as ever…”Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind”…With the horrors of war going on in both Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Sri Lanka, etc, etc, etc, and with numerous terrorist groups/governments striving to secure nuclear weapons, one cannot help but think that at some point in the not too distant future he may well be proven correct…Of note: the Section 60 part of the cemetery has been called “the saddest acre in America” by some. As a grieving mother says, “it is also one of the most honorable”…
Enough of the doom and gloom, absolutely necessary though it sometimes is, it’s time for the Valley Quiz and this week the emphasis is on a few of the many classes available here in The Valley – Answers at the end…
1. Who runs the excellently named “Stitch and Bitch” sewing circle?
2. One Valley resident offers classes in both karate and horse riding – not at the same time I assume. Who is it?
3. We have a number of yoga classes at this time so name two instructors…
Last Friday morning another sheep went down. This one was in the field next to the Barn Sale building, beside Hwy. 128 just north of Boonville, and myself and a few close relatives (nineteen of us in total) were naturally on to it quicker than you can say “fresh meat”. As we devoured our breakfast/lunch/dinner, obviously starting with the hors d’oeuvres (the eyes), we were interrupted by the shepherd who apparently had been receiving phone messages about the dead ewe. It was not clear whether the messages were from people just courteously informing him he had a dead sheep or from people upset at the sight of a Gathering of Turkey Vultures in a feeding frenzy around a dead sheep. If it was the latter then I say “ too bad!” This is what happens in nature and, as I’ve pointed out many times before, we are nature’s garbage collectors and it’s not all glamour. Besides, we Turkey Vultures don’t complain, no matter how upsetting it may be to us, about the bloodless and civilized sight inn downtown Boonville of people delicately sipping a refreshing cup of coffee outside Mosswood Market or gently licking a delicious ice cream bought from Loglifter Ice Cream. But I digress - the good shepherd moved the sheep out of the view from Hwy.128 and we finished our meal off peacefully yet very thoroughly. I just thought you should know…
This just in from my top investigative reporter, Balding Eagle, embedded with the Onion Magazine at The White House…”In a press conference held this morning on the White House lawn, President Bush formally asked the assembled press corps and members of his own administration if, in light of today's election, he could stop being the president now. ‘So it's over, right? Can I stop being president now?’ Bush said after striding to the podium in a Texas Rangers cap and flannel shirt, carrying a fully packed suitcase. ‘Let's just say I'm done as of now. Presidency over.’ When informed by reporters that his presidency would continue through early January, Bush stared at them quizzically, sighed, and shuffled silently back into the White House…”
Moving on to ‘confused’ people much closer to home…Various local waitresses has recently informed me that there are a couple of Valley Christians who regularly frequent the Valley’s restaurants and instead of a tip they insist on leaving religious literature in the not-too-subtle hope that the servers will repent for their sins and turn to the Lord for salvation. Not a bad deal for the Christians, eh? Not only do they get their jollies from trying to convert young women to their way of thinking but they also get to save a little cash…I couldn’t possibly comment any further…
Oops, now the Christians are after me - I suppose I should get my coat and leave…Be careful out there; think good thoughts, and may your god go with you…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net…
Quiz answers…
1. The “fun and gossip” night is organized by Sandy Creque. Further information at 895-2890.
2. Brenda Stone is the horse riding, martial arts expert (895-2852).
3. As far as I know there are four yoga classes currently offered so your answer could have been any two from Mary Pat (895-3007), Melissa (895-9541), Kira (877-3479), or Kristen (895-3612).