First, a sincere thank you to all those who made Lyla's (several Grandchildren didn't know Nana's real name) 98th birthday celebration at St. Anna a success.
I do my walking routine at the local health facility every morning and there is a husband/wife couple that has a light breakfast each morning at the table where I drape my coat over a chair. I joke with them that their oranges always smell so good. Yesterday they finished their breakfast and left the facility but sitting on the table in front of my coat was a single orange on a small napkin. Nice thought! Nice people! I guess I looked needy. I will be concerned if tomorrow they leave me prunes.
As you know, the whole world is struggling with a weak economy. The Chinese are known for their ancient culture and wisdom. Chinese investors have been flocking to financial seminars put on by Feng Shui Masters. The literal translation of "feng shui" is "wind and water". It is their belief that the universe is controlled by alignment of the stars, planets and objects. The Chinese New Year has brought in the year of the Ox. It turns out that Obama and his Treasury Secretary, Geithner were both born in a "year of the Ox". Financially that is a very bad sign. The Feng Shui Masters indicate that this year will a complete bust and people should wait until 2010 before expecting fortunes to turn.
Being born under the sign of the Rat is a better omen. There is a suggestion that if Obama and Geithner would wear something on their clothing symbolizing the rat, it would offset the negative karma associated with being born as "oxen". The best solution I've heard is that Obama and Geithner should wear "Mickey Mouse" hats with the big round ears. It would be similar to the apparel worn by members of the Mickey Mouse Club. The assumption is that the mouse is part of the rodent (rat) family. If our leaders did wear the "mouse" hats, we would have a chance to have a reasonable economic year.
So Grasshoppers, there is economic hope. The Mickey Mouse stimulus solutions would have a chance to work if our leaders would wear the Mickey Mouse "ears". Life can be pretty simple sometimes.
Love,
Dad