Hello All!

My Wife and I had the bittersweet experiance of attending a friends' funeral yesterday. I say bittersweet for she has endured Bone Cancer these last few months and has now experianced our Heavenly Fathers' ultimate act of healing and has been set free. Our Pastor related to us a converstion he had with Joyce when She first learned of her condition and had decided to fore-go treatment. He asked her if she was afraid to die and she replied "No for I have no regrets." Joyce was a woman of strong Faith who never retired from life even at the end. So it was a sweet experiance as we celebrated Her life and her homecoming.

Joyce was of Scottish heritage and as part of the service a Piper played "Amazing Grace" and another tune I was unfamiler with. I have never had the privaledge of hearing the bagpipes in person so this was a first for me. I got to meet the gentleman who played after the service and had quite a conversation with him about Kilts, Bagpipes, (He teaches the Bagpipe and is a member of a band.)and Scottish Societies. When we parted I recieved a cordial invitation to next years Burns night in Fargo, (ND). BTW my wife was duly immpressed with the figure he cut in his Kilt and Prince Charley. 8)

My Apologies for the length this missive.

Bill