                 A YEAR"S BLESSINGS - WITH THANKS 
                                                 

                  Ill Monroe K. Alexander, 33 
                        Grand Sword Bearer 
                Sovereign Grand Inspector General 
                          in New Mexico 
          P.O. Box 4355, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-4355 


  THIS YEAR I've been so blessed in so many ways, for which I 
give thanks to the Creator -
  
     for the magic of seeing a butterfly flutter by, 

     for the bright, unmatched yellow the Lord puts in every 
daisy and sunflower, 

     for the azure sky with its cloud-formed puppies, 
caricatures, ice-cream sundaes, gargoyles, and tall ships in full 
sail, 

     for the fact that no two snow-flakes are exactly alike, nor 
leaves or fingerprints, 

     for the soft rain in my face and the beautiful light from 
our sun, one small star among the many, many others in the Lord's 
wondrous universe, 

    for the full moon, a mere 220,000 miles away, 

    for the marvelous feats of Voyager II, several billion miles 
distant, sending us photos of Neptune and Triton whose 
temperature is 400 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, 

    for the new muscles I've found practicing operative masonry 
on 138 12" X 12" X 2" red brick pavers, 

    for the brotherhood of my hometown Lodge in Clayton, New 
Mexico, and the birth of my grand-niece, LeLayne Alexandria Tapp, 
in Boise City, Oklahoma, places miles apart on the map, but close 
together in my heart, 

    for all of the above and for the prayers I've offered this 
year and those many more I should have offered, I (one small 
person in the vast scheme of things) give thanks, dear Lord, this 
year-and for the year to come! 
 ______ 

  Ill Alexander graduated from the FBI National Academy in 
Washington, D.C., served two years in the U.S. Army, worked for 
the FBI Identification Divi-sion, and later joined the New Mexico 
State Police.  He established the first crime lab in New Mexico 
and after 34 years of outstanding service, he re-tired as 
Captain/Commander. 
 
  A Master Mason for 38 years, Bro Alexander is also a member of 
the Shrine.  He is a Past Master and Past District Deputy Grand 
Master, and served as Deputy of The Supreme Council from 1976 to 
1985 when he was named SGIG of New Mexico. 

