Message from Harold:

I met Karen Schamaun in George Pehler�s science class on the first day of high school, 1959. �The Martians have landed� were my first words to her. Pathetic pick-up line, perhaps, but a �lite� year later its nuanced humor eventually penetrated her defenses, and we�ve been in the same orbit ever since, sometimes spinning in opposite directions, though.

For example, I indulge my granddaughter, but Karen makes her buckle down; she buys lottery tickets, but I dollar-cost average; I have a temper, while K will carry a grudge; she reads labels and decrees corn syrup, processed wheat, and caffeine as hazardous to my health; she loves to fly Sun Country somewhere West, but an eastbound Amtrak is more my speed; I�d be a teacher all over again, but K would be drawn to medicine, sharp instruments, and the occasional letting of blood;

I took Social Security, but Karen says, �You should have waited�; I dislike insurance people, but K won�t answer the door for Jehovah�s Witnesses; I still like our old country split-level, so why is K attending open houses in town?; and she hikes and bikes long distances, which tire me to think about.

This brings me to June 20, 2008, where many of my classmates became aware of Karen�s indictment of my favorite retirement activity. �Ass-sitting� is not such a bad thing, and in fact I vigorously recommend it. To further my case, I will close with some recommendations to enhance your personal experience with that relaxing practice.

Books

Evensong � Kent Haruf
In Cold Blood � Truman Capote
19 Minutes � Jodi Picoult
To Kill a Mockingbird � Harper Lee
Blue Heaven � C.J. Box
Regeneration � Pat Barker
Say When � Elizabeth Berg
The Double Bind � Chris Bohjalian
Montana 1948 � Larry Watson
All Creatures Great & Small � James Herriot
Class Action � Bingham & Gansler <--adapted as-->North Country (USA)

Films

The Lives of Others (Germany)
Two-Family House (USA)
Shall We Dance? (Japan)
A Very Long Engagement (France)
Map of the Human Heart (UK)
This Is My Father (USA)
Das Boot (Germany)
Red (Poland/France)
Nightwatch (Nattevagten-Denmark)
Cinema Paradisio (Italy)