I don't think I said much about Johnny Bill Shea's funeral. Needless to say it was very Irish. There were also about 8 priests and at least 2 Brothers at the ceremony. Mostly they were fellow Redemptorists of Fr. Mike. I mentioned Fr. Mike before. He is Johnny Bill's son and has been a missionary in Thailand for over 25 years.

He introduced each of his fellow priests. I was impressed that one of them, I believe Fr. Sarnelli, who had also spent time in Thailand, had raised enough money to build a special building at the Viengkhuk Children's Hospice for the critically ill - the dying children. They used to have a room called the dying room. Such a sad statement. They call the building Sarnelli House which is still heartbreaking but at least not SO grim sounding.

The biggest need is medicine for the children that are AIDS infected. Maybe medicine could make Sarnelli House a RECOVERY house. Fr. Mike and his staff are trying to make the homes as self sufficient as possible but they do run short. He did say that they tried to raise goats for meat but the kids adopted them as pets and they didn't have the heart to kill them, so that didn't work too well. Anyway, if you can help, let me know and I can tell you where to send money. I always sent it to Johnny Bill but I understand that his son Jack is taking over that roll. Sending money to him will get it directly into Fr. Mike's bank account and available for immediate use.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. i would pick more daisies.

Written by Nadine Stair, 85 years old of Louisville Kentucky. I received this from a friend some 25 years ago. Enjoy.