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Personal thoughts I kept the long detailed version to myself; this post is related to items I am slowly disposing from old letters; pamphlets; etc. My mom and of course grandmother who wrote most of these letters obsessively retained have passed. Some later fell into sin; such as my ex wife who at the time seemed so encouraging and walking with God. Others I should have done a better job keeping in touch with. Several things I observed: 1) I really was overly spoiled with gifts of money sent to me when in college. My work was intermittent; and college more affordable at the time; and my mom and grandmother spoiled me but I am ashamed there was that much obsessiveness in their gifts at the time (although my car breaking down upon the first long trip out there and repair bills was a factor) 2) Where everyone is at spiritually now; or if they remember me (which isn't important) is something perhaps I'd rather not know in many cases. I am surprised I seemed to touch as many people as I did; I was involved in college ministries; but the letters from my high school friends in church where I only attended a few months after salvation is interesting. The friend that led me to the Lord didn't seem interested after I contacted him a number of years ago about coming back home. 3) From a strictly value oriented mindset; things such as my stamps wrongly put in a photo album downstairs where acid apparently can damage stuff was eclipsed by obvious mouse eating of the sides; and with 2 stamps as well; thankfully items under the plastic were untouched. The disgusting dirt of many things up in the attic rotting away that I unburied a few months ago as well as much stuff in what was a dirty smoke filled study upstairs shows that items can be compromised. Overall; the only thing that matters is if we are truly saved; and the test of time will prove that. At the judgment seat only that done for the Lord lasts; of course all other things are burned up. Of course covetousness something to be avoided. From a strictly impartial viewpoint; I do find it intersting to have purchased a couple of lots of unused stamps well below face value; as a gift idea as well as a way to build a collection. Perhaps someone here would know a good Christian organization for donation; one was online along with Veteran's places; and other charitable organizations; libraries; etc. My foolishness with coins was even brought out by my ex-wife who pretty much cleaned me out the first few years of marriage with expensive vacations; etc. I used to want to sell stuff too quickly; I should have heeded her advice to wait. Stuff at the time was around 20 dollars an ounce. I went through some buying and selling last year and early this year before silver crashed from 120 bucks or so an ounce to around 50 today. I will admit that I have been rather high strung on the current events; leading to repeated hyped postings on preparation. Overall; things haven't really changed much; at best we have months to go for oil prices to go down (or years); and food supplies with the diesel situation are likely to continue to be an issue. Any "get rich quick" concepts are of course; ill advised. I also wanted to mention in an unrelated topic here that the facility where my Dad stays finally has started a routine communication and finally seem serious about my Dad's routine dental hygiene (with Dementia the state law says toothpaste and other stuff has to be locked up). My suggestion is something obvious; be persistent and keep showing up with a loved one in a facility. Just wanted to share some good news. Seems I am getting over the worst of this illness so should be back to work Monday; and hopefully church Sunday. As a footnote; my final goal here is; as another brother in the Lord stated to me a few years back; I am trying to get my home fit for the next person here; for now to make it suitable for company and sanitary. Everything in this life we are given to be a steward over what the Lord gives us. I'd appreciate prayer for wisdom when it comes to wise decisions in investments I have been blessed with; the long overdue crash of the stocks for decades now has amazingly brought ridiculous earnings in the market; one can only wonder when there is a 1500 point increase one day and a subsequent fall of that level the next and a 40 trillion dollar debt when the floor is going to fall out under us. God is sustaining all things; of course. May His Name be praised. RP