Cicero, you are very kind.
Judith and Doug - it feels strange to look back. An eternity ago it seems - but it is my great honor to be associated with you and the other freepers who showed such remarkable ability.
Thank you
MA
The honor is all mine.
Haha! I just re-read my post, "The honor is all mine" and had to laugh. It sounds odd. I think I probably mean something else...
Because of the influenza death of a dear nephew of mine, I have (and will always have) a compelling interest in influenza. His death was a dreadful shock to our whole family, it was unforeseen, and miserable, full of suffering, indignities, and unbearable grief. The prospect of this on a worldwide scale is unimaginable and horrible, to me.
Ordinary influenza--a mild case, even. He had it, he got over it, missed a couple of days of school. A straight-A student athlete. Influenza, unknown to any of us, had infected his heart muscle and proceeded to destroy it. He died a year after his original illness, waiting for a heart transplant. He had no pre-existing illness or heart condition.
Influenza is a vicious, sneaking, deadly enemy of mankind. H5N1 has stayed mostly under the mass media radar, but it is still growing, expanding, changing; and we do not know what is just around the corner.
It seems that you have become stars. It is well deserved.
If there are any of the old posters that I have missed please let them know.
You never know where God is working, and how the little things we do today reflect on tomorrow.
I am so proud of you all and may your work always be this fine.
MA