Dear Family
You are my Love, My Therapy, and the focus of my life. So I think, Phone, email you more than I should. Just Read & Delete...and I am grateful.

Today I walked the Seashore and phoned some of you ... I tutored 3 pupils in reading...This afternoon I spent time with three women and our Activities Director at "The Coachyard." A 95 year old woman taught us how to play with Cards ˜Four Kings In a Corner." I called it "4 Kings in a coma." I'm ashamed to admit I won 2 out of 5 games...my ministry is to play and listen.

Now as I prepare for my weekly classes, I do so with great Gratitude for the Thanksgiving Gathering. All of son Jim's Family was here in San Diego. To hold my third Great grandchild, Adeline Reece Colton in my arms and to play "peek-a-boo" with Cullen Frederick Cote in my "Cocoon" room was to feel inexpressible joy in God's mysterious Plan of Family....generation to generation.

There were 17 of us in the Farmer Escondido Home. Ann & her sister Mary, planned perfectly...more new O'er Dourves than I have ever had before....As I see these grown Families. I remember Jim & Ann's wedding at Shiklehaus cabin in Colorado, then the growing families going to Toyland Theater presentation that Susan arranged here in San Diego. (I still have the picture of the Lead character hugging Heather after the show.)

Truly, Thanksgiving in our heritage and tradition ,is distinctive & loaded with abundance, and gratitude. As I celebrate with you, I regret that now Carol is missing the many wonderful experiences you make possible...During the unusual day each of you were in my thoughts and prayers. I think the greatest expression of my love for you is my prayers. No other gift equals this communication and thoughtful visualization.

Son John & C.C. were in New York City with Abby. Heidi, was with Andy and his folks in New Mexico. Jim Styn & Jen learning about Farming on an Australian ranch. The Rob Lowery Family with friends in Fort Collins, Colorado. And Janet Shikles tells me that husband David met her plane from China with a "Welcome Home" Poster and flowers! Great! Three or four times to China this year for her. Janet goes back in two weeks, sharing and speaking to a meeting sponsored by the World Bank in Beijing .My! Our Family truly touches the globe.

Now, thanks to Grandson, John , My Web Page shows me before a talk in Grand Junction, Colorado wearing a Nepal robe David and Janet brought back from a trekking experience. .Ron & Sue truly reached back in their thinking a long, long way... in visiting Cusco, Peru and the Galapagos. Man has come along way and it seems to me that he has yet a long way yet to go. Our evolution is stymied at the point of learning how to live together on this small Planet.

Hoping and praying that each of you may have the privilege of celebrating many more thanksgivings . I pledge myself to write, pray and constantly urge the people of power to sublimate the Strength of our Great Nation to the common good of all. We, and the leaders of all nations, must stay at the tables of dialogue. The moment we unleash our military might on other nations I believe we have failed.

I do believe that our world has changed much since '9/11'. We know now that terrorists cannot be contained and conquered by vast Military Operations. Police operations; yes...But People, ,I believe ,must come say to other people of Influence want to Live. You say, and join me in saying You want to live, too...You must live up to my trust... I will live up to your trust. World Police will help us both to prove honest.

I took a picture of Cullen Frederick rolling my Cloth Globe of the World on the floor of my room ;with the United Nations Flag on the wall behind him...I want a decent Equitable world for him.

The United Nations will not be our World Government.. but it will be our Agency to keep us all talking and making mutual plans for the common good for all Mankind.

Lovingly...Caleb Elroy Shikles...December 2nd 2002