Almost everyone I know has been sick recently. There are some pretty nasty bugs going around.

Anyone who knows me and my husband knows that, for many reasons, we love to travel. Clearly, one of the biggest benefits of travelling is getting away from work and stress and re-charging. For me, however, one of the most enjoyable benefits of travelling is learning something new and taking that knowledge home with me.  

Despite the title, I promise absolutely no politics, no political diatribes of any kind in this commentary. Just some Chimes of Freedom.   You ask then how a discussion of Freedom involves none of the above. Well. Read on. You be the judge.  

I take Juice Plus daily vitamins under the sponsorship of Shelley Simpson. In addition to the health benefits that come in the capsules, there are also mental benefits.    Recently there was a written insert which I thought was quite instructive. The subject was being awesome and it stated "here are three ways to be more awesome.  1. Stop worrying about what other people think.  Instead of trying to live in accordance with other people's expectations, live in accordance with your values.

Last weekend was Uncle Joe's 92nd birthday. As we have for the past few years, Flo and I went down to Florida for a long weekend to see Uncle Joe and other relatives who no longer travel north. Joe is a survivor, both literally and figuratively. He survived the Warsaw Ghetto. He has had his share of loss and illness. But Joe was always a vibrant, athletic man who set an example for all of us in how to enjoy life in retirement.

Today, January 18, marks the 24th anniversary of ALL 50 states celebrating Martin Luther King Day.   He was born Michael King on January 15, 1929. He would have been 88 last Sunday.

  In January 2007, Apple announced that the first iPhone would shortly be released. It has been ten years since Apple’s first smartphone.    

In the world of social media, “likes” are very important. I recently noticed that  my daughter had taken down a picture she had posted on Instagram. When I asked her why the photograph was removed she told me, “Because I didn’t get enough “likes” in the first hour it was up.”