But first, some old business...

Regarding October's "Creek Classics in Chrome"... No one correctly guessed the names of the couple in the Red '61 Corvette convertible. It's none other than Sam and Bob Conklin! They haven't changed a bit, have they? Other than just getting better looking...

Regarding September's "We'll Miss You, Good Neighbor"... For those of you who have asked what my brother Earl is doing now that "Home Improvement" is off the air, he is in New York doing a Broadway play, commuting daily from Connecticut. I don't know the name of the play, but I do know he loves live theater. He started as a stage actor at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, doing Shakespeare.

Now, in the space remaining in this month's column, I'd like to share with you my favorite poem. I love it for several reasons - It's about Arizona, my favorite place, and it was composed by my favorite cousin, Barbara, the real writer in the family. Barbara has been writing ever since I can remember, and has had many of her works published.

ARIZONA SUNSET

The sun is a strawberry lollipop
Sinking behind cardboard mountains.
Sahuaro smartly salute the desert as
Ten of my personal jackrabbits chase their tails --
Strictly against my orders.

A coyote wails a lullaby.

Geronimo's spirit, astride his pinto pony,
Glides through Cactus Flat.

A sidewinder, nuts on loco-weed,
  impersonates a jumprope
Or a skinny hula dancer.

Some distant year I'll not be here.
But this immortal desert
Shall never pass away.

I'm going to teach my jackrabbits how to behave in church.

Now the sun has vanished but leaves behind
Its lingering scarlet afterthought
And croons a soft goodbye.

by Barbara Abegg

As you can see, Barbara is a very talented writer with the unique ability to paint a picture with words, something all writers strive for, but few achieve.

We are both native Arizonans, having traveled many miles together, even when we were miles apart. Barbara is now living in Safford, Arizona, working on several projects, and caring for her ailing mom, Aunt Lee. Her son, Steve (a computer whiz), lives in California, and daughter Susan resides clear across the country in Rochester, New York. Susan's vocation is in Special Education, teaching children with disabilities.

I'll be sharing more of Barbara's projects as time goes by. Until then, enjoy the holidays!