Today I want to touch on a number of topics, but first I just want to say THANK YOU to all those great people who have worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine for the Coronavirus. It is here, it has proven to be safe and effective, and it soon will be in the possession of millions. We are truly blessed. 

Another topic very much in the news, as you know, is the election. Perhaps the arrival of this vaccine might take some emphasis away from the universal vote-by-mail effort and encourage more in-person voting. Mail-in balloting has always been viewed with skepticism because it is conducted outside the supervision and overview of elected officials and it destroys the secret ballot concept and allows states to send out ballots to every registered voter in the state, with very little or no supervision. This is distinctly different from what we know as absentee balloting. 

To vote absentee, a voter must make a request to do so, and that entire procedure is under close supervision. We also have the opportunity to vote early. Early voting will get underway on Thursday, Oct. 15, and will run through Saturday, Oct. 31, seven days a week. 

There is really NO EXCUSE for any registered voter not to vote. We have so many reasons to, as the old song goes, "Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." Fortunately, we still live in the greatest country on earth, a nation under God, with justice and mercy for all, but it is incumbent upon us to keep it that way and to be a beacon of light to the rest of the world. 

Most people are truly wondrous and inspiring and want to make this world a better place in which to live. When we hear people make negative statements and tend to place the blame on others as a reason for their not doing great things, we can answer them the way Dr. Kent Keith did. He said: "Some people may be illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered....love them anyway. If you try to do right, some may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives... do right anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.... do good anyway...Honesty may make you vulnerable....be honest anyway."

And in closing, some words to live by:  (1) There are no shortcuts to any place worth going; (2) Don't wait for your ship to come in....swim out to meet it; (3) Be grateful for luck, but don't count on it; (4) Realize that most things are difficult before they are easy; (5) Blame softly, praise loudly. 

Have a WONDROUS day!