I've had a recent thought that might encourage some thoughful postings. It's about "touchstomes." I don't know if that's a legal word, but it's a word that I've used many times over the years.

I've lived, unfortunatly, so darned long that I had to watch many dear friends go into the ground. Often, family members have invited me to take a "rememberance" ... that's what I call a "touchstone."

To me, a "touchstone" is something that I touch, or see, every day that I walk into my private space ... my office and archiving space.

Let me tell of my various "touchstones:

To my left is a pocket knife, simple, clean, but with a good edge that I maintain. Every time I open a letter, I reach for it, and remember my years with Walt Robertson:

I have a collection ... too many in my opinion ... of old and worn our capos. Let's see ... there is one from the late John Dwyer ... wonderful man ... there are two from Walt Robertson ... there is one from the late Stan James ... there's another one from (what's her name) ... OH never mind ...!

I used to have a tie from the late David Spence, but I actually wore it out many, many years ago.

I also have an orchestra director's baton frim my late, and very dear friend, Lauren Jakey. He and I grew up together. At the time of his death, he was an orchestra director of five orchestras and the director of the music department of San Jose Sate college (university?).

So .... those are some of my "touchstones. These are the things I look at every day, use every day, and in enjoying them, I well remember my friends.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOUCHSTONES? bob(deckman)nelson