It is almost the first of June and the weather in northern Canada, at least this section of it, continues unseasonably cold. The snow is gone now, but rain, grey skies, and wind continue to be the order of the day. I have seen a few hardy tulips and daffodils but everything in the green world seems delayed. School will continue for a few more weeks. I am looking forward to my husband's return from a business trip and my daughter's visit during a side journey from her business trip.

In the meantime, my editor and I have been very busy with preparing my next book, Mind, Heart, & Spirit: Educators Speak, for fall release. Watch for it coming from Bahá'í Publishing U.S. For those of you who would like the perfect gift for World Teacher Day on October 5, I think it's a good choice. It's full of stories from wonderful educators from around the world.

My mother continues to struggle along. She will be 78 in a couple of weeks and has become very brave about bearing her pain. I think it's the arthritis that bothers her most now, although she has become almost stoic with the residual pain from shingles, and the thing that is mildly frustrating is the capricious come-and-go nature of the pain. Dad takes good care of her, though, and she continues to be able to watch movies if she gets close to the big screen. Recently my son was able to download several to her computer and she was very pleased.

I have just ordered myself a treat: three volumes in one of the Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz. I read them many years ago and remember loving them, so it's about time for a close re-read. Titles, for those interested: Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, Sugar Street.

More anon.