Year of the Central American Caravans.
Migration will be an increasing global problem. "We got ours but not you now" is the prevailing attitude in the USA where European colonialism stole a continent from its original and rightful inhabitants, but now wants to "Build the Wall" to keep out the wrong kind of people. And so the seasonal hot topic of caravans of desperate people from Central America arriving at the southern border to claim asylum from the violence and poverty for which we are responsible for maintaining and encouraging. And so the theme "Love knows no borders." Inspiration for the caravan image came from this photo, organization thanks in great part to the AFSC.
It seems as though the original Christmas story is about forced migration, and offering shelter to a couple in need. Pope Francis and the Jesuits seemed to think this was a logical connection at Christmastime 2017 [1, 2, 3]. Breitbart disagreed.
to do
This year again the window envelope teased the recipient about its contents, another tradition that usually accompanies our current domestic destination love stamp [see below].
We spent 2 months in Rome this summer, with quite a few excursions to distant destinations: Cuneo, Venezia, Torre di Passeri via Pescara, Napoli, Ponza. Even to the Castelli Romani which has been so elusive in recent years, thanks to Gina who reconnected after 30 years thanks to Facebook. Back in March we spent 6 days in The Netherlands enjoying Dutch culture and art and displaced Roman friends who found better opportunities in Europe's Silicon Valley in Eindhoven.
page 2: faces.htm <<< click here for explanation of each photo and link to full size photos
The Netherlands, Rome, Venice, Abruzzo (Lago di Scanno), Napoli, home.
For photos of our summers 2009--2018 in Italy, check out our collection of Facebook uploaded Italy summer photos (Warning: too many food shots) and for all bob's Facebook food posts without the politics, check out our Facebook food master index. Not to mention the continuing posts to the not quite a blog What, ME Cook? website.
NEW!
Last year the dr bob doodling art on-line exhibit arrived, showcasing 50 years of creative inspiration, displayed with annotated thumbnails of nearly every whimsical little sketch bob has done during his adult (or almost adult) lifetime, BUT almost no one paid attention. So bob joined Instagram to release his genius onto the unsuspecting world one sketch at a time, with newly imagined captions for each upload. Okay, artistic genius may be a bit of a stretch. More than a bit?
To make matters worse, bob has decided to share his unsolicited views on movies this past year. Feel free to ignore them.
bob's buddy and ani's brother Paul unexpectedly got taken down by pancreatic cancer just after Christmas 2017 only months after his dad's departure, leaving Isgouhi alone. We all miss him. We try to spend regular extra time with her to make up for the threesome that became solo as a result. Her brother Khatchig sadly passed away just before this Christmas.
The color of the paper this year was goldenrod. By now Lynne at Villanova Fed-Ex recognizes us from our faithful once-a-year client status the past 19 or so years she has worked there. We patronized Kinko's there before the Fed-Ex corporate takeover. $154 for 600 copies this time around.
This annual enterprise was sent out to about 575 recipients all over the world again with nice Love stamps to the domestic crowd (50 cents), Poinsetta Holiday stamp to destinations abroad ($1.15 ouch!). Love stamp archive! Postage $418.75 = 420x0.50 domestic + 180x1.15 foreign (and used 386+184 = 570).
The dr bob negative profit corporation bookkeeping: a loss of over 600 bucks to plant a few smiles around the world, for a net gain not measurable in dollars, serving to keep in touch with so many people who have entered our lives over the years as we stumble through life.
please email us to stay in touch at aniandbob@drbobenterprises.com, we promise to reply!