Happy Birthday, Smokey

I'm a fan of bears. Whether it's Pooh or Teddy, I couldn't pick my favorite. But today's honor belongs to our dear friend, Smokey. Smokey turns seventy today and he's still going strong. Smokey's existence began in the last years of World War II. There was real concern that forest fires would be started and the fire fighters were away in combat. In 1950 there was a real Smokey, a bear cub who survived a forest fire in New Mexico. His new home became the National Zoo in Washington and he became beloved as Smokey.

Seventy years later we still love Smokey and he's become my model for getting older. Smokey has adapted with the years and he's kept right up. He has over 300,000 Facebook fans and 24,000 twitter followers. His tagline has changed from "Only you can prevent forest fires," to "Only you can prevent Wildfires," and he has enlarged his focus to urban and suburban areas. Smokey is still as ruggedly handsome as he was when we first met, almost sixty years ago. Love you, Smokey, and here's to another seventy years!

We had another glorious summer day in New York. Enjoyed my study group this afternoon -- we're slowly working through the Book of Amos -- and made a trip to the gym. I'm really trying to get into a good routine -- exercise, blogging and decluttering -- and am mostly successful. I've got a massive to-do list next to the computer and I intend to tackle several things tomorrow. I don't want to see the same items come Labor Day.

As ever thanks for visiting and wishes for a sweet summer Sunday.