Never straying from their Harvard and Bryn Mawr educations in speech or dress, they were luminous candles in a dim room and I always made a point of visiting them to share a glass of sherry when home to see my parents. My father, "Colonel Catching," would occasionally ride horses with "Mr. Edwards" (their both being of the old school) who said of my father, "He is the best horseman I have ever seen."

           Throughout the years my parents were invited for dinner to Preacher's Wall, the name of their estate, as I was for parties when one of their children was in town or some other purposeful occasion. My parents knew the Edwards quite a part from my meeting Mr. Edwards.

            Fresh out of Mary Baldwin College in 1972, I called on members of the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Stanton Young when he was trustee of the Skirvin Hotel. Mr. Edwards with his wire rimmed glasses and silver hair, navy pin stripe suit with pocket handkerchief was straight out of Central Casting for a Harvard professor. On about the second visit he told me, "You have style, but you wear too much makeup." While I sat there amazed this distinguished gentleman whom I hardly knew would say something so personal, he proceeded to explain the derivation of the word style: "The word style comes from stylus, making a mark as in waxed tablets."

          There began my adoration for Archibald who was my grandfather's age and soon after Stanley. Stanley had the smallest handwriting I have ever seen and would write me a two-page letter on the back of a postcard. There are other stories to tell but for now, it is with great affection that I memorialize Pagan Century in this first issue of The Spiritual Times and honor in some small way Archibald and Stanley Edwards for their friendship to me and my family.

            Happily closing the chapter on 15 years of development work, I now am devoted to writing full time which will include this monthly newsletter. The Spiritual Times will not follow any prescribed format as far as content except to celebrate life, bring me and hopefully you back to a place of gratitude and grace wherein to tap the vast unlimited strength of the spirit.

             In this season of giving, I am reminded that my most cherished gifts have not been of the material kind. Real gifts, authentic gifts, as Sarah Ban Breathnach would describe, are the gifts of spirit, of love and friendship. 
            Wishing you a holiday season full of giving and receiving real, authentic gifts.