I received some thoughtful feedback on my last two columns and I want to share it with you.

Alas, last week's column about giving away my tie to a stranger did not generate an offer from anyone, stranger or not, to give me a new tie, but did beget - no, I'm not kidding - a martini recipe. Read on:

Nine parts gin

"It is perhaps a mark of the degeneracy of my fading generation (I'm 80+) that I am moved to write in response to your Sunday column about neckties and martinis." writes Bob Warren of Attleboro.

"I am glad to learn that those frosty potions still appeal to persons connected with journalism. Many martinis did I drink and duel with. They have, I guess, lost much of their primal appeal among bar patrons, but I still hold them dear to my heart. "I am inspired to send you a recipe that I devised back in the 1990s, with the help of my daughter's mother-in-law. It is simple, not colorful, and yet its ingredients have that marvelous martini look and aroma.

"My formula: 9 parts good gin (say, Beefeater), plus 1 part dry vermouth (I like Noilly Prat) and 1 part white rum (e.g. original Bacardi). Garnished - nay, brightened - with a slice of orange (mother-in-law's contribution). Best served over ice, as it is not to be drunk in a hurry, but sipped slowly ..."

Well said, Bob. Beefeater is my gin of choice, too, so I will give it a try.

Cheers.

Dangerous walking

"Being a faithful reader of your Sunday columns, along with the rest of the paper, I totally agree with your assessment of people carelessly walking (or jogging) in the street," writes Bill Gorman of Attleboro about my column two weeks ago.

"Below I have attached a letter I intended on sending to The Sun Chronicle some time last year ... I never sent it in, but your column has me wondering if I should have. Anyway, since you got me going again, here it is:

"After reading a recent article in The Sun Chronicle about the increase in pedestrian deaths and daylight savings time, I was wondering about one major omission. How many were hit on the street and how many were on the sidewalk?

"Although it happens, you rarely hear of a vehicle hitting someone on the sidewalk, so I am assuming most of these people struck are walking in the street.

"Being a regular jogger myself (21/2 miles a day, five days a week minimum and ALWAYS wearing a reflective vest), I fully understand that people walking or jogging must use the street from time to time; however, I see a vastly disproportionate number of them on the street, even when a sidewalk is available. "Countless times I have witnessed a walker or jogger on many city streets in the roadway, right next to the sidewalk, or across the street where there is no sidewalk ... Cars are supposed to be in the street, people should be on the sidewalk ...

"When you have a car versus a pedestrian, needless to say the pedestrian loses every time. If a sidewalk isn't available, maybe you should consider finding another place to walk or run.

"I am well aware of the fact that the pedestrian always has the right of way, but walking or running in the street just might make you dead right ...

Good advice, Bill.

See you next week.