I received at least one nice comment on last week's column, a departure from reality in which I talked briefly about the fantasy world of health care reform, a comment that praised my matter-of-fact, straight-forward response to the issue.

But my favorite feedback was this e-mail:

"Let me get this straight ...

"We're going to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it,

"Passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, "To be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes,

"With funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes,

"All to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese,

"And financed by a country that's broke.

"What could possibly go wrong?"

Thanks for the papers

Now let's see what you've been up to.

"My grandson Mitchell and I brought these Canadian papers back from our recent 'Tundra Buggy Adventure,' observing polar bears in the wild at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, on the tundra along the shore of Hudson Bay," writes Les Negus, who brought back copies of The Winnepeg Free Press and The Globe and Mail.

"Saw quite a few of these beautiful bears - some up close and very personable, others roaming on the ice and tundra.

"Also saw Arctic foxes and hares, Snowy Owls, Willow Ptarmigan in full winter plumage, as well as other Northern Owls and waterfowl. "Our group ranged from upper teens through 88 years, and from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K. and Asia.

"We were also joined by volunteers from Polar Bear International, which included zoo directors, Sea World personnel, teachers and other experts and researchers. A great trip!"

"Picked these up on a quick visit to Philly," write Vic and Iona Bonneville in a note with copies of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Stopped by the Poe House, which was a trip highlight! Phillies mania everywhere."

"I just got back from Southern California and I brought back some newspapers for you," writes Joe Trainor.

"On Saturday, Oct. 3, I attended the wedding of my neice, Samantha Gagnon, 25, in Pamona, Calif.

"The following day we had 'Seekonk in the Desert' in Rancho Mirage, Calif, near Palm Springs, a family reunion for people who once lived in the original Trainor home at 36 Malta St., Seekonk, just off Route 44 near the Rhode Island line.

"Among the guests were Samantha's grandmother, Arlene (Trainor) Gagnon, 82; Shirley (Trainor) McCarron, 80, of Largo, Fla.; Kathleen (Trainor) Quinn, 71, of Bradenton, Fla.; Samanatha's father Russell Gagnon Jr., 57, of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Joseph Trainor, 59, of Attleboro.

"Hosting the reunion dinner was Kathleen's son, John Quinn, 47, of Dana Point, Calif.

"Wednesday, Oct., 7, was Aunt Arlene's 82nd birthday. My uncle Russ and I took her to visit the old mission at San Juan Capistrano, the first Spanish settlement in California, built by Father Juniper Serra in November 1776.

"Then we took her to dinner at the Jolly Roger in Dana Point. My uncle, Russell Gagnon Sr., formerly of East Providence, R.I., is age 85, an Army veteran of World War II and, despite his age, he still gets in 18 holes of golf daily at the Westridge Golf Club in La Habra, Calif."

See you next week.