Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And heaven accept you.

Refrigerator magnet

After a very busy week during which I didn't open any mail that had the appearance of "junk mail," I decided to take time to check out what had come to our "snail mail" box.

The first envelope I opened included a refrigerator magnet with the quotation above. I haven't decided whether to send a donation. Because I didn't order the magnet it's OK to put it on my fridge. The St. Patrick's Day green color matches other things in the kitchen so I guess I'll use it.

So what else is in this stack of mail? Like most of you, the temptation is to just dump it all in the "round file," the wastebasket beside my desk. However, curiosity gets the best of me and I usually check it out.

Aha! Here's a bulky letter from the Reader's Digest Prize Council. I know thousands of RD subscribers and readers get these letters but I'll check it out anyway. The folks at RD know from past experience that I love music and books. I have lots of both I've ordered throughout the years. What they don't know is that I enjoy the silence at home and don't often put the music on the stereo in my office and there are dozens of books I plan to read "when I have time."

With the 75 inspirational songs on these CDs or audio cassettes I've no doubt I could renew my faith. It's a temptation to send in the card. Oh yes, after searching through the information, I learn that the cost is only four monthly installments of $14. 99 each, plus delivery. And, of course, I then have the chance to win more than $100,000 in the sweepstakes.

I'll think about it. I don't have to return the entry until April 3.

Then there's a letter from the Smithsonian that includes a lovely notepad with our name imprinted on it. How many notepads do we have? Many with Mr. Billy Wetterer printed on them. A couple of days ago, I received a letter from Smithsonian with an offer to subscribe for less than half the regular price for senior citizens, of course. Why didn't they tell me that when we resubscribed last fall, at the regular price? Oh yes, a donation is requested to help the Smithsonian's research, etc.

This is a new one. It's from Omaha Steaks and includes an offer almost too good to pass up the Fancy Feast Assortment, $154 worth of great food for only $49.99. The offer includes some extra stuff, too. I think I had better discuss this one with my husband.

Here's one, "Personal and Confidential to be opened by addressee only." Usually, I'd just pitch this one because there is no return address on it but for the sake of this column, I'll open it. Why didn't they put a return address for the Council of Indian Nations in Apache Junction, Ariz.?

When they say, "There is a crisis today in America," it's true. Not only for thousands of people across the country but especially for Native Americans. Friends who have wintered in Arizona say the situation there is deplorable and even small donations can make a huge difference. You are right. I'll send a few bucks. I may also suggest they put a return address on the envelope if they want donors to open their mail.

Included in this stack of mail are several letters from various church and political organizations that I may or may not respond to. I'll have to think about those, too. I've learned that some groups are good and others make lots of money off of goodhearted contributors. If you have doubts, check out the Internet. It's amazing what you can learn there.

On a different "mail" subject: I received an e-mail from our granddaughter-in-law, Jessica who lives in Kentucky, sharing a story about our great-grandson Brenden, who is 3. "Just yesterday, Bren and I were driving around town running some errands and it was pouring rain all afternoon. He yelled from the back seat, "Mommy tell the sun to stop crying already!!"