I want to thank all the Google Researchers and the astute commenters
who enhanced my understanding of various matters, large and small,
over the past year.

I feel now is a good time to remember the astronauts of Apollo 8 who
on Christmas Eve 1968 took that extraordinary picture of our one blue
planet.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/skyimage_1821_2038575

http://www.astronautix.com/flights/apollo8.htm


On the fourth day, Christmas Eve, communications were interrupted as
Apollo 8 passed behind the moon, and the astronauts became the first
men to see the moon's far side. Later that day , during the evening
hours in the United States, the crew read the first 10 verses of
Genesis on television to earth and wished viewers "goodnight, good
luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you - all of you on the
good earth."

Abraham, Avraham, and Ibrahim broke bread while watching in amazement
at what could be accomplished.

That beautiful photo of the earth floating in the sky always reminds
me of these lines from a song by Malvina Reynolds:

"From way up here, the earth is very small,
 It's just a little ball,
 So small, so beautiful and dear."

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=2151

Thanks Pink.  Be happy, be healthy, and all the best to your two cats.