Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" GREETINGS, GENTLE readers, fellow culture lovers and traveling friends. We have a new, flashy look and a jazzed up website which previews today. It's our official debut after three months of "packing." We will continue to take you with us on global and domestic romps, on adventures and encounters to make the world a better place. You'll still find us at www.whereiscookie.com , but now with a new flashy lo

Gratitude comes in family size for Christene "Cookie" Meyers, in center, surrounded by her clan of siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, adopted family and the next generation. GATHER TOGETHER, ROLL MERRILY ALONG, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, BE GRATEFUL FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY Editor's Note: Our annual Thanksgiving essay is dedicated to our American friends and family and extended clan and pals abroad who celebrate their thanks on other days. Cookie and Grandpa Gus on Thanksgiving Day

The clan gathered for a birthday party for Christene "Cookie" Meyers, but she didn't know it was also a wedding.  Her longtime partner, photographer Bruce Keller, had arranged the ceremony with the couple's niece and nephew, Amarylla and Steve Ganner. "Father Steve" officiated.   "Father Steve," a San Francisco lay minister, has  officiated at other weddings. He and his wife, Cookie's niece Amarylla, secretly arranged with Keller to add a wedding to the birthday bash. GROOM P

More than a half century after its release, the Montana-made movie, "Little Big Man,"is still entertaining, stimulating conversation and encouraging consideration of the plight of indigenous people and the white man's role in that.   There is an endless supply of white men.  There has always been a limited number of human beings.” -- Old Lodge Skins LITTLE BIG HORN SEMINAR DRAWS SCHOLARS, EXTRAS, MOVIE AND HISTORY BUFFS TO PONDER CLASSIC FILM                                  

BROTHER'S DONATION SAVES HIS SISTER'S LIFE AS WE CELEBRATE 30 MONTHS FROM OUR SCRIPPS TRANSPLANT Emotions run high as a donor is wheeled Tuesday to surgery, to cheers balloons, whistles and applause from Scripps staffers. (patient's face is blurred to respect his privacy. )    STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and CM Checking the donate box on your driver's license could make a difference to someone. WE THANK  the gods every day that we are on the planet. This

Good-bye Marlee: We will miss your sweet smile, music and precocious wit. SATURDAY MEMORIAL CELEBRATES BRIEF, LOVING LIFE OF MARLEE CLUFF...