A YEAR"S BLESSINGS - WITH THANKS 
                                                 

                  Illþ Monroe K. Alexander, 33ø 
                        Grand Sword Bearer 
                Sovereign Grand Inspector General 
                          in New Mexico 
          P.O. Box 4355, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-4355 


  THIS YEAR I've been so blessed in so many ways, for which I 
give thanks to the Creator -
  
  ù   for the magic of seeing a butterfly flutter by, 

  ù   for the bright, unmatched yellow the Lord puts in every 
daisy and sunflower, 

  ù   for the azure sky with its cloud-formed puppies, 
caricatures, ice-cream sundaes, gargoyles, and tall ships in full 
sail, 

  ù   for the fact that no two snow-flakes are exactly alike, nor 
leaves or fingerprints, 

  ù   for the soft rain in my face and the beautiful light from 
our sun, one small star among the many, many others in the Lord's 
wondrous universe, 

  ù  for the full moon, a mere 220,000 miles away, 

  ù  for the marvelous feats of Voyager II, several billion miles 
distant, sending us photos of Neptune and Triton whose 
temperature is 400 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, 

  ù  for the new muscles I've found practicing operative masonry 
on 138 12" X 12" X 2" red brick pavers, 

  ù  for the brotherhood of my hometown Lodge in Clayton, New 
Mexico, and the birth of my grand-niece, LeLayne Alexandria Tapp, 
in Boise City, Oklahoma, places miles apart on the map, but close 
together in my heart, 

  ù  for all of the above and for the prayers I've offered this 
year and those many more I should have offered, I (one small 
person in the vast scheme of things) give thanks, dear Lord, this 
year-and for the year to come! 
 ______ 

  Illþ Alexander graduated from the FBI National Academy in 
Washington, D.C., served two years in the U.S. Army, worked for 
the FBI Identification Divi-sion, and later joined the New Mexico 
State Police.  He established the first crime lab in New Mexico 
and after 34 years of outstanding service, he re-tired as 
Captain/Commander. 
 
  A Master Mason for 38 years, Broþ Alexander is also a member of 
the Shrine.  He is a Past Master and Past District Deputy Grand 
Master, and served as Deputy of The Supreme Council from 1976 to 
1985 when he was named SþGþIþGþ of New Mexico.