Newsletter, May 20, 2009

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In This  Memorial Day Issue ...
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1. Quotations of the Week
2. Conversation Tip for Memorial Day
3. Pronounce this Word of the Week
4. Humor
5. Website Reminder: More Goodies

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1. Quotations of the Week

"It is well that war is so terrible. Otherwise we would grow too
fond of it."
- General Robert E. Lee

"Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win."
- Jonathan Kozol

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2. Conversation Tip of the Week

My father served in World War II. I have a photo of him dancing
the hula somewhere in the South Pacific. Now that I think about
it, it's prophetic because I live in Honolulu. Anyway, in the chunk
of years that I knew him, never once did he talk about his years
in the service. It's not that he went through big battles and
suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. He loved watching war
stuff on the History Channel, and he cried during Saving Private
Ryan (which I refused to see because it would rip my heart in
two.)

I missed my chance to get to know my father better. Maybe it's
not too late for you. Ask your family and friends about their
service experiences, good and bad. Here are some conversation
questions from my coming book Do You Squeeze the Toothpaste
in the Middle? Playful Questions for Dates & Mates. [I admit these
are not the most playful....]

• How did you deal with all those rules and regulations?
• Was military life what you expected? What was the hardest
   part? The best?
• Did you get the experience, escape, or education you hoped for?
• Are you still in touch with your buddies?
• Tell me some service stories.

Let me know how it goes! Send your stories and feedback to

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3. Word of the Week: forte

Pronounced "fort" and "FOR-tay," so no matter which way you say it,
you'll be offending someone.

Yes, it's a musical term. It also means "one's strong point." "Whacking
centipedes is not my forte, but I do it anyway." [As Dave Barry
would say, I'm not making this up.]

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4. Humor

"Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There's just too
much fraternizing with the enemy."
- Henry Kissinger

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5. Website Reminder: More Goodies

Get newsletter archives and articles and tips for good conversation
at www.QueenOfConversation.com. (It's where you signed up for
this newsletter.) You'll land on the page that offers the 15 free
questions. Go to the bottom of that page and click on "site map."
Zoom! You'll go inside where the goodies are.

© 2009 Tracey E. Bennett        All rights reserved.
As always, I welcome your comments, questions and anecdotes.

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