When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't they don't.

-- William Temple

Count your blessings.

The weather has been great these past few days. Gas prices are not rising quite so fast.

And, it's Friday.

-

LAST WRITES: Last week's column about reading newspaper obituaries drew many comments, including this observation from Seth Benson , of Millen, Ga.

"The obits section goes a long way to show just how talented, and selfless many Americans were in life. There are many more fruitful people listed in there than anyone will ever find on Entertainment Tonight ."

And Frank Allen offered a different perspective -- that he has seen his popular name many times on our front page deaths list.

"Moved to Augusta from Savannah in 1983. I have been listed in The Chronicle obituaries four times. I e-mailed my friends after my last listing and asked why they did not call and check on me to see how I was feeling. I guess I just have a popular name, huh?"

-

TRAVEL NOTES: Speaking of popular, our summer travelers are sending bags of postcards.

Jimmy and Jane Jackson report from South Dakota that on June 9 it was 32 degrees with snow in places.

April from Grovetown sends both a wood and a circular postcard from Montana.

The Bowman gang, of Hephzibah (Ken, Vikki, Gavin, Roz, Daniel ), were heading up to high places courtesy of the Lookout Mountain incline railway.

And the Bolts , of Martinez, sent two interesting cards. In Hutchinson, Kan., they toured a salt mine, which they found very interesting. They recommend its Web site, www.underground museum.org.

They also visited Bartlesville, Okla., for a 30th high school reunion. They say gas prices aren't much better in oil country -- $3.67 a gallon.

If you're traveling this summer, why not drop me a postcard: 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901. I'm still looking for ones from Delaware, Idaho, Connecticut and New Jersey.

-

TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one from Billy Cooper, of North Augusta.

A mechanic was removing a cylinder-head from the motor of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop.

"Hey, Doc," the mechanic shouted, "want to take a look at this?"

The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle.

The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So, Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish it works just like new.

"So how come I make $39,000 a year and you get the really big bucks when you and I are doing basically the same work?"

The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."