The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.

-- William Gibson

Allow me to respectfully note last week's passing of Augusta native Angelo Punaro , 92. His funeral mass was celebrated Friday in Macon, Ga., and he was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery there.

According to the Web site of The Citadel, where Mr. Punaro graduated in 1938, he was a successful middle Georgia contractor. His name also appears frequently in the pages of The Chronicle , where he seems to have been well known growing up as a vocalist.

But his biggest claim to fame is something quite different.

The Citadel credits him with designing the garden map of the United States at Augusta National Golf Club, which we all know as one of the most photographed spots in America.

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SPEAKING OF TRAVELERS: Many of you are still on the road this summer.

We had a news story on Matt Miklas competing in the Junior National Wheelchair Games, and he was thoughtful enough to drop a postcard from New Jersey. He writes that he was also celebrating his grandparents' 55th wedding anniversary and his grandpa's 80th birthday.

Ernest and Martha Odum , of Evans, were traveling with three granddaughters (Lauren , Ashton and Hannah ) to the Tweetsie Railroad and Luray Caverns.

Frankie Nevins , also of Evans, was enjoying a grand time with family in Colorado. DeeDee , Pat , Alan , Elizabeth , Tara and Josh Davis were having a grand time at Edisto Beach, S.C. Bob and Daisy Herndon , of Aiken, wanted to make sure I got a card from Iowa. (Thanks, folks.)

Gerry and Linda French , of Evans, were on a cruise to Alaska.

Corney and Isabelle Messer , of Aiken, "just wanted to say hello" from a family reunion in Alabama.

Jerry Coates , of Hephzibah, sent two postcards from New York. He writes: "We got to take a tour of the Watchtower printing plant in Wallkill, N.Y."

Dan and Kathy Scukanec are trying to beat the heat in Oregon.

Norman and Margaret Taylor are keeping cool on the other coast -- Nantucket.

And Julia Josey , of Bartow, Ga., sends a card from Kansas City and writes: "I'm here with the 99th Infantry Division of WW2 for their 59th reunion!"

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one from Charlie Williams .

A man called 911 and said, "Someone come quick! My wife fell asleep on the couch with her mouth open and a mouse ran down her throat!"

"Calm down, sir," the operator replied. "Wave a piece of cheese over her mouth and maybe the mouse will come out. An ambulance is on the way."

When the ambulance arrived, the EMT found the man waving a fish over his wife's mouth.

"What on earth are you doing?" exclaimed the EMT. "Didn't the 911 operator tell you to wave a piece of cheese over your wife's mouth?"

"Yeah," the man said, "but I gotta get the cat out first."