It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.

-- St. Francis of Assisi

If you feel gloomy and blue this time of year, it's not really your fault.

According to my AARP newsletter, researchers at the University of Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health analyzed brain scans.

They found the levels of serotonin -- a mood-adjusting chemical in the brain -- were lower in autumn and winter months. That's because sunlight regulates a protein that controls serotonin levels. A lack of sunlight means less of the "feel good" substance.

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BRIGHTER DAYS: Let's check the mail and see who's having a good time despite the season.

Paul and Betty, of Augusta, send a postcard from Germany, where they are enjoying snow and Christmas markets on the Rhine River.

Dwight and Margaret, of Johnston, S.C., send greetings from Sedona, Ariz., which they say is "awesome."

Ruth Orr spent a happy Thanksgiving in Lincoln, Neb. Alan and Nelda Boettcher spent their Thanksgiving in Ogden, Utah, visiting son Allen and his wife, Vivian.

Penny and Chuck Ballas send greetings from New York City, where they're visiting and enjoying some Christmas shopping.

Miriam and Schuyler Atkins , of Evans, send a Thanksgiving postcard from Hell, which as some of you know is in the Cayman Islands.

Spending the holiday in the north Georgia mountains are (if I can read this right) Rusty and Trent, Susan, Ernestine and Jack .

April in Grovetown shares a postcard from Augusta, Mont., which does not look like Georgia. She said she was visiting out there earlier this year and called a local store there to send her some postcards.

Pat and Wayne Fuller , of North Augusta, sent a card from the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas -- their 12th month of sending a postcard from somewhere.

Susan and Anthony , of Gibson, Ga., were on vacation in New England. (Sorry, I just found your postcard.)

Sandra and Shirley Johnson are staying at the Fitzgerald Casino and Hotel in Mississippi.

Finally, "Illinois Jones" sends the best-looking postcard of the year. He said he got it during Pioneer Days in Lincolnton, Ga., last month.

What else can I say?

She's wearing a bikini.

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CHECK ME OUT: My new "Our Town" feature in the blog section of augustachronicle.com tells another story from Augusta's past.

Have you ever heard of David Cahill?

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TODAY'S JOKE: Seth Benson shares this one.

The teacher asked one of her young students if he knew his numbers.

"Yes," he said. "I do. My father taught me."

"Good. What comes after three."

"Four," answers the boy.

"What comes after six?"

"Seven."

"Very good," says the teacher. "Your dad did a good job.

What comes after 10?"

"A jack," says the little boy.