Letter From America
April 2007
AS A FIRST EPISTLE let me begin by saying thank you to all of you that we encountered in our time spent in the village. Whether it was a passing recognition or a deeper friendship each and every one of you has added to our precious memories of Swaffham Prior. Thank you also for the wonderful piece of art work of the twin churches to bring to mind the occasions which you have shared with us.
The weather is becoming warmer and the Cherry Blossom Festival is getting closer. This year the Festival celebrates the 95th anniversary of the gift of over 3000 cherry trees to the people of Washington DC from Tokyo, Japan in 1912. An additional 3800 cherry trees were given and planted in 1965.
While the festival takes place from March 31st until April 15th, the cherry trees are to be at their height of bloom the first week of April this year. More of the blossoms open each day just as more people announce their candidacy for the presidential election.
It will be an interminable time until our election day in November of 2008 with the two candidates (Obama and Clinton) at the center of attention already throwing insults and barbs on an almost daily basis. Individual states are in the process of setting the date for their individual primary elections. A change in dates could influence the way the campaign progresses as it will bring the focus to certain states earlier in the process. Whether a state is predominately Democrat or Republican doesn't influence the primary as the voters can only vote in their registered status (Democrat or Republican). The candidates are actually seeking a majority of delegates during the primaries. If a majority is not won, the presidential nominee is chosen by delegates at the party convention which happened in 1976 when President Gerald Ford narrowly defeated Ronald Reagan.