[Mark Blackburn]

Oh wow! As I type this . . . Ella's rendition of one of the two best songs written by my favorite composer Dick Rodgers with Larry Hart (their other best-ever would be "My Romance") -- "My Funny Valentine" . . . from Ella's "Rodgers & Hart Songbook" -- arranged by Nelson.

That's being followed right now by Frank's best-ever recording (from the "I Remember Tommy" album) of "EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST THE MOON." (the reception here in the frozen north just was interrupted again, inexplicably -- a minute of silence, and Aida's just come back on, mid-way through her introduction to Dean Martin's "theme song," EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY.

Just after a previous interruption (silence for perhaps 30 seconds) Aida had words of advice for those of us who have friends with diabetes. More about that in a moment. (My wife Irene says, "I'm expecting a call!" We're one of those "single phone line" families!) Back with a transcription of Aida's touching thoughts concerning a disease she herself is now battling.