As I was contemplating this issue's 'Letter,' I was thinking about our Feature articles and how those industries being covered (metals and plastics) have actually become a part of my life without me realizing it.

Yesterday after opening a package of cookies and eating a few, I put the remaining ones in a plastic container to stay fresh. Later on, I organized some of my grandson's toys - most were plastic. And heck, come to think of it, my husband's beloved Fieros even have plastic bodies.

As for metals, I'm sitting here looking at my desk. My scissors have a metal blade, my stapler is made of metal, I even have a metal desk. Why? Because of metal's incredible strength and durability.

You know as well as I do that I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. The fact is a simple one - metals and plastics are part of our daily lives; it's amazing how we've become so dependent on these two commodities. So to those of you who work in these industries, I say, "Thank you." Thank you for developing new products that last longer and make my life easier.