MAY DAYS!

    SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021

              MAY DAYS!

  Welcome to May! It's a very busy

month in case you didn't know. It's

national barbecue month, national

hamburger month, national salad

month, blood pressure month, and

and national older Americans month,

just to name a few. In many countries

around the world, at least 140, this

day, May 1st, is a legal holiday. It's\basically 

like our Labor Day. Workers in many of

those countries have the day off. In

countries like Russia and China they

have big parades. Nut they must have

trouble getting High School Marching

Bands because they usually just have

rockets and such in their line of march.

Here in the United States Mayday is

observed more like the eve of summer.

You may remember seeing pictures of

kids dancing around the Maypole. I

never actually saw a Maypole and I

certainly never danced around one!    

It's not a holiday in the U.S. with one

exception. May 1st in Lei Day in

Hawaii! It's celebrated there every

year. Hope you enjoy the day

where ever you happen to be abd

that akk your NEWS is good

A RAISIN IN THE SUN!

      FRIDAY. APRIL 30, 2021

      A RAISIN IN THE SUN!  

  It's April 30th everybody and this

is "National Raisin Day!" Raasins

have been around for a very long time.

They were first produced in Egypt and

Persia as far back as 2,000BC!  They are

a very healthy snack. Chances are you

got one of those small pocket sized bot

of raisins with some of your school snacks

back in the day. Those boxes are still sold.

The day was staryed in 1909 by the California

Raisin Grower's Association. They did a lot

of promotion in newspapers, and radio and

local restaurants all across the state featured

dishes containing raisins! You can make your

own! Get some grapes, wash them, then put

them out on a clean sheet like a baking sheet

under the warm sun for three or four days and

you'll have yourself some fresh raisins. You're

probably wondering where I got all this information

about raisins. Well I'm glad you asked. I heard it

through the Grape Vine! Hope all your NEWS

is good!   

AFTER MY HAIRCUT!

 

      THURSDAY, APRIL 29TH., 2021
               AFTER MY HAIRCUT!  

   I wonder how many of you can remember
where you were 52 years ago today at 11 am?
   I can. I was getting my haircut! I didn't
really need it but I wanted to have my hair
styled.
    I had to go to a wedding later in the day.
In fact it was my wedding!
    This is my wife and my 52nd anniversary!
     This year it falls on a Thursday and that's

the day we watch our 5 year old grandson so

we had a little celebration Wednesday at

our favorite restaurant after a sunny top

down ride in the Miata. The restaurant is

La Dolca Casa in Tamaqua. The owner,

our good friend Alfie, surprised us with a

plate with "Happy Anniversary" written in

chocolate sauce and two canoli's for our

dessert!
       Afterwards a ride to White Haven

where we god to spend some time with

my wife's brother and his wife who just

returned from Florida. 

       Hard to believe a half century plus

two years have gone by since our wedding

day. But those years have brought three

great kids and, now, six grand kids! We, like

all of you, have had bumps in the road. But

in all reality life as been pretty darn good!

       I'd live it again given the chance!

       Love to my wife and Happy Anniversary!

To the rest of you, as always, I hope all your

NEWS is good!

 
   

TIME FOR A RHYME!

  WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021

        TIME FOR A RHYME!

  April 28th is "National Poetry Reading

Day!" I think a little poetry is good for us!

My Mother was a very good poetry writer.

I can a collection of her poems in a drawer

here at home that would make up a good book.

And I've dabbled into poetry myself a bit. I

was even Poetry Editor for one of my school

newspapers. I won an award for one of my

poems written in just a few minutes aboard a

rain traveling through the Canadian Rockies.

We had just crossed a river known for its

Salmon run and we were challenged to write

a poem about it. With your indulgence I'll

share it with you here.

The Beauty of the river hides a story just

below, of the mighty Northern Salmon and

the places she must go. Her journey takes

her westward, to the ocean depths she'll roam.

But after just a few short years, Mother Nature

calls her home. She'll battle raging rivers and

the barriers made by man, to reach her

destination, the place her life began. There

she'll complete life's journey in the waters

neath the sun, while the Great Creator watches,

smiles, and says "Well done."

I won the contest and was awarded "The Order

Of the Salmon." which made me rather proud!

I've written some silly poems too. Here;s one.

Little Birdy in the cage, How I wonder what

your age....is." I call that blank verse!

Hope you'll enjoy some poetry, I really think

your should! And until we meet tomorrow,  I

home all your NEWS is good!

THE SNOWBIRD RETURNS!

      TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021

    THE SNOWBIRD RETURNS!

   You could call it another sign of Spring/

We all know some snowbirds, those who

disappear when the weather turns cool then 

cold in the fall. Most head south. Some just

hunker somewhere out of the weather. Around

this time of the year they begin to return. We

welcome most of them. But no all. One of

our snowbirds showed up around our place

this week. My wife saw him as did a neighbor

who got her camera out. I'll probably get a

look at him later this week. Whe I take out

the garbage. I'd be happier if he just stayed

where ever it is he goes in the fall! Hope you're 

well and that all your NEWS is good!

THE PRETZEL!

   MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2021

           THE PRETZEL!

  Today we pay tribute to one of our

favorite snack foods. The Pretzel!

Americans eat a lot of pretzels but

you should know this snack was

created in France in about 650AD!

The Germans quickly latched on

to the pretzel and for hundreds of

years you could find them in most

any German bakery. They do go good

with beer! It wasn't until 1850 that the

pretzel first came to the U.S. It was

first baked it Letitz Pennsylvania by

Julius Sturgis. His original bakery is

still there and open for tours. So, in a

sense, the American home of the pretzel

is right here in Pennsylvania! They come

in all sizes and shapes but no matter how

you twist it the pretzel remains one of

the world's favorite snack foods. Hope

you'll enjoy one in celebration and that

all your NEWS is good!

SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED!

 

     SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021

SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED!

    I wasn't sure just what I'd write

about today. There are no great

"holidays" listed for April 25th/ It

seemed like kind of a dull day. Then

I looked into it's history! Turns out

a lot of things happened on this date.

Just in different years! For instance,

the thimble was patented on April

25th of 1684! In 1792 France came

up with a new humane method of

execution.....the Guillotine! Cutting 

edge for it's time! In 1901 New York

became the first state to require license

plates on cars! They cost a buck! Then

in 1959 the Saint Lawrence Seaway

opened the great lakes to ocean vessels

from and to the Atlantic. Speaking

personally it also created some great fishing

grounds! So it seems there's a lot of reasons

to "celebrate" April 25th. Enjoy the day and

I hope all your NEWS is good!

 

AN ITALIAN RECIPE!

   SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021

       AN ITALIAN RECIPE!

   I was all set to celebrate the day. I

pulled a box of Macaroni and Cheese

from the cupboard. Then I realized I

read it wrong! It isn't Macaroni Day!

It's Marconi Day!!!Guglielmo Marconi.

An Italian gentleman born in 1874. He

traveled a lot with his Mom and brother

during his early years, the he set his sights

on the Naval Academy. But he failed the

 test and didn't make it. So he turned his

attention to science which turned out to be

a pretty good thing because he invented

the wireless radio that sent messages across

the ocean! His device ended up saving a lot

of ships at sea! It was Marconi Operators

who sent the distress call from the doomed

Titanic. Perhaps I'll have spaghetti to celebrate

his day. Unfortunately I don't know how to

ask for spaghetti using Morse Code. Maybe

a distress call to my wife will work? I'll try

that! Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!   

GOING TO THE MOVIES!

    FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021

   GOING TO THE MOVIES!

April 23rd is "Movie Theater Day!" I

always loved the movies. I was even in one.

Truth be told I pretty much grew up in movie

theaters. My Dad was a projectionist at the old

Capitol Theater in Hazleton. I got in there for

free. But when I wasn't going to the Capitol I

could often be found at one of the many

neighborhood theaters we had in my home

town. There were two within 5 block of my

house! On weekends you could go to either

for anywhere between 13 cents and a quarter

and see a double feature, a short subject, cartoons,

and a weekly chapter with superheros like

Superman or Batman! These days a lot of

folks have those big screen TVs in their home.

But as big as they may be they're  nowhere 

near the size of the giant indoor movie theater

screens or the Drive Ins for that matter. Theaters

have been hurt a lot by the virus this past year.

Many close, some for good, and others have to

limit the size of their audience for safety sake.

I hope they'll make a comeback! There's nothing 

like a night out at the movies, or an afternoon for

that matter. And it's too soon to say "That's All

Folks!" Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!

GETTING TO BE A HABIT!

   THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

    GETTING TO BE A HABIT!

   As many of you know it;s hard to

break a habit. But, as I found out,

 it's surprisingly easy to start one!

Ten years ago today, for reasons I

still don't entirely understand, I

decided to write a blog. I wan't

sure if I write one a week or one

a month but it immediately became

a daily challenge. Last year, about this

time, my son suggested I add a video

blog, or Vlog to the effort. I've missed

a couple days here and there, most 

recently a couple weeks when I caught

the covid virus, But, for the most part,  

I've had a blog every day for ten years.

This, in fact. is blog number 3,731.

I've repeated a few. Sometimes because

I feel the subject bears repeating and

sometimes because I can't think of

anything new. I pick my subjects

for my everyday life, unusual

holidays, and interesting bits of

history. I use a lot of artistic license!

Hopefully it won't expire anytime

soon! Hope you'll keep watching

or reading and that all your NEWS

is good.

Kindergarten!

    THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

            KINDERGARTEN!

   For the past couple years I'be been

picking up my little grandson at Pre

School one day every week. But this

fall he'll move ob to Kindergarten! I

mention it because April 22nd in

"Kindergarten Day!" It is also the

birthday of the man who "invented"

Kindergarten! Friedrich Frobel started

the first Kindergarten in Germany in

1837! My Grade School took awhile

to follow. In fact it didn't offer

Kindergarten till around 1950 when

I was in either 2nd or 3rd grade! I'll

be watching my grandson closely! 

Maybe I can finally catch up!

Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!

MASKS!

     TUESDAY, APRIL 20TH, 2021

                    MASKS!

    Imagine my surprise when I reviewed

my BLOG from exactly one year ago, when

restaurants were just being allowed to reopen

on a very limited basis, and discovered it's

still almost a perfect fit! So, I decoded to

publish in again for your consideration!

                    MASKS!
       There are signs that the virus prompted
lock down of some businesses and a lot
of people may be nearing an end.
     When it does come about we will
likely be facing what some are already
calling a "new normal."
      Normal, of course, is a relative
term. I don't know if I'd call most of
my relatives "normal." And it is an
adjective not usually associated with
me.
      But what's "normal" is really changing
all the time.
      When I was a kid you could get on
a train from your home town and go
anywhere. Now it's a big thrill to ride a
train at an amusement park.
       I can still remember standing up to
change channels on my black and white
TV screen. And there were only a few
channels to choose.
       Now "normal" is a large screen
Smart TV and there are usually at
least two remote controls needed to
watch what you want.
       Maybe the new "normal" will
include less hugging and handshaking
and that would be a shame.
       Masks could become routine.
       Think I'll go with a Brad Pitt!
       Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!

THE BLOODY RED BARRON!

   MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021

THE BLOODY RED BARRON!

   This was a big day in aviation

history. You may not remember,

buy Snoopy probably has it listed

in his log book! This was the day,

in 1918 when The Red Barron shot

down his 79th and 80th enemy planes

making him the greatest air ace of all

time. I'm not sure if Snoopy's plan was

one of those or not. Yes, the Red Barron

was a real person. Manfred Von Richthofen

was a fighter pilot for the German Air Force

in World War I.  The following day it was

the Red Barron who died! All of the evidence

suggests he was killed by gun fire.....from the

ground! And now you know. Hope you;re well

and that all your NEWS is good.

IT'S A TOSS UP!

 

      SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021
             IT'S A TOSS UP!

   So,as it turns out, April 18th., is
"International Jugglers Day!"
   It is a day, according to
holidayinsights.com. to celebrate
the skill of juggling, and those talented
people who can juggle many balls and
objects at a time. Common objects
include: balls, clubs, swords, plates,
rings, and flaming sticks.
    I have juggled schedules, and
paychecks over the years. But I
don't believe that qualifies me as
a juggler.
    My son can juggle.
    I've tried. But I can only handle
two softballs at a time and only if'
I don't toss them too high.
      The best jugglers can juggle up
to ten balls at a time!
       You might want to give it a try
in honor of the day. I would suggest,
however, sticking with rubber balls
as opposed to things like fire sticks,
knives, and chainsaws.
        I will watch Facebook for photos
of your success or notices of your
hospitalization.
        Hope all your NEWS is good!
      




   

HELP WANTED!

   SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021

           HELP WANTED!

  Facebook has become an important

part of my life. It offers a venue for my

blog. But is also allows me to do video

chats with people I haven't been able

to see in person because of the pandemic.

It keeps me up to date on births, anniversaries,

weddings, and birthdays. Over the past couple

of weeks I've started to receive news posts

designed, it seems , to find employment for

me! A couple I received yesterday actually

involved openings for reporters. I've had a

bit of experience in that field. One, however,

was an opening for someone to cover meetings

in a community three counties away so that

wasn't very practical. Here's a couple of the

other available jobs.  There's need for a part

time Dispensary Associate, a Laborer (I don't

like the sound of that one), a Talent Acquisition

Partner (whatever that is),  a Landscape Laborer

(there's that term again), a Warehouse Associate,

and a Ranch Camp Counselor, just to name a

few. But here's the thing. I'm retired and

pretty comfortable just sitting on my front porch.

Of course, think about that extra money! I wonder

if I can get my wife interested in any of these great

opportunities? Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!

REMEMBER!

    FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

            REMEMBER!

  It's Friday April 16th. This is "Save

The Elephants Day!" Seems the natural

herds of elephants around the world are

dwindling because of land development

and, most of all, poachers! For the last

ten years or so there's been a world wide

public information campaign to tell people

about the problem in the hope they'll help

fix it. The only elephant "herds" I ever saw

were part of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum,

and Bailey Circus. They were always a big

(in many ways) attraction until some people

started complaining they weren't well cared

for. As I'm stated before, I had occasion to be

"back stage" with many of the circus animals

when my Dad worked spotlight for the shows

at Madison Square Garden in New York. All

I ever saw was animals being treated like family

pets. Anyway the circus gave in to the complaints

and, within two years, the circus disappeared!

Talk about an endangered species! They say

elephants never forget. So today you're being 

encouraged to remember them and their plight!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS is

good! 

MORE TITANIC TALES

   THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

      MORE TITANIC TALES

  The Titanic struck the iceberg on

April 14th but it actually sank during

the early morning hours of April 15th

and this is Titanic Remembrance Day!

And I'm remembering two men who were

NOT on board. One put a down payment

on a ticket only to be called back to the

U.S. early. Thanks to that recall we can

enjoy Hershey's Kisses for the would be

Titanic traveler was Milton Hershey!

Almost everybody knows about "The

Unsinkable Molly Brown." She did

survive the sinking. But her husband

wasn't with her. James Joseph "J.J."  

Brown was born in Waymar Pennsylvania,

near Carbondale. His parents moved to

Pittston while he was very young. He

was home schooled by his mother and

then sent to Saint John's Academy in

Pittston. Molly and J.J. were estranged

when she boarded the Titanic so she

traveled alone. But J.J. and Milton Hershey

and two men who could happily say they

"missed the boat." Hope you're well and

that all your NEWS is good! 

AN OMINOUS ANNIVERSARY!

      WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021

      AN OMINOUS ANNIVERSARY!

  It was April 14th, 1912 when the RMS

Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden

voyage claiming the lives of some 1500

people. My close interest in the story began

in 1972 when I interviewed a survivor, Mrs.

Thelma Thomas from Wilkes-Barre. Little

did I know that interview would get me

directly involved with the story! Mrs. Thomas

and her infant son were being escorted to 

America by her brother in law, Charles. After

the ship struck the iceberg she became separated

from Charles who was carrying her baby boy!

For days she believed they both had perished.

Charles did lose his like in the sinking but

managed to hand the infant to a woman in a

lifeboat. Mrs. Thomas was reunited with her

chiled at a hospital in New York City. She

spoke of hearing the band play till just before

the end and of hearing the horrible screams of

those dying in the water. On the 60th anniversary.

tye day my interview was to air, I saw an English

woman, Mrs. Edwina Trout Mckenzie, on the

Today show. She also recalled the band and the

screaming. But then she told the interviewer that

while she was in a lifeboat somebody handed her

a baby. I called NBC and told of Mrs Thomas'

infant son being handed to a woman. They got 

Mrs. Mckenzie on the phone with Mrs. Thomas.

Mrs. Mckenzie remembered the blanket. SHE

had saved Mrs. Thomas' son that night and I

had solved a then 60 year old Titanic mystery!

Ironically the two never met in person. They

spoke by phone and wrote to one another but

Mrs. Thomas passed away about a year later.

Each Titanic victim and survivor has a story

and you'd be surprised how many of those

stories strike close to home! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good!

AN AMAZING MIND!

    TUESDAY, APRIL 13TH, 2021

          AN AMAZING MIND!

  I caught an old show on my new "smart tv"

yesterday. Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney!

A great ventriloquist, Winchell worked with

several characters on his national show. But

Winchell was a lot more than a ventriloquist!

He was a very successful inventor! There

are 30 patents filed under his name. They

include a flame-less cigarette lighter, an

illuminated ball point pen, a retractable

fountain pen, electrically heated gloves and

a device to detect when frozen foods have

gone bad. His most famous invention,

however, is the artificial heart! That's right.

Paul Winchell, working with Dr. Henry

Heimlich, the man who came up with the

"Heimlich Maneuver" invented the first

artificial human heart. It was patented in

1963. Paul Winchell. He was no dummy!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!

THE VACCINE.

   MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021

          THE VACCINE!

  About now most everyone has had

or has an appointment to get at least

their first vaccine against the covid

virus. It finally offers us hope.

   And on this date in 1955 we were

just at the begging of trying to wipe

out a very dangerous disease. This is

the date on which Dr. Jonas Salk had 

his polio vaccine approved for use!

Before his vaccine, some 15,000 people

were paralyzed and some 1,900 died

each year! Of course his vaccine did

the job. You probably know that. What

you may not know is that Dr. Salk never

patented his vaccine! He could have made

billions. He said said "It belongs to the  

people." Of course it has just about

wiped out polio around the world. Let's

hope the covid vaccines wipe out the 

virus around the world too! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good!

CLEAR THE BRIDGE!

     SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2021

       CLEAR THE BRIDGE!

   OK folks. We've got a dilemma on our hands! This
is April 11th. It is one of those unusual "holidays"
I love to find, write about and, when possible,
celebrate!
    But here's the thing. This is "Submarine Day!"
    Problem is, although it's been acknowledged
on several calendar sites, we don't know what
kind of submarine we're suppose to be celebrating!
     Is it a boat that goes under water or a big
"Hero" sandwich? There's a big difference!
     I know a little bit about both.
     I've certainly had plenty of "submarine"
sandwiches over the years. Probably more than
a few too many!
     They come in  many varieties with a whole lot
of different names. "Subs, Heros, Hoagies, Grinders,
torpedoes, or baguettes" to name a few.
      The name usually varies depending on the part
of the country you're in. Use the wrong one and
you'll likely get either a strange or, at least, a
blank stare!
      The other "submarine", the boat, usually has
torpedoes on board. But you can't eat them!
       I've been on two submarines. Not as a
sailor. Just a visitor. I know the Navy will be
extremely happy with that disclaimer.
       I got to check out the Nautilus at the Sub
Museum in Groton, Connecticut. I looked all
over for Captain Nemo but he must have been
on shore leave that day.
       Then, a couple of years ago, we had our
choice of visiting either the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio or the U.S.S.
Cod moored nearby. Since the Hall doesn't allow
pictures I yelled "Clear the bridge" and
dove into the Cod for a really neat tour!
       Since the U.S. Submarine Service was
established in April of 1900, and this is April,
that's probably the Submarine we're suppose to
be celebrating. Dah!
       I'm not sure how you would "celebrate."
       It's still a bit too cool for an underwater
swim. Maybe you could rent a couple of those
old movies about subs. I'd recommend Operation
Petticoat from 1959.
      And, while you're watching, call up the
nearest Subway Shop and order a Torpedo,or
a Hero, Hoagie, Grinder, or a Baguette...just
to see how they react.
      As for me, if we're celebrating the "Silent
Service". I'll say no more!
      Hope you're not "taking a dive" and that
all your NEWS is good!

    

A SHARP IDEA!

    SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021

             A SHARP IDEA!

   Today we salute one of the most

important inventions every created

for mankind! It was on this date in

1859 that Walter Hunt got a patent

for the Safety Pin! Walter owned a

friend $15 and decided the quickest

way to make some money was to invent

something. He quickly can up with the

idea for the safety pin. Then he sold the 

patent for $400, paid his friend the 15

bucks and pocked the rest. Of course he

lost out on all future revenues from the

safety pin. They used every day for pinning

cloth to cloth. name tags, and, in my case

to hold my trousers together when I pop

that center button! You get the point!

Use them carefully, that point can  be very

sharp! Hope you're well and that all your

NEWS is good!

JUMBO SIZE PLEASE!

   FRIDAY, APRIL 9th, 2021

    JUMBO SIZE PLEASE!

   Ever flown on a Jumbo Jet, had

Jumbo shrimp. or just a Jumbo sized

snack package? Well today's the day

the word, or rather name, Jumbo, became

popular in america! It was on this date in

1882! That's the day circus owner P.T. Barnum

brought Jumbo the elephant to the U.S. Barnum

bought Jumbo from the London Zoo where he

had been a ,pst popular attraction. In fact, 100,000

school kids wrote to the Queen asking her to stop

the sale. There was a lawsuit, but Barnum won

and Jumbo immediately became his start attraction.

As a matter of fact in just three weeks of appearances

at Madison Square Garden, Barnum made back the

$10,000 he paid for  the elephant! Unfortunately

Jumbo wasn't around all that long. In 1885 after a

performance in a town in Ontario, Canada, Jumbo

was struck and killed by a train while being taken

back to his pen! And that's neither an old wife's.

or elephant's tail! It's the truth! At least now you

know where the term, pr name, Jumbo, comes from!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS is good!

SHOPPING SAFARI!

    THURSDAY, APRIL 8th, 2021

          SHOPPING SAFARI

  I had a chance to do some shopping

this week and realized how much the

experience has changed over the last

couple of years. It's become an adventure,

a safari. Take the prey for instance. I needed

to find some raisins. In the past I could

usually find them in the aisle when you'd

pick up baking items. Lots of people use

raisins when they bake things like cookies.

But they weren't there. My search failed

yo find them until a clerk told me thee

were in the potato chip aisle! And there

they were. In found the rest of the items

on my list which totaled about 15. That

use to me the magic number for making it to

the quick check out lane. But that's long

gone, replaced by a self check out lane where 

you've got to scan and bag your own items

then pay a machine! Well I finally made it

home and sat down for a snack. I had raisins.

Should have picked up some potato chips

when I was that close. Hope you're well

and that all your NEWS is good!

 

NEW BEER'S EVE!

    TUESDAY, APRIL 6th, 2021

           NEW BEER'S EVE!   

   I wasn't around during Prohibition but

I've heard it didn't go over very well! And
that brings us to today's "holiday."
   The sale of alcoholic beverages, including
beer. was banned in the United States
between 1920 and 1933.
    The Constitutional amendment  that
finally ended Prohibition (the 21st.
Amendment) officially became law
at 12:01am of April 7th of 1933.
     That's when April 6th became
"New Beer's Eve!"
     There were lines at U.S. Breweries
and Distilleries that day as thirsty
folks waited for midnight to get
their legal liquor!
      Of course some of you have been
celebrating ever since!  I'll likely
stick with my Cherry Pepsi, but
here's to ya!
       Hope you celebrate the day
responsibly and that all your NEWS
is good!
     
     

LET'S GET TOGETHER, YEA, YEA, YEA!

          MONDAY, APRIL 5th, 2021

  LET'S GET TOGETHER YEA, YEA, YEA!

      That song, from the movie "Parent Trap"

was running through my head as my wife and

I faced what could well have been an Easter

at home alone.  Last year, as we were all learning 

about the Covid virus pandemic, most of our

family was still able to be together for an Easter

Dinner. This year, with two granddaughters

away at college and at least 5 of the family

testing positive for the virus I suspected  we

be home alone. Not quite! Though partially apart 

we found various ways we could get together!

Our daughter cooked up a ham and

our grandson handled home delivery so we

could enjoy a delicious meal ! Our son and

his wife and my grandson stopped by with

Easter flowers, and our co-eds reached us by

video call while our other daughter, visiting

her son in Virginia, joined us in a phone

call to exchange greetings and their holiday

activities. We were able to text chat with our

so-in-law who found himself forced to work

the holiday! Hopefully,next Easter we'll all

be able to be together in person and, with

a little bit of luck, maybe we can do it well

before then! Hope that's the case and that

all your NEWS is good!   

REMEMBERING THE SHOE BOX!

          SUNDAY, MARCH 4th, 2021

      REMEMBERING THE SHOE BOX!

   One of our former Pastors really put himself

to the test each Sunday and I'm remembering that

today. Each week a member of the congregation

would volunteer to take a shoe box home and place

anything that would fit inside. When Sunday came

around the shoe box would be handed to the pastor

would take out whatever was inside and find a way

to tie it into that week's sermon!  It was an

interesting challenge, especially when the person

was able to find some rare object to place inside

the box. I can remember a bullet casing, a bar of

soap, and some sort of gadget that must have dated

back to the 18th century. Each week though, our pastor

was able to make a connection. Admittedly he occasionally

had to "stretch" things a bit to accomplish his goal but he

always pulled it off. I waited for an Easter service to

take my turn with the shoe box just to make it easy on

him, You see when he opened my shoe box....it was

empty! But, then again, so was the tomb!!!!!

    Happy Easter! Hope all your NEWS is good!