After The Turkey!

   So...what do you do after you've filled up
on Thanksgiving Turkey, stuffing, corn,
sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and, probably
pumpkin pie?
   Well, if you're like us, you join hundreds of
others celebrating the holiday weekend by
heading to Unityville to eat!
    Each year the Volunteer Fire Company in
this tiny Lycoming County community raises
money by hosting a pancake and sausage
dinner that runs 24-hours-a-day for the three
days leading up to the opening of deer hunting
season!
    I'd like to see them go for a month!
    It's an "all you can eat" feast and the
servers, usually the wives and kids of the
firefighters, keep the food coming!
    Each year I go, intent on making a severe
dent in their supply of sausage, pancakes,
beans, and potatoes. Each year I fail!
    The never ending trays just keep coming
out of the kitchen!
    Servers tell me people show up at all
hours although the crowds certainly thin out
between 1 and 4AM. Maybe I'll go back
and take on those supplies again!
     Hope you get there too and that all your
NEWS is good!

  
 
       

INTO THE WOODS!

   It was me against the elements, against
attacks, against wild beasts, and the wild
man of the mountain!
   It started out innocently enough.
   Several family members invited me to
come along as they went out to pick their
perfect Christmas tree.
    I assumed it would be more difficult
than my yearly trip to the shed to put out
our artificial, yet traditional tree.
    Perhaps, I thought, we'd drive up to one
of those road side lots where live trees are
stacked up against 2 by 4 planks to give
you a good look. I was wrong.
    I learned we were headed for some sort
of Tree Farm where customers hike into
the woods to pick the tree of their dreams.
    It wasn't until we actually began to
walk that I realized these trees were not
only in the woods....but planted high atop
what seemed to be a mountainside.
    We hiked through the snow and up hills
so steep I was certain we were about to
come across a sign reading "Welcome To
Everest!" The further we got the more I
worried we had somehow stumbled onto
the route used by the Donner Party.
    Then came the attack! No. Not Indians.
It was a snowball. Deliberately tossed in
my direction. Accurately I might add!
     Minutes later I spotted the huge bear.
OK. So it turned out to be my grand
daughter's Golden Retriever. Hey it could
have been a bear!
     The wild  man of the mountain showed
up next. He did look a bit short. That's
when I noticed it was my grandson in
a beard-like wind protector designed by
my wife.
     While the gang looked for their trees
I contemplated the return trip and
wondered if Life Flight could land
anywhere near me. Since there didn't
seem to be a landing zone I began my
descent and, fortunately, remanded
upright throughout the trip.
    By the way, the others tagged their
trees for retrieval in a few days.
     I'd come along. But I expect to be
hauling our tree out of the shed that
day!
     Hope you're ready to decorate and
that all your NEWS is good.

You Can Go Home Again!

     Years back my wife, children, and I
often joined my brother's wife and family
at their home on Thanksgiving.
     I lost my brother 9 years ago and a few
years later my sister-in-law moved and
put the house on the market. It's been
empty for awhile but, earlier this year, it
was sold........to my daughter and her
husband!
     And so, yesterday, our family once
again shared Thanksgiving dinner in the
dining room where we used to gather!
     Everybody pitched in to make the
dinner a success. My 13-year-old grand
daughter even did some of the baking!
     Somebody, however, must have
miscounted! It looked as if we had
enough food to feed the 109th
Field Artillery unit!
     My plate was totally filled by the
time the serving plate of ham reached
my position! Figuring they were from
the same food family I simply placed
mine on top of my kielbasa!
      I assume the turkey tryptophan must
have kicked in by the time the deserts
became available because I don't exactly
remember what I had....or.....what, if
anything, I missed.
      Three family members were unable
to join us this year. While we missed
them their absence does not account
for the vast quantity of food packed into
take home containers that are likely to
sustain us for another two days.
      My brother would be pleased with
the gathering! Hope you had a great
Thanksgiving with family and friends
and that all your NEWS is good!

 

Turkey Days Of Old!

  Thanksgiving Day is filled with traditions.
  Many of them, of course, are centered around
the menu for the day. And stuffed Turkey tops
that list. (I'm not totally sure why you have to
stuff them.....the one we got wasn't empty!)
   But one Turkey Day tradition is pretty much
gone.
   "Back in the day" local High Schools used to
meet on the Gridiron for a sort of "king of the hill"
Football game!
    In my case the rivalry was between Hazleton,
my home town, and West Hazleton.
    Most everybody went to those games.
    In 1957 5,500 fans showed up in a steady rain
at Harman Geist Stadium for the big Thanksgiving
Day game!
    I was there too......right on the field.....sort of.
    As I've written before, I was a "Manager" for
the team.
    Now  before you get me confused with the likes
of Joe Maddon, the term "manager" in my sense
meant that I and my fellow managers hauled and
packed the uniforms , carried the water buckets, and
quite often, hoisted the stretcher as we carried
injured players off the field. Often through the mud!
    Though it was only my sophomore year I "retired"
from that prestigious position and joined the Stage
crew the next year. Everything we did there was
inside and dry!
     Still, in many ways, I miss those Thanksgiving
Day games!
     Hazleton did very well during my High School
days. We beat West Hazleton in 57, 58, and 1959!
     But the game isn't the only thing that's disappeared!
     My Blue & White "Mountaineers" have become the
Red, Silver, and White "Cougars" as part of a merger that
united Hazleton and West Hazleton High Schools! Guess
it's a lot more colorful now. Even our photos were in
black and white!
     Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg (South) seem to
be the last two teams in our area to continue the
traditional Thanksgiving football rivalries.
     And I say good for them!
     I, on the other hand, will continue my own rivalry
as I take on the bacon wrapped turkey!
     It hasn't got a chance even with its wishbone
formation! I'll just do an end run around the table!
     Hope you're enjoying your own traditions and that
all you NEWS is good!

    


  

  
  Back in the day.......

Today!














HHS  1957

Tie One On Day!

     I got pretty excited when I came
across this unusual "holiday."     
    After all snow is expected pretty
much all day, it's cold, it's nasty, what
a better day to sit back and "tie one on!"
     I was about to check out our wine
supply when I discovered this special
day has nothing to do with drinking!
     National Tie One On Day is always
observed on the day before Thanksgiving.
      It celebrates the humble apron and the
spirit of women of earlier generations who
donned the universal symbol of home,
family and mothering as the uniform of
their daily wardrobe!
      There was a time when you'd be hard
pressed to find any Mom in a kitchen
without an apron.
      These days you're more likely to find
them on the guys hovering around the
back yard grill while they're burning the
hot dogs.
      I suppose a few of them will be put
back in service today as preparations for
the big Thanksgiving feast get under way!
So, if you're in charge of those fixings....
go ahead and Tie One On!
     Hope you don't spill the gravy....and
that all your NEWS is good

HE WHO HESITATES

  Christmas is exactly one month away.
  Snow is expected tomorrow into
Thanksgiving morning.
   But..........yesterday........the temp
during my morning walk was already
at 64 degrees. And the sun was still
shining!
   I had two TV interviews scheduled
in Scranton and a meeting with some
honor students in Kingston researching
the 1972 Agnes Flood.
   I was tempted to pull the cover off
the Miata. You're suppose to resist
temptation. So I did....for about 4
minutes! Well....maybe 3.
   Then I folded the cover and headed
out for the Electric City......top down!
You don't get many chances like this
once November comes around so you've
got to "make hay while the sun shines!"
    I got a few "Heys" on the trip,
especially when I passed a lot of school
kids just dismissed for the day.
    By the time I met the students for my
Agnes flood discussion the sun was going
down and the top was going back up.
    I know the chances aren't great. But
let's hope we get a couple more surprise
days like yesterday, and that all your
NEWS is good!
     
     

Cat On A Hot...Vinyl....Roof!

   My annoyance with cats that have invaded
my neighborhood is well know by most. I've
written about it before.
    Some well meaning people feed them, then
just let them roam to howl at night, use yards
like ours as a litter box, and reproduce. If cats
could pull sleds we'd have enough around here
to throw our own Iditarod!
     Though I'm not pleased with all the felines
my reaction to their presence has been limited
to a quick yell..."Get out of here!" It's enough
to get rid of the cats if not their mess.
      But a couple of  these cats are about to put
their 9 lives on the line!
      One or two of them have taken to rest atop
my Miata when it's sitting in the sunshine.
Fortunately for me, and them, my car is
currently covered to prevent weather damage.
       Were it not I'd be adding a Red Rider BB
gun to my Christmas list the first sign of
scratches on its paint job!
        Why can't cats be more like birds and
so south for the winter?
        Once again I'll issue my plea. If you
want a pet, more power to you! But take care
of them and, please, be a good neighbor!
         Hope my cover holds up and that all
your NEWS is good!