OUR TIME IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31st, 2020.                         OUR TIME IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE

  I bought a new calendar today to make sure we're ready for the new year. But I got to thinking...Rod Seeking, fro nearby Binghamton, New York, would have appreciated 2020! Sterling, for those who don't know, was the creator of "The Twilight Zone" TV show which odd and bizzare stories. 2020 fits that mold all too well! The horrible death toll was the worst part. But, for many,  the gloves, isolation, masks, and social distancing disrupted normal lives and, basically, proved a big pain in the neck ( or somewhere towards the back!) But it wasn't all bad! There were births. New lives welcomed in 2020. There were young folks who made commitments to one another and the future through 2020 engagements or marriages! That' s the kind of faith we should all have as 2021 shows up and, with it, vaccines against the virus! Thanks for following, liking, and commenting on my Blog in 2020. I'll try my best to keep it up in 2021. HAPPY NEW EAR and, as always, I hope al your NEWS is good!

HOLIDAY HOT DOGS!

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30th, 2020

               HOLIDAY HOT DOGS!

   So, what do you do on a winter day when

the temperature is below freezing and

restaurants are closed because of the

pandemic? Well, if you're like our family

you get in the car, drive to the woods, and

have a picnic! We spent several hours in

Loyalsock State Park in a pavilion built in

the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation

Corps. The huge fireplace provided both

heat and a the flames to cook our hot dogs!

It's not the first time we've ventured there

for a winter picnic. It's become a family

tradition for as many of our kids and grand kids

who can make it. I think it meant more that

ever this year as we thought of so many

families that have been locked away in their

homes for the most part since March. I should

note there are plenty of picnic tables available

so put on your winter sweaters  and coats, find\

a fireplace and enjoy life! Chances are you'll be

well socially distanced from anyone else

willing to take on the challenge! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good! 

re

THE "Y"

     TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29th, 2020

                       THE  "Y"

    Chances are most of you have danced or

listened to the song YMCA! I mention it

because December 29th is "YMCA Day."

It's a day to celebrate/ But not the song! 

The actual YMCA. It's a world wide

organization established in the mid 1800's

and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

I spent a lot of my teenage growing up

days at my local YMCA. It was great to

get together with other young me to play

ping pong, pool, swim, bowl. and get

involved with clubs like the model train

club. the air rifle club, and the archery

club. I was even named Chaplin of our

High Y organization. Unfortunately that

local Y closed years ago and the building

has long since been demolished. The city

got a new YWCA which catered to women 

and men but that has now closed its doors

too. That's too bad. The Y was a place where

young men could gather together safely,

enjoy recreation while, at the same time,

building character! Glad to know there are

still plenty of Y's around. Hope you were a

member there or of a similar organization

supporting youth in your community!

By the way the game of basketball was

invited at a YMCA in Massachusetts!  Hope

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

A TICKET TO THE PAST!

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 28th, 2020

       A TICKET TO THE PAST!

   My wife and I joined my son, daughter-in

law, and two grand kids on a train trip Sunday.

We rode the last excursion, for this season.

from Jim Thorpe along the Lehigh Gorge

State Park trail. It's a major attraction that

brings thousands of tourists to the area each

year. And we almost lost it! The excursion was

halted for awhile over a dispute between the

railroad and the community over taxes/

Fortunately the dispute was settled and we

found ourselves enjoying the scenery along

the Gorge trail and the Lehigh River! It

brought back special memories for me because

some of the rail on which were were riding

once served the Black Diamond, a train my

family and I used to take to New York City

often in days gone by! Train travel haas

always appealed to me. All you have to

do is sit back and relax. Make you feel like

life is on the right track! Hope you'll give it

a try and that all your NEWS is good!

NUTTY AS A __________

    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27th, 2020

           NUTTY AS A __________

      It's my experience there are two kinds of people

in the world and this is the perfect day to see who's

who! December 27th is "National Fruit Cake Day."

People either love or...don't love fruit cakes. My wife

is a lover so I try to get her one each Christmas. But

even if you;re one of those folks not so inclined to

like fruit cakes you may want one anyway. They are

good for so many things! One community hosts an

annual fruit came toss. You see who can throw one

the longest distance to try to win a prize. They can

be re gifted to others. And that can go on for years.

Fruit cakes have been known to last for many years!

At the very least they make good door stops! So,

pick one up to celebrate. Consume it, toss it, or

give it to someone else! Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good! 

THE DAY AFTER!

  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26th, 2020

               THE DAY AFTER!

   The day after Christmas always seems

like a let down. All that excitement leading

up to the big day is over and you might be

looking for something else to celebrate. Well

you've come to the right place, or blog. This

is "National Whiners Day!" It's a day to let

you vent over anything you want. Maybe that

Christmas sweater that doesn't fit. Or the wrapping

paper still all over the floor! I can't complain!

I read it wrong and poured my self a glass of

wine! All's well here! Hope you're just fine and

that all your NEWS is good~

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24th, 2020

  THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST!

     Christmas is just a day away now and

I'm excited. I like Christmas! But even through

there's no "Humbug" around here I will admit

I find myself visited by the ghosts of Christmas

past from time to time. I remember Christmas

morning when my brother and I ran to the

Christmas tree Christmas morning to see what

Santa had left for us. There was always an

electric train running around that tree. I remember

skating at a local pond with family members. I

had to depend on my big brother to keep me upright

most of the time. And I remember family members,

now long gone, who were part of our Christmas

gatherings when I was growing up. This year my

niece surprised me with an old toy Ferris Wheel,

a gift to me on one of those Christmas days so long

ago. After my Dad passed away the toy ended up

in my sister-in-law's house as a treasured antique.

She passed away this year and my niece was kind

enough to see that it came back to me. We shouldn't

live in the past. But it's a nice place to visit, especially

around Christmas. Hope you'll make some new

memories this year and that all your NEWS is good.