Living the Crossroads Magazine

A publication of the Big Spring Herald

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Local community members shared their favorite holiday memory and some family traditions that they have kept alive over the years, some of those have even made new traditions as they have started families of their own. christmas is one of the holidays, no matter the age, that brings a little bit of magic to everyone it touches.

Lacey Watson joined the Howard College Hawks as Part of his journey to the big leagues. Since he arrived he has been a force to Reckon with. The season has just begun and already great things are taking place ... no doubt, he’s on the way to the top.

Christmas is one of the holidays that is celebrated across the world and in each region, there is a unique twist - from a different name for Santa, to special traditions, to special decor or even quirky food choices (for Christmas). Anna Gutierrez takes us around the world for Christmas.

‘Tis the season ... to give back, to volunteer, to warm another’s heart with an act of kindness. Big Spring has several opportunities to give back during the holiday season. Staff writer cindy pinch tells about her reason for volunteering and the meaning of Christmas.

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By AMANDA DUFORAT

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hristmas time for most is a time to be huddled around the Christmas tree with family and loved ones, enjoying hot chocolate, laughing, caroling and taking in the Christmas lights. That picture-perfect version of Christmas is a very real possibility on behalf of those who sacrificed so much, including the memory-making moments such as these, our veterans.

One local veteran recalls one memory in particular regarding Christmas, during his time in Vietnam.

“I have very few memories about any special Christmas in my life, but one in particular that I do recall is Dec. 24, 1968,” Mike Tarpley, local Vietnam Veteran, said.

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As the 3rd Battallion, 2nd 506 Infantry 101st Airborn started coming out of the jungle - by helicopter and walking on patrol; we had been working in the jungle in platoon size units - we converged back at the base camp at Phouch Vinh.

The units had received the order on the morning of Dec. 23 and began the march on the morning of the 24.

More than 400 men , laying in 200 fighting positions, were gathered in the perimeter.

“We knew the enemy would probably not attack such a large fighting force that had just shown up a few hours before, but we were observing noise and light control,” Mike Tarpley, a local veteran Tarpley said. recalled one particular Christmas while serving in Vietnam that still From the far side of the hill you could hear the sound of Silent Night. In just a few mosticks out in his mind

Throughout Tarpley’s time in Vietnam, Christmas Day and a simple moment of worship still sticks out in his mind, all these years later.

for seconds.”

According to Tarpley, within 30 days, 35 percent of those men - who shared in a holiday song, a worship moment - would become casualties of the war.

“No one can ever take that magical moment on Christmas Eve 1968 away from me. In my memories I still see the faces young and full of life. Thank God for that memory,” The holidays aren’t just about presents, Christmas decorations and warm fireplaces, but it’s the sentiment, the connection, family. May we never forget the sacrifices made that have allowed us to enjoy these precious memories with our families in comfort. This holiday take the time to say a little thank you to our service men and women.

ments 400 men were filling the jungle with the noise of worshipping our Savior.

“No one was worried about what denomination they belonged to there was just a short worship e n’t se e d l service,” he said. “After the song u o hristmas time tends to be filled with family traditions uc se rk. Yo u couldn’t ar was over the jungle a d more than any other time of year. While many of s o yo kind of he It wa s e fell silent and c us carry traditions from our childhood, some create e’s fa ould ing.” each one had a anyon , but you c in the sing their own tradition as they begin to form their own s s, e c i chance to reflect on the tear o families. One local resident, Kayla Nichols, is one of those who ir v in the their own heart. I am sure m e not only cherished traditions from her childhood, but chose to th each heart returned memories of home, and all the different ways we celebrated Christmas.”

He continued, “It was dark. You couldn’t see anyone’s face so you couldn’t see the tears, but you could kind of hear them in their voices, in the singing.”

A simple song, a reminder of loved ones back home, served as a moment of time travel for those soldiers. Unity across a vast empty, foreign land for so many strangers who were bonded together in brotherhood. “(I) Don’t have traditions or many memories (from my time in the military), except for December 1968. That song ... that night, was a reminder of home,” Tarpley said. “I can’t remember what we had for 2Monday-Friday 8AM-6PM a meal, but I can tell you the best drink I ever had they gave to us Christmas Day; Saturday 9AM-4PM powdered milk with Nesquick in it with ice.

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create a new tradition with her own family.

“Our Nutcracker Collection is something that represents our family,” Nichols said. “We’ve gotten one each year since we’ve been married.”

Nichols’ collection has grown to include 15 Nutcrackers as of this year, and continues to grow. This year, she and her husband will add yet another one to the collection.

As little kids we wait up for Santa to come down the chimney, drop off the presents and enjoy the cookies and milk left out for him. For those who don’t have a chimney, Santa’s entrance becomes a little more creative.

“Christmas was very memorable for me. We didn’t have a chimney for Santa to come in our house,” Debbye ValVerde said. “Even after we got a cardboard chimney ( a 60’s thing), I asked how is Santa going to come see us? But he always did!”

While Santa’s entrance seemed to be a big question for ValVerde, the festivities helped to detour the wondering. ValVerde and the other grand kids – six total – would dress up and Kayla Jo and her husband have been buildperform the Nativity ing their collection of Nutcrackers for 15 at her grandmother’s years.

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Debbye ValVerde admires a Christmas tree at her grandma’s house, when she was a little girl.

house.

“I would read the Christmas Story, and my cousins would be Mary, Joseph, shepherds and Wise Men,” she said. “After we were done there was a loud knock on the door and a “Ho, Ho, Ho”! We would run to the door and there would be a large bag full of gifts for all of us.”

The Christmas Spirit is something that ValVerde holds near and dear to her heart.

Another memory she remembers as a child, is when she got a baby doll, an ironing board and iron, toy dog, rocking chair and that stocking full of hard candy and fruit. Getting those toys out from under the tree let you know, Santa read your letter and heard me when I saw him at the Highland Mall.

“I Believe!!!”

At most - okay, really all - holidays and family gatherings, food has become a main staple in the Hispanic culture especially at Christmas time. Many families will gather together and make a meal; for Anna Gutierrez – a Herald staff writer – one of her favorite things about Christmas time is getting together with her family and making Christmas meals.

“For us, it’s about making tamales with my mom’s family and enchiladas on Christmas morning with my dad’s family,” she said. “We have been doing this for as long as I can remember, and I feel it’s my duty to carry on the tradition.”

Christmas is a time to celebrate and gather together with family to create memories, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. For some however, that memory making involves a little competition.

“We always try and be the first to say ‘Christmas Eve/Christmas gift from you to me,’ the person who says it the most first wins,” Audra Leighton said.

Her competitive nature even steps it up a notch and she uses the phrase from almost every interaction on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. “I even answer the phone that way on Christmas Eve and Christmas day,” she said.

To step back from the competiveness, the family also has stuck with the tradition of placing Oranges and Apples in the stockings along with a bag of candy.

For Sally Grant, it was her mother’s – Teresa Brito - Christmas Village that sticks out even as an adult.

“I remember my memories of Christmas with my family and my mom. She always had a Christmas village that she started making every year,” Grant said. “We always knew when the village started, Christmas was near.”

According to Grant, her mother started with just a little table of houses and it grew every year. By the timeshe and her siblings were adults the village took most of the living room.

“The village and her Bizcochos cookies, which were a secret recipe, and her tamales ... for all my life these three things I remember every year,” she said. “Last year she was in a hurry for some reason to get the Village done by Thanksgiving, which she has never done it that early. She got it all set up, and it was the biggest one. She had a big Thanksgiving dinner with all the grandkids and my sisters. Little did we know ... a couple weeks later she passed away in her sleep.”

The tradition that had grown so special in Grant’s heart will forever be memorable and a little more special.

“Now we know why she was in hurry to leave us the best gift of all that she had been giving us for many years,” she said.

“After Christmas my Dad decided we needed to keep everything out since it was the last thing she left us.”

In order to preserve the memory, Grant’s dad built shelves in a back room and moved everything to the shelves so the village could be on permanent display.

“We made it a memorial for her, in her name, and that village Living Magazine

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Sally Grant and her family now enjoy the last Christmas gift their mother gave them year round. The Christmas spirit and giving heart stays on display for all to remember throughout the year. will never come down. Everyone that knew my mom knew she was an angel, and was loved by so many,” she said.

RaeAnn Rutledge shared a very special Christmas moment, The love she had for us flowed out onto so many others in the of her loved one’s last Christmas and the impact left on their community. She made her Bizcochos cookies and put them in hearts. tin cans and took them to her doctors and friends. She even It was our last Christmas with her. She fought and fought for included the pharmacy girls at H-E-B and so many more knew, six months, she gave it her very all. It was a very difficult time Teresa is going to bring cookies soon Christmas is around the for me and my family. Why would God take her so soon from corner. us?

She wasn’t ready and neither were we, but we had to stay strong for her to let her know it was okay to go home. It was her time and God was finally calling for her.

Christmas memories tend to focus on waking up and seeing Santa’s surprises left behind, spending time with family and celebrating the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus. Then again there are those memories that go a little outside the box and leave an imprint on our hearts. A few members in the community decided to share those special thoughts with the community: My favorite part of Christmas is the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at church.

Heather Duncan Williams My favorite Christmas tradition, from the time I can remember, is reading the Christmas Story on Christmas morning, from the Book of Luke in the Bible.

Carole Madry When I was in third grade the teacher was new to helping third graders learn. She had helped fifth graders learn for many years.

Shortly before Christmas, she asked us to write about the first time we had learned there was no Santa Claus. For most of us it was right then and that memory is still a vivid one even 30 years later.

Sarah M.

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Christmas in Big Spring, Texas is a little different than Christmas in most places; especially when it comes to wishing for a white Christmas.

Mekhi Castillo shared Christmas memories, as a homegrown Big Spring boy experiencing the Christmas season.

“I spent most of my life in Big Spring which translates roughly to “I’ve seen a grand total of two “white Christmases” in my life (both at a young age), “ he said. “But one in particular that I’ll not soon forget happened when I was 8 years old.”

According to Mekhi, it was the night of Christmas Eve, and he and his sister pretended to be asleep - as children do the night before Christmas.

“As we laid with our eyes frantically moving, we heard a noise come from the roof, ‘Santa Clause, it must be!’ we naively thought. But upon looking at the roof from our front yard, we got our first real-life experience of snow on the morning of Christmas Day.” He and his sister had heard the beginning flakes hit their roof and as the sun came out that faithful night they played in the flurries sent by the Angels.

Spotlightoffeatures I

By Kay Smith

f you see a person’s head at an angle the overall mass of the head is foreshortened as each of its features. The mouth, nose, eyes and ears all change orientation with every turn and tilt. This becomes a challenge in figure drawing for the artist to depict the finer forms of the body.

Landmarks for the eye to draw it in perspective can be as simple as using the tear duct or the eye’s inner corner. I try to start here with the first mark then find the eye’s width and direction. I then mark other points to guide the lines for the outer edges of the eye. Remember the eye is an orb so it is round while eyelids are elongated bands of flesh wrapping around the shape.

To me the ear is the most complex of facial features as it varies from person to person and even on one person an ear can take a different form. More than any other part of the face the ear’s outer framework is entirely cartilaginous. Its spiraling lines are a challenge. Distinct interior forms further complicate sketching of this appendage.

It is good to be familiar with the eye and ear and know what to expect from these forms as we draw. Learning to draw means acquiring knowledge and the practice becomes enjoyable when we are thoroughly engaged in the process. It is the process that is most important, that making of art, and a good process will yield good finished pieces.

Visit Brushworks Studio at 2106 Scurry or online https://kaysmith. artspan.com Living Magazine

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By Shawn Moran Howard Hawks forward Lacey Watson has a basketball journey that has transported him all across the country. While here for the school year, the current Big Spring resident is considering his time in small-town West Texas as a business trip.

If all goes according to plan, Watson will extend his travel itinerary to a big-time, Division I college basketball city come next spring.

“Hopefully I'll be preparing to play at the next highest-level,” Watson said. “My main goal is to make it to the league.”

After growing up in Illinois as an all-around athlete in multiple sports and finishing his high school basketball career at Davenport North High School in Iowa, Watson moved onto NJCAA Division II Edison State.

“I liked to dribble the ball a lot and talk a lot of smack,” Watson said.

In his one season in Ohio, the freshman Watson led the Chargers in almost every statistical category. In 30 starts, Watson averaged an extremely impressive 25.0 points per game and converted over 50 percent of his shots from the field.

In addition to his ability to score from all over the court, Watson averaged just under 10 rebounds per

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game, was first on the roster in steals, and also led all full-time starters in assists.

“We knew he came with an ability to score the ball,” Howard Hawks Head Coach Scott Raines said. “You can always see a little shine in his eyes at game time. He has a super high basketball IQ, and he just really likes to compete. We know that he can score because he did it the whole year last year.”

Through the three games that have taken place this year for the Hawks, the diehard LeBron James fan has been a high-energy player who appears to be the best player on the court whenever he steps onto the hardwood. Following in his favorite player's footsteps to start the season, Watson posted an impressive double-double stat line with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in the second game of the season.

How did the sophomore forward respond to his outstanding game?

“My goal is the same thing every night we step onto the court,” Watson said. “As long as we get the 'W', I'm happy. I want to be part of a winning culture.

I was hot this night, but it could be my teammate the next night. I'm going to show them the same

amount of love that they're showing me.” pressive debut weekend with a game where he Making the jump from Division II to Division I can drained a long-range shot from way beyond the arc be overwhelming for many young ballers. as the halftime buzzer sounded. While it was not Not Lacey Watson. as thrilling of an offensive game as the high-scoring “We think he can be a great player for us,” Assisdouble-double for the Rock Island, Ill. native, Wattant Coach Gabe Palmquist-Clark said. “I think he's son made up for his mediocre shooting night with going to have a great season.” intensity on defense that forced numerous turnThe level of performance overs and gave the Hawks “Whatever level I progress to, as I keep that Watson brings isn’t a chance to win in a close, moving up, I'm going to try to compete. And low-energy performance from determined by the circumstance, but instead, I know by me doing that, I've got to play the Howard roster through it’s always a high perforthe best guys. The players on my team, if his point guard-like precision mance. No matter the passing. you ask me, are the best guys. We're one time, the team, or the day, of the best JUCOs in the country, I feel Watson brings his best on Growing up in Illinois and the court.

Valulike, so each and every day I'm competing watching an NBA Most Valu “I'm a competitor,” Watable Player in Derrick Rose, against them and getting better.” son said. “Whatever level another Watson favorite, I progress to, as I keep helped the 6'6” forward adapt moving up, I'm going to try to compete. And I know his game to the current landscape. As the tallest by me doing that, I've got to play the best guys. The player on his high school roster, and knowing that players on my team, if you ask me, are the best he would not grow to be a seven-foot center, Watguys. We're one of the best JUCOs in the country, son took it upon himself to expand his basketball I feel like, so each and every day I'm competing skills repertoire. against them and getting better.”

“I knew passing was something I had to learn,” The uber-athletic swingman followed up his imWatson said. “I knew that this is a part of the game

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where if scoring isn't going too well for me, I'm going to do something else that can help be a (positive) factor in a different way.”

When there is not a good shot available for Watson, the forward is tremendous at using his ballhandling ability to drive the lane and kick out to the open man.

Through the first week of the season, Watson is one of the team leaders in assists while coming off of the bench. Averaging four assists per contest alongside an average of 19.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds, the former NJCAA Division II second-team All-American has filled the stat sheet since his debut in the red and white.

With the schedule about to get tougher, Watson will need to continue his train of progression against stiffer competition.

Matched up against Weatherford

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the NCAA level.

If Watson can be a consistent scorer this season, paired with the overall ability he has shown at the beginning of the season there will be handfuls of scouts flocking to the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

After his time at Howard College is over and his basketball journey continues, there is only one thing Lacey Watson wants to be Tony Claxton (claxtonphotography.com) remembered as: Lacey Watson has been making A winner. waves at Howard College and the season is just beginning.

College, who have tremendous interior size, the Hawks took their first loss of the season in which the shots were not falling. Watson made up for his shooting woes by being aggressive on the boards and firing a handful of accurate passes. Having made a pleasant impression on the coaching staff through his passion on the court, the Hawks current leading scorer is not going to grow content with his production on the hardwood.

While junior college basketball is not for everyone, Watson is embracing his time as a member of the Howard Hawks. “You can't take anything for granted,” Watson said.

“The JUCO route is very humbling.

Other players out there are just as good as you. Everybody out there has heart.”

By the time next spring comes, Watson plans to be moving onto

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By Bruce Schooler

very year about this time I get a bad case of G.A.S. It’s called Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

As Christmas approaches and the new “stuff” is announced it really becomes difficult to not succumb to this debilitating disease. I am a photography nerd and I admit it. I love the technology and the gadgets that are available in abundance. So many things to try and so little time.

What is a photographer to do?

First of all there is nothing wrong with purchasing new equipment if you can justify it. If you are a professional photographer and earn money with your camera, it’s okay to upgrade your gear if it helps you in the creation of your images. One of the things I’m looking at is a new mirror-less camera.

I am a devoted Nikon guy so I am looking at the new Nikon Z7. Canon, Sony and other manufacturers offer great mirrorless cameras as well. I have many thousands of dollars worth of Nikon lenses so it is very expensive to change systems when you have that much money invested in lenses.

One of the ways to combat or at least delay G.A.S. is to study the new products until you know all the specifications forward and backward. You can also read all the reviews to learn the pros and cons of the new camera. Another delay tactic is to watch all the YouTube channels that show how great the equipment is and how it will make you a star in the world of photography. I have done all this and the time has come to make a decision.

Why change or upgrade my camera. I love my camera and it still works perfectly. Why would I want to spend my hard earned money on a new “toy”? There is a legitimate reason to change to the new mirror-less camera. It is smaller and lighter. As I get older this becomes more important. Not only is the camera lighter but the new lenses designed for it are lighter. I can still use my

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current lenses on the new camera by using an adapter. Another reason to upgrade is that the camera has image stabilization built into the body. Again as age becomes a factor this feature makes it easier to capture sharper images. There are other added features that make the new cameras better such as automatically focusing on the subjects eyes.

How cool is that? It really works!

If these new features of the mirror-less cameras sound good to you, I recommend that you do your research. If you’re looking for your first DSLR, check out the new mirrorless cameras. By writing this article I have made my decision to go ahead and treat my G.A.S. by ordering the new camera. The bad news is that the treatment is only temporary as it will return as new “stuff” is introduced. I must be strong!

If you have any questions about the new cameras please let me know. My email address is bruce@theredbarnstudios.com and my website is www.theredbarnstudios.com.

By the way I will be have a special on my executive portrait sessions starting in January. It’s a great way to start the New Year by updating your website or Facebook page with a professional executive portrait.

Visit Our Newly Updated Website Today!

www.BigSpringHerald.com Pictured above is one of the featured trees from the Christmas Tree Forest at the Heritage Museum.

Bruce Schooler and his family wish the Herald readers a very Merry Christmas!

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It’s easy to read the news on the go with our newly renovated website. Simply go to www.bigspringherald.com to see the daily news updates and featured stories. With the recent upgrade to our website, it’s even easier to browse on your mobile device, too!

By Anna Gutierrez It seems like Christmas and the Holiday season begin earlier and earlier every year. Retailers try to out-do each other by offering unbeatable deals way too early in the season that we often find Christmas decorations in the store before Labor Day. Summer isn’t (officially) even over yet, and people are already

Anna Gutierrez, Herald staff writer, is pictured making tamales with her family for Christmas, a family tradition that has been carried down.

thinking of Christmas. Here in our little corner of West Texas, even before Thanksgiving you see many houses with their Christmas trees up and decorated and colorful lights on the houses.

What are some of the traditions in your family? In my family, it’s tamales. We usually gather the weekend before Christmas, and dozens upon dozens of tamales are wrapped and steamed, then stored away for Christmas Eve when we all gather for dinner and a gift exchange. Gathering on Christmas Eve gives those with spouses and other families the opportunity to spend Christmas Day with those other family members, and we still have our time together as well.

Christmas has traditionally been a Christian holiday, but there are many ways that it is celebrated. Since it is that time of year again, we wanted to bring you different ways that Christmas is celebrated around the globe.

In mainly Latin American countries, Las Posadas are celebrated from Dec. 16 to 24. Posadas translates to inn or lodging, and it refers to the inn where Mary and Joseph found lodging. The nine days represent the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy. During this nine day celebration, people form a procession led by a person dressed as an angel, followed by Mary and Joseph. The rest of the procession is dressed as either angels or shepherds, Living Magazine

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and together they all sing a song asking for shelter at designated houses. Each host sings a song of refusal until the procession reaches the last house where the reenactment of Mary and Joseph finding lodging takes place. Many times, the celebrations end with a star-shaped pinata.

In the Philippines, they host a Giant Lantern Festival on the Saturday before Christmas. This festival is said to have started in 1904, in San Fernando, known as the Christmas capital of the Philippines, with simple paper lanterns. The lanterns have become much more elaborate throughout the years that in 2017 the number of lights on each display were limited to 10,000 light bulbs.

There are a few countries in Europe with different traditions. In Sweden they build the Gavle Goat, or Yule Goat, every year in the center of the grounds of Gavle’s Castle. This tradition dates back to ancient Pagan times, but in 1966, a new tradition began. It has become customary to try to destroy the Yule Goat, with the last successful destruction in 2016 by an arsonist. In Austria, Saint Nic is said to have an evil accomplice, Krampus, who is said to “punish” the naughtiest of children and carries them away in a sack. During the first week of December, young men dress up as Krampus to frighten children with clattering chains and bells. In Germany, children who have not misbehaved are visited by Saint Nikolaus and are gifted coins, chocolate and toys in their shoes that are left by windows. Naughty children are visited

by Knecht Rupert, a devil-like character who travels with Saint Nikolaus to punish children who have misbehaved.

In Japan, Christmas is not celebrated by many since it is considered strictly a Christian holiday. They do have quite a quirky tradition, though, and that is to eat KFC on Christmas Day. The first Kentucky Fried Chicken, as it was known back then, opened their first store in Japan in March of 1970. In December, 1974, KFC Japan began marketing fried chicken as a Christmas meal, and many Japanese have been eating KFC as their Holiday meal. You can check out the KFC Japan website to see what they offer.

In Australia, they celebrate the same as we do in the U.S., in many ways. Aussies also have Christmas Trees and decorate their houses with lights, often-times neighbor trying to out-do neighbor. When Santa gets to Australia, you will see him give the reindeer a break and harness kangaroo to pull the sled.

Since it’s also Summer in South Africa, schools are closed and many will go camping for Christmas. A traditional Christmas meal in South Africa will consist of turkey, duck, or roast beef, along with traditional Malva Pudding, which is a cake-like dessert with a caramel sauce poured over the top while the cake is fresh out of the oven and still hot.

There are not many Christians in VietThe Philippines may not be covered in traditional Christmas lights, nam, so Christmas Eve has become more but they do celebrate with a Giant Lantern Festival, the Saturday of a day of celebration than actual Christmas Day. Even though most people are before Christmas. not Christian, many still go to the Catholic In Iceland, there is a tradition that begins 13 days before Cathedral in the center of Ho Chi Minh City. These traditions Christmas. During that time, “Yule Lads”, dressed as troll-like characters, visit children across Iceland. Children will leave their probably arise from the influence the French had when Vietnam was part of the French Empire. best Sunday shoes by the windows, and these Yule Lads will Only about 2.3 percent of the population in India is Christian, leave presents in the shoes. Nice boys and girls get gifts, while but 2.3 percent of one billion people mean about 25 million naughty children get rotten potatoes.

Christian living in India. Many Christians in Mumbai are Roman Columbia has a tradition called “Dia de las velitas”, which Catholic, and Midnight Mass has become an important tradition translates into Little Candles Day. Little Candles Day officially among this population. kicks off the Christmas season. The Immaculate Conception There is also a large Roman Catholic population in Goa, probis celebrated on December 8, so on December 7, candles and ably due to Portuguese influence. Many paper lanterns are placed in windows in Goa have the same western Christmas to honor the Virgin Mary. In, Quimbaya, traditions to which we are accustomed, Columbia, people compete to see who has such as caroling, Christmas trees, and the most impressive display.

Christmas cakes, which resemble the fruit In another part of South America, Caracakes of the U.K. and U.S. A traditional cas, Venezuela, to be exact, the streets Christmas meal of roast turkey or chicken are shut down to automobile traffic, and is also customarily eaten before Christmas people will roller skate to church on ChristEve Midnight Mass. mas Eve. The origins of this tradition are So, whether you have turkey, tamales, or unknown, but it has become quite popular. another meal that is your family’s favorite, As in many Latin American countries, after I think most of us would agree that the Midnight Mass, people head home to eat most important part of the Holiday Season tamales. is family. No matter which religion you Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s are a part of, the importance of family is Winter in December, and Christmas is stressed. associated with snow, gathering around So, from our family here at the Big Spring the fireplace, and ugly sweaters. But, in The Southern Hemisphere Herald, we want to wish everyone a very the Southern Hemisphere, it is actually may not experience a white Merry Christmas and very joyous Holiday Summer. During that time of year, it is not Christmas, but that doesn’t stop Season. We hope you continue to enjoy uncommon for there to be brush fires. them from celebrating the holiyour home town newspaper.

Santa wears beach gear rather than the day. Santa just dresses a little traditional big, red suit. bit differently.

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Giving back at Christmas

By Cindy Pinch

Christmas is my favorite holiday. There are many reasons why I enjoy Christmas. From the music and food to the atmosphere of generosity, Christmas brings people together.

One reason I love Christmas is that it brings people together.

My grandfather’s birthday was on Christmas day and my grandmother’s was December 27th. Their birthdays were, and still are, a major part of how my family celebrates Christmas. I come from a large family. Altogether, my grandparents had six children. Six children who would bring their families and cram into my grandparents’ tiny yellow house. The day was spent exchanging gifts and food. As one can imagine, it is difficult to get six families together. Throughout the year, entire months might go by before my mom would see her brother or me before she herself would be able to visit one of her sisters. My grandma did her best to keep in touch with all of her children but it was Christmas that truly brought us together.

Another reason I love Christmas is for the food. When we would gather at my grandparents’ house, dinner was always a potluck that people could eat from throughout the day. My aunt Pat always made homemade pizza rolls and my grandpa would make his chip dip - a recipe that featured horseradish as a main ingredient. The main dish everyone waited all year for was my grandma’s Christmas cookies.

Christmas cookies are a big deal in my family. The process usually involved one or two of my aunts coming over, endless pots of coffee, and laughter. My grandmother’s recipe has been

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in my family for generations and it is a certain rite of passage in my family to learn it. Altogether we would make five to six different types of cookies each year. We would give them out to our friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Christmas taught me to be generous with my food, especially if I have extra - and even if I don’t.

Which brings me to the next reason why I love Christmas. It is the season of giving. Yes, we tend to primarily give presents to our friends and family. And that is a lovely tradition. Gifts are a way for us to show our loved ones how much we care even if the gifts in question are a little off target. But the truth of the matter is, giving is so much more than presents.

I grew up poor. My family always struggled with paying the bills and buying household necessities like soap and food. And yet every year, my parents would scrounge what little change they had to donate to charities. As I mentioned before, my mom would always pass out cookies to our neighbors. And every now and again, if she knew of a family who was worse off than us, she would ask me to go through my toys and find at least one thing that I could give to the child(ren) in that family. While it might seem harsh to make your child give away their things, it taught me the value of generosity. Things are just that - things.

You never know how your acts of kindness will affect someone.

A great example of this is a former coworker of mine. He used to buy stuffed animals and pass them out to kids. He never asked for money. The children didn’t have to exhibit perfect be-

havior. He just wanted to make them happy. When I asked him why he did this, he told me a story from his childhood. When he was a child, growing up in Chicago, his family never had much.

He was the oldest of several children and his mom was a single mother. There was a gentleman in his neighborhood who would pass out stuffed animals to children, especially at Christmas.

The only thing the man asked in return? That when they grew up, they would remember his kindness and generosity and pass it on as often as they were able to. And so he did.

One year, we woke up on Christmas morning to the smell of smoke. A neighbor’s house two blocks away had caught fire. The family was a couple with a young daughter around nine. A crowd had gathered in the street as the firefighters put out the flames. The family stood in the snow while their home was turned to ash and rubble. One neighbor found jackets for the family. My dad offered to take them to family, which turned into an offer to use our phone so they could have family pick them up. My mom sent my brother and I home to start cooking breakfast for them. We hadn’t met these neighbors prior to that morning, but my parents taught me the value of taking care of the people around you no matter what.

I think that the general atmosphere of Christmas, the ideas of giving and helping are what makes Christmas so special.

Volunteering has been a mandatory part of my holiday experience for as long as I can remember. Whether it was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, passing out food, or volunteering at

homeless shelters, my parents encouraged my brother and I to give back as often as we could. When I was in high school, my brother and I had the opportunity to work with the University of Notre Dame. Each year they would host an event for children in the local homeless shelters and lower income families. They would send out buses to pick up the children and their families and bring them to the university’s campus.

Volunteers were set up at different tables where the children could play games or make ornaments. There were inflatable slides and bouncy houses. The day ended with pizza and presents for each child. My brother and I would dress up to take pictures with the kids and interact with them.

He was always a gingerbread man and I was always Rudolph. I enjoyed participating in this opportunity because I knew that, while the children enjoyed playing games and opening presents, it also helped alleviate the stress on the parents to provide a “good” Christmas for their children.

There are many wonderful opportunities in Big Spring to volunteer. Programs and organizations to get involved with are the Festival of Lights, the Salvation Army, Angel Tree, Isaiah 58 food pantry, local toy drives, and volunteering to read to

children.

Christmas is about giving, sharing, and reflecting. Whether volunteering to serve the community or getting together with friends and family, a few moments of your time is the greatest gift of all.

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O

ne in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Being the most common cancer in the United States, an average of 9,500 people are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in the U.S. every day.

Throughout the years, much research has been done on the different types of skin cancer, the severity of each type and what causes the disease. Because of this, we can offer patients the most effective treatment for longterm success.

Mohs micrographic surgery was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. Since then, the procedure has proven to be the most effective, advanced and precise treatment for a variety of skin cancers. This unique procedure boasts a 99 percent cure rate amongst its recipients. Mohs is designed to remove all cancerous cells while leaving healthy tissue intact, helping to minimize scarring and providing the optimal cosmetic repair.

Mohs is an outpatient procedure performed in an office setting. The patient is awake throughout the procedure. An injectable local anesthesia is used to numb the area around the tumor. Once numbed, the surgeon will begin removing visible pieces of the tumor, along with a thin layer of tissue surrounding the base.

Steven Ritter, MD

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The removed tissue is mapped and sectioned to make microscopic slides.

The deep and peripheral margins of tissue will be examined by your surgeon. If the microscopic examination reveals the presence of additional cancerous cells, it will be marked and removed. This process will repeat until the samples being viewed under microscope have no detection of cancerous tissue.

Generally, most tumors require one to three stages for complete removal.

Upon completion of surgery, the wound will be assessed and your surgeon will discuss reconstruction options.

These options may include simple closure, flaps, grafts and even allowing the wound to heal on its own. Each wound is unique and will be assessed thoroughly in order to give the best reconstruction option for each patient.

The surgeon nearly always performs the plastic surgery repairs on the same day

as the tumor removal.

Mohs surgery can help cure skin cancer when other treatment options have failed. Some of these other methods do not employ the precise identification for the removal of cancerous tissue. Because of this, healthy skin tissue may be unnecessarily removed or the tumor may regrow if any unidentified cancerous tissue has been left behind.

The Mohs technique is mainly utilized in the treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma, the most common types of skin cancer. However, it may also be used on

other, less common types.

A fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon completes an extensive fellowship that requires at least one full year of training and hands-on experience after completing their dermatology residency. Mohs surgery training educates physicians in the areas of cancer surgery, pathology and reconstructive surgery, so the same physician is able to perform all these steps.

While Mohs surgery is an excellent option for skin cancer treatment, there are ways to help prevent skin cancer before it becomes an issue. Along with sunscreen protection, avoiding sun exposure when possible, performing outside activities early and late in the day can all reduce your risk of sun damage. Early detection of skin cancers by regular self-skin exams looking for warning signs of skin cancer can allow for the optimal cure of skin cancers.

For more information about dermatological services or the Mohs procedure, please call the Shannon Clinic Dermatology Department at 325-481-2215.

Having a Special Occasion or Event?

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Downtown Big Spring's Best Kept Secret. Enjoy a soothing water fall with your party guest.

The Courtyard & Party Room

Our Courtyard is perfect for the afternoon luncheon, wine tasting, or birthday party. The Courtyard + Party Room at 119 Main St. Comes with a kitchen area, his and her restrooms and about 2000 Square Feet of space in the Party Room.

The Hardware Store

The Hardware Store is perfect the yearly office Christmas party, New Years Eve bash, Graduation Party, or maybe just the family reunion. The Hardware Store at 117 Main St. comes with a full wet bar, his and her restrooms, and about 7000 Square Feet of space including the mezzanine.

Both The Courtyard & Party Room + The Hardware Store

Renting both The Courtyard & Party Room + The Hardware Store is excellent for weddings, large reunions, office parties, and so much more. Offering up over 9000 Square Feet of space, a wet bar, a full kitchen, outdoor sitting area, and 4 restrooms, you cant go wrong.

Dr. Ritter completed his fellowship training in 2007 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

at: s U t Visi downtownbigspring.com Or Call For Information

432.263.6514

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Martin County Hospital

• Rural Health Clinic • Surgical Services • EMS • Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy • Low-Wait Emergency Room • Pain Management • BioTe • Wellness Center • Laboratory • X-Rays & CT Scans

Healthcare That Is Nationally Recognized & Locally Appreciated!

600 E. Interstate 20

Stanton, TX

(432) 607-3200

For A Listing Of Employment Opportunities, Visit Martinch.bamboohr.com/jobs/