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Holiday prompts nostalgic memories
A little info On the man who was elected
By Melody Kinser Managing Editor For several years, the tradition was for as many of Mom’s sisters and their families to gather at my grandparents for Thanksgiving. Since we lived a street away from them, it was obvious to a child who ran in and out of the house for a glass of water, a cold soda, or just to hang out with Grandpa that the lace tablecloth and nice china on the dining room table meant a special occasion. For those of you who grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, my grandparents had the prerequisite red kitchen table with four chairs in the kitchen. The dining room table was for special events — period. My grandmother cooked and baked and deco-
rated so the holiday was celebrated properly. In looking back, she prepared so much food that eating at the dining room table was pretty much out of the question. Of course, we all remember sitting at the “kids’ table.” My sister went to Virginia Tech in the fall of 1969 and we had older cousins who were married with children, so the tradition declined somewhat. But those family members who were available made the trip — even just for the day. When the teen years arrived, I too had a different perspective on how holidays were to be celebrated and with whom. Now, as I head toward retirement years (at least that’s the goal), I look back and appreciate the time our family had together at Thanksgiving.
Both sides of my family are funny, full of life, and mindful of making the most of every day. We don’t realize when we’re younger the significance of sharing a meal with family, or the laughs and debate associated with playing a board game after a hearty meal. That is, if you can keep the football fans away from the TV. With age and social media, I am blessed to say I have reconnected with many family members, especially my cousins. My sister’s death left a huge void that can never be filled, but my family — crazy, silly and loyal — reminds me of the love we have. Be thankful every day. We’ll be with extended family tomorrow and continue to make memories of why we celebrate Thanksgiving.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, a few open letters By Roslyn Ryan Richmond Suburban News Dear Pinterest, First of all, I would like to make sure that you understand how very hard this is for me to write. You and I have been hanging out for awhile now, and we’ve been through a lot. There have been some great times (remember the super awesome baby shower cupcakes with the diaper pin
ornaments on top? So cute!) and some not-so-great ones (those fun and festive centerpieces that turned out to be less fun and more flammable than we thought). But the truth is, when it comes to the holidays, I think I really need to go it alone this year. So, Pinterest, it is with a heavy heart that I am disinviting you to my Thanksgiving celebration. I know you’ve probably been waiting the entire year to share the 37 new ways
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November 23, 2016
I can incorporate figs into my tablescape, or your novel ideas for turning one big pie into a bunch of tiny, bite-sized pies. You may even have a gluten-free stuffing recipe this year that won’t make everyone want to barf. Even though it will. And we both know it. Sadly, I’m just no longer willing to be the frantic, disheveled woman pacing the aisles of my local craft store on the night before Thanksgiving, trying
to find a whimsical way to repurpose last year’s decorative gourds. Please save your doilies and spray glue for someone else. I’m just going to wing it. *** Dear Instagram, I think it’s time we took a break. Frankly, I turn into a pretty dishonest human being every year around see OPEN, pg. 8
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Dear America, So, you were tired of politics as usual and did not want to elect another politician to the office of the president. I get that. But, instead, you elected: A man endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan; A man who was recorded saying he sexually assaulted women. However, when women came forward and reported that he did exactly what he said he did, he suggested that they were too unattractive for him to assault; A man who suggested that suing reporters for reporting truthfully was acceptable; A man who is favored by Vladimir Putin; A man who had not paid taxes for 18 years; Someone so thin-skinned his Twitter had to be taken away; Someone who disrespects religious freedom; A person who incited violence at his rallies, especially against people of color; A fake businessman, who has stiffed his suppliers, declared bankruptcies, and simply lent his name to various, often failed, business ventures; A man who lied so much that we have never seen the like before; And so much more. Judy Thomas Mechanicsville
HCBOS prayer included conduct of the media Some topics seem inherently incendiary in nature, to wit, the recent question tossed to county residents on whether we need to bring “God see LETTERS, pg. 8