VENDOR WRITING
A Change Has Come BY VICK Y B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR A few days before Thanksgiving I was bringing my dog Faith into the building where I live and as I walked to the elevator I saw that the office lady and a temp both had that look. That look that created a very somber feeling. The look of finding another resident had passed away. That day amidst the Crime Scene vehicles and Metro Nashville cars the details were few, but the feeling was there. The feeling of being thankful that day that we woke up and trying to figure out who had died on the second floor. Was it someone we knew? Chatter started with friends about who we hadn’t seen the day before and we said prayers when it turned out it wasn’t them. Within a few hours I found out it was a resident who was mostly a loner and someone who frequented Memphis so his absence was normal. That day started to change
into Thanksgiving, joy and peace. It started the holidays and the spirit of the season. Soon, people were saying hello in passing and asking, “how are you?” A friendliness started and so far, hasn’t stopped. Soon the halls were dotted with Christmas cards sticking out of mailboxes and lights started to glow from behind the windows. I hate to think this man dying started this feeling at Hadley Park Towers, but when his body was discovered it had a profound effect on me and many others living here. I think we all thanked God for life and learned a new feeling of hope for the future. One of my biggest fears is dying and no one knowing. As I found out, others had this same fear. Check on your neighbors whether they’re in a tent, an apartment, a duplex or a house. Their very lives could be depending on you.
Scooter Problems
THEME: Y EA R IN R EV IEW
BY PAUL A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I wanted to let you know that over here on Fifth Avenue North, they’re scattering scooters all over the place — lying in the middle of the sidewalk, up against the post, wherever. When I was sleeping in a camp, they would bring running scooters into camp. People are using other people’s money to ride the scooters. There should be something that we can do about it. I don’t know what they mayor can do,
I don’t know what the city council can do, but something needs to be done about it. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches trying to manuever. When you’re looking ahead you don’t want to have to look down all the time to see if you’re going to trip over something. That’s dangerous. They need to figure something out. I don’t know what we can do about it.
ACROSS 1. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock’s echo 12. Reply from a tunnel? 13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller’s “baby” 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a three-piece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time 23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses’ org. 31. Leafy vegetable 34. “Cogito, ____ sum” 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins
39. Prefix with ‘graph’ 40. *Joe’s running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo. 48. R in NPR 50. Widespread 52. *WHO’s March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot 57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g. 60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units
Christmas with my Mouse B Y J U N E P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R Well it’s Christmas time and I want to get my friend — my mouse — a Christmas gift. Clothes are out. He’s too small. No shoes. He’d be too loud running around the apartment. I asked Santa. He said cheese. So I made him some cheese balls, cheese bread, cheese crackers. Hope he don’t get
stopped up! LOL. Well I gave in, and gave him some of his gifts already. He loved them. He’s been dancing around the apartment all week, making this weird noise. I think he’s saying, “Thank you! Thank you! Merry Christmas to you!” He left me a gift too: Poop! LOL. Happy New Year to all!
December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17
DOWN 1. Copy cats 2. Flu symptom 3. Synagogue 4. 1/100th of a ruble 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl. 7. Gwyneth, to friends 8. *Like a vote during lockdown 9. What Joy Mangano does on TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *”Transplant” network 13. ____ of honor 14. It’s often wreaked 19. Zoo enclosures 22. Compass dir. 23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump 25. Nigerian money 26. Part of an eye 27. About to explode 28. Looked at, amorously 29. Smelling organs 32. Two of the same 33. Philosopher’s study 36. *Best Picture Oscar-winner 38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. “M*A*S*H” character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire
