As children, we were treated to special fun in November and December. I don’t know what Freud would say about Sugar Plums dancing in my head, but I remember the build up of excitement starting at Thanksgiving. Family traditions and the anticipation of Christmas foods, decorations and toys are a[Read More…]
Columns
LOOSE ENDS: Remembering Joe
It isn’t that there are “no words” when it comes to first trying to process someone’s sudden death. It is impossible to summon the right words when someone you have known for 40 years passes away suddenly. Joe Fennessy died a little more than a week ago ending his eight[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: #6
… Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. ~ Helen Keller It’s a weird question. All the obvious answers pop up first, tinged with sarcasm: water, food, air, breathing, the electrical stimulus that keeps[Read More…]
One man, two votes
In theory, we look at history in hopes of not repeating the past. Today, election fraud is a crime with severe punishments. This was not always the case. Before election reforms were put in place, America was ripe for manipulating the system. Before about 1910, stuffing ballot boxes was only[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: An abundance of opinions about opinions
Anyone who believes this hyper-polarized, divided culture is a positive should choke a little when pledging allegiance to the flag. But how can we tone down the blistering rhetoric and return to something a little more tolerable? In days of yore there were some unspoken rules we followed in order[Read More…]
Meeker’s Spaceman/Moon Man, Part 2
My thanks to Si, Teresia, Rhonda, Renae, Rhonna, Leif, Kathy, Lanny, Jere, Mike, Beth, Jerry, Dollie, Kay, Joe, Tammie, Nancy, Libby, Albert, Mary, Jean, Joanne and others in creating a composite of Ron. Everyone knew a little about Ron. He had many facets. Interestingly, those who knew about him, knew[Read More…]
Loose Ends: Set the example
Attending dogfights of any kind are not on my list of weekly “must-dos,” so going out in the public arena to get ready to cast my vote this year has not been filled with rancorous, unnecessary debate. Choosing to use the convenient, mail-in- ballot that has been available here for[Read More…]
CNCC Corner: CNCC students do well by doing good
The month of October has been a busy one for CNCC and its students. As important as preparing students for tomorrow’s workforce is, preparing students to live a well-rounded and fulfilling life is just as important. We provide students with numerous opportunities to take what they learn in the classroom[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: Practicing gratitude
If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more? ~ Roy T. Bennett, Author It’s de rigeur to talk about gratitude during the month of November these days, but I’m doing it anyway. Practicing gratitude has the power to improve[Read More…]
Part 1: Meeker’s ‘Moon Man’
Remember the movie, MIB, with Will Smith? The Men In Black impersonated other federal officers dealing with aliens in the name of galactic peace. In the early 1980s, Secret Service men really did arrive in Meeker. They came to question a suspect who had mailed multiple letters from Meeker with[Read More…]
Here, there and everywhere
There’s an advantage to traveling off-season unless you mind the hordes of senior citizens that are flocking southward along with the migrating birds. Fall used to be the best time to go to those relaxing, scenic spots. Recently returning from an extra-long weekend — a mini-vacation — it soon became[Read More…]
EDITOR’S COLUMN: What angers you becomes your master
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him. ~ Epictetus Epictetus was a Greek stoic philosopher. Born a slave in a wealthy household, he rose to prominence along other stoics like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.[Read More…]