The New Year, 2023 has already started by the time you get your newspaper. I hope you had a great holiday and have many memories of 2022.
I talked with a woman from Sioux City just before Christmas that deals with people in that area that don’t have much to celebrate about. Even though they are working, they are still struggling to make ends meet. She mentioned that the kids in these families know they will only get one gift this Christmas. It isn’t always toys, dolls, etc. but rather stockings/underwear. Somehow they understand.
These kids have always only had one toy or doll that they cherish for the whole year. She was hoping that those kids that get many toys, dolls, etc. and get tired of them after a few days or weeks, would take what they don’t play with anymore to Goodwill, shelters, or maybe a church would have a box marked “used”, or any place that would gladly accept them. Why throw them in the garbage to go to the landfill when someone could use them? This would include books, games, puzzles (no pieces missing), or cards (not marked!) I remember when Carolyn and I would play “Old Maid” with Jeanette and she would always end up with the Old Maid card. This is because we had it marked (where she didn’t know) and could avoid getting it! This wasn’t really nice! If your kids are tired of a certain gift, consider taking it to some place where someone would enjoy it.
This year I didn’t get any cards to send out that had “Holiday” greetings in them. The ones I have can be sent anytime of the year, and this year that is what is going to happen! I was too bogged down with a sewing project as well as it seemed that the whole month of December was too busy to find time to send a card.
We did have turkey for Christmas Eve supper and ended up having cream turkey on biscuits with still plenty left over. It is frozen and will end up at a later date on biscuits! Some didn’t like oysters so on New Years Eve, we had vegetable beef soup. Zachary wanted oyster stew but didn’t arrive until 10 p.m. and we were done with our soup and were enjoying some goodies Steve brought along. He received so many nice cards of which he wants to thank those who remembered him.
Right up to the holidays, there were families that had an empty place at their table. Jack Shea was called Home Dec. 23. Jack was a barber in Marcus for many years as well as working at Sands, where he touched many lives. I was at O’Haira’s on that same day when Jean received word that her brother had passed away. May memories of them be of comfort to their families. May they rest in peace until we meet again.
We have had rain and ice during the holidays and it is predicted again for Tuesday of this coming week. It really isn’t safe walking anywhere. I went to church on Sunday and had to figure out how to get there. I couldn’t go down the alley to the street as the alley was solid ice. I finally went across the alley to the neighbors walk and then down to the street. And, of all times, the other night there was a water leak discovered about midnight that caused people in that district to be without water.
Business in Washington D.C. begins after the New Year. Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky has listed some financial sins committed by the previous Congress, of which “red and blue” both were guilty—a whopping $482,276,543,907! This includes a steroid-induced hamster fight club, a study to see if kids love their pets, and a study of the romantic patterns of parrots and coffee machines for the Pentagon. He has listed others—$1.2 million for “LGBTQIA+Pride Centers”, $1.2 million for “support services for DACA recipients” (aka helping migrants with taxpayer funds) at San Diego Community College. Also listed was $477,000 for Equity Institute in Rhode Island to endow teachers with “anti-racism virtual labs.” $1 million for Zora’s House in Ohio—a “coworking and community space” for “women and gender-expansive people of color.” $3 million for the American LGBTQ+Museum in New York City. $3.6 million for a Michelle Obama Trail in Georgia. $750,000 for “LGBTQ and Gender Non-Conforming housing” in Albany, N.Y. $2 million for the “Great Blacks in Wax” museum in Baltimore. $856,000 for an “LGBTQ Center” in New York. $750,000 for the “TransLatin@Coaliation” to provide “workforce development programs and supportive services for Transgender and Gender nonconforming and Intersex (TGI) immigrant women in Los Angeles.”
He goes on to state that it is no wonder they waited until after the election to pass what Heritage rightly calls “a betrayal of America’s voters’ wishes” as expressed at the ballot box. He asks, “Can anyone who voted for this embarrassment explain why any of it is the responsibility of the federal government? With the debt at $32 trillion and rising, is there a red line that members would not cross—in other words, is there any limit to their spending?” He concludes his report with that it used to be said we would be passing on the debt to future generations if the spending doesn’t stop. but, now it could be said that there might not be future generations of Americans as we have known them if it doesn’t stop
After quite some time, I finally got a replacement for the two phones upstairs that needed “charging” after a couple of hours. About the time a call came, the phone said, “low battery, put on charger”. When I got to the next phone, the caller was gone. The wall phone on first floor wouldn’t stay connected, so I had no choice but to Duct Tape it to the phone and wall—it couldn’t be used which meant I had to carry an upstairs phone with me when I went downstairs. I’m glad those days are over!
Little Butterball (orphan kitty) is getting used to being upstairs. It doesn’t back down when Bethany’s older cat starts to “hiss” at it! It is having a hay day being able to run around other than in its basement home.
I’m cutting this short in hopes that there will be room for a couple of articles.
Remember in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost friends/family to death and have had their lives changed, have health problems some of which are terminal, are struggling to make ends meet even though they have a job, and be with those who are trying to shorten the distance between friends/family by tearing down the wall and building a bridge instead. If you have a roof over your head and not living under a bridge, and are not having to go dumpster hunting for food—count your blessings!
I will close with this quote from Dear Abby with St. Francis’s prayer: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Diving Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”