Everything else
We can all probably remember that one sought-after toy that failed to show up on Christmas morning… It was the one toy at the top of our Santa list that we would fantasize for weeks about seeing glistening under the tree lights. For me, it was the 1970’s “Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman” action figure doll by Mego. I remember I wanted that doll so bad I could taste it! I still recall writing that Santa letter and…
With December approaching, our family has already started one of our favorite traditions, and that’s watching our collection of Christmas movies! Ranking in our top two favs, is “A Christmas Story,” the hilarious movie adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s anecdotes from his books, “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash” and “Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories.” Yea, nothing quite rings in the holidays like the phrase “Oh, Fudge” (and I don’t mean the kind Aunt Edna makes), the barking…
Ahhhh, Black Friday. The joyous, long awaited day of shopping that officially kicks-off the holiday season of spending. But the words “Black Friday” have always just seemed so drab and negative to me. In my mind, I picture a large mushroom cloud hovering above, while dozens- thousands- no millions of us, run scrambling and rushing in different directions, screaming in pure chaos… “Black Friday!!!” When you think about it… I mean, minus the mushroom cloud and all. I always thought,…
In the Archual house, Thanksgiving is the official kick-off to celebrate the holiday season! (no Christmas music is played, no holiday movies watched, or candy canes eaten, until then!) But for us, it starts well before that juicy turkey and all its trimmings are placed on the bountiful table. It begins around 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. Come rain, shine, or freezing temperatures, (and we’ve endured them all) the Archuals pack up and head into downtown Roanoke to participate in…
Veteran’s Day, November 11, is the official US holiday that observes those who have served in our United States armed forces. We celebrate this day on November 11th, as it is the anniversary date of the end of World War I. When I think of a veteran, of course, I think of the one that is closest to my heart. My Dad. I tend to paint a portrait, that of a young man, close to my son’s age. My dad…
September 29th marks the day that my father entered into this world back in 1937. If he were here, today would mark his 80th birthday. My Dad was absolutely the smartest man I have ever known. In his almost seventy-three years here on earth, he held many different jobs and traveled all around the world. He was indeed my “Superman.” He was a military man and served as an Air Controller, Cryptologist as well as a Russian Linguist. He…
It was a late fall evening, a Friday a few years ago, and my son and I had just arrived at a local raceway a couple of hours away from our home. We were there to attend a very intense weekend driving program I had signed him up for. My husband had actually worked for the racetrack years ago and that’s how we found out about the driving program. It was a dual program for both the beginner driver and…
I’ve been asked by friends on several different occasions to accompany them to events when they needed a last-minute escort. One time it was wedding. Wedding=food+cake. “Sure, I’ll go.” Another time, many moons ago, it was a blind date. Blind date=food+entertainment (for me anyway). “Sure, I’ll go.” If my bosom buddies happen to find themselves in a pickle needing a last-minute companion, if I’m asked, I’ll most likely go. The following was a particularly unusual circumstance… A friend called me…
I wrote a story when I was about eight years old that, unknowingly to me, my mom had saved for decades. She had given it to my husband shortly before she passed away. I didn’t find out about this until she had been gone a couple of years and my husband actually came across where he had hidden it. I had totally forgotten about the story until he presented it to me, and then it all came rushing back! It…
Have you ever had that morning where the alarm clock rang, you woke up and before your feet hit the floor you knew exactly what the day had in-store? You knew because, after all, you had planned it out-mentally- right down to the hour of the setting sun. And then, when that day was over, and the sun finally did set, that twenty-four-hour period that you so meticulously planned out, took somewhat of a detour… That’s what happened on Friday,…