Issuu

DECEMBER 2015

Vol. 29 No. 12

Montrose & Delta Counties’ Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 13,650 Readers.

N BFEROAEIDSeCEEe O page 13 OGS BIN

The MAGIC behind the suit (For adult eyes only) BEACON BRINGS HOME THE BACON Page 12

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DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

EDITORIAL

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Seniors want your presence, not your presents By Kevin K. VanGundy

es, you’ve probably heard me say this before but I’ll say it again. During this season of generosity, the best gift that you can give a senior is your presence. One lesson I’ve learned during my time with the BEACON is that people want to be heard. Often, older people long to connect with someone. For many of us who are still raising families and working, life has become super busy—rushing here and going there with little time for ourselves, let alone others. In addition, take into account the business of the holiday season itself and it becomes much easier to give a loved one a present instead of your presence.

Why not do both? The holidays can be a lonely time for senior citizens who have no family here and are unable to travel

to be with family. You can help create new memories for yourself and keep a senior from feeling forgotten by visiting local nursing homes. A simple gift of socks would be a blessing to many.

Thank you, BEACON staff. Like a proud father, I’m happy to share with you the recent triumphs of our staff’s work at the North American Mature Publishers Association conference in Florida. Always a competitive conference, the BEACON Senior Newspaper won several national awards. Of course, you already knew how talented our staff is, as you enjoy the paper every month. On a bittersweet note Cloie Sandlin, our esteemed and surprisingly young editor is moving to Denver this month to pursue a glamorous new career in television advertising. She will be missed.

Happy Christmas from the BEACON 2016 BEACON Guide Our staff is currently hard at work putting together our 2016 BEACON Guide, which will be included in next month’s BEACON. Known for many years as the RESOURCE Directory, we decided to change the name, as it has evolved into more of a guide to aging well in Montrose and Delta counties. If your business or organization would like to be advertised or listed, call us at 243-8829.

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COVER STORY

“The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn” is an adventure-filled combination of history, Christianity, fiction and the answers to many questions surrounding the mystery of Santa Claus. Born to Christian parents in Turkey in 280 AD, Nicholas was orphaned at age 9 and raised by priests. From his faith, he learned there was nothing better than giving. His career as a gift giver began at age 12 when he put coins in the socks of less fortunate children. He continued the practice of Christian charity under the cover of night as to not bring attention to himself. Nicholas stopped aging at 63, and traveled the world meeting historical figures throughout the ages who joined his mission. People such as Attila The Hun, King Arthur, Charlemagne, Columbus, Leonardo De Vinci, Ben Franklin, Charles Dickens and George Washington became his faithful friends. Known originally as St. Nicholas, he was given the name Santa Claus upon coming to the United States. But it’s important to remember that no matter what his name, his passion remains the same. Mostly Books in Delta has a limited number of books in stock, so gets yours today. You can also buy them online at Amazon.com

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DECEMBER 2015

The MAGIC behind the suit By Melanie Wiseman “What I hope you’ll learn above all else is that the real magic of Christmas involves love, and that the greatest joy is giving rather than getting. Just as this isn’t a perfect world, Christmas isn’t a perfect holiday, and won’t be until all human beings on this beautiful planet can live together in harmony. No single person can make this happen, but if we each do what we can, then there’s still hope that one Christmas Day we’ll find ourselves enjoying the most wonderful gift possible—complete peace on Earth, and goodwill from everyone to everyone.” - Santa Claus (From the forward of “The Autobiography of Santa Claus”) Have you ever wondered about the heart behind the rosy cheeks, snow white beard, red suit and robust “ho, ho, ho”? I hadn’t given it much thought until I read the whimsical historical fiction book, “The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guinn.” Upon Mrs. Claus’ urging, Santa shares his autobiography with Guinn during a visit to the North Pole, so people everywhere will understand the true spirit of Santa Claus. Three local men could write their own heartfelt autobiography of Santa Claus, as they have portrayed him for a combined total of 90 years. To them it’s all about the kids—and a few adults, too.

Biff Messinger

For the love of Christmas Christmas was always a festive and exciting time for Biff Messinger. “I got the love of Christmas from my mother,” Messinger, 67, said. “She kept our tree up until July.” Messinger’s favorite movie is “Miracle on 34th Street,” so taking on the role of Santa Claus came easy. “When I was asked to do it for the first time in 1990 at the US military academy at West Point, I didn’t even have to think about it,” he said. “All the things about Santa appealed to me. I like giving things to people, and I like making people laugh and making them happy.” Messinger had such a positive experience that he continued the tradition and has volunteered his Santa services for 25 years. “You can just see the magic in the eyes of the little ones that this is really Santa Claus,” he said. Messinger also performs for adult groups, using a different personality than he does for the kids. “For adults I do my homework and find out things about people in the group,” he said. “This way I can make it personal because Santa knows everything.” As Santa, Messinger always enter the room laughing and is sure to stay in character with a voice and laugh he uses just for Santa. He said being Santa feels good and is therapeutic. “I’ve contributed to the happiness of children and adults,” he said. “It’s all about giving. I never get tired of it.”

Just call him Mr. Santa Claus “I just love Christmas,” said Rick Green, who has portrayed Santa Claus for 43 of his 60 years. He first volunteered for the role at age 17 for disabled folks at a state home and has been actively living the spirit ever since. As well as portraying Santa at the Parade of Lights in Grand Junction for 20 years, Green has donned the red suit for many other holiday events and office parties. “Every once in awhile there will be a little one who looks at you with their big eyes and you just melt,” Green said. “They don’t want anything, they just want to come up for a hug or to say hi. A couple times kids have asked for their dad to come back and we had a pretty sensitive conversation.” As a kindergarten teacher, it’s important to Green to be a positive role model. His heart stirs from the unconditional love he receives from the children. “Even Santa is a role model,” he said. Green has never personally taken a cent as Santa Claus, giving it all to charity or using it to update his costume and props. His dream is to have an artificial beard made from human hair, but the cost is in the thousands. Green’s love of Christmas goes beyond his role as Santa Claus. The majority of his backyard is encompassed by a North Pole-themed electric train setup that operates

DECEMBER 2015

COVER STORY

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throughout the winter. He even named his daughter Jessica after the “Santa Claus is Coming To Town” TV special, where that was Mrs. Claus’ name. At home he took the Santa role seriously. After his son threw a tantrum to show his disappointment in a gift he opened one Christmas Eve, Green made a trip to a gas station and bought briquettes. “Coal is what Santa brought my son that year, along with a heart-toheart talk,” he said. “It was a good lesson and we still laugh about it.” Green played Santa Claus for his own kids until they figured out who he was. His daughter also played Santa’s helper with him. Green said he’ll keep being Santa for as long as possible. “I love it,” he said. “It’s magical.”

Christmas from a father’s perspective Even though he grew up poor on a remote farm, Arvid Koppang said Santa still made appearances at his house. But for much of his life, Christmas was simple. That all changed when he became a father.

“As a young father, Christmas became a big deal,” Koppang said. Koppang’s son was handicapped, which changed his outlook on the world. “Having him sensitized me,” he said. “A lot of people helped him and it just changed how I viewed things.” For 20 years Koppang, now retired from bring Santa, found that portraying Santa was a rewarding way to give back. “At one time there were four of us at our church and we had a little business called Rent-a-Santa,” he said. “All of that money went to the Sunday School. I’ve ridden on fire engines, Jeeps, antique cars—you name it.” Koppang would put on his Santa suit up to 25 times a season and sometimes twice a day. At each affair that he played Santa, the twinkle in his blue eyes usually came with a bit of mischief. “I would ask a young brother and sister if they were married, or ask what their mom wanted for Christmas,” Koppang said. “I would actually study what the hot toys were and say, ‘Don’t you want one of these?’

The parents’ reactions were, ‘Where did they get this guy?’” A doctor once hired him to crash the Christmas parties of other doctors. He was also hired by parents to be caught by their kids as he placed presents under their tree, leaving them wide eyed and mystified. Koppang has many touching stories, including one where a young boy made a Christmas wish for his dad to find a job. One encounter over 20 years ago still pulls at his heartstrings. “I always tear up when I tell this one,” he said (and he did). “I had a little girl help me as an elf for the first time. On the job about 20 minutes, a mother brought up her child who was deaf and signing. This little elf immediately started signing and the mother started bawling. It was the only time I had a deaf child, and that little elf was there at the right time. That was pure serendipity.” ■

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Editor............................................. Cloie Sandlin Senior Graphic Designer............ Melissa Trottier Graphic Design/Photography....Katherine Lopez Graphic Design.............................. Karen Jones Office Manager........................... Sherry Harmon Account Representative................... Sue Bowen Account Representative................ Sidney Jayne Account Representative............. Betsy Thatcher Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Cheerleader................................... Genevra Shal Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy DELTA-MONTROSE BUREAU Assistant Editor........................Liesl Greathouse Account Representative...............Virginia Carlile Delivery...............................................JR Milner Delivery...................................... Brandon Carlile

P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 ph: 970.243.8829 fax: 800.536.7516 Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com E-mail: Beacon@ PendantPublishing.com The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month. Our goal is to inform and inspire the 50+ community in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.

Christmas

LEFT: Rick Green as Santa visits with children at the Grand Junction Christmas Tree Lighting. Photo by Katherine Lopez. BELOW: Arvid Koppang as Santa

Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Display advertising rates are available upon request. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 20th of the month preceding publication. © Copyright 2015 • All Rights Reserved

MERRY

Cover Photo: Rick Green has portrayed Santa for 43 of his 60 years and aims to always be a role model for children. His love of Christmas goes beyond his role as Santa Claus.

FEATURE STORY

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The mystery of the Morse Lodge fire By Priscilla Mangnall

ibrarian Kim Sutherland has spent nearly every summer of his life on Eggleston Lake on Grand Mesa. While he was growing up, his grandmother delighted him with stories of a “casino” on the south end of the lake that caught fire sometime in the 1930s while she and her husband were fishing on Grand Mesa. “My grandparents, George and Helen Sutherland of Delta, loved spending time on Grand Mesa,” Sutherland said. Sutherland recalled his grandmother saying that when the Morse Lodge on Grand Mesa caught fire, the firefighters decided to dynamite the lodge to put the fire out so it wouldn’t spread to the surrounding forest. “My grandfather, a fireman from Delta, ran into the burning building to rescue the slot machine inside, and my grandmother had run down the hill below the dam of Barron

Lake to escape the explosion, spraining her ankle in the process,” he said. “She said until she Col. Frank Morse died in 2004 at age 97 that was the cause of her swollen ankle.” So what exactly happened to the Morse Lodge on Grand Mesa? How did it catch fire and when did it burn to the ground? Although some area residents recall the fire, many details about this event are absent from newspapers and other historical archives, making it quite the mystery.

Who were the Morses? Recently widowed, Colonel Frank A. Morse and his two daughters traveled west from Nebraska in search of a new home. They went as far west as Idaho and Yellowstone, and in 1909, they settled in

Cedaredge, Colorado. According to the book “Nellie’s Prairie” by Inas Ziegler, the colonel found Cedaredge to be “closer to heaven than anywhere he’d ever been before.” By 1912, Morse and his daughter Nellie had nearly completed the Morse Lodge, a rustic structure with a store adjoining the lodge on the west end. There were 36 beds in the lodge itself, not including the many tent houses they’d set up around the lodge, which raised the total bed count to 60. The lodge sat on the south end of Eggleston Lake, on a knoll overlooking what is now the intersection of Lake Shore Drive and the old Grand Mesa Road. The roads up to the Mesa were being improved and the lakes

DECEMBER 2015

were stocked with rainbow and native trout from the Grand Mesa Fish Hatchery. The only remnant of the lodge is a set of cement stairs, barely visible in the lush grass and wildflowers. The second Barren Lake Boathouse, built by Art Williams at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, was built on the site of the old Morse Lodge. The Morse Lodge closed for the winter every October. But one year the lodge proprietors received a letter from a group of skiers from Grand Junction asking the Morses to open the lodge for them during an upcoming excursion. With her father’s health failing, Nellie married long-time family friend Merrill A. Wright, who helped her open the lodge and take advantage of this opportunity for extra income. According to “Nellie’s Prairie,” there was a 20-year age difference between them and Merrill seemed more like a brother to Nellie than a matrimonial prospect. But the Wrights spent their honeymoon

DECEMBER 2015

FEATURE STORY

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shoveling snow and preparing food for their anticipated weekend guests. Unfortunately, because of a severe snowstorm, the skiers never came. Nellie worked hard at the lodge, hauling coal down into town and taking groceries back up the 12 miles from Cedaredge on horseback. Nellie often hired local girls to assist in the kitchen and to work as chambermaids during the summer. When her sister Bessie died in childbirth, Nellie and her father raised the twins that cost Bessie her life, Mabel and Evelyn. The Morses also adopted three motherless children: John, Barbara and Bobbie Worth. They all spent their summers at the lodge and were often seen traveling the Old Grand Mesa Road on horseback, loaded with provisions for the lodge.

Recollections of the fire Merrill and Nellie ran the lodge every summer until it burned to the ground. It’s unknown extactly what year it burned down or how the fire started, but Marilyn Williams Boyd of Olathe, who grew up at the Barren Lake Boathouse near the Morse Lodge, said it burned down in 1939. Her older sister, Merita Williams Capeloto of Westminster, California, recalled that she was about 6 years old when her mother let her stand in the big picture window of the boathouse as she watched the dramatic conflagration and the chaos of extinguishing the blaze. An investigation of all editions of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel during the summer of 1939 brought forth no accounts of the fire, but surfaced evidence that 1939 was a

particularly dry summer. No accounts of the fire were found in the 1938 and 1937 editions either. The Cedaredge Library has some old “Surface Creek Champion” newspaper editions on microfiche that made no reference of the fire, but one edition from the spring of 1939 made mention in the “Short Stories of Local Interest” section that “Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Wright are leaving today for the Fruita District where they own land and will farm this summer.” Information listed in special telephone directory inserts in the “Surface Creek Champion” leads to the belief that the lodge was destroyed in the summer of 1938 and the Wrights left the Surface Creek Valley for the Fruita farm the following spring, as neither the Wrights nor the Morse Lodge are listed in 1939, but the lodge is listed in 1937 and 1938. Colonel Morse died in 1929. Nellie spent many years caring for Merrill after a series of strokes until his death in 1947. A Seventh Day Adventist most of her life, Nellie spent her widow years caring for the Indian children at the Adventist Navajo Mission School in Holbrook, Arizona, according to Hazel Baker Austin’s 1988 book, “Surface Creek Country by a Native Daughter.” Nellie died in 1959. She, her father and husband are all buried in Cedaredge. Do you have stories to share about the Morse Lodge? Call me at 2605226 or email Priscilla.Mangnall@ gmail.com. I am also interested in information about Squirrel’s Camp and the original Spruce Lodge. ■

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DECEMBER 2015

Terror on December 7, 1941 By Edward A. Joseph

hile traveling on scenic Route 28 in upstate New York, I saw an American flag fluttering next to a large sign encouraging visitors to stop and visit the Old Stone School House. Being a retired social studies teacher, I couldn’t resist stopping. Since I was the only visitor at the time, the two guides who were there appeared happy to see me. After Len Utter and his colleague, Barbara, told me a bit about the railroad that formerly ran by the school, the three of us went into the building. Looking around, I felt like I was on the movie set for a film about a one-room schoolhouse. If you can imagine wooden desks with inkwells, a wood-burning stove, a large teacher’s desk in the corner, and an old chalkboard with some spelling words on it, you have the image of what I saw. Len Utter was a retired dairy farmer and a large,

outgoing man with a quick smile and an obvious love of local history. He did not attend the Old Stone School House as a young boy, as he lived just over the district line in Margaretville. However, the school house had a dual use. On Sundays, church services and Sunday school took place in the building and Len attended both. After the school closed in 1940, the Sunday services and Sunday school continued. Len pointed out the desk near a window that he was sitting in on December 7, 1941—the day Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. I sat at his old desk exactly where it was on that terrible day as he related how the minister came into the room and interrupted the Sunday school lesson to announce that class was over because enemy planes were bombing Pearl Harbor. Len was terrified when the minister stopped speaking. He started looking out the window, expecting

The Old Stone School House is located in Middletown, Margaretville, New York. to see planes dropping bombs on the school. He had no idea where Pearl Harbor was. Every step he took while walking home filled him with fear, as he kept looking up for planes and bombs. As he told the story his face changed, almost as if he was reliving those frightening moments that happened so long ago. As I walked to my car from the school, I looked up at the sky—the same sky Len looked up at more than 70 years before— and wished I could have gone back in time and taken that small boy’s

hand and calmed his fears as he walked home. [Historical note: The Old Stone School House, located in the Town of Middletown in Margaretville, New York, opened in 1820 and was rebuilt in 1860 because the original stone mortar had deteriorated. In one of its most crowded school years, 1858-59, 112 children between the ages of 4 and 21 attended at one time or another. From “Brief History of Old Stone School House” by George Hendricks Jr., and John Mclean.] ■

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ASK THE OLD BAG Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd By Gayle Lagman-Creswick Dear Old Bag: In response to your September column: God made man the pursuer in the male/female relationship. God also made man to react quickly to anything visual and to become excited upon seeing a pretty woman. Today, women on TV wear very short dresses and have plunging necklines. Men are bombarded with all these sexual items every day, making it difficult—you can only play golf so often, join so many clubs, attend church functions, work for your community, read a book, etc. Women need to understand this and not be so darn critical. Signed, Man Dear Man: I have to agree with part of your letter—the part where you describe how some women dress nowadays. I believe that many women don’t give a thought about the idea that showing more body turns men on—or maybe that’s what they want—I don’t know. However, if you are insinuating that this type of dress gives men the license to take women to bed, I disagree with that philosophy. Mature men and women have hopefully learned to control their animal instincts. Play another round of golf. To women: Take heed of how you dress. I have received many letters from grandmothers who object to the way their granddaughters dress to go to school, complaining that they are “asking for trouble.” To you grandmothers I say, set a good example for them. O. B.

Dear Old Bag: Today I received a phone call from a man who said he worked for the U.S. Treasury and that I was receiving a $9,000 grant from the government because of my age and good credit status. Then he said there would be a $230 dispensing fee to release the money to me. I said I don’t give my money like that and he immediately hung up. I knew it was a scam from the onset, but wanted to see how it worked. I reported the scam immediately to the attorney general’s office. I thought to myself, “I wonder how many people fall for that.” There must be many because they keep doing it. Tell your readers to beware of scams and never ever give out your banking or personal information. BL

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Dear BL: There are many scams out there. Most of us older people are so trusting that we find it hard to believe that anyone would do such a thing. I hate to say this, but it appears that older women are more trusting than older men. At the Rotary Club I spoke to last month, a member said that a friend’s mother had been scammed of thousands of dollars by receiving a call that a granddaughter was in trouble and needed funds sent to Canada. Never do this without checking it out. O.B. ■

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Dear Old Bag: I like your column a lot. You have good sense and a kind heart. Some time ago I read that you wrote a book about your daughter. I would really like to buy that book, if it is available. Signed, DH

Dear DH: Yes, I did write a book about my daughter who had a severe bipolar disorder, and our life with her. It is called “Mary Quite Contrary” and is available on Amazon. I believe Barnes and Noble will also order it for you. It’s under author name Gayle Carson Lagman Creswick. O.B.

The Hands that Tell Life’s Stories in Stone

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LAUGHING MATTERS

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LAUGHING MATTERS Christmas stamps Submitted by J. Drover

A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Christmas card envelopes. She says to the clerk, “May I have 70 Christmas stamps?” The clerk says, “What denomination?” The woman says, “Lord help us. Has it come to this? Give me eight Catholic, 12 Episcopalian, eight Methodist, nine Presbyterian, 10 Lutheran and

strong. I wouldn’t be afraid if he was around.” The third woman says, “I like Michael Landon.” In unison, the other two exclaim, “WHY?” She says, “Well, he’s very handsome and seems to be a good person. And besides, I like to think he would be a very good lover.” The other two reply, “For heaven’s sake, don’t you know why they call him ‘Little Joe?’”

22 Baptist.”

The resurrection

Bonanza

Submitted by Nancy Machtolf

Submitted by Bob Breazeale

Three women are sitting in a bar having a few cocktails when the conversation turns to the TV show Bonanza. The first woman says, “I like Lorne Greene, the father, because is a strong father figure and really handsome.” The second woman says, “I like Dan Blocker (Hoss) because he’s so big and

One day after Sunday School, the pastor spoke to a group of young children about stories in the Bible. He asked them, “Can any of you tell me about the resurrection?” There was a moment of silence until one young boy raised his hand and said, “I don’t know much about it, but if it lasts more than four hours you have to call the doctor.”

Drastic measures Submitted by Richard Lemon

DECEMBER 2015

Night Before Christmas (Woman’s version)

A man calls his son before the holidays. The father says to his son, “I hate to tell you, but we’ve got some troubles here in the house. Your mother and I can’t stand each other anymore, and we’re getting a divorce. I’ve had it! I want to live out the rest of my years in peace. I’m telling you now so you and your sister won’t go into shock later when I move out.”

Submitted by Linda Roberson

He hangs up, and the son immediately calls his sister and tells her the news.

Tomorrow I’ve got 30 people to feed.

The sister says, “I’ll handle this.” She calls her father, “Don’t do anything till we get there! We’ll be there Wednesday night.” The father agrees, “All right.” He hangs up the phone and hollers to his wife, “Okay, they’re coming for Christmas. Now what are we going to tell them next Thanksgiving?”

’Twas the night before Christmas and all through the kitchen I was cooking and baking and moanin’ and bitchin’. I’ve been here for hours. I can’t stop to rest. This room’s a disaster...just look at this mess! They expect all the trimmings; who cares what I need? My feet are both blistered. I’ve got cramps in my legs. The cat just knocked over a bowl full of eggs. There’s a knock at the door and the telephone’s ringing. Frosting drips on the counter as the microwave’s dinging. Two pies in the oven;

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LAUGHING MATTERS 11

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dessert’s almost done. My cookbook is soiled with butter and crumbs. I’ve had all I can stand; I can’t take anymore; Then in walks my husband spilling rum on the floor. He weaves and he wobbles, his balance unsteady, Then he grins as he chuckles, “The eggnog is ready!”

It just leaves me exhausted, all shaky and dazed.

Retirement living with the emphasis on living

But I promise you one thing, if I live ’til next year, You won’t find me pulling my hair out in here. I’ll hire a maid, a cook, and a waiter... and if that doesn’t work, I’ll have it all catered.

The stolen turkey

He looks all around and with total regret, says,

Submitted by Karen Jones

“What’s taking so long...aren’t you through in here yet?” As quick as a flash I reach for a knife, He loses an earlobe—I wanted his life! He flees from the room in terror and pain and screams, “MY GOD WOMAN, YOU’RE GOING INSANE!” Now what was I doing, and what is that smell? Oh, darn, it’s the pies! They’re burned all to hell! I hate to admit when I make a mistake, but I put them on BROIL instead of on BAKE. What else can go wrong? Is there still more ahead? If this is good living, I’d rather be dead.

A game warden was driving down the road when he came upon a young boy carrying a wild turkey under his arm. He stopped and asked the boy, “Where did you get that turkey?” The boy replied, “What turkey?” The game warden said, “That turkey you’re carrying under your arm.” The boy looked down and said, “Well, lookee here, a turkey done roosted under my arm!” The game warden said, “Now look, you know turkey season is closed, so whatever you do to that turkey, I’m going to do to you. If you break his leg, I’m gonna break your leg. If you break his wing, I’ll break your arm. Whatever you do to him, I’ll do to you. So, what are you gonna do with him?” The little boy said, “I guess I’ll just kiss his butt and let him go!” ■

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DECEMB

BEACON SENIOR NEWSPAPER wins national awards By Cloie Sandlin Christmas comes early every year for the BEACON staff when our publisher, Kevin VanGundy, returns from the annual North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) convention. This year’s convention took place in Melbourne, Florida. Aside from seeing the sights with other senior publishers from across the country, a highlight of the convention is the awards banquet, where senior publications big and small vie for top honors in a variety of categories. Publications are independently judged on the quality of their written content, editing, design, photography, web content and more by the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism. The best are then commended for their efforts with awards.

This year, your BEACON Senior Newspaper and its staff were nominated in the following categories:

General Excellence • BEACON Senior Newspaper, Colorado

Column Review • “Garden Smarts” by Kathy Kimbrough

Profile • “Freedom comes from sacrifice” by Melanie Wiseman (July 2014) • “Love overcomes grief” by Melanie Wiseman (February 2015) • “Mentoring is magical” by Melanie Wiseman (March 2015 Create a Legacy) • “Tired of tasteless tomatoes?” by Carrie Kellerby (March 2015)

AND THE WINNERS ARE… Special Section

Column Review

1st Place: Transitions in Aging (August 2014)

2nd Place: “Garden Smarts” by Kathy Kimbrough

Front Cover Illustration 2nd Place: Transitions in Aging by Heidi Graf (August 2014)

Feature Writing • “Heart to heart: Life lessons my ugly cat taught me” by Jan Weeks (August 2014) • “Pee pocket allows women to take a stand” by Cloie Sandlin (August 2014) • “Boomers get pierced, seniors get inked” by Jan Weeks, Rebecca Sanders and Cloie Sandlin (October 2014) • “Mesquite, Nevada: a newer version of an older Las Vegas” by Kevin VanGundy and Cloie Sandlin (January 2015) • “Roller Dam vital to our valley for 100 years” by Priscilla Walker (June 2015) • “KREX-TV: a 60-year legacy in broadcasting” by Carla Johnson (July 2014)

Feature Writing 1st Place: “Boomers get pierced, seniors get inked” by Jan Weeks, Rebecca Sanders and Cloie Sandlin (October 2014)

• “Relationships that last a lifetime” by Cameron Jones (September 2014) • “On the hunt for Elks” by Terri Benson (October 2014) • “Hippie Bus” by Liesl Greathouse (February 2015)

Front Cover Photo • “The Fruits of Freedom” (July 2014). Photo by Cloie Sandlin. • “Joe Higgins - 2015 Create a Legacy” (March 2015). Photo by Heidi Graf.

Front Cover Illustration • 2014 Transitions in Aging by Heidi Graf (August 2014)

Profi

1st Place: “Love overcomes grief” by

2nd Place: “Freedom comes from sacrif

BER 2015

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Feature Layout

Best Overall Design

• “Music fills the heart and soul” (July 2014). Design by Heidi Graf.

• BEACON Senior Newspaper, Colorado

• “Mesquite, Nevada: a newer version of an older Las Vegas” (January 2015). Design by Heidi Graf. • “Chinese New Year: Drinks and Sweets” (February 2015). Design by Heidi Graf. • “Hippie Bus” (February 2015). Design by Heidi Graf. • “Sentinel Pride & Perfection” (May 2015). Design by Melissa Trottier. • “Finally a chance to explore Cuba” (May 2015). Design by Melissa Trottier.

Special Section • Senior Summer Traveler & Festivals (June 2015) • Transitions in Aging (August 2014) • Create a Legacy (March 2015)

Annual Senior Resource Guide • 2015 Transitions in Aging RESOURCE Directory

ile

y Melanie Wiseman (February 2015)

fice” by Melanie Wiseman (July 2014)

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Website General Excellence • BEACON Senior Newspaper, Colorado

Congratulations to you all! Putting together a BEACON isn’t easy. It takes novel ideas, creative design and photography, careful editing, intriguing and well-written stories, supportive advertisers, and a dedicated staff. I believe that the number and quality of the local articles we publish in the BEACON make us stand out at such competitions. Many of our awardwinning stories about local people and local issues might never have been written if it weren’t for our wonderful, local writers. Thank you! But above all, the BEACON would not be where it is today if it weren’t for you, our readers. As always, thank you for reading the BEACON. ■

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FAITH MOVES

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DECEMBER 2015

Memories of Christmases past By Jerry L. Ginther

Montrose United Methodist Church 19 S. Park Ave., Montrose, CO

970-249-3716 • montroseumc.org

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any of my generation will remember the fragrance of a freshly cut Douglas fir or spruce Christmas tree. Some may remember actually harvesting a tree from a wooded area where you could choose your tree and cut it yourself. There were grower/vendors in some areas that allowed cutting your own or you could purchase one from several that had been previously cut and priced according to size. During the ’40s and ’50s, my childhood years, most families would acquire a new, live tree each Christmas on which to display their colorful ornaments and lights. Today most of the trees are artificial, flame retardant and serviceable for many years. However, it seems to me that these holidays are coming around more frequently and I’m putting our tree together and taking it apart more often than I used to in years past. Over the years there have been gradual changes in many of the decorations, particularly the strings of lights. When I was 5 or 6 years old, the size of Christmas tree bulbs was considerably larger. The bulbs were round, much like a regular incandescent light bulb. That has changed over the years as the strings of lights have gotten longer and the bulbs much smaller. Also, like the artificial trees, the newer versions are much safer. The oldfashioned types were easily broken and more prone to being a fire hazard. Advancing technology has actually made the electric lights prettier as well as safer. I love being out on cold evenings, going from store to store, being in the crowd of busy shoppers and hearing the greeting, “Merry Christmas” from smiling faces. Who could imagine this time of year without the magic of this cheerful greeting and the ringing of the bells pro-

duced by the Salvation Army volunteers? Also, many of the stores are playing Christmas music, ranging from “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” to softer themes of roasting chestnuts and warm fires that stimulate thoughts of a romantic and cozy holiday. The cold and snow are outside; love and hot chocolate are inside. One thing I haven’t heard in recent years, though, is the little three- or four-piece bands that used to play Christmas carols on city street corners during the holiday season. Perhaps I just haven’t been in the right place, but it is something I have missed. The Salvation Army bell ringers, the little corner bands, nativity scenes and groups of carolers moving about the streets all enhance the exhilaration of the season. They are traditions that revive in us a magical and mutual feeling, and for many of us the remembrance for our joy at this time of year for the birth of Christ. When I’m out among the throngs of shoppers, their spirit is animating. Fortunately, we still have the tradition of caroling where I live and most stores allow the Salvation Army to set up their bright red collection canisters near their doors and ring those joyous bells to their heart’s content. I believe those bells are the next best thing to sleigh bells in the snow. I love Christmas more each year. As a father and grandfather I know that the giving of gifts and the excitement of children creates lasting memories. Still the Christ child is the reason for the season so perhaps my appreciation for God’s greatest gift to humanity has expanded over the years as well. This is also the time of year when we say goodbye to the old year and look forward to a brighter, happier new year. I’m wishing all of you a very merry Christmas, and a most prosperous and happy new year! ■

DECEMBER 2015

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 15

Crossword Puzzle

Across 1 They meet at corners 6 “Bye!” 10 March 15 14 Sharon of Israel 15 One finishing off the cake 16 First name in jeans 17 Marquee says “BEN DESERVES NIKE” 20 Pitcher with a flaring spout 21 Put in your two cents 22 Poker player’s option 23 Slow-wittedness 25 Presley’s label 27 Marquee says “LIKE NOTHING” 33 What gamblers might get 37 Atmosphere 38 Paleozoic and Cenozoic 39 House and horse pests 41 And others (Abbr.) 42 Like society, before the Industrial Revolution 44 Be a bad winner 45 Marquee says “FROG STUMPER” 48 First name in guerrilla warfare 49 Do-it-yourselfer’s guide 54 One of the strings 58 Lemon drink 59 Capital of Latvia 60 Marquee says “NEEDED PINE CANDY” 64 Electrifying “Back in Black” r ockers 65 Wisconsin export 66 Bitter-tasting 67 Facial hair 68 Vereen and Jonson 69 Wedding vow word Down 1 Opposite of waxed 2 “___ having fun yet?” 3 Make more exciting (with “up”) 4 Lewd looks 5 Type of camera, for short 6 Decorate fabric, 60’s style 7 Did great on a test 8 Letterman’s list total 9 Flood refuge 10 She loved Rick 11 He loved Lucy 12 Party times 13 Start for saddle or walk 18 Traumatic event for a cat 19 From Qum 24 “___ now or never!” 25 December dew 26 Male swans

28 Controversial psychiatrist R.D. 29 Boat backbone 30 Absorbed by 31 “Final Four” org. 32 Moola 33 Not listening 34 As a result 35 Roseanne, before Tom 36 Former Russian ruler 39 They’re cold-blooded 40 Type of shift 43 Summary 44 Transcript no. 46 They’re above the pails in a dairy barn 47 Demeanor 50 Painter El ___ 51 Straphanger 52 Laboratory gels 53 Commitmentphobe’s word 54 Druggist’s container 55 Quechua speaker 56 Track data 57 Poland’s Walesa 58 City of Yemen 61 Recede 62 Originally called 63 Corn field cry

Generosity in Action “As a music volunteer, my hope is to inspire and possibly even bring some joy into the lives of the family members of patients at HopeWest and the staff who hear me play. I believe I am making a difference and helping create an atmosphere of hope and healing.” – Larry Cappetto, HopeWest Music Volunteer

Join our family of volunteers! HopeWest has many opportunities available to fit your needs or busy schedule. Visit HopeWestCO.org to explore the ways you can make a difference.

MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

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Clubs, volunteer info and support groups

WHATEVER THE TIME OF YEAR

• The Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at the Montrose Pavilion from 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. On December 12, music will be provided by Route 66. The club will host a special New Year’s Eve dance from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. December 31 with music provided by the Ghost River Band. There will be a toast at midnight. Admission is $5 per person. Please bring a non-perishable food donation to benefit Sharing Ministries. Bring refreshments to share if you wish. For more information, call 252-7172.

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DECEMBER 2015

TOOLS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT

CHRISTMAS STORIES

• Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway will celebrate Christmas at 2 p.m. December 13 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3133 F Road in Grand Junction. Members are asked to bring cookie treats for the annual cookie sale as well as a child’s Christmas gift or cash donation to be presented to the Salvation Army. Bring a potluck item to accompany the ham provided by the lodge. Call 245-5649 or visit www.vestafjelllodge.org.

970-252-4889

• Western Slope 4 Wheelers’ monthly meetings are at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesdays at the Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road in Montrose. Call 275-0754.

970-252-7797

• Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the third

PRESENTED BY CHERYL ADAMS

MONDAY DEC. 21 @ 1:00pm Activities Calendar Info: Meal Reservations:

Fridays at the Olathe Community Center. Call 417-6142. • Black Canyon Camera Club meets monthly at noon on the second Tuesdays at the First Church of Christ, 1102 Howard St. in Delta. Call 399-3674. • Black Canyon Classics is open to all ages interested in classic cars, street rods, trucks and other vehicles. For times and locations, call 249-6051. • Black Canyon Audubon Society members are committed to the conservation of natural resources through birding, conservation and educational activities. For dates and times of meetings, call 249-6761, ext. 14. • Wild Bunch 4WD club’s bimonthly meetings are the second Mondays of “odd months.” For dates, times and locations, email desertrat27@hotmail.com. • Black Canyon Twirlers Square Dance Club meets monthly at 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. the second and fourth Saturdays at the Lions Clubhouse, 602 N. Nevada Ave. in Montrose. Call 596-4252. They dance Main Stream and Plus and welcome visitors. • Alpine Photography Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in

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MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES 17

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Montrose. For more information, email alpinephotoclub@aol.com

ruary through April 16, 2016. Training will be provided. Call 856-3007.

any disability or illness. For details and to register, call 249-2436, ext. 203.

• Delta Hubwheelers dance at 7:15 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month at Bill Heddles Recreation Center’s Aerobics Room. All dances are mainstream with plus tips and one round dance between tips. Potluck dinners start at 6 p.m. Rerounds/instructions begin at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming meetings will be December 5 (patriotic dance in honor of our military for Pearl Harbor Day) and December 19 (Christmas dance). Call 856-3735 for details.

• Volunteers of America seeks volunteers for a variety of positions in Montrose and Delta counties. Volunteers can assist with resident outings, events or fundraisers, delivering meals or light office work. VOA also accepts donations of books, craft supplies, nail polish, plants, quilts, music devices, headphones, iTunes gift cards and more. Call 1-844-VOA-4YOU.

• Alzheimer-Dementia Support Group meets monthly at 6 p.m. on the second Thursdays at Valley Manor Care Center, 1401 S. Cascade in Montrose. For details, call 249-9634.

SUPPORT GROUPS

• Validation Dementia support group meets every other month on the second Thursdays, alternating between locations in Montrose and in Eckert. For details, call 252-3118.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • HopeWest in Delta and Montrose is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions. In Delta, call 874-6823 for more information. In Montrose, call 252-2642. • Senior CommUnity Meals needs volunteer meal delivery drivers in Delta. It takes about an hour to deliver three or four meals to a homebound senior. Call 835-8028. • RSVP in Montrose is seeking volunteers. Volunteers who register with RSVP receive supplemental insurance and recognition for their service. Call 249-9639. • AARP Tax Aide seeks volunteer tax preparers for the Delta and Cedaredge sites during tax season. Volunteers work six to 10 hours a week from Feb-

• Stroke Support Group meets 11 a.m. to noon twice a month at Montrose Memorial Hospital’s Acute Rehab Unit. For details and meeting days, call 318-2028. • Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group meets from noon to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays at 645 S. Fifth St. in Montrose. • Caregiver Support Group meets 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at Crossroads Assisted & Independent Living model cottage at 1380 Aspen Way in Delta. Call 773-4214.

• Caregiver Support Group meets at 1 p.m. on the first and second Mondays of each month at the United Methodist Church, 19 S. Park Ave. in Montrose. For details, call 249-3716.

• Kinship Connections for Kids meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose. This group is structured for persons raising children that are not their own. For details, call 765-3127. ■

• Caregiver Support & Networking Group meets at 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. on the first Wednesdays and third Thursdays of each month at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade Ave. in Montrose. The meetings are structured to be an all-inclusive group for caregivers who care for someone with dementia, or

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MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

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DECEMBER 2015

Delta/Montrose Calendar DECEMBER 4-5 Winter Celebrations Art & Craft Show This art and craft show spans two days, giving shoppers plenty of time to see what over 100 vendors have to offer, including arts, crafts, gourmet foods, festive home décor and more. There will also be a crafts corner for kids. The show takes place at Friendship Hall at the Montrose County Fairgrounds. Hours are 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

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DECEMBER 5 Montrose Parade of Lights The City of Montrose Office of Business and Tourism is proud to present the annual Parade of Lights on historic Main Street in downtown Montrose at 5 p.m. Parade begins at North Stough Avenue and ends at Rio Grande Avenue. This year’s theme is Starry Nights, Holiday Delights. Go to www.visitmontrose.com/parade or call 497-8558 for details. DECEMBER 5 & 6 Christmas by Candlelight This holiday concert presented by the Valley Symphony Association

will feature traditional holiday favorites performed by the orchestra and chorus to ring in the season. Warm up your singing voices and join in for a Christmas carol sing-along. Concert takes place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion. Tickets are $20 for adults. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.valleysymphony.net or call 209-2196.

DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 11-13 & 18-20 Garden of Lights Brighten the season at the Montrose Botanic Gardens with the Garden of Lights from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Wander among the illuminated garden paths and displays, and enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa and storytellers, snacks, live music, an animated light show, and a warming fire. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 5-18, $12 for a family of up to four, and children age 4 and under are free. For more information, email rpm.gwce@gmail.com or visit www.montrosegardens.org. DECEMBER 13 Montrose Community Band holiday concert This free concert at 3 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion features songs, including “Sleigh Ride,” “Christmas Festival,” “Joy to the World,” a narrated version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and more. The jazz band will kick off the concert, and the Oak Grove Elementary School music students will also take the stage to show off their holiday talent. For more information, visit www.montroseband.com or call 596-1188.

DECEMBER 14 Estate planning seminar “What if there is no will? Colorado has written one for you.” This free workshop presented by Brown & Brown, PC, and Region 10 will cover how your assets will pass if you do not leave a will and how they will pass if you do leave a will. You will also learn about how a personal representative is appointed, who will administer the estate, and how the estate will be divided. Learn how you can be in control of how your estate is distributed and more. Sign in at 4:15 p.m. and the seminar will start at 4:30 p.m. at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade in the Sneffels room. Registration required. Register online at www. region10.net or call 765-3123. DECEMBER 31 New Year’s Eve dance The Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts a New Year’s Eve dance from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. with music provided by the Ghost River Band. There will be a toast at midnight. Admission is $5 per person. Please bring a non-perishable food donation to benefit Sharing Ministries. Bring refreshments to share if you wish. For more information, call 252-7172. ■

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MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES 19

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20 MONTROSE/DELTA COUNTIES

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DECEMBER 2015

Delta/Montrose Beacon Bits Montrose Pavilion holiday closures The Montrose Pavilion will be closed on December 24 for Christmas Eve, December 25 for Christmas and January 1 for New Years Day. The Pavilion will also be closed during the day on December 31, but will reopen in the evening for the Senior’s New Years Eve dance, which starts at 9 p.m. S A L E S

E V E N T

Region 10 Education Series Events will be held at Region 10, 300 N. Cascade in Montrose. Registration is required. All sessions are free. For details and to register, call 360-6090. • December 14, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. “What if there is no will? Colorado has written one for you.” This free workshop presented by Brown & Brown, PC, and Region 10 will cover how your assets will pass if you do not leave a will and how they will pass if you do leave a will. You will also learn about how a personal representative is appointed, who will administer the estate, and how the estate will be divided. Learn how you can be in control of how your estate is distributed and more. Sign in at 4:15 p.m., as the seminar will start at 4:30 p.m. Registration required. Register online at www.region10.net or call 765-3123.

Free Medicare help Now is the time to enroll in or switch Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans during Medicare Open Enrollment through December 7. Certified State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselors provide free help with your Medicare questions or problems. The local location at the Region 10 offices at 300 N. Cascade in Montrose serves Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, San Miguel and Ouray counties. SHIP counselors are at 147 Fourth St. in Delta on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Call 765-3132 with questions and to make an appointment at either location.

Tax volunteers needed AARP Tax Aide seeks volunteer tax preparers for the Delta and Cedaredge sites during tax season. Volunteers work six to 10 hours a week from February through April 15, 2016. Training will be provided. Call 856-3007. Montrose Senior Activities The Montrose Recreation District has the following activities scheduled for seniors 50+ this month. Register one week ahead. Events take place at the Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive, or transportation departs from the Montrose Pavilion. Please arrive at each event at least 15 minutes early. For more information on the following activities, call 252-4884. • Holiday lights and dinner 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. December 12 and 19. We will have dinner at Pahgre’s and then tour the Garden of Lights. There will be wagon rides with draft horses, themed light displays, roving choirs, Santa and more. After these activities, we will take an abbreviated version of our annual holiday lights tour around Montrose neighborhoods. If you are not able to drive or can’t drive at night, we’ll pick you up. Cost is $27. • Palisade Olde Fashioned Christmas - 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. December 5. Vendors will be located indoors at the Palisade High School gym as well as the downtown market. There will be a soup challenge, gingerbread house decorating contest, Santa’s workshop and more. Cost is $20. You must call Cindy at 252-4884 to register for this trip. • Elf Jr., The Musical – 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. December 12. This hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities causes him to face the truth. Cost is $25 (bring money for lunch). ■

DECEMBER 2015

Your year-end financial checklist By Nathaniel Sillin

FINANCE 21

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ow is your opportunity to beat the rush to organize your yearend finances and make some smart moves for the New Year. Consider the following tasks. Total up your year-to-date spending. Whether you organize by computer or on paper, make sure your tracking system for spending, saving and investment is up to date. This way, you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time. Once you are finished, determine your net worth and get an early idea of what you need to change next year. Check in with your planner or tax professional. Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on yearend financial activities and new moves you should make in 2016. Make sure you’ve reviewed all your credit reports for the year. You are entitled to one free copy of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Get your free annual credit report at www.annualcredit report.com. Check and rebalance your portfolio. Be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals. Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs. And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year, now is the time to start thinking about it. Check your insurance coverage. If you buy your own home, auto, life or other insurance policies, contact two or three agents to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage. If you have made any structural changes or improvements to your home, make sure

those actions are reflected in your homeowners’ insurance. Such work may boost your home’s replacement value. Also, if you’ve had a major life or financial event like a new baby or the purchase of a new home, it’s time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient. Update your W-2, benefits and estate plan if necessary. While you’re updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family, property or marital status, see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review. Empty out your flexible spending accounts. If you have a flexible spending account for health care or other qualifying expenses, it’s time to submit outstanding claims. Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year. Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast. Do a last-minute tax review. Review your annual income, investment and spending data to see if there’s anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes. If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are recommended, consult sites such as GuideStar (www.guidestar. org), CharityWatch (www.charity watch.org) and Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent. Cut back on waste with online bill pay and deposits. Automatic online bill pay means you won’t have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees. Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money, while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it. ■

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DECEMBER 2015

In defense of the Christmas letter By Amy Abbott

KUDOS & KVETCH 23

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nless you are the grouchiest Grinch, your mailbox may be stuffed with cards, pictures and holiday letters over the next few weeks. Call me old-fashioned but I still do the whole Christmas letter business. I carefully select cards—Christian cards for friends who share my faith and cards for those who celebrate the Festival of Lights or nothing at all. I choose stamps that reflect the card’s message and then I write one of those horribly obnoxious Christmas letters, complete with well-selected pictures. Perhaps you roll your eyes and toss my letter in the trash. I hope not. I come from a long line of women who like receiving notes, cards and pictures in the mail. My grandmother LeNore Enz wrote something annually called the “Enzo-Gram.” In her 1967 version, she refers to the 10-year-old me as a “sweet and loving child who is a good reader and student.” She told about my singing in the children’s choir at the 450th anniversary celebration of the Protestant Reformation at the Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum. I remember singing in the choir; I don’t remember being particularly sweet and loving. My grandmother’s letter has that certain air of hyperbole of many holiday letters. While her letter is not particularly braggadocio, it’s also not entirely truthful and may slightly stretch the truth by not offering the full picture. Our family was (and still is) far from perfect. This way of handling information is known as the sin of omission. For many years, I wrote something called “The Newburgher” (a nod to “Talk of the Town” in The New Yorker.) Long on words and short on pictures, I realized it was a snooze to everyone but me. Even my husband wouldn’t read it. I’ve considerably shortened the letter

and added several pictures. Like my grandmother, I am also guilty of the sin of omission. But who wants to read a holiday letter about the bad stuff? For example, our 2013 letter highlighted a once-in-a-lifetime trip that five family members took to Scotland and Ireland. We had a wonderful time and saw many interesting sights. With five aging bladders in our family, we also saw every bathroom, john, potty, outhouse, privy, loo, washroom and truck stop lounge. I included a photograph of our son in this year’s letter. He completed an internship at the House of Representatives. It’s a nice picture of him standing in front of the door of the office. Did I have a better picture? Yes, there is a photo of him outside the White House attending a Congressional event. His dress shirt is buttoned at the top, he has on no tie, and one jet-black hair clump stands straight up. He looks exactly like Alfalfa, if the “Our Gang” Little Rascal stood in front of the White House. I did not include several wonderful photographs from our spring vacation to Las Vegas because then I would have been unable to include photos from the big trip. Why? Because the reader would note my weight gain. Vanity, thy name is Amy Abbott. Every year, I say this will be the last time I do this. When I add up the cost of cards, stamps and the time involved, it’s too much. I swear I’m finished. I now have arthritis in both thumbs. My husband signed all of the cards this year, and I did not include personal notes. I still defend the holiday letter. I enjoy getting them, and people tell me they enjoy receiving ours. Okay, so I left a few things out. I’m sure all the letters I receive include the absolute truth and full gamut of family life throughout the year. ■

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