IS THANKSGIVING BECOMING A LOST HOLIDAY?
The New-England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day,” also known as “Over the River and Through the Wood,” is a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child, originally published in 1844 in Flowers
Author: Vince LaBarbera
CARDBOARD CAPERS
Some say Halloween is for children. But they haven’t met my friend, Rod King.
You see, Rod is a cardboard craftsman. He can fashion about anything out of cellulose fiber. He’s made tunnels, hills,
IN SEARCH OF AN OPENING SONG OR … SOMETHING
Many years ago, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to see a show in Las Vegas starring the late comedian George Burns. The only disappointment about his appearance was that it didn’t include his wonderful wife, Gracie Allen, who died
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PHONE ‘SILENCE IS GOLDEN’
“Silence is golden” is a proverbial saying often used in circumstances where it is thought that saying nothing is preferable to speaking. That proverb could apply today for many cell-phone users.
When
STRIKE UP THE … CAMERA?
As the college football season approaches I think how Band Alumni of Notre Dame (B.A.N.D.) are invited about every four years to participate in a band reunion at a football game.
It’s a wonderful experience
IT’S A MAD, MAD…WORLD
Way back in 1963 there was an American epic comedy film titled “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” starring Spencer Tracy about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful
A DOG GONE (BUT) GOOD STORY
Some sad stories have a relatively happy ending. That’s sort of the case for Ralph Knuth of Waynedale. On March 27 he reluctantly had to say good-bye to his dog, Spirit, a 10-year old Labrador retriever
IT JUST AIN’T FAIR!
When I was in graduate school at Northwestern University near Chicago, I took a photography course. What a revolting development my final project turned out to be.
We’re talking a long time ago when
FELICICHIA TO BE ORDAINED TO SACRED ORDER OF DEACON IN MAY
Stephen Felicichia, the son of Robert and Joan Felicichia, of Waynedale, will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon in the Catholic Church on Saturday, May 18, at 11:00 a.m., in the Cathedral of
PATRICK WAS A SAINT, BUT I AIN’T
Most folks generally know that St. Patrick is a saint of the Catholic Church, and that his feast day is observed on March 17 (the day he died). And many may have heard about what made him a saint in
THE ‘UNOFFICIAL SAINT’
Most of us know our Nation observes the birthdays of Presidents George Washington (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) this month on President’s Day (Feb. 20).
Some folks commemorate Groundhog Day
A CHILDHOOD’S JOY LAND
One of my favorite songs is “Toyland.” Even well past the Christmas season, I find myself humming its melody from time to time. Actually, “Toyland” is not really a Christmas carol at all, but
I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!
Well, obviously I do want to talk about it, or I wouldn’t be writing this article. But I’m just going to tell it once here and then I don’t want to discuss it any further.
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As you may know, if you read the article I wrote last month, we moved – again! A
HATS OFF, BUT NOT TO ME!
We know we said we wouldn’t, our children said we shouldn’t and our friends said we couldn’t, but we moved again anyway! This was number 13 in nearly 52 years of marriage. That’s an average of four years living in each apartment or house, which
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THE MAGNIFICENT EIGHT
The name of this month, of course, is October. It comes from the Latin, “octo,” for “eight,” because in the Roman Calendar this was the eighth month. But in the Gregorian Calendar, which we use, this is the tenth month.
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When we discover someth
GOOD TO THE LAST DROP!
Every once in a while, a gem comes along via e-mail that is worth keeping and repeating. Here’s such a jewel titled: “A mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee.”
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A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When c
MEETING A FAMOUS PERSON
Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?
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Maybe it was a Hollywood celebrity, movie star or Broadway headliner. Perhaps it was a recording artist, television entertainer or sports star. Whoever it was, we’ll wager you were thrilled with th
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS
The month of April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains. The proverb, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers,” was first recorded in
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FORWARD, MARCH!
Welcome to the third month of the year already. The name comes from Martius, the first month of the earliest Roman calendar. It was named after Mars, the Roman god of war, who also was regarded as a guardian of agriculture. The Old Saxon name fo
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HAPPY ‘WHISTLE PIG’ DAY!
Or should we say, “Happy ‘Land Beaver,’ ‘Ground Squirrel,’ ‘Whistler,’ ‘Ground Pig,’ ‘Canada Marmot,’ ‘Moonak,’ ‘Red Monk,’ ‘Thickwood Badger,’ ‘Prairie Badger,’ ‘Monax,’ ‘Digger,’ ‘Woodchuck’ or — ‘Groundhog’ Day!”
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All of t
THE PERFECT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION!
I’ve finally come up with the ultimate New Year’s resolution!
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Unlike previous resolutions over many, many years, it cannot be broken. I don’t have to worry about getting enough exercise, eating healthier, losing weight, getting more sle
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
Every Christmas season brings back a flood of memories for most of us. Some recollections make us smile while others are tinged with sadness, especially after parents, relatives and close friends no longer are with us.
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Some of our favorite
RULES FOR HAPPINESS
This story concerns a 92-year-old, petite, proud man who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and face shaved clean, even though he is legally blind.
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Since his wife of 70 years recently passed awa
WHO YOU CALLING A LOSER?
Have you ever been called a loser? In our culture, the will to win and succeed as it seems to be all that matters. No one is given much credit for being second best. Today, winning has morphed into beating countless, faceless others in anything
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