This week's column

An ode to the outgoing chief
Change. Sometimes it’s not a word I’m fond of. Change can bring good things, but it can take aspects out of your life that you’re not sure you want to lose.Change is happening at The News-Enterprise this week. Features Editor Holly Tabor is leaving our comfortable little team to go back to school for a master’s degree to teach high school English. I know, we’ve all told her she’s crazy, but after dealing with the features team, teenagers should be a piece of cake.With this change there will be several things I’ll miss about having her around. I decided to list some of those things in true Letterman style — a top 10 list.
10. We have the same celebrity crushes (Gerard Butler, Matt Damon and that guy from the other movie that I can’t remember). Nobody else is going to get that.
9. Tapjigalogging and various other words made up by the features team.
8. We both know the value of worst case scenario planning. Between the two of us, every possible fire exit strategy has been covered as well as any intruder possibilities.
7. Squint, duck and say, “Please don’t hit me.” It’s an inside joke the rest of the reading public won’t get, but it comes in handy when a piece of tire tread is flying at you on the interstate.
6. She’s our biggest cheerleader, often saying “fabulous” when we come up with an idea … no matter how lame it may be.
5. Mea-isms. I will miss hearing the latest thing her 3-year-old daughter, Mea, has started saying. “It’s freaking me out” and “You’re pulling my leg right off” are among my favorites.
4. Holly is a very talented writer with insight into stories we often miss, and our work has been better for her attention to detail and depth of storytelling.
3. Multiple sneezing. It’s a newsroom fact that Holly never sneezes once, and you have to pause to make sure she is finished before saying “Bless you.”
2. I will miss our random quotes from “The Princess Bride.” Nuff said.
1. It has been a pleasure to come to work every day and know I not only have a great features editor but also the joy to work with one of my dearest friends. I will miss that most of all.
To Holly: We have had many Lucy and Ethel moments in the features department and I am honored to say that I have worked with you and call you my friend.I never will know how you got up at 4 a.m. to work at a daycare, came to the paper and many times stayed until after 5 p.m., and then had energy to go home and be mom to your kids and a wife to Scott. You have strengths I’m not even sure you realize you have.Good luck in school and with those crazy teens. There was a part of me that wanted to say, “Good luck storming the castle,” and I knew you’d know what I meant.And don’t forget we’re going to see “Machine Gun Preacher” and “Coriolanus” starring Gerard Butler. The quality of the film makes no difference because we both sat through “Gamer” and “Timeline” just because he was in them.You will be greatly missed.
http:///www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/ode-outgoing-chief

This Week's column

Breathe in Christmas
http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/breathe-christmas
Christmas decorating hasn’t been as exciting this year as in years past.

The outdoor lighting has been minimized; it seemed more of a hassle than enjoyable. But part of this year's décor includes a few simple window candle lights.

At night, I turn off the lights in the house and let the warm glow of the window lights and the lights on the Christmas trees fill my home.

I noticed one night while watching Masterpiece Classics on KET that this gives my house a nice old-time Christmas feel.

Surrounded by the antiques that fill my home year round and the flickering glow from the lights, my mind was transported back to Christmases of decades past. The Victorian feel of the show I was watching probably helped that mind set.

Then my mind wondered instantly to my affection towards the novels of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and the like. I thought of what Christmas might be like if it were truly by candlelight, under the deep night of a sky uninterrupted by streetlights and electric hums.

On many nights I cuddle up under my UK blanket with my trusty Labrador curled at my feet and just sit at the window and watch it snow in the glow of the window light.

If I had a fireplace I would have used it to hear the slow crackle of the fire and feel the warmth flow through the room.

I thought of a time when a simple piece of fruit or a handmade gift brought joy to those on Christmas morning. When the day truly was more about being with the people they loved the most rather than the elaborate nature of a gift.

Popcorn and handmade ornaments filled the tree and the fresh smell of evergreen welcomed the morning. I can almost smell the popcorn popping over the fireplace now.

It wasn’t a race to get to as many places as possible. And when families did visit, it wasn’t for a few short hours. They stayed together in each other's homes and the time stretched for days rather than hours.

Even though the temperatures have dropped outside, the more I continued to think about it the warmer I felt.

With the advances in technology and the speed of life, we often find ourselves as a culture thinking the best times are now. Sure, I like modern convenience the same as the next person. But at Christmas it would be nice to sit back, enjoy the moment and slow down a bit.

I find myself so busy with the “things” of Christmas that I don’t have time to reflect on the true meaning. To some that means family, for others the celebration of the end of a year leading into the new one.

But Christmas for me is about something more.

For me it’s about the birth of Jesus and everything he means to me. I get so caught up in getting the right gifts, making sure the house is decorated, getting the cards mailed and going to parties that I don’t take the time to stop and reflect why I am celebrating the holiday to begin with.

So I’ve tried to make a pact with myself to take some time during this season to just sit and be still. To quietly reflect on the reality of a birth that changed my history.

To sit in the warm glow of the lights with a warm cup of coffee and a dog curled at my feet, enjoy the feel of the past and reflect on life and what Christmas means to me.

My wish this Christmas is to take a moment to breathe in the spirit of Christmas. To slow down and not get caught up in the business and stress of the season.

Everyone do it together now. One, two, three ... breathe. Doesn’t that feel better?

Have a merry and calm Christmas

This week's column

Farewell to a furry friend
http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/farewell-furry-friend
He came into her life as a young dog, first belonging to her son, who had always wanted a black lab named Vader.
A lab golden retriever mix, he always had been an anomaly, afraid of water. He even sunk to a bottom of a pool once, requiring someone to jump in and rescue him. His swimming instincts never worked quite right.
When her son was home from college one weekend they sat down for a friendly game of cards. As a joke, her son put Vader up as a bid during one hand. She won decidedly; in return Vader was hers for keeps.
He became her BGB — that’s best good boy. A smart dog, he could put a dog biscuit on his nose and flip it up into his mouth. He loved going “bye bye in the car” and riding with his family.
Vader also had his quirks. The food bowl had to be in the perfect spot before he would eat out of it. It if was in the wrong spot he would sit by it and bark and whine until someone moved it for him. Did I mention he was a bit rotten?
For 13 years Vader was a great companion for my mom. She would sit and talk to him and probably tell him more than she would her closest friend.
Sadly, a few weeks ago Vader passed away. He had gotten older, riddled with fatty tumors and arthritis, until finally his age caught up with him.
It wasn’t like losing an actual person, but he did become a part of the family, always in the background keeping watch.
While at home for Thanksgiving it was the little things I missed about him.
Vader’s spot during meal time was under the table, and I usually would have to either prop my feet on him or find somewhere else for my feet to rest. This time, when I sat down to eat, I actually had a place to put my feet.
He also used to sit and wait for me to finish my Diet Coke when I was there. He loved to take the plastic bottle and chew off the top. He never ate it. He just liked taking off the top for some reason.
I even missed aggravating him. You see, it was often I who moved the food bowl just to hear him fuss.
While not a human member of the family, he was a furry one who will be missed. It’s weird coming in their door with Vader not there to greet me.
They still have Dad’s dog, Jack the Wonder Dog, but I think even he’s missing old Vader a bit.
Dogs quietly come in and out of our lives, but each leaves a special mark. The cuddly face that warms your heart in the sad moments, the funny things they do not realizing how entertaining they are or just the comfort they give curled up beside you on the couch or at your feet.
They hold you close to their heart and treat you like you are the most wonderful thing they’ve ever encountered, or at least a close second to peanut butter.
Mom claims she’ll never get another dog because the emotional attachment is too great. But I’ve heard that story at least three or four times before.
Vader Dog , as I often called him, will be missed and will never truly be replaced.

As Seen on TV Holiday Gift Guide column

If your family’s like mine the gift exchange at the family Christmas party can be a bit frustrating. Getting together with family is always good but sometimes the pressure of finding the right gift can be a bit challenging.
If this is what you see in your future for this Christmas I have a suggestion for you. Reading that back sounds a lot like an infomercial. Please read in a loud obnoxious announcer voice.
My family used to draw names for Christmas. Last year we decided to spice it up a bit and have an “As Seen on TV” gift exchange. Most of us went to a local store to get the gifts instead of going with the two for one deals with outrageous shipping on TV.
We played it a bit like a white elephant and were able to steal each other’s gifts.
There was a plethora of useful, semi-useful and completely useless gifts.
It was so much fun we are trying to think of a new theme for this year. Thinking of a theme can be a fun new way to look at the gift exchange. Especially, if like us, there’s nothing you really need but still want to get into the spirit of giving gifts to your loved ones.
There were a few hot items people sought after in the exchange and my poor uncle was the unfortunate one to open all the good stuff, only to have it stolen shortly after opening it.
My grandmother had been talking about one of the Perfect Slice Brownie pans for a while leading up to Christmas. When it was her turn she made a beeline for it. Of course, she kept it the entire night because no one wanted to steal anything from our grandmother.
A Pet Zoom, Slap Chop, Mighty Putty, Jupiter Jack, Liquid Leather and the ever popular Snuggie were exchanged.
I was very happy to wind up with a combo gift. I got the Big City Slider Station and a Titan Peeler. That’s right, I said Titan Peeler. It’s just as amazing as it looks on TV.
But wait, there’s more!
During the exchange my aunt was so distraught to find out I didn’t have an Ove Glove that she sent me one in the mail a few days later. I have to admit it’s pretty good too.
So my advice is to get creative with the gift exchange and make it fun. That way it becomes less about the gift and more about the fun of being together.
This year we’ve kicked around a book or DVD exchange. When asked which one he preferred, an ever helpful uncle only answered “yes.” There’s one in every family.
So, if your Christmas gift exchange is getting a bit drab, be creative and spice it up a bit. Oh, a cooking spices exchange. That’s another good idea and can create yummy cooking too.
See, the theme possibilities are endless.

Just a few of my thoughts

Thanksgiving is a cultural ritual Americans partake in every year. We prepare meals, watch a parade, eat, watch football, eat again, go shopping and eat some more.But how much do we really know about this holiday? Do we stick to the stories we were told in grade school or have we ever thought there’s more to the story — a story more intense than can be told to 8-year-olds?Before I delve into the difficult stuff, let’s start with some fun facts.
According to www.history.com, an estimated 38.4 million people traveled 50 miles or more from home during the 2009 holiday.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Minnesota is the top turkey producing state with a production of 45.5 million turkeys in 2009. The National Turkey Federation estimates that year 88 percent of Americans ate turkey at Thanksgiving. It the average weight of a turkey purchased is 15 pounds, that means more than 682 million pounds of Turkey were consumed in the U.S. in 2009. That’s a lot of poultry.
The first Macy’s parade was held in 1924 and Snoopy has appeared in the parade more times than any other character.
The Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day each year since 1934, except during war time.
And yes, tryptophan is real.
Now to the Pilgrims.First, they probably didn’t eat turkey. The only written account of any meal with the Native Americans recounted eating deer. No mention of our feathered friends.Another problem is that history seems to place all the fame on the pilgrims. Sometimes we forget that the Wampanoag Indians are the real heroes of this story.The pilgrims were starved, stealing from the Indians and scrapping for all they had. By the time the feast passed down as Thanksgiving occurred, there were only 52 colonists left on their settlement. The Mayflower originally set sail with 102 people.Squanto of the Pawtuxet tribe and the Wampanoag Indians had been treated terribly by earlier explorers, some enslaved and others killed by disease.But they came to help anyway and taught the pilgrims how to survive.While peace remained for a short while, eventually the gratitude disappeared and colonist continued to take and take and take and drove the Native Americans farther and farther away.We tend to forget that the pilgrims not only scavenged, or stole to put it more accurately, to survive but also considered cannibalism to survive the winter. We forget that the natives of the land were the ones who came to their rescue, teaching them planting and harvesting techniques.While a story of cannibalism, disease and war isn’t necessarily a pretty tale for young school students, we do need to remember that history is real and despite the measure taken to make it look “pretty,” sometimes it is far from it.This Thanksgiving, while sitting around our 690 million pounds of turkey, take time to thank God for the gifts of the year. It is something we should do every day and not just one day a year.But also, take time to do what those early Native Americans did. Help others. That may be one of the best ways to honor them.

This week's column

Gaga gag me
Can anyone tell me what in the world has happened to the musical taste of the young today?Why do people today like musicians with poor lyrical standards who cover up their lack of talent by over-the-top stunts and crazy performances? Yes, I am referring to the bad romance herself, Lady Gaga.And please, Usher, do you really have a song called “OMG?” What has happened? And a bigger question is why have the youth of today and, even worse, the music industry bought into it.Don’t get me wrong. There are some talented musicians out there, but the ones with no talent seem to be getting all the accolades.I started thinking of this question the other day when the class of 13-year-old girls I teach talked about studying and passed around study tips.I told them I once heard that if you listen to Mozart or Sting while you study you will remember what you studied because their music was written mathematically and somehow stimulates the memory.You won’t believe what they asked.“Who’s Sting?”Who’s Sting? Are they kidding? I told them he was a singer and mentioned he was with The Police.“The E-town police,” they asked.See my frustration.I couldn’t imagine why they wouldn’t know who Sting is but would listen to a performer’s whose lyrics say “Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah Roma-Roma-ma-ah Ga-ga-ooh-la-la.” That doesn’t make any sense. It’s like we’ve reverted to the days when someone put the bomp in the bomp ba bomp ba bomp.Maybe this is how “The Macarena” became so popular?It just seems like the crazier, more perverse or dumber a song is the more popular it becomes. Good songwriting has been replaced by a tempo mix and a wild outfit.Maybe we have Michael Jackson to blame. He started the showcase musical phenomenon, but he was one of those rare talents that could do both. Not everyone can.It could be that I’m getting a bit older. I truly don’t mean to rant. The music is just maddening.It also seems that every musician — and I use that term loosely for some — has some sort of cause or message, but it’s nowhere to be found in their music.Music used to say something. Every generation’s music says something about it. What does today’s music say?Songs used to be about good songwriting. Look at Simon and Garfunkel — great music that’s beautifully written lyrically and musically. But have you ever watched them perform? Kind of boring, but great music. They didn’t need all the craziness because their music in and of itself was good.There are some musicians out there who are still great songwriters, but it seems like they are drowned out by all the “pop” noise. We call Gaga creative and leave the real creativity on the shelves.It’s like listeners have succumbed to the American Bandstand motto of musical taste — it’s got a beat and we can dance to it.But music is more than that. The music you like says something about you. So I guess the real question is, what does your iPod say about you?

This Week's Column

Distractions of history or defining moments
The news can be distracting at times. But sometimes it needs to be.
When I sat down to write this column a fire was raging in Sonora. I would start to type and then I’d hear more.
My concentration was busted while doodling on the paper on my desk and listening for news of how the fire was going.
It made me think about past events in my life where I was glued to the television, radio or newspaper just to see what had happened. Moments everyone stopped to concentrate on the same event. Distraction from our life but a focus on things that are larger than we are.
Moments when thoughts of self disappeared and the world became interested in something as a collective.
When tragedy strikes, distraction from self is evidence of belonging to the community at large. The memories of these types of events that cause the distraction are ingrained in memories for life.
My first memory of that was when President Ronald Regan was shot. I can remember watching it on the news for days and seeing the replay. That was way before cable had multiple news channels, Internet news and news at the speed of satellite.
The next event I remember consuming my thoughts was the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. At one point I wanted to be an astronaut; the U.S. v. Russia space race was of great interest to me.
I can remember sitting in the school library to watch the launch and then seeing what happened. The news would show it over and over again trying to diagnose what happened.
Locally, I remember following coverage of the Carrollton bus crash. The story broke my heart, and I wanted to know as much as I could about it.
In another memory, I sat down with my dad to watch the 1989 World Series and remember the abrupt interruption and coverage of the earthquake in the days that followed.
There were many late nights during the first Gulf War, watching the reports come in from the war front. I’d watch the coverage of scud missiles firing through night vision photography.
I also remember the tragedy of the Oklahoma bombing. I was home from work that day for some reason and saw the shocking coverage. I cried for days.
A recent and shocking national experience was Sept. 11, 2001. Who can forget that? I would watch and watch hoping to hear about more survivors. The haunting images of the planes and ash filled aftermath are as clear in my mind as if it happened yesterday. We stayed glued to the television at work and I rarely turned the television off at home.
Then the second Gulf War began, and news came quickly with reporters embedded everywhere.
These moments of historic distraction, though tragic, connect people. They stay in the memory, impossible to erase.
What moments in history have defined your lifetime and stick in your memory? Was it Pearl Harbor, D-day, the JFK assignation, Martin Luther King Jr., the day Elvis died? Go online to www.thenewsenterprise.com and comment on this column to let us know what things have stuck in your mind as history’s distractions unfolded in your lifetime.