Because of the Thanksgiving early-press deadline, limited space and page makeup challenges, a couple of topics of last week's 'cuff had to be omitted. I understand those challenges must be met. Because one of the topics was "Thanksgiving," a holiday that is important and timeless, please let me share a few words, even if they are in past tense.
Thanksgiving. It is that time of year when a real meaningful holiday brings families together at Grandma's house, or at other special places. It is the time to give real thought to the many blessings Americans have to be thankful for. (Please excuse the dangling "for." But isn't that how we so often converse?)
Dating to the very beginning of our nation, before it was a nation, Thanksgiving became a special part of our culture. Even today it is a time we must foster by remembering those patriots who gave, and those who still give, so much for which we should, and must, be thankful. Every American should pause to recognize our freedoms and to work diligently in preserving them for future generations.
That is, and must be, the legacy we leave, not the legacy of one person, one generation, but the legacy of this and every generation. We must not fail!
A couple of persons mentioned they had forgotten the Bella Vista/Hiwasse/Gravette bypass had been in the works for so long, some 30 years, in case you missed it.
One other topic in that 'cuff was a bit of bragging. I'll pass on that for a couple of weeks to let the current political drama move forward to the inauguration of our new president.
But let's turn our thoughts to that other holiday which consumes so much energy and preparation, the holiday that began with the frantic and frenzied shopping blowout a few days ago. What a change! Those of us who grew up in the late days of the real great depression and World War II which followed, remember it in entirely different terms. Actually, we looked forward to Christmas with great anticipation, while never really appreciating the sacrifices our parents made to make sure there was a present or two under a cedar tree which was covered with long, glistening icicles and popcorn and construction paper chains.
It was at school where we sang Christmas songs with real meaning, where we worked so hard on that nativity scene which was enjoyed by our parents and friends. We looked forward to a Christmas tree at church, where we learned the true meaning of what is now usually called a holiday. There was always a brown paper bag with an apple, sometimes an orange, some hard candy, as well as a chocolate-covered mound of something very sweet. I never knew what to call them. There were always a few nuts, including an English walnut or two.
That brings another topic to mind. The boob tube has been filled recently with ads calling them California walnuts. They look like English walnuts but, no matter how hard they try to change them, those nuts will always be English walnuts to us old timers.
Ah, yes, but back to the "good old days," especially remembering when boys got a couple of metal (not plastic) battery-powered cars, when a girl usually got a special doll to cradle in her arms. There were probably more new clothes, possibly a new pair of overalls or a frilly dress. Always there was a big dinner with treats that only came on special days -- a dinner prepared with loving, work-hardened hands. And that week-long vacation from school made it a real holiday. But always, centered in the picture, was a reminder of the true message of Christmas.
What have we lost? As an individual? As a family? As a government? As a nation? What will today's generation, far in the future, remember about the plastic, computer-driven, fast-paced era of today? Will kids remember singing real Christmas songs, nativity scenes, paper bags with an apple, orange and, yes, English walnuts? Time will tell. History always has the answer.
One day, perhaps sometime in early December, an Off the Sleeve will describe Christmas, in comparison with the culture we are now living. One thing: They will remember the story we are writing today.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 11/30/2016