'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season is it not? Rector has officially kicked off the holiday season with the best Christmas parade to date. There were some beautiful float, I thought. Some traveled from nearby towns. Who doesn't get a kick out of toddlers dressed as Christmas gifts? I happen to think that is absolutely appropriate as they are all little gifts from God. Colored lights and carols make everything more festive.

The band just keeps improving. Drums are such an important part of a marching band and the drums were so fine in the parade. Mother Nature did her part by providing winter weather. No snow but it was a good test of our winter gear. Atmosphere, don't you know.

The after party seemed to be pretty successful too as it was impossible to walk two inches without bumping into someone. Of course that's part of the fun. We all enjoy listening to the students playing there musical instruments. I like the progression of the band from first year students to the more experienced. I liked them all. The choir was sensational as well.

On a sadder note, we said good-by to Deborah Gist this last week. Her unexpected death from a blood clot has shocked and saddened her family and friends. We have lost a beautiful, energetic and loving young lady. Even though I saw her seldom, I will miss her greatly. Let's keep her family in our hearts. Debbie, you are in God's hands. I love you.

I had a phone call from Christine Hamilton this week. She and her son George want to take this time to say thank you to all the people who make her life a little easier. She has been seen and cared for by several doctors and nurses and she appreciates each and every one of you. Keith Hill and his staff have been there too and she is grateful for your help. Ruben Seay and David Cagle were also mentioned, but Christine wanted to stress that she is grateful to everyone who has helped her and George this past year. There are many whose names are not mentioned here, but who are no less appreciated. What a nice thing to do, Christine. It is good for all of us to remember to say "Thank you" to those around us. Thank you, Christine for reminding me.

Did you attend the Night of Chocolate this year? It was great fun. The band, "The Usual Suspects & Cuz" was sensational in spite of several last minute substitutions. I really wanted to get up and dance and I wasn't the only one. We need to encourage more single men to attend next year, more single men who want to dance.

Other entertainment included a fashion show (we have some lovely models and some handsome ones too). I like seeing the personality exhibited by many of the models, even the younger ones. That little extra flip or whirl really adds a lot. Sophie Simmons shook her Tail Feathers in a jazz dance solo. Haven Cagle asked pardon for her southern accent in a sophisticated modern theater solo dance. And Harmony Cagle entertained with a tap solo. We just don't see tap so often these days. I really enjoyed Harmony's dance. All of them were great.

There were also plenty of chocolate selections, of course. And we were all seated on new padded, more comfortable chairs, provided by private donations from ARI, the Clay County Art Council, Keith Hill, Leland Blackshare, Rector Chamber of Commerce, Levi Strass and the Cattlemen's Association. Believe me they made a big difference in our comfort. And if you want to donate to the chairs, please do. It will be an ongoing project to add to and replace them so we can all be entertained in comfort.

Sunday afternoon, Candy Hill had a Christmas open house. The decorations were beautiful and Laura Mooneyhan catered the affair quite deliciously! Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Crow and Cathy (Crow) Henderson and her daughter, Karen were guests from out of town. It was good to see all of them as we don't have them visit as often any more. I would love to list everyone who attended but it was a very long list and I am bound to forget someone. Demetra and Terry Shultz were there of course. I heard someone remark that they seem to be everywhere anything is going on in Rector. And that is a fact. What delightful representatives of our community.

The only casualty was Jerry Chilcut as he cracked his head on an overhead cabinet. Twice. Yes, the same cabinet corner. I have reason to believe he will survive with minimal cranial damage.

Ivy Claire Benson (daughter of Nicole and Dustin Benson) was escorted by her doting grandparents, Tracy and Steve Beacham. Claire Kemp, daughter of Jonathan Kemp, was there under the care of her grandparents, Ron and Nancy Kemp. Now let me see: Sherland and Barbara Hamilton, Leland Blackshare, Richard and Shirley Simmons, Jane, Danny and Lura Holifield, Ethyl Cox, Lane Wozniak, Rev. Velda Bell and her daughter Susie, Jessie Malin, Cathy Louder, Paula Benton, Jamie Dowdy and Rachel, Teresa Roofe and Georgia Sallee were all there. If you were there and I failed to mention your name, please let me know and I will publicly apologize next week. We all had a good time. Thank you, Candy for a fun afternoon.

Paula Benton has been told another daughter-in-law is in her future. Her eldest son Jeff Ham in Houston sent a picture of a beautiful diamond ring and then left her to conjecture for a couple of days. No news yet on the date Courtney will become one of the family. Oh yeah, Jeff and Courtney also jumped out of a plane last weekend. Sounds like they are really living dangerously these days. They did take parachutes and they swear it was fun. I will just take their word for it. Thank you very much.

Candy Hill also wanted me to mention that her sister visited her over Thanksgiving. Mary Kay McCallen came from Champaign, IL where she is an accountant with the University of Illionis. Together Candy and Mary went Candy's stepmom Winnie's house in Paragould for Thanksgiving dinner. They also spent time with stepsisters, Donna and Lisa. According to Candy, she has never laughed so much in her life as she did with "that potato cannon". ?? Don't ask me. I have no point of reference for a potato cannon, but I am rapidly imagining. Anyway Mary Kay and Candy had lots of fun shopping, watching movies, visiting and of course the "potato cannons". They even jumped ahead a little and exchanged Christmas gifts in between the belly laughs and the good family visiting.

Last week I mentioned the holiday of Kwanza prompting Charles Battan to ask for an explanation of that holiday. Kwanza or Kwanzaa, as it is spelled in Africa, meaning "first fruits of the harvest" is a fairly new holiday, having been established in 1966. It is neither a religious holiday nor a political one so in spite of the fact that the dates intersect with the Christmas celebration, it was not designed to be an alternative to or in conflict with the celebration of Christ's birth. Kwanza is a celebration of traditional African values of family, community, responsibility, commerce and self-improvement. In our country it is a time for our people with African ancestry to recognize and reaffirm these roots.

I am unaware of anyone in this area who celebrates this holiday, but I like to recognize all celebrations honoring love and community. It seems to me that this holiday can be celebrated by us all regardless of our ancestry.

I suppose this is long enough. Give me a call or email me to let me know what is happening. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net. I want to know and share your news. Thank you so much for all your emails and phone calls. I love hearing from you.

Don't forget to say a prayer for our soldiers. Let's send a little love into the universe. Also remember to support our Operation Dad Bags Program.