“Many turn to their roots for the holiday feast - The Spokesman-Review” plus 4 more |
- Many turn to their roots for the holiday feast - The Spokesman-Review
- Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards Recognizes Rivers Fiji for ... - WKOW-TV.com
- Iraqi refugees move to Mich. despite poor economy - Democratic Underground.com
- Opinion - Joy Online
- Thanksgiving thoughts - Kansas City Star Blogs
| Many turn to their roots for the holiday feast - The Spokesman-Review Posted: 25 Nov 2009 09:37 AM PST
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Nothing says Thanksgiving like… pastitsio? "For Thanksgiving, my mother actually did a turkey, which was a pretty big step for her, but everything else on the table was Greek," says Michael Psilakis, the chef behind New York's Anthos restaurant. For his family, pastitsio, a lasagna-like dish of noodles and eggy, Greek bechamel sauce, was just as important as the bird. Thanksgiving called for a similar blending of cultures in the Korean household of chef David Chang, who dubs the famous pork buns, ginger scallion noodles and ramen of his Momofuku restaurants "American" food. "Thanksgiving was almost a potluck," Chang says, remembering the dozens of relatives who tottered in with heaping trays of short ribs called kalbi-jim, the pickled cabbage called kimchi, and the noodle dish chop che. "We would have Korean dishes that were traditionally cooked on celebratory occasions and your Thanksgiving go-to classics. It was a feast." Americans come from more than 125 nations, according to Census figures, and more than 299 million people – or 97 percent of the population – claim ethnic roots. So it's only fitting that on this iconic American holiday people draw on the melting pot for inspiration. At the turn of the 19th century, Thanksgiving was appropriated as a way to "Americanize" new immigrants, says Sandra Oliver, the editor of Food History News and co-author of "Giving Thanks," a history of the holiday. "There was considerable effort put into teaching these kids about the Thanksgiving holiday – it was done in the schools – and attributing all kinds of virtues to the sainted pilgrim forefathers, really elevating them beyond their significance," Oliver says. "There are pictures of these little kids kitted out in pilgrim hats, no matter who they were. It met with some success. Kids are really good about going home and saying, 'We have to have turkey on Thursday.' " The founders probably didn't count on the ingenuity of the newcomers, many of whom did adopt the holiday, but in their own way. Marcela Valladolid, author of the cookbook "Fresh Mexico," grew up crossing the U.S.-Mexico border every day, leaving her Tijuana home before dawn to attend school in San Diego. She says she absorbed both cultures "100 percent" and so has her Thanksgiving celebration. "We don't segregate it," she says. "It's not like the turkey is American, and then there are tamales. There's chili in the turkey." Valladolid glazes her turkey with an apricot, tequila and chili sauce and serves it alongside roasted chipotle acorn squash and Brussels sprouts in morilla cream. Valladolid says the feast was inspired by her cross-border experience, but also was a way to make the holiday truly inclusive for everyone in the family. "My father barely speaks English," she says. "This holiday is very new for him. He started celebrating Thanksgiving when he married my mom. Try to sit down and have Thai food for the first time. It's intimidating. And I imagine that was the way my father felt the first time he sat down in front of a big fat turkey." If Valladolid sees ethnicizing Thanksgiving as a way to bring the family's older generation into the new tradition, others see the reverse: a way to preserve and communicate culture to the next generation. At New York's Tabla, Bombay-born chef Floyd Cardoz is known for merging Indian spices and sensibilities with American ingredients. After more than 20 years in the United States, he does the same at his Thanksgiving feast. Cardoz brines his turkey in a pungent solution of fresh ginger and bay leaf, then dry rubs it with black pepper, chilies, fresh garlic and crushed bay leaf. "I rub it all over the bird and under the skin, too," he says. "It makes it more flavorful." His stuffing spikes a cornbread base with Goan-style pork sausage, redolent of vinegar, garlic, cloves and cinnamon. The homemade cranberry sauce has touches of ginger, black pepper, cloves and cinnamon. "So it's a little more interesting than plain old canned cranberry," he says. He also makes sure there's lots of heavy, Indian-style snacking on items such as samosas and spiced potato dumplings before the meal, and that there are plenty of Indian specialties as well, like rice pulao and a Goan pork stew full of pork belly, shoulder, liver and chili. "By putting our beliefs into a meal, it ties my past with my kids' future," says Cardoz, whose sons are 12 and 16. "At some point when they have their kids and they're doing their Thanksgiving tradition, maybe there will be something from India in there, and it will bring them back. It ties up the generations when you do this." Roasted Turkey in Apricot-Chili GlazeRecipe adapted from Marcela Valladolid's "Fresh Mexico," Clarkson Potter, 2009. Valladolid uses a version of this glaze to combine her Mexican roots with the classic Thanksgiving staple. The turkey also can be stuffed, but will take longer to cook. 3 cups chicken broth 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup tequila 2 Anaheim chilies, stemmed, seeded and cut into large chunks 3/4 cup apricot jam, divided Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 12- to 14-pound turkey Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over medium, combine the broth, butter, tequila, chilies and 1/2 cup of the apricot jam. Bring to a boil and cook until the chilies are soft and tender. Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Press the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the solids. Return 1 1/2 cups of the mixture to the saucepan, reserving the rest for the gravy. Simmer over medium for 10 minutes, or until reduced by half. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup of the apricot jam to make the glaze. Season with salt and pepper. Place the turkey on a rack set in a large roasting pan. Carefully separate the turkey's skin from the flesh, trying to avoid breaking the skin. Pour half of the glaze under the skin and rub it into the turkey. Replace the skin, then rub the remaining mixture over the outside. Wrap the wing tips in foil and roast for 1 hour. Cover the turkey with foil, then roast for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the breast registers 160 degrees and the thickest part of the thigh reaches 170 degrees. Allow the turkey to rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer the turkey to a serving platter and let it rest another 10 minutes. While the turkey rests on the platter, place the roasting pan with the drippings on the stovetop. Bring to a simmer over low, then stir in the reserve chili sauce. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to loosen any brown bits. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until thickened, then season with salt and pepper. Strain out the chunks or leave them in to add texture. Yield: Makes a 12- to 14-pound turkey with gravy Relleno de Pan (Oaxacan Stuffing)Recipe from the November 2009 issue of Saveur magazine. Give your Thanksgiving stuffing a taste of Mexico with this recipe from Susan Trilling, who runs a cooking school in Oaxaca, Mexico. The stuffing has a sweet and spicy flavor from a combination of chilies, fennel, prunes and cumin. 12-ounce chunk whole-wheat bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 7 cups) 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter 2 large white onions, chopped 2 ribs celery, chopped 1 bulb fennel, cored and chopped 4 apples, cored and chopped 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 poblano chilies, roasted, peeled, stemmed, seeded and chopped 6 ounces pitted prunes (about 26), halved 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives 1 tablespoon orange zest Kosher salt, to taste 3 eggs, lightly beaten Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread the bread cubes on a large baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted and dry, about 15 minutes. Transfer the bread cubes to a large bowl and set aside. In an 8-quart Dutch oven over medium-high, melt the butter. Add the onions, celery and fennel and cook until soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the apples, garlic and poblano chilies, then cook until the apples are tender, about another 10 minutes. Add the prunes, cumin, pepper, parsley, chives, orange zest and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to the bowl with the bread cubes. Gently stir until combined. Let cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the stuffing to a 2-quart oval baking dish and bake until browned, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 14 servings This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards Recognizes Rivers Fiji for ... - WKOW-TV.com Posted: 24 Nov 2009 08:41 AM PST ANGELS CAMP, Calif., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivers Fiji, an O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) affiliate organization, has been highly commended in the "Preservation of Cultural Heritage" category at this year's Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. Rivers Fiji, a whitewater rafting and multi-sport outfitter committed to sustainable tourism practices in the Fiji Islands, was selected as one of the top 35 companies out of more than 2000 nominations worldwide. The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world. They are a collaboration of the online travel directory responsibletravel.com, UK media partners Telegraph Travel and Geographical Magazine and World Travel Market (WTM). WTM hosted the awards ceremony earlier this month. The central tenet of the awards is that all types of tourism can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. Rivers Fiji is the result of one of many O.A.R.S. Family of Companies' sustainable tourism endeavours. George and Pam Wendt founded O.A.R.S. in 1969 with a goal to help people of all ages and abilities enjoy "the best outdoor experience of their lives." This Northern California-based whitewater rafting and adventure travel outfitter is recognized as a leading environmental steward within the industry. O.A.R.S. was the first, and only, North American rafting outfitter to be 100% carbon neutral through the support of carbon offset projects that are inspected, verified and certified by independent third parties including Green-e, the Gold Standard, CDM, and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance. Because of O.A.R.S.' eco-savvy reputation, they have been asked repeatedly to host education trips for congressional staffers, politicians and eco-celebrities. It is the 1998 founding of Rivers Fiji, however, that the company is most proud. By supporting community development and environmental conservation, Rivers Fiji programs are not only "eco-friendly," they define eco-tourism. With the help of 9 mataqali (landowning groups), 2 villages, a logging company, and the Native Land Trust Board (NLTB), O.A.R.S. and Rivers Fiji successfully established the Upper Navua Conservation Area in 2000. This unique public-private partnership protects the pristine Upper Navua River Canyon from future logging or gravel extraction in a 10.5-mile conservation corridor. In return, Rivers Fiji compensates the NLTB and landowners through lease payments, user fees and employment opportunities. Rivers Fiji believes that empowering local communities in this manner makes its programs successful. "We have created full-time employment for the local people," said George Wendt, President of the O.A.R.S. Family of Companies. "In fact, with the exception of our managing director, all of our employees are from the communities where we operate. Thus they have a real stake in the long-term sustainability of the places we visit and in Rivers Fiji as a sustainable tourism operation. Infractions by logging companies and plans for road development through the conservation area have been thwarted due to mataqali alerting Rivers Fiji management and local authorities." Steve Markle, O.A.R.S. Marketing and Partnerships Director, stated from the awards ceremony in London, "Historically Fiji's tourism development has been focused on the coastal communities - with Fiji's interior populations receiving little benefit. Rivers Fiji, however, provides economic alternatives for people whose previous development options were limited to logging and resource extraction. We believe Rivers Fiji has helped broadened Fiji's overall perspective regarding the economic value of conservation as it relates to its people and ecosystems." Dr. Harold Goodwin, Director, International Centre for Responsible Tourism and Chair of Judges said, "Working our way through this year's long lists, we were impressed by the willingness of so many organizations to take responsibility and to do what they can to help make better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit. Despite the economic difficulties being faced by the travel and tourism industry, responsible tourism continues to move ahead, and I'm continually impressed as more is achieved by more people. As judges we are all very aware of the great work that is being done by so many and our decisions are often very difficult and sometimes long debated." Rivers Fiji's mission is to enhance visitors' and indigenous peoples' awareness of, and appreciation for the culture and environment by providing activities that promote conservation and preservation through socially responsible and environmentally sensitive interaction with the people, landscape and ecosystems that make the Fijian Highlands so distinct and unique. Since 1969 O.A.R.S. has set the standard in first-class rafting, sea kayaking, hiking and multi-sport vacations, with destinations and unparalleled experiences on over 35 rivers and coastlines of the world. O.A.R.S. caters to active travelers of all ages and abilities with more than 75 unique itineraries worldwide, including one-day and weekend escapes. For more information on O.A.R.S. eco-friendly adventures, including a free color catalog, call O.A.R.S. at 1-800-346-6277, email the company at info@oars.com or visit www.oars.com. Contact: Steve Markle 1-209-736-2407 ext. 716 info@riversfiji.com www.riversfiji.com SOURCE Rivers Fiji This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Iraqi refugees move to Mich. despite poor economy - Democratic Underground.com Posted: 21 Nov 2009 03:54 PM PST Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC. Home | Discussion Forums | Journals | Links | Store | Donate About DU | Contact Us | Privacy Policy Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message. © 2001 - 2009 Democratic Underground, LLC This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Posted: 25 Nov 2009 08:43 PM PST
I write this piece as I listen to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) explain poorly the resolve of the GES and the Education Ministry to introduce a national policy that seeks to have children in Ghana INSTRUCTED SOLELY in their local languages up to class 3 (Joy fm News Night, 24th November, 2009; http://www2.myjoyonline.com/audio/). Although from the onset this policy is set to fail, the GES and the Education Ministry, like most of our incompetent and so-called leaders who have run-down our nation since independence, have resolved to continue with this policy. In this piece, I will discuss my reasons for calling all well-meaning Ghanaians to oppose strongly this move by the GES. However, I will also try and reason through some possible good sides of this policy (that is, if they exist at all), but I am convinced from the very beginning that the policy is not able to help in our national development agenda. I am a young Ghanaian currently studying in the US. I always have my colleagues in the US ask me when I started speaking English, and I am always proud to tell them that I started speaking English just like they did-- at an early age. And that answer is true. These colleagues of mine will then go ahead and ask the next question: "How many other languages do I speak?" Again, I will start by telling them that I speak, read and write fluent Twi, Fante, and English. Besides these three languages, I am conversationally good with French and Ga (and all my French and Ga were studied while I was in basic school at Services Basic School in Burma Camp, Accra). My colleagues in the US are always shocked whenever they get to know that I speak 5 languages, and I am always quick to let them know that they are handicapped to speak only English—and the American students know that their inability to speak multiple languages is a big handicap they have to contend with in today's globalised world. Therefore, being able to effectively communicate in multiple languages is an effective tool that is much needed in today's globalised world. With this said, however, it is very undisputable that apart from the English language spoken in Ghana, the other Ghanaian languages are just localised to about a maximum of three other countries, with Hausa being an exception—Hausa is spoken in at least 7 other countries in West and Central Africa with at least 40 million speakers (Encyclopaedia Britannica; http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/aflang/Hausa/Language/dialectframe.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausa_language). The fact that the languages spoken in Ghana have little or no bearing on what happens globally is the major reason why it will be inappropriate to have students in Ghana start school with an indigenous language. I want to reason that the GES is pushing for this policy on language because it wants to safeguard the Ghanaian culture—and I think the motive is great, and commendable. However, the GES and the Ministry of Education should realise that great motives are not sufficient in themselves; there is something equally important called the method. While I agree that it is important to safeguard our identity as Ghanaians, I also think that it is very wrong and counter-productive to do this at the expense of accelerated national development. The reasons are as follows: Firstly, the GES only intends to have pupils study all subjects in their native tongues up to class three because "research has shown that pupils comprehend better when materials are learnt in their native tongues." Some questions quickly come to mind when I hear people speak like the one quoted above:
We just cannot let people go away with loose comments like "research has shown . . ." That is very CHEAP talk. Until the GES comes out with answers to the above questions, and other relevant questions that may arise, it is important for all well-meaning Ghanaians to strongly oppose and resist this backward move by the GES. Based on the concept of "good motive complemented by good method", I suggest (free of charge as a well-meaning Ghanaian) that the GES and the Ministry draw curricula that enable children studying in Ghana to combine as many languages as possible in their formative years, with English being one of those many languages. I am not the only Ghanaian student who is multi-lingual; I am even not the best example of a multi-lingual Ghanaian student. I am sure readers will themselves be multi-lingual, or know some people who are. The challenge for the GES will be to find out the optimum number of languages that children can learn in their formative years without any challenge to their development. Now, that will be some proper research that the GES will have to do. Secondly, as I listened to the news item on myjoyonline.com, I could not help but appreciate the enormity of the challenges that teachers would face in teaching all subjects in our local Ghanaian languages. Although enormous, these challenges can be surmounted if only the right conditions prevail. However, as I write this, those conditions necessary for surmounting the challenges that will be faced by teachers persist. The possible challenges that I foresee are listed below:
I have only discussed and proposed an alternative way that allows the coupling of both Ghanaian languages—to safeguard our culture—and also English—because it is a global language—as media of instruction in our schools. This is, I think, the only way forward considering the fact that the computers we use, the cars we drive, the consultants we hire, the funds for our research projects, and even the powers that run our nation, are all foreign. I only wish that our hypocritical national leaders will fight with a similar passion in safeguarding our culture and national identity when it comes to encouraging Ghanaian businesses to thrive in their own markets; when it comes to encouraging Ghanaian textile manufacturing companies to win contracts for sewing free school uniforms; when it comes encouraging Kristo Asafo and others to pioneer the Ghanaian version of the industrial revolution; when it comes to fixing simple problems like the lift for our mothers, wives and sisters and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital so that they will not die in trying to climb the stairs; solving simple problems like electricity and water supply without constructing bore-holes which they (the politicians and leaders) will not like to use in their homes. I am utterly disappointed in the leaders we have had for our country since independence. Not all of them, though, but the vast majority have been, and continue to be the reason for our under-development. While criticising the bad leaders we have had and still have, I want to encourage the good ones to persist in their good works. More importantly, I want to call on the young people of today to be aware of the times—our politicians have failed us, and the responsibility is now on us to make a difference. We must understand that factionism has not helped us, and never will. What we need is a concerted national effort—one that inherently wants to help people in need to better their lives by providing sustainable opportunities for all. And yes, the young people of Ghana are more than able. Let us stand up, and stand up now!!! We cannot allow faceless and unverified "research" to ruin this nation and our future; we cannot sit down unconcerned and allow incompetent and self-centred leaders and leadership to ruin our nation; we must oppose them, and oppose them now!!! By: Arden Darko-Boateng
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| Thanksgiving thoughts - Kansas City Star Blogs Posted: 25 Nov 2009 08:29 PM PST Editor's note: For a second consecutive year, we devote The Star's Letters page to thankful thoughts from readers. I'm grateful for your contributions and wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. | Julie Rehm, letters editor My life is blessed. I am thankful for my wife, our children, their spouses and our grandchildren, having a job with benefits, being healthy, the support of our faith-sharing group, good friends and family, our house, sufficient food and our neighborhood. These should never be taken for granted. I am thankful for staying focused on being "life-giving" to all I encounter and for the wonderful people who enrich my life. With gratitude I enjoy quiet moments to reflect, time to read, time to meditate, time to cook and enjoy a good meal, and time to dance. It is with much appreciation that I can say that life is good! Jim Caccamo And I am especially thankful for the memory of a friend who, like the true American he was, made the Fourth of July a time to celebrate even more. I miss you, Bill Collins. Michael Knight In May 2005 my daughter was murdered. That Thanksgiving no one wanted to continue the ritual because everyone was still so shocked and suffering intensely. After two grueling guardianship hearings and waiting two and a half years for the murder trial, no one seemed to notice the missing ritual at the Thanksgiving table. In November of 2007, the sentencing was held and finally that part of our ordeal was over. We had a Gratitude Gathering to thank friends and family, new and old, who had offered so many kindnesses to us in those terrible years. This year we are coming to the other side and again can share at the Thanksgiving dinner what we are thankful for. Liz Donnelly So many people helped us through this stressful time: our church ministers and friends, hospice, doctors, children and grandchildren, extended family, neighbors and friends. I can now affirm that I am thankful for those family and friends, that he no longer is bedfast and in pain, for the 70 years we shared together and for the assurance that he is at peace. Ruth W. Holland Too often, however, we don't seem to realize that this normalcy was probably the source of the problem, and our pursuit of the dwindling American dream in the context of rapacious and uncaring attitudes prevalent in our divisive society will only further hasten the culture of death that permeates this land. Our segregated life in the Northland blinds us to the immense poverty and challenges faced by many neighbors near us, especially those who find themselves on the south side of the river, and most certainly those who are trapped in lands south of our national border and beyond. James Carroll, an insightful writer about our society and Catholic theology, urges us to choose life instead of death by rejecting the "exuberant irrationality'' of our economic assumptions, especially, in my opinion, during Thanksgiving. Dick Phalen What more can anyone ask? Jean McCleery I gave birth to twin girls in 2005 and am so grateful to the doctor who helped us. Without her, there would be no infectious laughter, no one to call me "Mommy" and no mess of Goldfish crumbs in my back seat. I am grateful to my husband who has been my best friend through everything. There is no greater gift than sharing a Thanksgiving dinner with him and my daughters. This year I will pause as we begin to heap our plates with mounds of sweet potatoes. I will choke up as I look at my husband and my daughters and think to myself, "I am the luckiest woman in the world." Erin Margolin As Clarence Oddbody, Angel Second Class of the classic film "It's a Wonderful Life," wrote to George Bailey, "No man is a failure who has friends." Amid the global economic turmoil and the widespread hardships of the last year, I am glad to realize that no one who has friends is truly poor, either. Elaine Hines I am grateful I was educated into middle-class America, attaining a college and teaching degree, a paid-off mortgage and car title, and still-valid marriage certificate. I am grateful I have a faith that sustains me in spite of the shameful behavior of some of its ministers. I am grateful I have the support of family and friends as we struggle to prove that hard work, personal responsibility and community involvement will assure the continued progress of our way of life in America. Mary Chirpich The most amazing thing is his mind. It is still razor sharp and quick with a joke or a lucid observation on the world situation. His wisdom and sage counsel are some of the most valuable things I know of, and I take heed of what he has to say. Eventually, we must all face our own mortality, and I am thankful that he has shown me the way to age with dignity, intelligence and humor. I often joke that he may outlive us all. I am grateful for every day I can share with him while he's here. Thanks, Dad! Timothy Earl Osburn Bette Stockdale His obituary in The Star (11/3) brought tears to my eyes and pain to my heart. A prayer was said for his wife, children, extended family, friends and fellow troops. Sgt. Jackson's remembrance obituary should be required reading for all Americans. While not knowing Issac personally, there was a connection established by his remembrance and the numerous people his life touched. Every politician should put aside the political games that are being played and try statesmanship, asking themselves, "What would Sgt. Jackson have us do?" The follow-up picture (11/4, Local) of the Patriot Guard escorting Jackson's remains to Lathrop, Mo., for burial and in Letters a request for items of thankfulness seemed a divine message to me. Again, I am thankful for Jackson and the freedom to express my feeling in free speech that all Americans enjoy. David G. McIntyre They made it possible that I am not running down the road with the clothes on my back dodging bombs overhead as I search for some refuge camp. My heart goes out to their efforts and to those who don't have it as good as I do. Except for the grace of God and those patriots before me, there go I. May our elected officials seek the country's best interests instead of us versus them. God bless the U.S.A. Mike Manning We were lucky enough to be able to rent a house while ours was being rebuilt, but a house isn't always a home. I'm so grateful for all the people who care and were there to help us through. I don't know what I would have done without my close friends and family. Hunter Triplitt (age 16) Gifts of their advice include: Be well informed. Knowledge and courage are essential for the possibility of greatness. Control your passion. No mastery is greater than mastering yourself. It is a triumph of will. Doing good is far more important than doing well. Protect your integrity fiercely. Your integrity will keep you righteous. Learn how to fear yourself. Strive for good judgment. Have something to hope for. Hope gives us life; too much happiness can be fatal. Be known for your courtesy. It is the best part of culture. Be skilled in conversation. No human activity calls for more discretion. Be self-reliant. There is no better company than a stout heart. The best things in life … aren't things. Trust your heart and God. Love often. Work hard, pray hard and leave the rest to God. Michael R. Shirley She made sure we went to church on Sunday, had wonderful relationships with more than 100 cousins, treated animals nicely and cared for them, did charitable work, cared for elderly people, cared for people with disabilities, respected our neighbors and earned our paychecks. She taught us to sacrifice for the important things and honor our family and friends, and she never said a critical word about anyone. At 87, she remains our moral compass and the matriarch of a 545-member Irish Catholic dynasty. (Applause here!) Tommy Fagan Salvatore Vincent Arnone My knight in shining armor who loves me like I have never been loved before. For two beautiful children whom I love unconditionally. For the ability to try each day in my classroom to make a difference in little people's lives. For the four-legged pets in my life that make me appreciate every sunrise from their perspective. For the home I share with my knight in shining armor. For the beauty of a sunset colored in blue, pink and purple layers. For the ride on a motorcycle that allows you to experience yells, bells and smells you never notice inside a four-wheeled vehicle. For the friends and family who surround you this time of year and their laughter, smiles and tears of joy. My list could go on for miles and miles because to be thankful means to live each day as if it is a gift and to cherish every breath you take. Jane Harmon After reading their story, I knew I had to see them in person. Fifteen of my family members (mostly grandchildren) caught one of their shows during last Christmas season at Bishop Miege. Wow, did we see a show! Their unbridled joy and love of performing was captivating. It seemed as though everyone in the audience was under their spell. The feeling of goodwill in that theater was palpable. It was like getting a crash course in everything that is good and right about humanity. Thanks for the master class, Marlene and company. We are your humble students. Jack Plank (age 9) I'm thankful for my daughter and her husband, relatives, friends, faith, home, health, doctors, nurses and hospitals. Because I am battling cancer, being thankful for my life has taken on a whole new meaning. Each day is a gift from God, and I am thankful to make the very most of each day of my life. Lois Heath I am so grateful for my resilience, my ability to bounce back after times of worries, woes and wounds. My groundedness has served me well in times of turmoil and disorder. Being able to forgive and forget and not hold on to bitterness in an unjust world is truly a treasure for which I give thanks every day. No matter how rough 2009 might have been in many ways, I can still recognize how blessed I have been in my well-lived life. Maggie Clark Colleen Hunter This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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