Comments on: Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Lafayette

Lafayette — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:04:28 +0000

Freedom is right. Congratulations are in order. I’m thankful all the regulars played nICE.

By: anonymoustoo

anonymoustoo — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:50:08 +0000

Years ago some friends and I were trying to put together a visual/oral history of our area complete with interviews of the oldest families/founders of our subdivision. Though the younger family members were more than willing to talk to us, the older members balked at the idea and we never got it off the ground (though we did acquire a lot of data on our own). But the idea could work for anyone with a videocam, notebook, and willing eldery relative. A youngster (grandkiddo, niece, nephew) could “interview” a grandparent just as a reporter does and someone with some camera skills could record it. My own mother made a journal for each of us that contained info about her life and our individual childhoods.

By: Krusty

Krusty — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:22:49 +0000

I’ve got to get going. Time is getting short. I, too, grew up during WWII, in Europe, and haven’t written anything down in spite of my comment that “wish I was older when I was younger” and my kids asking me to. Inertia is a terrible disease! Thanks “guys” for waking me up!

By: Dolph

Dolph — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:21:34 +0000

Bridget,

My mother did exactly what you are suggesting. After my father died she wrote several ‘books’ about family topics and her early life. My favorite one is her memories of WWII and how it impacted their lives. It was fun for her and and priceless to her children. Now she is gone, the collections are priceless. I am extremely grateful to her for taking the time to record what would otherwise be lost.

By: freedom

freedom — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 11:58:48 +0000

What a breath of fresh air THIS thread has been; we do have issues to work, but we also have “thanks” to give…and this time, I don’t think a single ugly or mean-spirited word has been spoken. Congratulations, everyone!!

By: Bridget

Bridget — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:37:51 +0000

Thanks Krusty and Dolph,

May your words be an inspiration to us all - don’t wait for the kids to ask the questions - write down your family stories! Your descendents will treasure the smallest details of your lives … along with any recollections passed down from our elders.

My own mother died when I was a small kid, so it fell to my dad and grandparents to provide me with her story.

By: Krusty

Krusty — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:14:32 +0000

RB - I know of what you speak. I had to carry a big X-ray picture with me when I came, plus a note from a doctor saying that the scar tissue on my lungs were not from TB.

About your grandfather: you say he and his brother traveled without their parents. Do you have any idea why his parents would send such young children by themselves? They must have needed looking after on the ship. Who was supposed to meet them and take care of them after they arrived in the US?
Hope you can find out before it’s too late. What was his home country? Grist for a curious (nosy) mind.

By: Rebecca B.

Rebecca B. — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 22:11:07 +0000

Krusty,

I suppose I should have said, he and his brother traveled without their parents. I am sure, because I have a copy of the ships log. In fact, they were Quarantined for an illness and sent BACK only to have to make the voyage AGAIN once they were well. He was able to join up with his parents eventually.

Sounds rough, but it kept those that were already here safe from illness. ( Exactly what is not happening when people sneak in the country today.) It made him grateful to be here. I am of course grateful for the sacrifices he made so that I could be here today.

By: Krusty

Krusty — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:20:25 +0000

Dolph - Just listen all the beautiful words spoken about the dead at memorial services. Your mother was right. Thank you!

By: Dolph

Dolph — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:27:36 +0000

Krusty said on 23 Nov 2007 at 11:42 am:

I wish I had been older when I was younger, so I would have had the wits to ask questions of my parents.

Krusty, your above statement is probably the most intelligent thing I have read all weekend. I so wish I had asked mine more. My mother always said ‘they never appreciate you til you are dead.’ How right she was.

By: Krusty

Krusty — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:09:00 +0000

THE Chuck Norris?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:51:24 +0000

There is no Thanksgiving. There is only Chucksgiving. Because it is Chuck Norris who giveth, and Chuck Norris who taketh away.

By: Krusty

Krusty — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:42:49 +0000

Rebecca B - Very admirable old gent. But, do you have the numbers right? You say he arrived at Ellis Island ALONE at age 8 with a YOUNGER brother. I have heard many stories about youngsters coming here alone, but at 8. Maybe the parents died during the voyage, which was not unusual in those days. Anyway, I’m glad you still have your grandfather and have the chance to be with him. Don’t miss the opportunity to ask him about his youth. I wish I had been older when I was younger, so I would have had the wits to ask questions of my parents.

By: Rebecca B

Rebecca B — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:48:22 +0000

sorry I’m late. Went into turkey coma early!! Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. I was able to spend a glorious afternoon with my 93 year old grandfather. You should spend an afternoon with someone that:
Came to America, through Ellis Island, alone, with his younger brother at the age of 8.
Put himself through school
Lived through the depression and several wars
Married and raised 4 kids
Is socially conscious, not because he is made to by the government, but because its the right thing to do.
Is philanthropic, not because the government took his money and decided where to spend it, but because it is the right thing to do.
is still an active economic consultant thanks to the internet. (he’s even on linkedin.com)

His only fault, that I can see, is he lives in Maryland!

KNOW WHAT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.

Health, family and the urge to always seek knowledge.

By: 999

999 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:27:01 +0000

The Management said on 22 Nov 2007 at 2:14 am:
Aah! your’re all a bunch of turkeys!

BAH, HUMBUG! SCROOGE!

By: Nancy Pratt

Nancy Pratt — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:47:37 +0000

Happy thanksgiving to you all. I had a great one with my family in Fredericksburg. What a gorgeous day. I am so grateful for all that has happened and I hope that we will continue on the right path to regain our county back. What does disturb me is how people think that we are against Hispanics because we don’t want the illegal problem here. I wonder if there was some way that we could communicate that to them.

By: Patty

Patty — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:25:09 +0000

My post is a little late. I had to do all the cooking but I did enjoy it. I hope every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thank you Greg and thanks to your family!

To everyone: May God bless you all.

By: es_la_ley

es_la_ley — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:44:16 +0000

Everyone take their tryptophan-induced nap?

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:09:27 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

By: Mike Stollenwerk

Mike Stollenwerk — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:47:30 +0000

And let’s give thanksgiving for Democracy in America, inclduing the right of elected officials to choose appropriate leadership of their chamber caucuses - and toward this end, here’s a Thanksgiving weekend ACTION ITEM to help change the VA Senate leaderhsip to be, at least, more pro-gun:

Hit the link at http://tinyurl.com/yv8494 to help change the Virginia Senate!

This link comes from a recent Virginina Citizens Defense League alert email to its members entitled “VA-ALERT: Action Item: Senate needs new leadership!”

Everybody needs to hit this link at http://tinyurl.com/yv8494 and fill in your name and address to tell your Senator or your Senator elect that you want his or her caucus leadership REPLACED with pro-gun leaders!

Your message will be sent to your Senator or Senator elect automatically - no need to find his or her email address!

Please forward this message and link to all your friend, family, and associates in Virginia ASAP. The time window to change the Senate leadership is closing soon.