Commentary

Grandma’s Strip Strategy

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My great-grandmother knew a woman who had a terrifying experience when she was walking through the snow to nurse a sick neighbor. It was very cold, and the woman had dressed warm and was hurrying to try to make the neighbor’s house before dark. Long before she got there, she heard a scream behind her. Looking back, she saw a big panther quite a was back. She started running, but knew she would give out before she reached the house.

Survivors of Suicide

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No one wants to deal with suicide. When some take their own life, there are questions, confusion, stigma and taboo so strong that surviving family members sometimes try to keep what happened a secret.

“You can do it”

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“You can do it.” These words mean a lot to people who struggle with things other people find easy to do. Jodi only wanted to be the same as her friends, but she knew she was different; after all, someone usually reminded her often enough.

Try Jigsaw Puzzles

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In 1776, a man drew a picture on card board, then he cut the picture out with a jigsaw and that’s how they began. The puzzles reached popularity during the Depression, for the entertainment. With no money to buy anything, much less games, the puzzles were mostly small and real cheap, maybe five cents for a small one. People began making them for themselves. Women were hired to make them because they already knew how to sew by cutting them out, making and selling them.

Family Discussions

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Again, the twins were arguing. Being twins, there was much similarity; however, being twins also meant that each had to find her own personality apart from the other. Today, they had begun a game in the car of “I Spy” which culminated in a disagreement about the color of bird each had seen. Jan had claimed it was red, and Ann had rebutted with, “No, it was blue!” And the argument had begun.

What’s Your Greatest Fear?

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Random people were asked, “What’s your greatest fear?” Many named spiders as their greatest fear, while other people said that their greatest fear is being in a room full of snakes. One woman said that she’ll run out of the room just seeing a picture of a snake.

A Grieving Heart during Easter

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Easter is the season of renewed life. For those of us who grieve, however, our feelings are in sharp contrast to the reality of what’s going on around us. New growth, bright colors, family gatherings, children’s laughter, and beautiful songs of “Alleluia” seem to ignore the emptiness. We need not just “get through” this season with stubborn strength or cold celebration. Rather, we can decisively take our grief into the season and realize newfound peace, joy and comfort. “How?” Well, here are a few ideas for you to consider.

Easter Memories

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Through the years, we would have Easter at Mom’s house. We had a dinner and afterwards, the adults would go outside and hide the Easter eggs for the kids to find. Then all the kids would go out with their baskets and look for the eggs in the yard. Once all of the eggs were found, the kids would enjoy the eggs and any candy they got in their baskets while the adults sit around and visit. We even set up the stakes for the guys to play horseshoes while the women watched and enjoyed a moment of peace.