By MYRNA FAUSKA
Several years ago, during October, we prepared to celebrate Halloween by putting up decorations, carving jack-o’-lanterns and stocking up on treats for the trick-or-treaters. Then, in November, we shopped for our Thanksgiving turkey or goose and added more autumn decorations. As soon as Thanksgiving was over, it was time to get out the Christmas ornaments, do some serious shopping and pick out the perfect tree.
Nowadays we see ads for Christmas gifts and TV movies with Christmas themes almost as soon as Labor Day is over. By the time Christmas arrives, the media has bombarded us with preparation ads for three months. Personally, I prefer to wait until Black Friday to get myself psyched up for the big holiday.
Before Thanksgiving weekend, the woods come alive with people in bright orange clothing who are pursuing the elusive whitetails. Hunters arrived early at our place last Wednesday and Thursday to do some squirrel hunting, as they had other plans for the weekend. Nephew Jim Boles of Racine and friend Paul Gifford of Kenosha entertained the furry little rodents. On Friday night, great-nephew Ben Dorval and son Carlton arrived to rise early Saturday morning and spend the day in the woods seeking venison on the hoof. No luck, but they tried again on Sunday, and Ben bagged a nice doe. I enjoyed having the guys here, and they treated me to supper at the Pony Express in Kendall on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
Guy Parkhurst arrived from Janesville on Wednesday to help grandparents Jim and Mary with shopping and chores. He then went over the hill north of Kendall to try his luck hunting at his grandma Elaine Woodard’s. I haven’t heard the results of that hunt yet.
On Monday, Lynette Vlasak joined other librarians for the virtual meeting of the Winding Rivers Library System. On Wednesday she and Sally Dana enjoyed a breakfast coffee with Trudi Roloff, and on Saturday the gals lunched at the Hillsboro Brewing Company. With the Kendall Public Library suspending activities due to the rise in coronavirus cases, Lynette and Sally have been spending more time at home.
Even though our Thanksgiving celebrations this year have been curtailed by the pandemic, there is a lot to be thankful to our Lord for. As we spend quality time alone or with close family members, we can concentrate on the many blessings God provides for us continually and spend the day doing what it was designed for — thanking and praising Him, along with praying for an end to this health crisis. Hopefully next year this will all be history, and we can again enjoy our holiday feast with loved ones, and then prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of our Savior four weeks later.
