Dear Editor: Thanks to the Rooks County Historical Society for the new series honoring veterans. The stories of the Civil War veterans provide details about some of our earliest pioneers.

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” has been sung in churches of all denominations for almost two hundred years and sung in Catholic masses for much longer. It has been translated into more than 150 languages, used in thousands of cantatas and musical productions, and called by some critics “the greatest carol ever written.” It is amazing, therefore, that the song’s author remained unknown until just after World War II.

Dear Editor: I would like to commend the Stockton High School Girls Basketball Team and coach Alexa Rogers. Janey and I watched the games with Russell and Thunder Ridge on live streaming.

* Read this online….“If I yelled ‘Bingo!’ but refused to let you examine my Bingo card, would you still give me the prize money anyway?” * I wish people would brush up on their history because it looks to me like it is repeating itself, and not in any kind of a good way. * My great niece is doing her 25 Days of Christmas Sweaters on her Instagram page! I look forward to this every year! * When we turned our clocks back in October, I should have turned mine back to at least 1987.

THIS AND THAT * Who remembers hanging silver tinsel on your Christmas tree? You were either the family that strung it up one string at a time, or threw it on the tree in bunches. Both were acceptable because there is no wrong way to hang tinsel.

Dear Editor: As I write this I am reflecting on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Rememberance Day, and while sitting here at home, I thought about what happened to the thousands of people who lost their lives that day. Can you imagine that it happened just before Christmas, the most joyous day of the year? I watched President Trump Saturday night, and got to thinking why all those people had to die now that we are turning communist.

Several weeks ago, a little book titled “Stories behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas” caught my eye. Many of us love the music of Christmas, and we are always looking forward to the Advent and Christmas season so we can sing or hear these songs again. Christmas carols are timeless traditions in many households; but did you ever wonder where they began?

THIS AND THAT * Here’s an idea…This Christmas purchase some of your gifts from your hometown and home-based stores, and your turkey or ham from the local grocery store. During this crazy year, we need to come together and support each other, and what better time than at Christmas? * As a grownup I’ve learned that all the “Christmas magic” I felt as a kid was really from my mom and dad who loved me so much.

It’s Thanksgiving Day, and what a wonderful day it is! The kids are here, having driven in from Flint, Texas and Cheney. Grandkids are everywhere—playing the Wii, a granddaughter is playing the piano, the youngest grandson is acting crazy with Grandpa. The house started out perfectly clean, but right now it is a disaster—a crazy, wonderful, blessed disaster. The happy noise in the house is what I live for at this time inmy life! I had prepared a lot of the meal early, so today I can just relax, enjoy the family, set the table, and then sit down and enjoy a feast with our loved ones all around.