Carol Lynne Bull

On the 12:00 news to day, Black Friday took on new meaning. One day after we as a nation had given thanks for all we have, greed raised it's ugly head. The crowd at a New York Wal-Mart not content with the early open hours burst open the doors and trampled an employee. The man was taken to the hospital only to die of his injuries. Let me type that one more time, DIE of his injuries. The greed for a digital camera or plasma T.V. was so great the a man had to die for it. Gifts we give in memory of the greet gift of our Savior. Reduced to a made scramble of avarice of, I wants and must haves. And a man dies. His family for ever to view this holiday with tears and heartache. What have we come to in this nation of ours? What happened to smiles we had for each other yesterday as we walked off our Thanksgiving meals? What happened between packing up those boxes of food, for those in need of a holiday meal? And, Letting a man open a door.

Update: just when I think the human race has gone as low as it can go. Not only did the crowd stampede over a man and kill him. They kept his co-workers from going to hie aid. When the authorises tried to close the store, the crowd started yelling that they had been in line since the night before and refused to leave.I have no prays left for mankind.

Carol

God help us all My child has asked the family to our house for Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Normally when forced to entertain I call Balducci's. But nooooooo My family does not do take away.

Did I mention my husband, daughter and I are VEGATARIANS???

Did I mention the rest of my family is not???

My house is all so not that big. Here in Del Ray Alexandria The older homes can run small. Mine was built around 1900. the lower part was an A&P grocery store with living area upstairs. It does not lend itself to large gatherings. Did I mention I have four sisters and they each have a husband. My daughter has five cousins. I only have four dining room chairs. My sofa is a love seat. My dog's a chihuahua. Luckily my sisters can cook. The dead bird will come wrapped in foil and the stuffing is made in a pan with veggie broth. The pies are pig free and and no one in my group ever puts piggy parts in the green beans. Since we put white wine in the fruit salad { not the kids bowl } I hope that by the time the champagne, coffee, chocolates and pies are served everyone will be comfortable sitting on the floor.

I wish you all a happy happy Thanksgiving Day. I hope you have as many chairs as bodies to put in them. I hope we all can take some time from cooking or in my case heating up to think of those who have less.

AHHHHH the joys of December! Leaves have all been swept and (choose one) bagged, sucked up, turned to compost, tossed over the fence. Thanksgiving is just a warm memory of leftovers and your family has blissfully go home.

Now it is time for part "2" of the holiday extravaganza. You can have Chanukah or Christmas or both. My family does. This year we are having a Druid join our family. So let us light that the Menorah, spin the dradle and go out for Chinese. We will trim the Christmas tree and as the Christian grandchildren wander off it will be the Jewish granddaughter who will finish the job. Then we'll finish it up by by painting our faces blue and worshiping an oak tree! O.K. maybe not that last part; but, we will respect our Druid's way of bringing back the light on the 22st as he celebrates Yule.

The point is that just like the people here in Del Ray who embrace all the cultures and diversities that they offer, we respect each others beliefs and side dishes. And, that makes for a Very Merry What Ever it is you are having.

So merry wishes to all that we are, and all that we celebrate

And, may we live up to those expectations all the year long.

Ahhhh the joys that are December! Leaves have all been swept and (choose one) bagged, sucked up, turned to compost,tossed over the fence. Thanksgiving is just a warm memory of leftovers and your extended family has blissfully gone home.

It is now time for part "2" of the Holiday extravaganza. You can have Chanukah or Christmas or both. We do. This year we welcome a Druid to our family. So let us light the Menorah, spin the dradle and go out for Chinese. We will trim the tree and as the Christian grandchildren wander off, it will be the Jewish grandchild who will finish the job. Then we'll wrap it all up by painting our faces blue and worshiping an oak tree! O.K. maybe not that last part but we will respect our Druid's way of bringing back the light on the 22st as we help him celebrate Yule.

The point is that just like the people here in Del Ray who embrace all the cultures and diversities that they offer, we respect each others beliefs and side dishes. And that makes for a very merry what ever it is you're having.

SO MERRY WISHES TO THE SUM OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CELEBRATE!!!

MAY WE LIVE UP TO THESE EXPECTATIONS THE YEAR ROUND.

Carol Bull Nova Star Del Ray Alexandria VA.

Ah the week of Thanksgiving. Happy people getting ready to sit down to a big turkey dinner. A few people will enjoy ham. Off to my sister's home I will go. Me and my vegetarian family. No we do not eat tofurky. My daughter has had a bit of a hard time in school trying to explain that even at Thanksgiving and Christmas we do not eat meat. And, yes chicken is meat. We do make a donation, the price of a turkey, to a sanctuary. When my girl was little, one of my fellow designers would call the house on "the day" and gobble thank you. AnnaMarie, said child, grew suspicious around age nine. We still make the donation and my friend still calls. It's part of our Thanksgiving Tradition. So is watching the Turkey Trot a 5 k race the goes down Commonwealth Ave. Right in front of our house. The serious runners out front aren't much fun but oh my the ones that come at the middle and end. Mommies and daddies with strollers bikes and wheelchair racers. of course many dogs, this is Del Ray! Young people old people huff and puff people. At every corner those of us who would rather drink coffee cheer them all on from the first runner to the last walker being tailed by the ambulance. we're very supportive here. So Happy Thanksgiving to all and enjoy your meal take care while traveling. Maybe you could think about a meat free dish or two.

Carol Bull Nova Star Del Ray Alexandria VA.