I fear that I am becoming an old poop!
I know that I remember the “Great Depression” and maybe that’s what is coloring my outlook. Incidentally, there was nothing that great about the depression! I remember that several of Dad’s old shipmates from World War I would arrive at our door and stay with us for a few days — or weeks — while they looked for work. That was a courtesy extended by some who did have work.
Whatever the reason, I am left with a reluctance to spend a bunch of money for anything except food, clothing or shelter. I do enjoy a bit of comfort or convenience with the necessities, but I think more than a few times before I unload my purse on anything to decorate my home or my yard. After all, the spirit of the holiday lies within, doesn’t it? It goes against the grain for me to empty my purse to buy blow-it-up plastic stuff to celebrate Halloween, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas or Easter. I await with disinterest blow-up hearts for Valentine’s Day.
Ed and I used to share a pumpkin to carve for Halloween. We always preferred a genial grin and then begged a candle stub from Mom so our creation could grin at night as it sat on the window sill — inside! Now, those who use real pumpkins outside are apt to find them smashed on the sidewalk by spoil sports before they get a chance to spread holiday cheer.
We always had a Christmas tree — inside. We were convinced that Santa brought our tree along with the goodies under it. Then we got older and fingered Santa, but even then we were not allowed to decorate the tree until Christmas Eve. I guess the theory was that the magic glow of Christmas stays fresh for the big day that way.
We had hard-boiled eggs to color, decorate and hunt at Easter, and there was a centerpiece on the table filled with jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Once Ed and I each got a chocolate Easter egg with our name on it!
We exchanged Valentines with friends at school, but that was it. Friendship was a bigger deal on May first when we made baskets, and hung the on the doorknobs at our friends’ homes.
Thanksgiving wasn’t such a deal. We had a big dinner every now and then anyway. Except for the year Dad won a turkey raffle and we made a pet of “Obidiah,” we didn’t name our Thanksgiving dinner nor shed a tear when the bird emerged from the oven done to a golden brown.
So, you will find no bits of plastic in my yard or in the house this Halloween. At Christmas you may expect a wreath on the door, but the bulk of my spending money (discretionarry funds, isn’t it?) will be spent to fill boxes under the tree with each box bearing the name of one of my nearest and dearest.
I figure my old poop license must be in the mail.
Liz Ciancone
LIZ CIANCONE: Holiday decorating better when personal, simple
- Liz Ciancone
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LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops
Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?
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LIZ CIANCONE: We always want more than we need
Washington seems more preoccupied with the unemployment rate than they are about the constant stalemate. Still with thousands out of work and the unemployment rate hovering somewhere between 7 percent and 9 percent, it does deserve more than a passing nod.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Old age is in email of the beholder
My Best Friend isn’t much for writing letters, so email has opened a new world for him. He can dash off a few words to a high school friend or his college roommate — now living in Florida and Washington State,
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LIZ CIANCONE: A memory test from the oldtime radio days
For some reason, I seem to be the go-to source for all sorts of obscure information out at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Friskey no doubt was in favor of gun control
I once owned a gun. Actually, it was Dad’s gun and I was allowed to use it. He bought an air gun which shot BB’s to protect our home — in a way.
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LIZ CIANCONE: A robin stops to welcome the spring
I saw a robin the other morning. It was not the first robin of spring, of course. A few of the more daring robins had opted to spend the winter and, although they looked pretty sorry about it on a few occasions, it was a fairly mild winter.
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LIZ CIANCONE: The mystery of the small animal mascot
I hope you won’t think I’m picking on small animals, but I’ve been thinking about Easter and the Easter bunny.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Rising up to defend the poor groundhog
I read in the newspaper the other morning that Punxsatawney Phil is being hauled into court and charged with falsely predicting an early spring. I am volunteering my services as counsel for the defense.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Keeping eye out for signs of spring
The problem with expecting a groundhog to predict the arrival of spring is that there are groundhogs scattered all over the country. The Pennsylvania groundhog may not see the same kind of weather as the groundhog out here in Dobbs Park. In this way, false hopes are roused and the groundhog loses credibility as a meteorologist.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Not every other name smells sweet as a rose
It was either Romeo or Juliet who said, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
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LIZ CIANCONE: Innocence appreciated when you’re growing up
I grew up rather stupid. I didn’t realize it at the time. Neither did my teachers who seemed to think I had “promise.”
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LIZ CIANCONE: Years along rivers make them feel like home
I’ve been following plans for celebrating “The Year of the River” with interest. Rivers have played such a role in my life that I’ve celebrated a good many rivers. The Wabash River is merely the most recent example.
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LIZ CIANCONE: There are always cat stories to be told
I was asked the other day why I write about dogs I have known, but never about cats. “What’s the matter?” they asked, “Don’t you like cats?”
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LIZ CIANCONE: Sharing the family history
My Grandmother lived with us. Ed and I were eager audiences for her family stories about the Cooks. Mom also shared her memories of growing up with three brothers.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Do we want our privacy or not?
We Americans are a strange bunch. We insist upon our right to privacy, yet we neglect few opportunities to parade our personal business in public.
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LIZ CIANCONE: The low humor of Mickey Mantis
I’m told that a pun is the lowest form of humor. I guess that typecasts me! I love them, but then, I like any type of word play.
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LIZ CIANCONE: For now, justice is served in Bball Hall
News this past week brought justice of a sort. The folks who decide these things have declined to pick anyone to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Well, what would you do with only 1 sock?
Let me ask you something.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Movie memories don’t include many of the lengthy variety
There has been lots of reporting lately about how long movies are becoming.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Resist that big ‘let down’ on the day after Christmas
Today is the big day. That makes tomorrow a sort of let down — rather like “What have you done for me lately?”
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LIZ CIANCONE: No thanks to getting mags delivered via the Internet
I am a creature of habit. I like to know what I’m doing and I need to know how to do it. That’s why I am annoyed when corporate America seems determined to drag me, kicking and screaming into the age of Internet.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Everyone has a favorite holiday
I suppose everyone has a favorite holiday. My guess is that, for most of us, that holiday is Christmas. It's a holiday with a miracle no matter how old we get.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Christmas season puts time back into focus
It’s a funny thing about time. It can speed along so that you cannot believe that your kids can possibly be old enough to have good sense, or it can drag its heels while you wait for that first grandchild or while you are saving up for something really special.
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LIZ CIANCONE: The bottom line is what drives ‘Black Friday’ sales
Why is it called "Black Friday"?
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LIZ CIANCONE: Have we lost the meaning of holiday?
I’ve been considering a lost-and-found ad to see if anyone knows what’s happened to Thanksgiving.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Magic is always there with live theater
I’m a pushover for live theater. But movies? Not so much. For me it’s like the difference between canned peas and those picked fresh from the garden. Movies even COME in cans.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Maybe the Cubs will win it all next year
I was relieved to have the World Series ending before the snow flies. Heck, it didn’t even last into November this year.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Holiday decorating better when personal, simple
I fear that I am becoming an old poop!
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LIZ CIANCONE: Surprises from mail worth the extra penny
I understand that the cost of pursuing my hobby will be going up by a penny come the year 2013.
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LIZ CIANCONE: No pet costumes for this Halloween
Ed and I were old enough to know better, but we got our laughs in a rather cruel way. We caused Lady, the family collie, a lot of chagrin by dressing her up in “people clothes.”
- More Liz Ciancone Headlines
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LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops




