CHRISTMAS EVENTS - December 7, 2006
The month of Christmas
festivities had its beginning for me during the
Thanksgiving season when all of our family but
one grandson was in for a few days. I want to
tell you about some of our adventures.
We went to see “Beauty and the
Beast,” performed by Parkersburg Actors Guild. I
was accompanied by my granddaughters, Rebecca
and Sally, and their mothers, Sarah and Lynn. It
was an enchanting evening for all of us. There
was colorful scenery, innovative costumes and
action that kept our interest. Mrs. Potts, a
teapot portrayed by our daughter, Barbara Full,
was the highlight of the production!
Meeting the characters after the
play was a heartwarming experience. Mrs. Potts
took over and introduced the granddaughters to
the characters as very important people in her
life. The Beast, a really tall man, stooped down
to talk to the girls. His face and manner showed
that little children were important to him. They
really loved him and forgot that he had been an
ugly, mean Beast just an hour ago. They saw only
his kindness and caring for them. Belle, the
beautiful princess, had a long conversation with
the girls. When asked her name, Sally replied,
“I am Belle today, but some-times they call me
Sally.” Belle was a good example of someone who
looks beyond the outside of a person to their
inner beauty.
Mrs. Potts, an elementary music
teacher, had many small children surrounding
her. Each of her young students was given a warm
hug and felt very special as they departed.
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The Hometown Country Christmas
parade last Friday evening was a heartwarming
experience on a very cold night. The volunteer
fire departments were very visible with their
equipment. One truck from Smithville was
decorated with many lights and could compete
with any float from a bigger town. Other floats,
decorated by participants, ranged from the
senior citizens sector to the small children in
the Snowflake Contest.
Different areas of the county
were represented. Michelle Siers of the lower
West Fork was coordinator. The spirit of the
Calhoun County High School marching band,
growing in members and precision at each
performance, showed Calhoun Pride with each
step. Adults were scurrying about the town,
getting children to their places and helping
small spectators catch their treats.
The Chronicle expresses its
appreciation to the volunteers who made this
opening of Calhoun Christmas so special. We look
forward to this event in future years.
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I attended a performance of the
music department at Davis & Elkins College on
Saturday evening. Our son, Bob, was a guest
baritone soloist, and his wife, Jenny, played
with the orchestra. The director, Dr. Robert
Psurny, is a member of the faculty of Heartwood
in the Hills. The program combined chorus and
orchestra for the first two movements of the
Bach Oratorio.
I was not familiar with the
campus, so I stopped a lady who looked like she
might be heading in the direction of the
auditorium. She told me where to park and the
location of the building. She was waiting for me
at the steps and said, “My friend and I decided
that you must be alone, would you like to sit
with us?” From that time forward, they were my
guardian angels and guides! They are both German
immigrants, Jutta, coming as a GI war bride, and
Elfie, with her parents, following World War II.
Jutta’s husband left her when
their son was eight years old. They were left in
a country where she was unfamiliar with the
customs. She earned her GED and then took
training for hospital work. Elfie’s family lived
in the part of Berlin that was taken over by the
Americans. Residents of this sector were allowed
to leave for a safer area and finally to the
U.S. Otherwise, their future would have been
very uncertain.
Jutta sat by me and I learned
that she is a foster grandparent and works with
children in the elementary school. She was
telling me about a Thanksgiving program
presented by the children. Later, more facts
about Squanto and the first Thanksgiving were
given on the radio. I learned so much from this
new friend and was thrilled by her eagerness to
learn more about our American history. They were
excited to meet Bob after the concert and
complimentary about his command of the German
language. In their eyes, I was a celebrity
because I was his mother.
We all attended a reception
following the concert. As we enjoyed the hot
cider and cookies, I learned that they are
strong Christians. Before we parted, they had a
prayer circle around me, for deer to stay beside
the road and for safe travels to my destination.
I was the only vehicle in my lane and there were
absolutely no deer in sight for the remaining 35
miles of the trip.
What they did not know was that
my car had an appointment to have brake repair
work done and four tires replaced on Monday! I
had the phone book with numbers of towing
companies in case I needed it. After the prayer,
I threw it in the back seat and had a peaceful,
relaxing drive to the mountains.
I now have warm memories of a
cold, bitter night in Elkins, because two people
cared enough to befriend a complete stranger.
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We have many events to celebrate
Christmas in the next few weeks. Take time to
enjoy the opportunities to spread Calhoun
friendship at Christmas. You just might make a
good memory for a stranger who is alone.
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CARAMEL APPLE FRENCH TOAST (baked)
Original recipe from B&B in Millersburg,
Ohio:
1 cup brown sugar
6 eggs
3 tbsp. corn syrup
2 cups skim milk
6 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tart apples, sliced
16 slices whole wheat bread, cubed
Oven 325 degrees, bake in
greased 9x13 baking dish. Combine sugar, corn
syrup, and butter in dish, melt in microwave for
1 minute. Place sliced raw apples on top of
caramel. Place bread cubes on top of apples. Mix
eggs, milk and vanilla, pour over bread and
refrigerate overnight. Bake covered for 30
minutes. Bake un-covered for 15 minutes.
Notes: This is good for a
Christmas morning brunch. Substitutes for sugar,
butter and half of eggs can be used. Granny
Smith apples were suggested in original recipe.