Christmas gatherings are always special, but let us not forget this is a perfect time to collect those memories by hearing stories passed down through the families. Funny ones, even sad ones need to be captured while we can. There are so many centenarians that I had hoped to interview and write their stories but time got away, and regrettably, I did not get it done. History is always an unfinished work but the older I get the faster I try to record as much as I can while I can. Don’t wait, write those family stories. It may not seem much now, but believe me your grandchildren and great grandchildren will cherish them.

Bring your boxes of pictures without names to your gathering, get help writing the names on the back with a pencil [those ballpoint pens fade beyond legibility in about 50 years]. If three or four people at the gathering believe the picture is great grandpa so and so it probably is. Write it down.

I don’t remember too much about what I learned in school although it was enough to graduate at UT with honors, I remember the remarkable for sure: There was the day in the seventh grade when I had been writing something on the blackboard and while returning to my seat not paying much attention to what was on the floor I kicked over the coal bucket. Needless to say, coal went flying everywhere while everyone laughed at me. I was so embarrassed. Then there was the time Mackie Laws got the hicups. She could not get them stopped and each time the class broke out in laughter. Poor Mackie–we all loved her–but just couldn’t keep from laughing. Then there was the time that Carolyn Keck and I decided we would not take our turn at scrubbing the outdoor girls toilet. It was about a 12 seater up on the hill and a really nasty job. We felt that because we didn’t make the mess we shouldn’t be made to clean up after others. It didn’t take too many minutes for our Principal Dave Myers, whom we adored, to convince us that yes we should get with it; and we did. I’m chuckling even now as I recall these incidents. WRITE IT DOWN WHILE YOU CAN.

Merry Christmas and a Wonderful and Prosperous New Year.