The days are shorter, the weather colder and the fires are getting started in the fireplace. October seems to be the greatest month for change. Although November will put us back on old time, I hope  that the extra hour will give us a little more time to enjoy daylight. Another thing that October brings is Breast Cancer Awareness. Every where you look there is pink.  Even the football players have been wearing some type of equipment with pink on it.  It really does make you think about breast cancer and the toll it takes on the individual and their family.  Our family has been touched  by this disease in that my sister was diagnosed with it several months ago.  She was just battling lymphoma and was cancer free when they found the "lump."  She has gone through the surgery and last week had reconstructive surgery.  She chose to be treated at Cleveland Clinic.  When you are 75+ years old a mere cold takes its toll on your body and the ravages of cancer can certainly do its damage.  Our family has seen her lose her hair and fight this war very valiantly and just about all we could do was support and pray.I know that many of you out there have or are experiencing this with your family.  You are  no different than our family. Keep up the spirit and be a support to the affected one.  Most of all be sure you are  being tested regularly for this disease which can be curable if caught in time. Remember they say that breast cancer can be genetic,so once it is diagnosed in a family we must be more diligent about getting tested and especially about having our young daughters and granddaughters tested.

 

Now that October is over we are heading right into the holiday season.  I find myself getting a little excited this year for some reason.  I have been looking at new decorations and I already have in mind what my Christmas gift list should contain.  Every year I say that I am just going to give the kids an envelope.  But when I do this it robs me of the shopping and trying to find just the right item that each member might appreciate.  Of course, this is what I think, but I will  not allow them to rob me of this once a year custom.  I will still give the envelopes, but hopefully I will find that one little unique item that each of them will like. Now is the time to give yourself that talk.  Please do not be a scrooge,  remember it is harder to be a gracious recipient than it is to be the bearer of a gift.  Learn to accept the gift in the manner it is given and help make the day for someone.  Another thing I want to point out to you is that when you receive that extra special card this holiday season take the time to read it.  Most times these cards are chosen very carefully and the message they bring are very meaningful.  I ran across a box of cards that I have  received over the last fifty some years and I sat and read them for over an hour the other evening.  They mean more to me now than they did then when I received them.  It is a large collection and they will probably mean nothing to no one but me, but I cherish them.  They are also kind of a record of history, if you keep them in chronological order.

 

Now is also the time to start thinking about your holiday baking.  Make a few lists of what you what to prepare and then start your shopping list.  Do not get overwhelmed with preparation this year's baking.  Choose the one thing that  means the most to you and your family and prepare it.  I know that in my family it would not be Christmas without the pita piatta or the salted mushrooms. We some times wear ourselves out with preparation and cannot enjoy our families. Now is also the time to plan on visiting or having your special friends in your home.  You might also plan a breakfast or lunch at a local restaurant so that you can catch up with your friends.  This past week, I especially enjoyed lunch with one of my best friends, Becky Sprout.  We have been friends since junior high school.  We commented, little did we know that about sixty years later we would still be observing each others birthdays and enjoying each others company.  This is what life is about.

 

Keep in touch and please help those who do not receive the Grapevine anymore to get on line at Connect Bridgeport or Connect Clarksburg.  Share your Shinnston News with them or your Taylor County Value Guide.  Let's all get in the holiday spirit..... and until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."