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Anniversaries and Quilts
By Marie Craig
January is always full of events and memories. But I’m glad to see it gone. It was a cold, bleak month. Jan. 30 was the anniversary of my dad’s death in 1967. On that day this year, I spent time remembering all the many good things about him that benefited me. He was a faithful, hard worker at a blue-collar job to support me and my mother. I hope I told him thank you. On Jan. 31, 1988, my mother died, and a year later on that day, my cousin died. I never quite trust January.
On these two days this year, I spent some time finishing a project that my mother had started. She had made all my clothes and kept the remnants of fabrics in a big box which I inherited. She had cut rectangles 6.5 inches long and the right width so that when she sewed four of them side by side, this measurement width was also 6.5 inches.
The template she used to trim them was a square, cut from the back cover of a magazine. It was included with the 28 finished squares. The picture on the paper was a very healthy, perky young woman seated in front of a typewriter. She was smoking a cigarette, Viceroy Filter Longs. There was the obligatory message about the danger of smoking, but she seemed pleased to be avoiding the good advice. In small print, there was a date of 1973 in a description of the FTC report. It would seem strange now to see an advertisement on TV or in magazines promoting cigarettes. It seems that most people have come to their senses and never started, or quit the dangerous addiction.
The squares were almost accurate, and I used my plastic template and rotary cutter to trim them to be the same. As I arranged and sewed them together, I recognized a few patterns that had been my dresses that she sewed. I made the quilt 5 blocks by 6 blocks which meant that I was missing two corners. I don’t have any more of the fabric, but I created two blocks of a dedication nature. I found a photograph of my family of three when I was about 5. I was wearing the dress made from the striped fabric in the squares. I printed this picture onto solid color fabric along with some words describing the location. We three had driven with friends to the Smokies and this site was on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee at the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial at Newfound Gap. My dad had on a suit and tie. People dressed up back then. The other cloth square now has a photo of me as a little girl looking happy and carefree.
These two days were nostalgic and special as my mother and I made a quilt together.
 
As the World Turns
By Gaye Hoots
We had about five inches of snow in Oriental NC, which is unusual for the coast, but we were prepared for it. I don’t go out to play in it anymore, but I enjoyed the beauty of it and watched kids play and build a snowman. We had a cold snap and had to leave the faucets dripping to keep them from freezing, but it has warmed up now and a couple of days ago it was seventy-two. Phil, the groundhog, is predicting late spring but his accuracy rating is about thirty-five percent.
Other items in the news are that over a billion and a half in immediate funding to western NC was awarded to be distributed through Governor Stein’s office. The FEMA funds covered motel bills for many, but they were reviewed every two weeks because of the motel occupancy rates victims were moved frequently which was very stressful for families that were already devastated. It was possible that the funds would not be renewed, and the family would be on their own. It remains to be seen if the new program will be successful.
The military is reinstating those discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and awarding backpay. It remains to be seen how many respond to this. To date, there has been little response. Foreign aid has been suspended. This sounds harsh but the bill for it and many other services are being charged to the national debt is over thirty-three billion, and our children and grandchildren will have to pay it as we are paying only the interest. Tariffs are being levied, and it will probably be a year before we can evaluate whether this is helping or hurting. At present it looks like Social Security checks and Medicare are protected.
The recent plane crash disasters are still being sorted out and there is much conflicting information. We mourn for all the lives lost in both and pray for comfort for their families and loved ones. I read an item today stating that there was only one traffic controller on duty at Regan Airport when the crash occurred. The controller has not been blamed, and the investigation is ongoing, but it is incomprehensible to me that only one was on duty. Can you imagine what would happen if he had a medical emergency like an aneurysm, stroke, upset stomach, or nosebleed?
Many articles are about criminals with records who have reoffended multiple times. Our country has more incarcerations than any other, yet crime is rampant. If we spent money on programs for young people from daycare on, we would recoup that money by decreasing the need for prisons. I am an advocate for mental health programs as I have worked in these and seen the progress made.
I read an article on decaffeinated coffee, which I considered a healthy choice, and learned that several major brands use minute amounts of neurotoxin to remove the caffeine. An online site lists the brands that use this method, and my brand was one using it. I only drink a cup in the mornings and will no longer use a decafe.
On a more personal note, two friends I keep in touch with through Facebook are experiencing medical emergencies. One is the age of my children and requires a kidney transplant. A nurse friend of mine had a successful transplant and she contacted him to give him information and support. The other is a childhood friend who moved away and raised a family. I believe she and Faye, my sister, were classmates. She had been blessed with good health until now but was just diagnosed with bone cancer with a probable six months to live. I am praying for them and many friends with deteriorating health. My great-granddaughter is in my prayers daily and we are grateful for each small miracle.
I would encourage you to worry less about world events and love and appreciate your families and friends and the fact that we are alive, and enjoy what we have today. Make the most of it!
 
To Every Thing a Purpose
By Julie Terry Cartner
Jasmine came home from dance class discouraged, and, if her mom was correct, steaming with anger. Smoothing her daughter’s hair back, Jade tried to soothe her daughter. “What’s wrong, buttercup?”
Jasmine’s words came out in a rush. “I practice so hard until I’m sure I have every step right, and then Caroline gets to go first. I want to be first! And I deserve it!”
Smiling inwardly at her six-year-old’s rage, Jade formed her response with great care. “I have two questions for you to think about, Jasmine. First, what makes you deserve to be first and not Caroline? Do you know that she doesn’t practice as hard as you? And secondly, why is first better than last? Don’t you have equal parts? Don’t you both get your time to shine? Please, think carefully before you answer. Let me tell you a story”:
“Is it time?” The small voice, Croc’s if she weren’t mistaken, came from Dolly’s left. She listened curiously to see how Crock’s mother would respond, glad that her daughter, Daphne, was sleeping peacefully.
“Not yet, darling,” Cris said, “not quite yet. Sleep a bit longer,” she encouraged.
Even as Croc tried to argue, his head nodded, and he was back asleep. It wasn’t quite time, as Cris had said.
Time passed slowly, and then another voice emerged from the darkness. “Surely it’s time now,” whined Janice, “it’s been forever, and I’m bored.”
“Hush, silly girl, reprimanded her mother. “It’s not even close to our time. You’re going to wake the others too soon. First, it’s Cris and Croc’s turn, then Dolly and Daphne’s, and after them, it will be our turn.”
“Why do we always have to be last?” whined Janice. “I want to be first. Croc always gets all the attention.”
Jackie smiled. She knew that question would come. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that you and Croc and Daphne don’t look alike, right?” She waited for her daughter’s nod and then continued. “That’s because you are different. You are all flowers, that is true, but you’re different kinds of flowers with diverse purposes, strengths and weaknesses, and, of course, appearances. You, Janice, are a jonquil, and if you bloomed as early as the crocus, the cold weather would hurt your buds and leaves or even kill you. Crocuses are short and close to the ground which makes them safer in cold snaps. You know how you like the warm sunlight, but you don’t like being cold? Well, sometimes when crocuses bloom, there is still snow on the ground. You know how much you would hate that.” Jackie smiled at her daughter’s shiver.
“But what about Daphne and Dolly?” Jonice asked. “They’re tall, like I am, but they go before me too.”
“True,” Jackie answered, “but they’re stockier. They can handle some cold, just not as much as the crocuses.
“So, I’m just a wimp, I guess.” Discouraged, Janice closed her eyes.
“Absolutely not,” was Jackie’s quick reply. “Maybe you can’t handle snow and cold, but Daphne and Croc can’t handle heat. They’d wither away in the warmth that you love. You see, we’re all different, but that doesn’t make one better than another. When crocuses peep through the leaves after winter, sure, they make people happy, knowing spring is on the way. But then the daffodils come along with their moment to shine, and then you, my lovely, come next letting people know that spring truly is here.
Finally, you all have purposes and values. Saffron, from the crocuses, reduces inflammation and helps with eye health. Daffodils can be used to reduce pain, and you, when used carefully, can reduce stress. See, honey, you’re all important, beautiful and valuable.
“I guess,” Jonice yawned. “Maybe I could use another nap.”
Smiling at her daughter, Jade asked, “So, Caroline gets to go first, but I bet your teacher has something for you too, doesn’t she?”
“Yes,” Julia admitted. “I get to dance by myself at the end. I guess well do all have different purposes.” Sighing, she went to her room. Why do parents have to be so smart?
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1