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Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrated every year in November. The holiday was first celebrated by the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians in 1621. In 1863, President Abe Lincoln declared that there be a Thanksgiving Day every year in November. Everyone has Thanksgiving traditions that usually consist of food, family, friends, football, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more. It is also a day to give thanks for all of the blessings in life. In honor of the special holiday, some of the Bordas & Bordas attorneys and staff have collaborated to share their favorite memories about Thanksgiving. Marilyn Bell: One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was going to Holly River (Webster County) to visit a great aunt. She had a large, old farmhouse way down in a holler (as we called it). The old house was full of mysterious old items, including a pipe organ. Not sure why they had one in their home, but it was pretty awesome.  But what I loved most about this farm were the animals - cows, chickens, rabbits and ducks.  There was a small, shallow stream that ran behind the house, with just a board to cross over, and the barn set up the hill from the house.  Now, what I am about to tell you is the honest truth.  That year, when we went out back to see the animals, all the ducks were missing their feet.  They were walking around on stubs! They had run around enough to the point where the stubs had flattened out a little.  They were not in pain, and it didn’t interfere with their mobility (if anything, they could run faster on their stubs than on webbed, flat duck feet).  They were perfectly normal otherwise, and they were ALL alike.  Needless to say, we were amazed.  Our aunt explained that the previous winter, the ducks were in the creek wading when the temperature dropped and their feet were frozen in the water.  The rest of the story you can only imagine.  I have since researched this phenomenon on the Internet and it is possible.  My sisters and cousins can attest to this story.  Craziest bunch of ducks you’d ever see.  That’s a Thanksgiving sight I’ll never forget. Sally Blon: When I was small, Thanksgiving was a wonderful time of year. The house smelled of turkey and yeast bread rising, while the pumpkin pies and cinnamon rolls, made the day before, were lined up on the counter waiting to be eaten. All of us kids were sent out to play so we wouldn't be under foot in the kitchen, or stick our fingers into the pies. We could hardly wait to be called in for dinner. I fondly remember those years, and especially that my eyes were always bigger than my belly. I never listened when my mom would tell me not load my plate because I could never finish it all. The family dog loved me though. Geoff Brown: My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is football. Every year, our friends from Cleveland come to town for the annual Wheeling Worms vs. Ohio Hobos Turkey Bowl. The game started nine years ago in our backyard and the kids, who were much younger then, came up with the names of the teams. Over the years, we’ve moved the game to a bigger field and we now have team jerseys.  The only thing on the line, other than pride, is that the losing team has to pay for the winning team’s trip to Sheetz after the game.  As a proud member of the Worms, it is embarrassing to say that we have just two wins against six losses over the history of the game.  Hopefully, we can turn things around on Thursday.   Happy Thanksgiving and Go Worms! Jodi Cunningham: My favorite things about Thanksgiving are spending time with loved ones, giving thanks to God for all our blessings and enjoying all the wonderful food, especially my favorite – “Acorn Squash Casserole.” Jeanne Dedo: I remember sitting at the kids’ table with all my cousins and thinking how great it would be to sit at the adult table. Once I got to the adult table, I was thinking I want to go back and sit at the kids’ table, which was much more fun than the adult table.  You never know how much you’ll miss the little things in life that make you happy and I truly believe the food at the kids table always tasted better. Now, Thanksgiving has become a forgotten holiday. We go from Halloween straight to Christmas. Sad, but true. Erin Dodd: Just thinking of Thanksgiving Day, the aroma of the festive foods that fill the home and looking forward to tasting some specialty pies from relatives makes my mouth water. But, for me, it has always been, and always will be more about the family being together and the memories each year generates. As a child, Thanksgiving was the time the aunts, uncles and many cousins gathered at my grandparents’ home.  While the adults prepared the feast and visited over football games, the children all played flag football in the yard holding our very own “Turkey Bowl.”  After dinner, we nestled in our sleeping bags lined up in the rec room staying up late, goofing around, playing games and scaring each other with silly ghost stories. Now, I am one of those aunts making side dishes for the grandparents home - creating the memories for my children, nieces and nephews. But honestly, it gives me an even bigger thrill to see the memories they create together, and a bonding that will never be broken amongst them all.  I am truly grateful to have a solid home foundation and a loving family with which to celebrate this holiday time. Sharon Eubanks: My favorite Thanksgiving thing is making the dinner with my mom. Missy McAbee: One Thanksgiving when I was about 10, my cousin, Michelle, and I thought we were going to be the best hunters in the world.  We had this bright idea of staying at our grandparent’s house the night before Thanksgiving and getting up at the crack of dawn to go hunting down in our grandfather’s field.  We got up, bundled all up and headed down into the woods with my grandfather and my dad.  I remember how cold it was and how bored we were.  And being 10-year-old girls, we weren’t very quiet.  Needless to say, we lasted about 30 minutes down in those woods before we headed back up to the house and back to bed. Alena McAllister: My favorite part of Thanksgiving is being lucky enough to be able to spend it with my family. When I first graduated college, I worked in retail management and was always required to spend long hours at my stores in preparation for Black Friday sales. Sometimes it was exhilarating, especially the rush of people coming through our doors at midnight openings. But having to go to bed early in the afternoon on Thanksgiving Day or, worse, having to skip Thanksgiving dinner completely was not a happy trade. I’m thankful that my time in retail is over and I hope that we can temper our excitement for Black Friday deals long enough to allow my former colleagues to spend a day with their families as well. Becky Murphy: Thanksgiving with my family was and always has been filled with lots of food, lots of relatives and FOOTBALL.  Fun times with mom, dad, my brothers, their families and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Now that mom, dad, aunts and uncles have passed on, we are carrying on the tradition with our local family members and in-laws.  It is still a good time to get together with all that can make it to Thanksgiving dinner.  And for that, I am VERY, VERY GRATEFUL.  Of course, we also remember all of those family members who are no longer with us and give thanks to God for having them in our lives for however long or short. So, I hope everyone has a THANKFUL THANKSGIVING and you all think of everything you are thankful for, past and present, on this wonderful day. Bryan Pasciak: I love spending time with my family, watching football and relaxing. As someone who enjoys sweet potatoes and pumpkins, Thanksgiving dinner is usually one of my favorites. Tricia Pennell: One of my favorite traditions for Thanksgiving is putting up my Christmas tree and decorating for the holidays.  I do this every year on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) and then I have dinner on Friday with my family and celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Sherry Sharpsky: Thanksgiving is actually my favorite holiday. I have such fond memories of family gatherings -- love, laughter, reminiscing and the wonderful aromas coming out of my mom’s kitchen. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the wonderful blessings that God has bestowed upon us and should open our hearts to charity, peace and goodwill. Crystal Shaver: One of the things I look forward to the most on Thanksgiving is the fact that my mom makes each one of us kids our own pumpkin pie to take home each year.  She also makes cinnamon rolls out of the leftover dough, which we all fight over because there’s usually only enough dough to make two.  So we do have to share the cinnamon rolls, but we are all guaranteed our own pie!  Umm, I’m getting hungry … Ty Smith: One thing I will always remember about Thanksgiving is when I was in the sixth grade, my cousins came into town from Cleveland.  My uncle promised to take all seven of us hunting for turkey.  I excitedly thought that meant I was going to either operate a rifle or a bow.  When we reached the forest, my uncle instructed each of us to find a big stick…. I said, “For what?”  He said to hunt turkey (boom)…how disappointed I was.  We never even saw a turkey.  We just walked around in the cold and mud for a few hours.  Little did I know he just wanted to get us out of the house so my mother, her sisters and my grandmother could have some peace while they prepared the best meal of the year. Darcy Springer: I have been making Thanksgiving Dinner for my entire family for at least the last 35 years!  That is a lot of turkeys, dressing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies. What is the one Thanksgiving no one lets me forget?  The one year I failed to put sugar in the pies. I laugh at myself for the sugarless pie as well!  I love having everyone come to dinner at my house, and knowing my dinner is their favorite!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Jay Stoneking: Years ago my church used to sponsor a free Thanksgiving dinner for those who couldn’t afford one. My wife and I volunteered to drive a van around town, picking up our guests, taking them to the church and then returning them home. We got to socialize with all of our guests. Then at the end of the day all of the volunteers would eat their meal together, tired but genuinely happy that we had the opportunity to serve so many. Ellie Wallace: Although every Thanksgiving has been a wonderful memory of spending time with family, my most cherished memories are the ones when my mother and father were still alive and we would all pile into their little house with our growing families.   The house my parents raised the four of us kids in was not a large house and it seemed to grow smaller each year as our families grew.  But it didn’t seem to bother any of us that we were all squeezed in there like sardines.  Every Thanksgiving Day we would gather at their home and spend the whole day long into the evening sharing our lives, our love and eating the best home cooked food one could ever be blessed with. Amy Wilson: Our family gathered each year at my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving.  I have fond memories of walking into her house and seeing glistening tinfoil everywhere—wrapped over the turkey, covering the pumpkin pies and enveloping the glass casserole dishes that housed all the sides. Susan Wilson: I have always been with my entire family and then added my husband’s family to our dinner table through the years on Thanksgiving Day. My most precious memory is from when I was a very young. Thanksgiving was my dad’s favorite holiday and my mom (who had seven children, making us a family of nine and quite poor money-wise) would prepare our Thanksgiving Day meal almost single-handedly. She started days before. But at that time, it was not only the nine of us at the table. We had several tables set up in the kitchen, my parent’s bedroom and the living room to accommodate grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  My mom would prepare a meal for sometimes upwards of 30 people in our tiny house. Today, my sister has inherited Thanksgiving Day from my mom and we all help prepare my mom’s traditional Thanksgiving Day meal, including her stuffing. I have to mention the stuffing. It is a different recipe than the traditional, but so good! We have practically made no changes to her recipes, other than our in-laws will bring different desserts to enjoy. And those desserts are wonderful. Another part of the meal that has not changed is my mom’s pumpkin pies. I have taken over baking her pumpkin pies—lots of them—and no store-bought for us, ever. I think my mom’s pumpkin pies are more important to my family than anything else we gobble up on this day. My older brother demands that I make a pie just for him to take home and I always have to prepare at least two pumpkin pies to be left behind at my house for my family to enjoy.  Happy Turkey Day everyone!!! Zak Zatezalo: For us, Thanksgiving is possibly our truest family day of the year. It combines the reflection of Christmas without the gift-buying pressures. I love to watch the Macy’s Day Parade with the kids and then help with the final dinner preparations before welcoming our extended family for a dinner filled with the mindfulness of God’s grace and the things that truly matter most in life.

I write a Thanksgiving blog every year. But I have a confession to make:  this year’s blog was a hard one for me to write.  To be honest, it’s been a pretty rough year.  My mom died unexpectedly in July.  Then in October my dad learned that his lung cancer had returned.  Needless to say, both of these things are still weighing heavy on my heart. It would be easy for me to make excuses, right?  To give myself a free pass.  But that’s not God’s way.  No, God challenges us to give thanks “always and for everything.”  Eph 5:20.  Even though early Christians were facing terrible persecution, Paul urged them—and us—to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God…”  1 Th. 5:18.  God is honored by our thanks, especially when we’re willing to express it in the midst of life’s hardships. It may not be easy, but that’s what I’m going to try to do in today’s blog. My mom has only been gone for two and a half months.  Slowly but surely I’m working my way through the grieving process.  But I can give God thanks by celebrating the life she lived. I can say this much with absolute confidence:  I am the man I am today because of my mom’s love and patience.  My mom was my biggest cheerleader.  Whatever I did, whether it was school, or career, or my work in ministry, she was always an encourager.  More than that, she was a woman of genuine faith.  Believers are challenged not only to know God’s word, but to live it out—to live a life “worthy of the gospel.”  Phil. 1:27.  Mom did that, and seeing her faith in action had a profound effect on me.  I remember my mom’s gentle strength and her passion for prayer.  Even as a grown man, I would share prayer needs with her knowing she would faithfully commit to pray for them. The truth is I see mom’s fingerprints all over my life, and I thank God for every one of them! The story of my dad’s cancer goes back 17 years.  After having surgery that removed half of his lung, he was cancer-free.  But he faced a new bout of cancer about a year ago.  We were encouraged to hear that he was a candidate for a new cancer treatment—an intense and precisely-targeted form of radiation.  It looked to us like the treatment may have been successful.  But last month we were told that the cancer was back and had begun to spread. You may be wondering:  how is it possible to be thankful in circumstances like that?  It’s a struggle, I’ll admit.  But even as we face this newest challenge, I can see God’s hand. I’ve always heard that a tragedy can either tear a family apart or bind it together.  I’m thankful that God is using my dad’s illness to make our family stronger.  The shock really hasn’t worn off yet, but I’m already seeing us pull together.  My dad has always been a strong man. And with every doctor visit I see his strength on full display.  But he’s not in this thing alone.  Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with their husbands and wives, are rallying in support.  I know the house must be quiet now that mom is gone.  I hope that whenever he feels alone, he’ll be comforted by our love and by the power of our prayers. Why am I thankful?  I’m thankful that in times of trial and trouble, God sends friends and loved ones who can comfort us and refresh our spirits.  I pray that in the days ahead we can be an encouragement to dad and that he, in turn, can be an encouragement to us. I’ll sign off with this thought:  the truth is, thanksgiving is really a form of worship.  What I mean is that we don’t give thanks because our life is going good, but because He is good.  Six different times the psalmist tells us to “give thanks to God, for he is good.”  My prayer for you is that you’ll remember His goodness, and then, like the psalmist, that you’ll respond with thanksgiving!

Every year on Black Friday, people take to the stores to get a bargain on gifts they are buying for a loved one or on something they just can’t live without, all because of a “deal.” I know that some of the deals on this day are awesome, but is it worth it to push, shove and be disrespectful to your fellow shoppers? Over the years, we have heard horror stories about people being knocked down, trampled and some even dying as a result of such antics on Black Friday. I remember years ago shopping for my niece who was five or six years old at the time (she is now 33). Cabbage Patch Kids were hot that year, so my husband and I went out on Black Friday for a deal on this doll for her. I had it in my hand and was showing it to my husband when a lady came over and grabbed it out of my hand.  I was in my early 20s and was so taken aback by this lady that I just let her have it instead of fighting over. My husband was not so understanding at the time and went over to her and asked why she took it out of my hands. The lady looked him square in the eye and said, “I had it first!” To this day, we still remember just standing there, looking at each other in disbelief. He was ready to tell her a thing or two, but I grabbed his arm and told him it was not worth it. Being newly married, he looked into my eyes and agreed. So I dug some more in the store’s big bin and found a similar doll to the one I first had. After all that we went through to get the Cabbage Patch Kid on Black Friday, a week later that same store had those same dolls for a cheaper price. This just goes to show you that grabbing and fighting over items on Black Friday is just not worth it. There could be a better deal the next week. To this day, I hate it when my wonderful husband gets the newspaper with all the Black Friday deals in it and starts to plan out trips to the stores.  I sometimes refuse to go with him, because I can’t stand all the pushing, shoving, grabbing and people yelling at me or someone else. Last week, I wrote a blog about being kind to others. Well, this piggybacks on that subject.  Black Friday is a day to be understanding, accepting, patient, soft spoken and, most of all, to remember that we are out and about shopping for Christmas - the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Remember that while out shopping on Black Friday. The most important question is, what would God think of your actions on Black Friday? Think before you speak those nasty words or grab items out of others hands.  God is watching and he will tell Santa on you. Rock on, people. Rock on.

Some recent events caused me to remember something I saw over the summer. I’m no tennis fan, but I happened to catch a few moments of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.  The TV coverage showed the door the players use to get to Centre Court, one of the most famous venues in all of sport.  Above the doorway is a quote that reads: “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same.” I’d never heard that quote and wondered where it was from.  My law partner, Chris Regan, would have known that the quote comes from a poem called “If” by Rudyard Kipling. I had to Google it.  The entire poem is worth reading.  It’s about winning with grace and losing with class. It’s about living fearlessly while keeping things in perspective. It’s about growing up and realizing that the highest highs and lowest lows will come to us all, but the ability to persevere (“Hold on!”) is the only thing that counts. There is a similar quote from President Theodore Roosevelt.  He said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Kipling and Roosevelt offer good advice.  Sometimes it takes a special person to remind us of things we should never forget.  Keep the faith.

We all have our favorite recipes we get out for the holiday season, some of which may have even been in the family and passed down for generations. As Thanksgiving quickly approaches I would like to share my favorite recipe that my mom passed down to me with you.  When I was growing up, my mom would bring out her bread machine and make her famous rolls for every Thanksgiving and Christmas meal we hosted.  While the following recipe is not exactly how mom made them (as it does not include the prep work that the bread machine did), the ingredients are the same and I guarantee it will leave the family asking for more. Mom’s Famous Rolls Ingredients: 2 cups whole milk ½ cup +1 tablespoon sugar, divided 1/3-cup butter 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 packages of active dry yeast, preferably bread machine yeast 2/3-cup warm water 8-9 cups all-purpose flour 3 beaten eggs Instructions: 1. Combine milk, ½ cup sugar, butter and salt in a medium saucepan.  Heat over medium heat until butter is melted.  Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm temperature.  (Hint: I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or put the pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down) 2. While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in warm water and let stand for about 10 minutes.  (If yeast does not bubble then you need to repeat this step.) 3. In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups of flour and milk mixture.  Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly.  Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes. 4. Add beaten eggs. 5. Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to form a soft dough.  The dough should come away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still be sticky to your fingers when you touch it.  Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise for 1 hour. 6. Punch down dough.  Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface and divide in half. 7. Spray two 9X13 glass plans with cooking spray.  Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut into 12 equal-sized pieces.  Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan.  Repeat for remaining dough. 8. Cover each pan with a clean cloth and allow it to rise in a warm place for approximately 30 minutes.  Preheat your oven to 375°. 9. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. 10. When they are done, remove from the oven and rub a stick of butter over the tops of the rolls. From my family to yours, I hope you all enjoy these scrumptious rolls as much as my family does.  Happy Holidays everyone!

The boys are so excited about riding the float in the Christmas parades this year. Barley and Guinness will be in St. Clairsville’s parade tonight, Wheeling’s parade on Friday night, Moundsville’s parade on Saturday afternoon and will wrap up their tour on Nov. 26 in Pittsburgh’s parade. The boys are getting ready by picking out want they want to wear. They will be sporting bells, hats and everything red and green. They couldn’t be more excited for the all of the parades! Please come on out and cheer on the Bordas & Bordas dogs, also known as "the boys" at the office. Our very own Justice the Legal Beagle will be present too! Giving high fives and hugs to the kids along the way. He’s a hot dog. So get ready for some great parades coming to your town and make sure you give a shout out to Barley and Guinness when you see them. They can’t wait to see you all there. Bark on Bordas Dog Nation. Bark on.

I was at a Moon River Studio paint and sip event on Wheeling Island one evening waiting for my friend to arrive when I notice a lady walking around looking like a deer in headlights. I went over to her and asked if she was alone for the class or if she was waiting for someone. She said she was there alone, so I asked if she wanted to come and sit with me and wait for my friend to arrive. With a great big smile on her face she said that would be great and explained that she was new to the area.  We sat and talked a little until my friend arrived and then we both listened to her tell us about her twins and her husband.  We had a nice conversation and enjoyed the paint and sip that evening. I once saw a young man and his dog at one of the intersections asking for money.  I rolled down my window and asked him the last time he had a full bag of dog food for his canine friend.  He said he never had anyone ask about his dog before. I then pulled over and asked what kind of food he feeds to his dog.  He told me and I asked him what he would like from Subway, Wendy’s or McDonald’s. I returned with a bag of food and drinks for him and his dog.  I also got the dog a new leash and dog bowls.  The young man was very grateful and so was his dog. Why have I told you these two stories?  It’s because I’m blessed that I could help someone out, be it with my actions or with a bag of dog food.  All it takes is a little bit of your time to turn someone’s day around.  A smile can go a long way for someone who is having an awful day.  We all need to be a little more understanding of the world and the people around us. I know that there are people out there pulling scams, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut instinct and go with it to help someone.  God will let you know when and where that might be, for God speaks though all of us at different times in our life though our actions. My mother always said treat people the way you want to be treated, but don’t expect everyone to treat you that way because there are some people in our world who are just downright mean. No matter what you do for them they will always want more or it will never be right, but that doesn’t mean you treat them any differently. They don’t have the relationship with God that you do.  She also told me that there are givers and takers in this world and encouraged me to always be a giver and never a taker. She also said to never let anyone tell you or make you feel that you’re not worthy. There will always be someone out there who has the need to put you down, talk down to you or talk about you. They are no better than you, and we all put our pants on the same way.  In the end, God will be the judge of us all. I pray that I live up to my mother’s words and expectations. There is good in all of us. Sometimes you need to dig a little deeper with certain people to find it.  Always be kind and humble even when it kills you. Rock on, people. Rock on.

One type of expert that we work with on a routine basis at Bordas & Bordas is an economist. What role does an economist play in civil litigation? Let’s use an example of a younger wage earner who is significantly injured to the point where he or she is unable to work.  Among the other types of damages that are available in that type of case is compensation for future lost wages, i.e., the money that person would have earned throughout their working lives if not for the wrongdoing of someone else.  This is where an economist comes in. With the assistance of our clients, their former employers and sometimes the IRS, we collect certain information about the injured person’s wages and benefits.  A lot of this information comes from tax returns, employee benefit plans and the like.  We also collect certain information about the clients themselves.  For example, the injured person’s age, education level and skill set is all taken into account.  We organize all of that information and send it off to an economist, who is an individual trained to take that data and determine how much the injured person would have made, in terms of income and benefits, had the person worked for a certain number of additional years.  The economist can factor in likely raises, cost of living adjustments and inflation to further refine the numbers.  At the end of the analysis, the economist can present the jury with a figure that represents the amount of money today that would compensate the injured person for the earnings they would have secured had they continued working.  Obviously, this money can make a huge difference to the family of the injured person, who would otherwise be left in a terrible situation. We’ve also had the privilege of representing businesses in suits against other companies.  In these cases, the economist’s work can be much more complex.  It requires an evidence-based projection of how the business would have done if it had not been interfered with.  The amount of data that goes into such calculations can be hard to collect, organize and find. At the end of the day, an economist can be a very important expert witness.  This is especially true in cases where non-economic damages are limited by law.  Fortunately at Bordas & Bordas, we are used to working with economists as part of our day-to-day work.

This may be one of those years where you may find it difficult to focus on the good in your life. If you are one who is having trouble finding some positive in the midst of the many stormy days and sleepless nights that you’ve faced this year, give thanks anyway.  Sometimes it’s a sacrifice to be thankful, especially when you have had a year that has been challenging. We face challenges that test our emotional strengths that can rip our hearts and sometimes bring us to our knees whether it be due to sickness, finances, family matters, business dealings and even death, BUT be thankful for these struggles. When you show you are thankful for the test or tests that you are called upon to face, it shows you have a deep faith in God, our Father.  He will help you bear the burden and pain every second, every minute and every hour of your day.  Be thankful for this as you gather around your Thanksgiving table with friends, family or even just yourself.  Because no matter what daily demands are hurled your way and no matter the circumstances, with HIM you can conquer them all.  Have a wonderful holiday season. This may be one of those years where you may find it difficult to focus on the good in your life. If you are one who is having trouble finding some positive in the midst of the many stormy days and sleepless nights that you�ve faced this year, give thanks anyway.

I hate autumn. I know, the leaves are pretty when they change color.  If you have ever driven down through the mountains of West Virginia in Oct. you can see some breathtaking views.  The air has turned a little cooler and it is a refreshing change from the overbearing humidity of Aug. and a few days in Sept. It feels good to get out of our air conditioned houses and offices and stroll down the street on these pleasant days.  We can open our windows and let the fresh air fill our homes.  We experience literally a breath of fresh air!  But these are the only good things I can think of about autumn. Unfortunately, those pretty colored leaves only last few a weeks before a chilling wind blows them off the trees and the tree limbs turn bare and dead looking.  The ground is then covered with leaves that must be raked.  Then the weather turns balmy and the chill in the air reminds us that winter is just around the corner.  Snow, cold, slushy, icy roads.  Sigh.  Undoubtedly the Pilgrims and Native Americans observed the first Thanksgiving to help to improve their bad moods about autumn.

My iPhone recently informed me that I was out of room to store any more pictures. This prompted me to go back through my photos to see if there were any that I could get rid of.  In scanning back through the photos, I came across the photographs I took of the strangest wedding I've ever attended. Last summer, I had a chance to go out to California so one of my kids could attend an educational opportunity.  Right down the road from our hotel was the stadium of the San Rafael Pacifics minor league baseball team.  It's just the type of small minor-league stadium that I love. Sack races for the kids. Popcorn. Lawn Chairs down the left field line instead of seats. When we showed up for the game, I noticed something unusual.  The area behind home plate was decorated for a wedding.  Just like in the movie Bull Durham, one of the Pacifics' players got married right there on the field.  Following the vows, the player's teammates formed a cordon for the bride and groom using an arch of raised bats.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, the bride threw out the first pitch wearing her wedding dress.  The groom took off his tux, put on his uniform and played in the game.  My kids thought it was great. I've been to a few weddings and a lot of baseball games.  I'd never before been to one event that was both.

Does anyone else need to buy a t-shirt that says, “I SURVIVED THE ELECTION OF 2016 AND STILL HAVE ONE FRIEND LEFT”? This was one of the longest, most brutal, hateful, controversial, mind boggling elections that I have ever lived through.  This might be a bit dramatic, but for the first time I can understand what people went through during the Civil War of this country, when families and friends found each other on the “other” side of the issues. Social media has been a good thing for the most part.  It has opened up communication amongst us.  Long forgotten friends have found each other.  Families can keep in touch with each other on a day-to-day basis.  But on the downside, there are things that we feel, those deep inner thoughts that nobody used to know about, things that we used to keep silent that have unfortunately found an outlet as we sit behind our keyboards or a cell phones.  We feel safe in our own space there, not afraid to put forth our most secret thoughts, thoughts that could comfort another person and rally support for another person’s position, but on the downside, could shock, anger and hurt others.  We have the ability to type these thoughts into a void without having to look another person in the eye and with a click send them into cyberspace to share with the world, usually people we know and love. All of those silent and sometimes terrible thoughts that we never shared with anyone but kept them inside our own minds we now put right out there for everyone’s eyes to see and read.  I know I have been guilty of this on numerous occasions.  I usually like to keep my posts on social media lighthearted and funny.  But on several occasions, I have read something in my news feed that has offended me or has sparked a flash of anger and before I think about it I’m tapping away and clicking that “send” button.  And when I see it up there in print and instantly regret what I have shared I can delete it, but the harm has been already been done.  Because in that instant I clicked the “send” button it appeared in my news feed and others have read it, absorbed it, acknowledged it as my thoughts and words and no amount of deleting it from social media can erase it from that person’s mind.  The damage is done. Perhaps what we really should practice is a new version of the “count to 10” routine.  Type it or write it out in draft away from that notorious “send” button.  Then think about what we have written for 10 minutes.  If we still feel the need to post it we must be prepared to have a reaction.  And that reaction may be affirmation or derogatory comments from others who you have angered in return. At the end of the day, what we all need to remember is the people we are on social media with are usually friends and family.  People who we liked enough to invite into our circle on our social media page when we located them.  Even though we hate to admit it, all of us have differing opinions and strong reasons to back up those opinions.  It is just human nature.  President Obama said that our “democracy is a messy business” and it sometimes gets loud and rowdy, but I feel that we can do a better job at respecting each other so much more when we debate the differences, keep an open mind and keep it civil without the name calling, berating, the downright viciousness, hatred and division that was demonstrated in this past election.  Together we are strong.  God Bless America.