Ashland Speaks: Thank you to my readers, family and friends

Next week is Thanksgiving already. Where has the year gone? Weren’t we just complaining about the slow start to the growing season? Next week there will be no paper, so let me express my thanks to all of you for being loyal readers. I am thankful for each and every one of you: Those who stop me at various events and tell me how much they enjoy my (our) memories. Those who send me corrections, because I know that they are reading my words carefully enough to find errors. Those who look for my column to find out what events to go to. I thank the publishers at the Mountain Eagle and the Catskill Daily Mail for letting me spread my news and thoughts to the public. And, my family for giving me time to write and think, and my friends for giving me things to write about. I am thankful for having you all in my life.

‘Tis the season for end of the year dinners! Hensonville Hose Company had a lovely dinner at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption. Very well attended, wonderful food and company. Jewett Fire Department held their annual dinner at the Brandywine. Ken Hudecek was awarded his 50 year pin presented by President Bill Miller and Chief Dave McGowan. Congratulations! Thanks to all of our Firemen and Ambulance Crews for their service and dedication.

Come to Ya Ya’s Holiday Thrift Sale at the Greek Orthodox church of the Assumption, 4752 Route 23 Windham, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Sunday until Christmas in the hall. There are Holiday decorations, toys, housewares, jewelry and more. Something new every Sunday. Free coffee, tea, hot chocolate and gift wrapping. It’s worth the trip!

Twenty-five family members of Ed and Janet Armstrong gathered together for an early Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday. It’s always nice to be remembered and go to their meals.

The Ashland Historical Association had a great breakfast on Saturday. Good food and friends. Saturday night, many enjoyed a Chinese Auction and Ziti dinner at the new Prattsville Fire House. There’s so many activities and so little time before the winter sets in.

Yes, I went to Texas to find a rich rancher, but instead, I found a half naked homeless man. (I left him there!)

The December Ecumenical will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Ashland UMC. There will be a guest speaker from Hospice and special Harpsichord Christmas music. Covered dish luncheon to follow.

Masonic Dinner will be held on Dec. 15 at BrandyWine.

Don’t bake your Christmas cookies, let the members of the Ashland Community Church do it for you. Our Annual Cookie Walk is coming 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 14.

Congratulations to all of our local hunters: Kyle Creech bagged a beautiful buck opening day. Bob Story has sat in his tree stand for the last 15 years and has only missed getting a deer one year. This year it was a 6 pointer.

Windham UMC will be holding Thanksgiving Eve Services on Nov. 27. Dinner will be at 5:30 p.m., featuring Korean and American foods. Worship to follow. he Christmas Tea and Craft Sale will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 7. Santa will arrive at 2 p.m.

The Catskill Glee Club Christmas Concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Reformed Church in Catskill.

Christmas Concert and Dessert Buffet featuring The Rip Van Winkle Brass Quintet will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus R.C. Church, State Route 23, Windham. Admission is free.

CARES AND PRAYERS

Prayers for Carol Sutton and Barbara Katt, also for Larry Moore who passed. Please keep families in crisis in your prayers. Vickie Petreau is having a birthday. 99 year old Mrs King from Hervey Street is in need of prayer. Prayers for Deacon Peter and family whose sister in Indiana had a stroke.

COMING EVENTS

Nov. 22 and 23 Christmas Bazaar and sale at South Cairo UMC 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Eve Services Windham UMC Dinner 5:30 worship following.

Nov. 28 Senior Angel Thanksgiving.

Nov. 30 Holiday Sale Kaaterskill UMC Tannersville 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dec. 2 Wreath making Senior Center Hensonville 1 p.m.

Dec. 3 Ecumenical at Ashland UMC 11 a.m.

Dec. 4 Rip Van Winkle Brass Quintet and dessert buffet St. Theresa’s RC Church 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 WAJPL Golden Age Club Holiday Luncheon Point Lookout call Opal 518-750-8380.

Dec. 7 OES Christmas Bazaar and Chinese Auction, Masonic Lodge, Main Street, Windham 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dec. 7 Windham UMC Tea and Craft Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Santa arrives at 2 p.m.

Dec. 7 Catskill Glee Club Concert Reformed Church Catskill 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 Ashland UMC Cookie Walk 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Dec. 14 Green Room Players Songbirds Christmas music Windham Center Church 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 15 Masonic Dinner at BrandyWine.

Please help me advertise your activity by emailing me at lmgeand@yahoo.com or calling 518-734-5360. I’m even behind on these. Reminders are accepted, plus new events.

AS I REMEMBER IT

Do you believe in Karma? People who visit you after death? Things happen because they are supposed to. I had a hard time finding a topic for this week. I was sorting through some ornaments that I got from my nephew’s storage unit when a friend stopped by to visit. I stopped to talk, when I got back to the ornaments, an old air mail letter was lying on the floor where I was working. It was addressed to Miss Lula Holdridge dated 1954 from Germany. I recognized the handwriting immediately. Remember Air Mail stationary? Both the envelope and stationary were tissue paper thin. There were 2 stamps each stating 30 Deutsche Bundespost. Air mail at the time was very expensive.

In the ‘50s, my mother was President of the PTA and director of the Greene County Cancer Unit. Because we lived on a farm, we had plenty of room, and welcomed a girl from NYC under the Fresh Air Exchange Plan, then decided to host an Exchange Student. My sister-in-law, Ida, was here from Germany and Wm Laxier was a foster going to WAJ, so we applied for a German student. Heidi Von Guttenberg came and spent a year, graduating from WAJ, then returning to Germany, for a degree in Language. She traveled to many countries to experience the language nuances, necessary for translation.

Why her letter came to me now, is a wonder. I have no idea where the letter came from. Last year, Judy came to pick me up for Peg and Lyle’s memorial service. She bent down and picked up a wedding picture from the floor. Where it came from, I have no idea, but it was Jeannie Quinn’s wedding. We walked in to the memorial service, and sitting there were Jeannie and her daughter who I haven’t seen in forever. Why?

Do you have special stories like these? Someone or something that brings the past to the present? Do you Believe?