Wednesday, November 4, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
Commentary...
The new normal of holidays in Sisters
By Edie Jones
Columnist
How strange to have
Halloween happen without
the traditional celebrations
special to Sisters. One of the
highlights of the fall for my
deceased husband, Ted, was
to volunteer as a Rotarian at
the annual parade on Cascade
Avenue. He so enjoyed
watching merchants and
friends, dressed in costume
as they greeted kids <trick or
treating.= How sad it had to
be canceled along with the
fun celebration at the fire
station.
It is unfortunate that they
were canceled, as those
events allowed young and
old to dress-up, pretend they
were something or someone
different, and possibly forget
the trials of the day. At a time
when our entire world needs
to be cheered up, Halloween
could have been a wonderful
antidote for the coronavirus.
Without traditional ways
to celebrate holidays, creativ-
ity needs to come into play.
This year, that is especially
true. What new ways can
we celebrate and keep (or
develop) new traditions?
Thinking back to
Halloween, pumpkins of
course come to mind. Stores
still have plenty avail-
able (probably at a reduced
cost) and carving can still
take place (or drawn on by
younger hands). Maybe a
contest can emerge for the
scariest, funniest, or most
beautiful pumpkin. Be sure
there are as many (or more)
categories as you have kids
and adults so everyone can
receive a special treat for
winning. Don9t forget, the
insides make wonderful pies,
which kids can help make.
And, the seeds can be dried
and seasoned as delicious,
healthy treats.
How about a dinner that
pretends Halloween is still
here. Serve all kinds of <hor-
rible= things like the guts
of an outer space creature
(spaghetti noodles), their
blood (the spaghetti sauce),
and eyes of an all-seeing bat
(peas). Hot apple cider could
be the liquor of goodness we
all need to get through a scary
winter and ice cream with
chocolate sauce can be a way
to bury every thing we don9t
like in mud. Have everyone
yell out what it is they most
dislike as they pour on the
sauce. Probably there needs
to be a rule that family mem-
bers can not be the chosen
item.
Winter is a great time for
telling ghost stories. Don9t
worry if you9re not a story-
teller, your kids can help you.
Sit in a circle on the floor
as if you are sitting around
a campfire. Place a light in
the center to simulate the fire
(better yet, light up an actual
fireplace and turn off all of
the lights). Somebody needs
to start the story, continuing
until they say <and.= When
that happens the story passes
to the next person until they
also say <and.= The story
continues to pass in the same
manner until a conclusion is
obvious or everyone cracks-
up laughing over the hilari-
ous tale that has developed.
I9m sure many more ideas
might come to mind. Have
your kids get involved cre-
ating fun activities that will
carry you through the entire
winter. Pretend you are at
summer camp and come up
with exciting, rambunctious
events that involve the entire
family.
Young kids don9t need
an excuse to get dressed up.
Sometimes older siblings and
adults need an excuse. Turn
one day a month into another
<Halloween= (or other time
needing costumes) and relax
in the fun of pretending and
forgetting.
As we get near
Thanksgiving, plans for
not getting together with
extended family are under-
way for many. That9s certainly
happening in mine. What
can we do to alleviate the
inevitable sadness that will
accompany this special day?
As a starter, kids might be
able to decorate paper place-
mats for those who won9t be
around your table. Place them
in a manila envelope (be sure
to measure both ahead of
time so you don9t have to
bend them) and mail them to
whoever will be missed. This
is a great way to connect your
kids with others important to
the family.
Growing up in a family
that was scattered from coast
to coast, we always had a
Bayberry candle burning dur-
ing our holiday dinners. The
families in other parts of the
country were doing the same.
That way we knew everyone
was thinking of and giving
thanks for all of those we
loved and who loved us.
Of course, there are
holiday dishes that bring
forth family. Don9t neglect
them, they are important.
For years I tried to serve a
special corn casserole that
always appeared on my
childhood holiday dinner
tables. Unfortunately, nei-
ther my husband nor my kids
thought it very outstanding,
and I stopped fixing it. Years
later, while attending a din-
ner with my family of origin,
it appeared. What a surprise
and a delight. I had forgot-
ten how much I enjoyed
it. Perhaps this year, with
my gathering being just my
son and me, I9ll fix it. If he
doesn9t partake, there will be
lots left over for me!
As it gets closer to
December and the many
religious holidays celebrated
during that month, I will
write suggestions to bring
separated families together.
I9d love this to be collabora-
tive. Anyone wanting to con-
tribute to that column please
email me at edie@together-
for-children.com. Be sure to
put <Holiday Ideas= in the
subject line so I won9t miss
it. Please send by December
4 so we can get them in the
paper in a timely manner.
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