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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015
Five days without teenagers at home (can I get a hallelujah?)
of parents would we be if we
didn’t enjoy the lighthearted
Ned
Hickson banter we share each day,
They say absence makes
the heart grow fonder. With
that in mind, the thought of
our three teenagers being
gone for most of spring break
makes us love them beyond
words. In fact, the only way
we could love them more is if
they each found jobs and an
apartment while they were
gone.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s
not that we don’t enjoy
spending time with our kids.
Of course we do! What kind
such as when I say:
“You need to wash your
plate.”
And without skipping a
beat, they reply:
“You’re ruining my entire
life!”
Ha! Ha! That’s why they
are called “kids!” Not
because they are like stubborn
baby goats who, given the
chance, will run horns-first
into your knee caps. No! It’s
because they’re kidders! So
who are we, as parents, to
selfishly keep them from
spreading that kind of joy to
others for five whole days
during spring break?
Needless to say, having the
house to ourselves for a week
is going to take some getting
used to. For example, we’ll
have to get used to opening
the refrigerator and finding
more than just an empty car-
ton of orange juice and some
spilled ketchup that has dried
into something resembling a
fruit roll-up. Plus maybe
someone's gym sock.
We’ll also have to get used
to taking warm showers
since, without three teens
using enough water to hose
down the entire Budweiser
Clydesdale team, we’ll actu-
ally have more than 90 sec-
onds before a lack of hot
water turns our morning
shower into an audition for So
You Think You Can Dance?
And I’m not sure how we'll
get used to turning on the tel-
evision and not having a
minor heart attack because
the volume was apparently set
for someone who lands fight-
er planes on an aircraft carri-
er. That’s assuming we can
get used to finding the TV
remote in the first place since
those kidders won't be here to
leave it somewhere — such
as between the couch cush-
ions, in a different room com-
pletely, or in the shower.
Actually, that might
explain why the volume was
so high.
Yes, not having our teens at
home for a week will take
some getting used to. In order
to prepare ourselves for what
we know will be a difficult
transition, my wife and I have
spent time talking together
about our feelings.
This has been extremely
helpful. Once the giddiness
passes, anyway.
Which I blame on the
wine. Not to mention that
cartwheel I attempted.
But hey, we needed an
excuse to get a new coffee
table anyway.
I’m sure it will be different
when, before long, they leave
home to find their own way
into the world. Suddenly, all
Peace Harbor to host benefit concert April 24
A free benefit concert to raise
funds for the Peace Harbor
Medical Center emergency
department, “Leave A Legacy:
Save a Life” campaign, will be
held at the Florence Events
Center on April 24, at 7 p.m.
Suggested tax-deductible
donation is $25.
Tickets will be available at
the door and performers will
include:
• Larry Pattis, an accom-
plished guitarist named one of
the “Top 10 Best Acoustic
Music Artists of the Decade” by
the International Acoustic
Music Awards.
He has been a featured head-
line performer at such illustri-
ous venues as the Montreal
International Jazz Festival
and
the
Kennedy
Center for the Performing
Arts Millennium Stage in
Washington, D.C.
He also tours as part of the
American Guitar Masters con-
L OOKING
FOR
COURTESY PHOTOS
C. Daniel Boling and Larry Pattis will be among the musi-
cians performing at the April 24 benefit concert.
cert series.
• C. Daniel Boling is a
Kerrville New Folk and Woody
Guthrie Folk Festival award-
winning
singer-songwriter.
From Albuquerque, N.M.,
Boling has performed at the
Florence Winter Folk Festival
in previous years. Boling will
perform original songs and gui-
tar playing.
• Mike
and
Carleen
McCornack have been wowing
audiences for more than 40
years with an engaging musical
style that blends clear, expres-
sive, harmonious vocals with
sparkling acoustic instrumental
accompaniments.
They have been winners of
the Winter Folk Festival
People’s
Choice
award,
Parent’s Choice Gold Award
winners and Parent’s Guide
Honors.
• The New Folksters are a
group of folk singers from
Eugene, who combine strong
harmony with instrumentals.
Their performances are fun
and include ’60s folk songs,
contemporary tunes and rollick-
ing ragtime ditties.
Some members have been
part of the folk singing commu-
nity since the ’60s.
Band members include Hal
Weiner (guitar, banjo, uke,
vocals), Beverly Schriver
(vocals, kazoo), Keith Barr (6-
and 12-string guitar, vocals)
and Ken Luse (bass).
the things we’ve come to
accept and experience on a
daily basis as parents will
end. Once again, not having
them here will take some get-
ting used to. Especially
knowing it’s for good.
When that day comes,
there will be tears. There will
be hugs.
And no, there won't be any
cartwheels.
Not with what we just paid
for that new coffee table.
Ned is a syndicated columnist
with News Media Corporation.
His book, “Humor at the Speed of
Life,” is available online at Port
Hole Publications, Amazon Books
and Barnes & Noble. Write to him
at nedhickson@icloud.com
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Th e First Baptist Church Family
Invites you to join us on Sunday, March 29th at 11 am
Presented by Chosen People Ministries
“Th e Messiah in the Passover”
1935 East 25 th Street
Call 541-997-7660 for information.
Everyone is welcome.
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