Tis the Season

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope it was a good one.

My friend Mae and I went to Pike's Landing for their big buffet. It was very nice, as always. This year, though, the turkey was a little dry as was the ham. The beef roast was perfect, however, and the gravy was phenominal and flavorful. And the creme brulee (as well as the rest of the 16' dessert table) never disappoints me.

I took most of the week off and made good use of it. Since I LOVE Thanksgiving leftovers, I cooked a turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes and corn. I do not like sweet potatoes, so that is never on my menu. And I've been enjoying the turkey all week.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. We would gather at my grandparents' house, along with my Dad's brother and sister and their families. We kids would watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while the men went duck hunting and the women cooked dinner. To this day, I watch that parade - it's part of the magic of Thanksgiving. Since I wasn't able to be with my family in person, I phoned and talked with many of them. I have such wonderful memories of those Thanksgivings past.

I did break one of my own rules - I put up my Christmas tree before I ate Thanksgiving dinner. I did not turn on the lights though. I usually put it up the day after the big dinner, but because of the MRI, I knew I wouldn't want to do it Friday. It is now lit and already has some gifts under it.

Friday, instead of shopping (I refuse to go out on Black Friday - there are animals in those stores), I had an MRI on my back. I have been seriously considering lumbar surgery, as the pain in my back is getting stronger and is there all the time, even when I'm sitting or lying down. I have not made the actual decision yet, but I'm getting closer. When the tech was talking with me and going over paperwork prior to the MRI, she asked what music I wanted to listen to. Even through the Valium haze, I remembered that one of our local radio stations plays Christmas music from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas day. So I requested that and it made the procedure a bit more bearable. I was on the table for about 30 minutes and the last 10 were miserable. Both my back and leg hurt and I had to work hard not to move them to relieve the pain. Sitting up was very painful, but by the time I got home the Valium insisted that I sleep. After a few hours of good, deep sleep, I felt much better.

I have been really good about shopping this year. I hate crowded stores and rude shoppers, and in spite of the fact that this season brings out the best in most people, it also brings out the worst in others. I have only one package left to mail and cards to do yet, but plenty of time. I have only a couple of people to purchase gifts for and am feeling that this year may be stressless - I can only hope.

I love listening to the Christmas music and watching the wonderful sappy movies. I will watch "The Gathering," a made-for-tv movie we saw years ago and I finally found on DVD last year. It stars Ed Asner and Maureen Stapleton and I cry most of the way through it. I also watch "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street," (the original with Natalie Wood) "White Christmas" and "Holiday Inn."

At this time of year, I think of my family even more than usual. I think all of us are feeling the loss of our dad during this holiday season, But staying in touch with frequent phone calls and Facebook and our family website really helps me feel closer to them.

May your holiday season be filled with love and sentimental movies, with great food and great friends, with wonderful classic music and good feelings about everything. It's memories of this time of year that I bring back to mind each November and December - the scents of cookies baking, the noise and excitement of kids and the secrecy of hidden gifts. And most of all - the love that seems to be all over the place.

     

Thank you Veterans

On this Veterans Day I'm thinking of all the soldiers and airmen in this city who have deployed and served our country - some for a year or less, others for 20 years or more.

I'm thinking of my days in the Women's Army Corps and how that experience changed my life. I became more patriotic and found a focus. Prior to my service I had been a teacher, a secretary and a clerk in the Vital Statistics Bureau for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Army trained me to be a journalist, and there I found my passion. My years in Army Public Affairs have been very gratifying and I've had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most admirable people in the world. I love talking with young soldiers and telling their stories. I don't write nearly as much as I used or as I'd like. Sometimes, I feel a bit rusty when I sit at the computer to write an article or commentary, since much of my time now is taken up with meetings and administrative requirements. Suffice it to say the Army has provided me a tremendous a good career and a tremendous sense of pride in our armed forces and our country.


I'm also thinking of other veterans.

A number of my ancestors served in the Armed Forces. One of my grandfathers several greats back was a fifer in the Revolutionary War. He joined the Army at 14 and left at 21.

Two great-great grandfathers served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Records state that one was shot in the wrist. The two men were from the same hometown and were in the same unit for a while.

My grandfather, served in the Army in WWI. He was a reconaissance soldier. He would go out ahead of his unit and map the terrain. When we started to study WWI in history in grade school, my grandmother and parents told us not to ask my grandfather about the war - he would not discuss it with anyone. He was in France - it had to have been horrible. After the war, he stayed on in France for a year or so studying art courtesy of a special opportunity provided by the U.S. government.



Cleve Hoffman, 314th Infantry, Co. C, France

 

 

 

 My dad, his brother and their brother-in-law all served in the Navy. I'm not certain of the dates my two uncles served, but my dad told me he enlisted at the end of WWII and he did not see any serious action. He was a sonar technician on a sub and served on several ships, including a Canadian hospital ship, Letitia.

 

From the top - Raymond Willow, Paul Hoffman (my dad) and Neil Hoffman

 

 

 

My dad, Paul Hoffman

 

Letitia

 



 



 

My mother's brother, Paul (Izzy) Grubb, served in the Army in Korea when I was a young child. I believe it may have been during the Korean War, but still need to confirm that. I can remember seeing him in his uniform and the entire family so happy to see him. I don't know if he was home on leave or about to be mustered out, but the family's happiness has stayed with me for many years.

My older (by just a few years) cousin served in the Navy, I believe in the Mediterrean Sea area while I was still in high school.

I will go to the Veterans Day ceremony Sunday. There are very few WWII vets in Fairbanks, but I love watching them stand to be recognized. Regardless of the conflict, all those who stand demonstrate pride in their service.

So on this Veterans Day, I salute you all - those veterans from my family who helped shape me; those who served before I was born and before I started school; my peers, who were sent to Vietnam and those who have most recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as those who served during peacetime. Thank you all for your service.