Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News, November 10, 2022

November 10, 2022Newspaper Columns 1 Comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 10, 2022
By Pat Edwards

As I write this, we are still waiting to hear the results of some of the voting in last Tuesday’s election. Not all of the ballots have been counted yet, and some races and measures are still too close to call. I believe that, for the most part, even though none of us are completely happy with the results announced so far or those that are hanging in the balance, the election is giving each of us enough positives that we should not be too upset. And, you know… that’s the way it should be! Our country was set up as a two-party system because that’s the way democracy is meant to work. Not all of us believe the same way about everything when it comes to how our government is run and how our lives are affected by the decisions that are made. Our democracy works on the premise that none of us can expect to have everything go the way we want as individuals, but we can work together to find compromises through give-and-take so that one side doesn’t get all of the marbles.

It’s time to reach out and begin listening to each other instead of immediately putting up roadblocks or walking away from trying to understand where someone else is coming from.

It’s time to condemn hate and violence of all kinds and to bring back respect and support of law and order. We need to stop judging each others’ differences, setting up competitions between genders, races and nationalities and begin recognizing each others’ “human-ness.”
I certainly don’t have the answers on how this can be done, but I’m hoping that those who were voted into office—whether or not I voted for them—will do everything in their power to help draw us back together as a nation. We, as individuals, have done our parts by casting our ballots; it is now up to those who we have put our faith and trust in to listen and consider the points of view of those they represent… not just the directives of the party that they happen to belong to.

Am I dreamer?… a wishful thinker?… probably, but if we let ourselves accept the behaviors and injustices of the past few years as “normal,” then we have lost what has always made our country truly great. Let’s embrace honesty, kindness and respect for each other as “the new norm,” for we all have the potential to make something of ourselves and take pride in our accomplishments if we have a support system from others.

Sweet Lorane Community News, October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022Newspaper Columns, 2 Comments

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 27, 2022
By Pat Edwards

The holidays are, once again, approaching way too fast. I walked into a store a few weeks ago—it was barely October or possibly before our trip in late September—and was horrified to see the aisles lined with cases of Christmas merchandise ready to be put on the shelves as soon as the Halloween stuff was due to be displaced.

Our family’s holiday traditions and activities have been transitioning over the past decade or so as the numbers of grandkids and great-grandkids grow. Jim and I are at the point now where we only buy gifts for the children. As our grandchildren become adults and marry, they begin forming their own family traditions, as they should, and as great-grandparents of a whole horde of great-grandchildren, we want to help instill a love of family and family traditions while not bankrupting ourselves at the end of each year.

Our holiday contributions to the adults involves lottery scratch-offs for Christmas and centers around family Thanksgiving dinners and a place to gather each year. In our house, as our numbers approach 25 or 30, there’s no way we can all sit down at the dining room table to eat. Instead, we all form a circle around the table, holding hands, as Stephanie or Chad says grace to give thanks; then we all dish up our plates and head for a seat at numerous tables, chairs and couches around the living room, family room and dining room where we visit, watch football on Jim’s ever-present TV, catch up on the family news, and reminisce about days gone by. There’s always lots of laughter as the children, having finished their meals, run around, trailing pull-toys, giggling, playing with the kitten and climbing on Papa’s exercise bike. Occasionally, in days past, as things quiet down, a group of us would start dealing cards at one table for games of Contract Rummy, while a smaller group of four settle in for a game of Pinochle.

For us, it’s not so much about the gifts we give or receive, but of the time we share with each other; a time for counting our blessings, filled with wonder on how fortunate we all are to have each other in our lives.

I’d like to be able to enjoy each holiday in its own time… to savor each one as it was meant to be; to form traditions that not always follow in the commercial path of glitz and glitter, expensive gifts and out-doing and out-spending others. Everyone needs to evaluate their own traditions and decide what works best for their own family. But for me, I usually walk past all of those Christmas aisles as I enter a store. When I’m ready to celebrate and acknowledge the holiday, I’ll follow our own traditions as we grow as a family.

Connie Suing of the Crow Grange asked me to announce their upcoming Community Holiday Potluck and Open House (formerly called the Crow Thanksgiving Dinner) to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10, at the Crow Grange. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish, salad or dessert to share. The grange will provide turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. There will be fun activities for the kids, crafts to make and take home, and visits with Santa. They will also be accepting donations of canned and non-perishable foods for the Holiday Helpers food baskets.

I’ll get information on the Lorane holiday activities and events in a future column.
Happy Fall everyone!!

Sweet Lorane Community News, October 20, 2022

October 20, 2022Newspaper Columns, 1 Comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
October 20, 2022
By Pat Edwards

This week, I want to write about something that has always been “near and dear” to my heart. Shortly, each of us will have the opportunity to take part in determining our future not only as a nation, but a state, city, county and community, as well as the school and fire districts where we reside. If you haven’t already registered to vote, sadly it’s now too late to do so and it means that you have forfeited your right to help determine in what direction we are heading in each of the categories.

For those of us who are registered, good for us! I’m not going to try and tell you how to vote or to sway you in any political direction, but I’d like to stress how important it is for each of us to know exactly who or what we are voting for or against. Throw out all of the rhetoric and catch-phrases that are heard so often from both ends of the spectrum. Turn off the TV, radio and internet long enough to do your own research. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to vote. Look up and read the information and/or attend talks by the candidates and sponsors of the measures from all parties with an open mind. Understand the specifics from both sides… not just one. Don’t let the media dictate our votes. We have each been provided with the ability to formulate our own opinions. Not everything is black and white as we are led to believe. Consider the grays, too.

Study the voting pamphlet and consider the arguments, both pro and con. Be an informed voter who is voting from your own conscience, intelligence and heart… not from someone else’s.

And, most of all, cast your ballot… VOTE! By not voting, you are letting someone else guide what happens to this country, our state, our county, city and communities. It is the only true power we have as individuals to make a difference.