![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/unnamed.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tTHE VILLAGE TIMES<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/1.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/2-scaled.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/3.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMeet Paula Moore<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tby Pat Simpson<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/7-228x300.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello I\u2019m Paula Moore. People call me Paula. In 1949 I started life in small town St. Johnsburg, Vermont (pop. 7,000+) and was named after my dad\u2019s best friend. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/5-300x270.jpg\")
We lived in a small Sears-manufactured home. My parents were John McKenzie and Madeline Presley. I had a happy childhood growing up \u2013 with two brothers and two sisters, 1\u00bd years apart. Times were different then: our parents felt we were safe playing outside ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/8-184x300.jpg\")
all day in the neighborhood until dusk. And Mom was a sharp lady: she taught all five of us how to play cards.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0During my life I\u2019ve lived in Vermont, Ohio, Arizona and now, North Carolina. My daughter Stephanie moved me here in 2021.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I remember family camping trips and campfires. And Trinity Lutheran Church, where I was married. I graduated from high school in Circleville, Ohio where I still have fond memories of Mrs. Frances Pritt, who was a very strict teacher but a very good teacher; she was my favorite teacher. At one time I lived in a Tucson condo back-to-back with recent resident Mabel Boerger but never knew it until I moved here to Independence Village. Since then we have played ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/6-195x300.jpg\")
piano together and have played many hands of Euchre (the card game) as well.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I spent my working life in the administrative side of the medical field. At one time I was department supervisor over fifteen people at Genesis OB\/GYN, which ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/4-174x300.jpg\")
is affiliated with Tucson Medical.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Not long after I met my dear Paul Moore, we became known as Paul & Paula, like singers Paul & Paula of the hit song Hey Paula. We soon went from being single to getting married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Paul was not only a good man; he was my soulmate and best friend. We loved to play bridge together. He was very good \u2013 later becoming a bridge director for the local tournaments. Sadly, Paul had heart problems which plagued him for eighteen years until his death at the young age of sixty, leaving me and our three wonderful children behind. Before that we had lived in Arizona \u2013 mainly to help him deal with arthritis.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m so happy to be here. This is my home. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/9-1024x734.jpg\")
This is my community.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Although I do my share of complaining I also try to help my friends and others. I volunteer to work on trash cleanup and pass out violations and help people with \u201cGo Raleigh\u201d access. I led a seminar on it so others could get out and go.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I just set up a Community Enhancement Committee to work with residents, staff and administration. Our goal is to enhance what is already happening, as well as add some fresh thoughts and ideas. Hopefully adding more positivity.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0On the social side I play cards several evenings a week, as well as Bingo and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also belong to the book club and the drama club.<\/p>
November book club news:<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Members are now reading the historical novel The House Girl, the historical fiction debut by Tara Conklin. It\u2019s an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0You don’t have to be a member to read the book. Ask Taylor to get it from the book club moderator for you. If you want to go to book club review nights you can — you don’t have to go every time.<\/p>
Resident\u2019s son appears on JEOPARDY!<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Joey Desena, son of resident Carol Desena, will appear on the long-running quiz show JEOPARDY! at 7:00 pm, Nov. 11, 2024. The show has already been taped but not even his mother ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/10-1024x502.jpg\")
knows the results because the contestants are sworn to secrecy. So come to the theater room Monday evening at 7pm and cheer Carol on if he wins \u2013 or for that matter even if he doesn\u2019t. Just being a contestant on the show is a prize unto itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrandmas<\/h3>
by Frank Howes<\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0I have often written about my grandfathers. Today, I\u2019m gonna write a little bit about my grandmothers.
\u00a0 \u00a0My maternal grandmother was a woman from the Phillips clan. I think her family was from somewhere around Knightdale, but I\u2019m not sure of this. All I know is that she had 17 siblings. 15 of those who lived have children of their own.
\u00a0 \u00a0Grandma Boyette, as I called her, was a tall woman. She always wore black Oxford heels so that she stood about 6 foot tall in her shoes, about a foot taller than my grandfather. The main thing I remember about my grandmother is her cooking. She could cook a great biscuit. In fact, my grandfather told me that\u2019s the reason he married her. She also made great homemade jellies and jams. She put up pickles and corn and butter beans and snap beans and field peas and other vegetables. Food was always plentiful at her house. She was fond of making me my favorite cake, pineapple-upsidedown cake, for my birthday. I still like pineapple-upside-down cake.
\u00a0 \u00a0I never had a serious discussion with grandma Boyette about anything, she was always too busy. Occasionally, however, she would sit down and watch a TV show of an evening. She always said \u201cof an evening\u201d or \u201cof a morning.\u201d She never said \u201cin the morning\u201d.
\u00a0 \u00a0My paternal grandmother, A member of the Batten clan, was a deeply devout Christian woman. I don\u2019t remember her very well. She died in a car accident when I was about 12. I especially remember this because I remember having a family reunion on a Sunday. The very next day an 18-wheeler hit her car on Highway 70 outside Selma. Grandma Howes was a great cook as well, but I rarely ate anything at her house. In fact, she ran the lunchroom for many years at the school in Micro, North Carolina (yes, there really is a tiny town called Micro in North Carolina). She had, including my father, 10 children and around 40 grandchildren. My father was devoted to my grandmother and speaks of her in reverent tones even today. I wish I had known her better.<\/p>Replace Western Culture with What? \u2013 by Richard Smalto<\/strong><\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0The great achievements of Western culture which include self-criticism and constant scrutiny, the backbone of the scientific method or the use of scientific reasoning, has deluded modern man into thinking free societies no longer need to worry about the fruits of civilization. Consensual government, Anglo-American jurisprudence, individual freedom, rationalism and religious belief, free market economies and capitalism are now in a constant state of peril because of this delusion. As a result Western culture has imploded and is caving in on itself.
\u00a0 \u00a0All of Western culture’s institutions and methodologies which have provided shelter, food and wealth in the past are being assailed because of structural hierarchy resentment (a biological necessity because of size, usually a dominant male) and an innate desire to exact revenge for perceived past grievances.
\u00a0 \u00a0At the core of this assault on institutions and methodologies are the distinctive elements of Western culture systematically destroying it. Self-criticism and constant scrutiny gone berserk for a variety of reasons is giving rise to an elite’s flirtation with nihilism.
\u00a0 \u00a0Is the replacement answer to Western culture, a culture based on structure and hierarchy, nihilism the antithesis of structure; an aggregation of looting, lawlessness, violence and rioting, lack of loyalty, extreme pessimism, radical skepticism and pointlessness except perhaps to destroy? I hope not. Or could it be a form of Marxist culture, without a middle class to restrain the actions of an elite class, the end result of which could be because of excessive taxation,
oppression and tyranny.
\u00a0 \u00a0I fear that there has been an overreaction to Western culture because it is predominately white and predominantly male but after we homogenize the races, create gender neutrality and form a new elite what can we expect that could be better?
\u00a0 \u00a0While we suffer from these self-inflicted wounds, street violence, open borders, excessive energy costs rampant inflation and a misdirected collapsing military force, my fervent hope is, people all over the world who wish to be free, will recognize Western culture, blemishes and all (with its Judeo-Christian values; to care and remedy wrong doing) still offers the best solution and brightest outlook for a promising future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEevee’s Story<\/h2>\u2013 by Phyllis Woolley (October 17, 2024)<\/h5>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/11-138x300.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello my peoples. It’s a beautiful day in Raleigh! Mom went to the doctor a couple days ago and got a good report! I haven’t been writing to you because I have been getting over a big mad! I was mad at Mom, Alex, Beth, and myself. Alex and Beth came over on Monday night as planned. Mom had made some dinner for them and everything was going great until everything went crazy. All of a sudden Beth decided to put me in a blue bag. It scared the bejeebies out of me! I got loose and ran under the bed. Alex tricked me to come out and I ran behind Mom’s chair. I was really scared. The last time something like that happened, was when we moved to Raleigh. All I could think about was I am not going anywhere!! Mom did not say anything about moving. Maybe Mom was giving me away. Mom promised that I could live with Uncle Tony and Aunt Laura if for some reason she couldn’t take care of me! She seemed fine to me! Maybe Uncle Tony didn’t want me either. My heart was breaking and I was so scared. Then Mom got out of her chair and picked me up and sat back down and loved on me a little! Without warning, Beth started putting that bag on me again and Mom was holding me real tight. Alex started helping Mom hold me still and I was trying to get away. I was hissing and growling and spitting and fighting! Suddenly Mom let go and I escaped back under the bed. Then I saw it! There was some blood on Mom’s hands! I had scratched Mom for the first time EVER! Alex and Beth were grabbing alcohol pads and Band-Aids. I just wanted to die! I had hurt Mom, the hooman I loved the most. The hooman who loved me the most. I was ashamed and angry! Alex and Beth left and Mom kept saying “It’s okay Eevee. I am so sorry we scared you.” She didn’t try to get me out, she just talked to me in her kindest, softest voice. Mom put her sleep clothes on and went to bed. She said “Nighty night Eevee! Mom loves you!” Mom says that every night.
\u00a0 \u00a0For the first time since I was a baby I didn’t sleep with Mom. I was too hurt and angry. Over the next two days Mom continued to talk to me really nice, and she kept saying “It’s ok Eevee!” I got in her lap on the second day and fell asleep. Then I heard Mom talking to someone about what happened and she said they were trying to clip my nails. A sigh of relief came over me! Why didn’t they just tell me, maybe I would have let them clip my nails, but prolly not! So Mom said that they sell cat marijuana on Amazon. She said she might buy some pot for me! Doesn’t she remember she taught me to just say “No!” to drugs. I slept with Mom last night! I am thinking she might be the one who needs the marijuana next time she tries to clip my nails. We will see how that goes! Have a great day peoples. I love you all! Toodles!!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Your Calendar<\/span><\/h3>11\/07 Pajama Day (Wear your pajamas all day!)<\/h3>11\/08 Shabbat Service (all are welcome) \u2013 PDR<\/h3>11\/16 Puppy party (details to come)<\/h3>11\/11 Veterans Day Program<\/h3>Take note: meet your new neighbors:<\/span><\/h3>David Dockery<\/span><\/h3>Daniel & Carol Veneto (staying here for a month)<\/span><\/h3>* * * * * * * * *<\/h3>Downsizing for my Rummage Sale<\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 by Pat Simpson<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/booksbypatricksimpson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Screenshot-2024-11-18-214044-e1731946679557.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tMeet Paula Moore<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tby Pat Simpson<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0 \u00a0Hello I\u2019m Paula Moore. People call me Paula. In 1949 I started life in small town St. Johnsburg, Vermont (pop. 7,000+) and was named after my dad\u2019s best friend. We lived in a small Sears-manufactured home. My parents were John McKenzie and Madeline Presley. I had a happy childhood growing up \u2013 with two brothers and two sisters, 1\u00bd years apart. Times were different then: our parents felt we were safe playing outside all day in the neighborhood until dusk. And Mom was a sharp lady: she taught all five of us how to play cards.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0During my life I\u2019ve lived in Vermont, Ohio, Arizona and now, North Carolina. My daughter Stephanie moved me here in 2021.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I remember family camping trips and campfires. And Trinity Lutheran Church, where I was married. I graduated from high school in Circleville, Ohio where I still have fond memories of Mrs. Frances Pritt, who was a very strict teacher but a very good teacher; she was my favorite teacher. At one time I lived in a Tucson condo back-to-back with recent resident Mabel Boerger but never knew it until I moved here to Independence Village. Since then we have played piano together and have played many hands of Euchre (the card game) as well.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I spent my working life in the administrative side of the medical field. At one time I was department supervisor over fifteen people at Genesis OB\/GYN, which is affiliated with Tucson Medical.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Not long after I met my dear Paul Moore, we became known as Paul & Paula, like singers Paul & Paula of the hit song Hey Paula. We soon went from being single to getting married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Paul was not only a good man; he was my soulmate and best friend. We loved to play bridge together. He was very good \u2013 later becoming a bridge director for the local tournaments. Sadly, Paul had heart problems which plagued him for eighteen years until his death at the young age of sixty, leaving me and our three wonderful children behind. Before that we had lived in Arizona \u2013 mainly to help him deal with arthritis.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m so happy to be here. This is my home. This is my community.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Although I do my share of complaining I also try to help my friends and others. I volunteer to work on trash cleanup and pass out violations and help people with \u201cGo Raleigh\u201d access. I led a seminar on it so others could get out and go.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I just set up a Community Enhancement Committee to work with residents, staff and administration. Our goal is to enhance what is already happening, as well as add some fresh thoughts and ideas. Hopefully adding more positivity.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0On the social side I play cards several evenings a week, as well as Bingo and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also belong to the book club and the drama club.<\/p>
November book club news:<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Members are now reading the historical novel The House Girl, the historical fiction debut by Tara Conklin. It\u2019s an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0You don’t have to be a member to read the book. Ask Taylor to get it from the book club moderator for you. If you want to go to book club review nights you can — you don’t have to go every time.<\/p>
Resident\u2019s son appears on JEOPARDY!<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Joey Desena, son of resident Carol Desena, will appear on the long-running quiz show JEOPARDY! at 7:00 pm, Nov. 11, 2024. The show has already been taped but not even his mother knows the results because the contestants are sworn to secrecy. So come to the theater room Monday evening at 7pm and cheer Carol on if he wins \u2013 or for that matter even if he doesn\u2019t. Just being a contestant on the show is a prize unto itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrandmas<\/h3>
by Frank Howes<\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0I have often written about my grandfathers. Today, I\u2019m gonna write a little bit about my grandmothers.
\u00a0 \u00a0My maternal grandmother was a woman from the Phillips clan. I think her family was from somewhere around Knightdale, but I\u2019m not sure of this. All I know is that she had 17 siblings. 15 of those who lived have children of their own.
\u00a0 \u00a0Grandma Boyette, as I called her, was a tall woman. She always wore black Oxford heels so that she stood about 6 foot tall in her shoes, about a foot taller than my grandfather. The main thing I remember about my grandmother is her cooking. She could cook a great biscuit. In fact, my grandfather told me that\u2019s the reason he married her. She also made great homemade jellies and jams. She put up pickles and corn and butter beans and snap beans and field peas and other vegetables. Food was always plentiful at her house. She was fond of making me my favorite cake, pineapple-upsidedown cake, for my birthday. I still like pineapple-upside-down cake.
\u00a0 \u00a0I never had a serious discussion with grandma Boyette about anything, she was always too busy. Occasionally, however, she would sit down and watch a TV show of an evening. She always said \u201cof an evening\u201d or \u201cof a morning.\u201d She never said \u201cin the morning\u201d.
\u00a0 \u00a0My paternal grandmother, A member of the Batten clan, was a deeply devout Christian woman. I don\u2019t remember her very well. She died in a car accident when I was about 12. I especially remember this because I remember having a family reunion on a Sunday. The very next day an 18-wheeler hit her car on Highway 70 outside Selma. Grandma Howes was a great cook as well, but I rarely ate anything at her house. In fact, she ran the lunchroom for many years at the school in Micro, North Carolina (yes, there really is a tiny town called Micro in North Carolina). She had, including my father, 10 children and around 40 grandchildren. My father was devoted to my grandmother and speaks of her in reverent tones even today. I wish I had known her better.<\/p>Replace Western Culture with What? \u2013 by Richard Smalto<\/strong><\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0The great achievements of Western culture which include self-criticism and constant scrutiny, the backbone of the scientific method or the use of scientific reasoning, has deluded modern man into thinking free societies no longer need to worry about the fruits of civilization. Consensual government, Anglo-American jurisprudence, individual freedom, rationalism and religious belief, free market economies and capitalism are now in a constant state of peril because of this delusion. As a result Western culture has imploded and is caving in on itself.
\u00a0 \u00a0All of Western culture’s institutions and methodologies which have provided shelter, food and wealth in the past are being assailed because of structural hierarchy resentment (a biological necessity because of size, usually a dominant male) and an innate desire to exact revenge for perceived past grievances.
\u00a0 \u00a0At the core of this assault on institutions and methodologies are the distinctive elements of Western culture systematically destroying it. Self-criticism and constant scrutiny gone berserk for a variety of reasons is giving rise to an elite’s flirtation with nihilism.
\u00a0 \u00a0Is the replacement answer to Western culture, a culture based on structure and hierarchy, nihilism the antithesis of structure; an aggregation of looting, lawlessness, violence and rioting, lack of loyalty, extreme pessimism, radical skepticism and pointlessness except perhaps to destroy? I hope not. Or could it be a form of Marxist culture, without a middle class to restrain the actions of an elite class, the end result of which could be because of excessive taxation,
oppression and tyranny.
\u00a0 \u00a0I fear that there has been an overreaction to Western culture because it is predominately white and predominantly male but after we homogenize the races, create gender neutrality and form a new elite what can we expect that could be better?
\u00a0 \u00a0While we suffer from these self-inflicted wounds, street violence, open borders, excessive energy costs rampant inflation and a misdirected collapsing military force, my fervent hope is, people all over the world who wish to be free, will recognize Western culture, blemishes and all (with its Judeo-Christian values; to care and remedy wrong doing) still offers the best solution and brightest outlook for a promising future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEevee’s Story<\/h2>\u2013 by Phyllis Woolley (October 17, 2024)<\/h5>
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello my peoples. It’s a beautiful day in Raleigh! Mom went to the doctor a couple days ago and got a good report! I haven’t been writing to you because I have been getting over a big mad! I was mad at Mom, Alex, Beth, and myself. Alex and Beth came over on Monday night as planned. Mom had made some dinner for them and everything was going great until everything went crazy. All of a sudden Beth decided to put me in a blue bag. It scared the bejeebies out of me! I got loose and ran under the bed. Alex tricked me to come out and I ran behind Mom’s chair. I was really scared. The last time something like that happened, was when we moved to Raleigh. All I could think about was I am not going anywhere!! Mom did not say anything about moving. Maybe Mom was giving me away. Mom promised that I could live with Uncle Tony and Aunt Laura if for some reason she couldn’t take care of me! She seemed fine to me! Maybe Uncle Tony didn’t want me either. My heart was breaking and I was so scared. Then Mom got out of her chair and picked me up and sat back down and loved on me a little! Without warning, Beth started putting that bag on me again and Mom was holding me real tight. Alex started helping Mom hold me still and I was trying to get away. I was hissing and growling and spitting and fighting! Suddenly Mom let go and I escaped back under the bed. Then I saw it! There was some blood on Mom’s hands! I had scratched Mom for the first time EVER! Alex and Beth were grabbing alcohol pads and Band-Aids. I just wanted to die! I had hurt Mom, the hooman I loved the most. The hooman who loved me the most. I was ashamed and angry! Alex and Beth left and Mom kept saying “It’s okay Eevee. I am so sorry we scared you.” She didn’t try to get me out, she just talked to me in her kindest, softest voice. Mom put her sleep clothes on and went to bed. She said “Nighty night Eevee! Mom loves you!” Mom says that every night.
\u00a0 \u00a0For the first time since I was a baby I didn’t sleep with Mom. I was too hurt and angry. Over the next two days Mom continued to talk to me really nice, and she kept saying “It’s ok Eevee!” I got in her lap on the second day and fell asleep. Then I heard Mom talking to someone about what happened and she said they were trying to clip my nails. A sigh of relief came over me! Why didn’t they just tell me, maybe I would have let them clip my nails, but prolly not! So Mom said that they sell cat marijuana on Amazon. She said she might buy some pot for me! Doesn’t she remember she taught me to just say “No!” to drugs. I slept with Mom last night! I am thinking she might be the one who needs the marijuana next time she tries to clip my nails. We will see how that goes! Have a great day peoples. I love you all! Toodles!!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Your Calendar<\/span><\/h3>11\/07 Pajama Day (Wear your pajamas all day!)<\/h3>11\/08 Shabbat Service (all are welcome) \u2013 PDR<\/h3>11\/16 Puppy party (details to come)<\/h3>11\/11 Veterans Day Program<\/h3>Take note: meet your new neighbors:<\/span><\/h3>David Dockery<\/span><\/h3>Daniel & Carol Veneto (staying here for a month)<\/span><\/h3>* * * * * * * * *<\/h3>Downsizing for my Rummage Sale<\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 by Pat Simpson<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
by Pat Simpson<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0 \u00a0Hello I\u2019m Paula Moore. People call me Paula. In 1949 I started life in small town St. Johnsburg, Vermont (pop. 7,000+) and was named after my dad\u2019s best friend. We lived in a small Sears-manufactured home. My parents were John McKenzie and Madeline Presley. I had a happy childhood growing up \u2013 with two brothers and two sisters, 1\u00bd years apart. Times were different then: our parents felt we were safe playing outside all day in the neighborhood until dusk. And Mom was a sharp lady: she taught all five of us how to play cards.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0During my life I\u2019ve lived in Vermont, Ohio, Arizona and now, North Carolina. My daughter Stephanie moved me here in 2021.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I remember family camping trips and campfires. And Trinity Lutheran Church, where I was married. I graduated from high school in Circleville, Ohio where I still have fond memories of Mrs. Frances Pritt, who was a very strict teacher but a very good teacher; she was my favorite teacher. At one time I lived in a Tucson condo back-to-back with recent resident Mabel Boerger but never knew it until I moved here to Independence Village. Since then we have played piano together and have played many hands of Euchre (the card game) as well.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I spent my working life in the administrative side of the medical field. At one time I was department supervisor over fifteen people at Genesis OB\/GYN, which is affiliated with Tucson Medical.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Not long after I met my dear Paul Moore, we became known as Paul & Paula, like singers Paul & Paula of the hit song Hey Paula. We soon went from being single to getting married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Paul was not only a good man; he was my soulmate and best friend. We loved to play bridge together. He was very good \u2013 later becoming a bridge director for the local tournaments. Sadly, Paul had heart problems which plagued him for eighteen years until his death at the young age of sixty, leaving me and our three wonderful children behind. Before that we had lived in Arizona \u2013 mainly to help him deal with arthritis.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m so happy to be here. This is my home. This is my community.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Although I do my share of complaining I also try to help my friends and others. I volunteer to work on trash cleanup and pass out violations and help people with \u201cGo Raleigh\u201d access. I led a seminar on it so others could get out and go.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I just set up a Community Enhancement Committee to work with residents, staff and administration. Our goal is to enhance what is already happening, as well as add some fresh thoughts and ideas. Hopefully adding more positivity.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0On the social side I play cards several evenings a week, as well as Bingo and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also belong to the book club and the drama club.<\/p>
November book club news:<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Members are now reading the historical novel The House Girl, the historical fiction debut by Tara Conklin. It\u2019s an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0You don’t have to be a member to read the book. Ask Taylor to get it from the book club moderator for you. If you want to go to book club review nights you can — you don’t have to go every time.<\/p>
Resident\u2019s son appears on JEOPARDY!<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Joey Desena, son of resident Carol Desena, will appear on the long-running quiz show JEOPARDY! at 7:00 pm, Nov. 11, 2024. The show has already been taped but not even his mother knows the results because the contestants are sworn to secrecy. So come to the theater room Monday evening at 7pm and cheer Carol on if he wins \u2013 or for that matter even if he doesn\u2019t. Just being a contestant on the show is a prize unto itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrandmas<\/h3>
by Frank Howes<\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0I have often written about my grandfathers. Today, I\u2019m gonna write a little bit about my grandmothers.
\u00a0 \u00a0My maternal grandmother was a woman from the Phillips clan. I think her family was from somewhere around Knightdale, but I\u2019m not sure of this. All I know is that she had 17 siblings. 15 of those who lived have children of their own.
\u00a0 \u00a0Grandma Boyette, as I called her, was a tall woman. She always wore black Oxford heels so that she stood about 6 foot tall in her shoes, about a foot taller than my grandfather. The main thing I remember about my grandmother is her cooking. She could cook a great biscuit. In fact, my grandfather told me that\u2019s the reason he married her. She also made great homemade jellies and jams. She put up pickles and corn and butter beans and snap beans and field peas and other vegetables. Food was always plentiful at her house. She was fond of making me my favorite cake, pineapple-upsidedown cake, for my birthday. I still like pineapple-upside-down cake.
\u00a0 \u00a0I never had a serious discussion with grandma Boyette about anything, she was always too busy. Occasionally, however, she would sit down and watch a TV show of an evening. She always said \u201cof an evening\u201d or \u201cof a morning.\u201d She never said \u201cin the morning\u201d.
\u00a0 \u00a0My paternal grandmother, A member of the Batten clan, was a deeply devout Christian woman. I don\u2019t remember her very well. She died in a car accident when I was about 12. I especially remember this because I remember having a family reunion on a Sunday. The very next day an 18-wheeler hit her car on Highway 70 outside Selma. Grandma Howes was a great cook as well, but I rarely ate anything at her house. In fact, she ran the lunchroom for many years at the school in Micro, North Carolina (yes, there really is a tiny town called Micro in North Carolina). She had, including my father, 10 children and around 40 grandchildren. My father was devoted to my grandmother and speaks of her in reverent tones even today. I wish I had known her better.<\/p>Replace Western Culture with What? \u2013 by Richard Smalto<\/strong><\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0The great achievements of Western culture which include self-criticism and constant scrutiny, the backbone of the scientific method or the use of scientific reasoning, has deluded modern man into thinking free societies no longer need to worry about the fruits of civilization. Consensual government, Anglo-American jurisprudence, individual freedom, rationalism and religious belief, free market economies and capitalism are now in a constant state of peril because of this delusion. As a result Western culture has imploded and is caving in on itself.
\u00a0 \u00a0All of Western culture’s institutions and methodologies which have provided shelter, food and wealth in the past are being assailed because of structural hierarchy resentment (a biological necessity because of size, usually a dominant male) and an innate desire to exact revenge for perceived past grievances.
\u00a0 \u00a0At the core of this assault on institutions and methodologies are the distinctive elements of Western culture systematically destroying it. Self-criticism and constant scrutiny gone berserk for a variety of reasons is giving rise to an elite’s flirtation with nihilism.
\u00a0 \u00a0Is the replacement answer to Western culture, a culture based on structure and hierarchy, nihilism the antithesis of structure; an aggregation of looting, lawlessness, violence and rioting, lack of loyalty, extreme pessimism, radical skepticism and pointlessness except perhaps to destroy? I hope not. Or could it be a form of Marxist culture, without a middle class to restrain the actions of an elite class, the end result of which could be because of excessive taxation,
oppression and tyranny.
\u00a0 \u00a0I fear that there has been an overreaction to Western culture because it is predominately white and predominantly male but after we homogenize the races, create gender neutrality and form a new elite what can we expect that could be better?
\u00a0 \u00a0While we suffer from these self-inflicted wounds, street violence, open borders, excessive energy costs rampant inflation and a misdirected collapsing military force, my fervent hope is, people all over the world who wish to be free, will recognize Western culture, blemishes and all (with its Judeo-Christian values; to care and remedy wrong doing) still offers the best solution and brightest outlook for a promising future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEevee’s Story<\/h2>\u2013 by Phyllis Woolley (October 17, 2024)<\/h5>
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello my peoples. It’s a beautiful day in Raleigh! Mom went to the doctor a couple days ago and got a good report! I haven’t been writing to you because I have been getting over a big mad! I was mad at Mom, Alex, Beth, and myself. Alex and Beth came over on Monday night as planned. Mom had made some dinner for them and everything was going great until everything went crazy. All of a sudden Beth decided to put me in a blue bag. It scared the bejeebies out of me! I got loose and ran under the bed. Alex tricked me to come out and I ran behind Mom’s chair. I was really scared. The last time something like that happened, was when we moved to Raleigh. All I could think about was I am not going anywhere!! Mom did not say anything about moving. Maybe Mom was giving me away. Mom promised that I could live with Uncle Tony and Aunt Laura if for some reason she couldn’t take care of me! She seemed fine to me! Maybe Uncle Tony didn’t want me either. My heart was breaking and I was so scared. Then Mom got out of her chair and picked me up and sat back down and loved on me a little! Without warning, Beth started putting that bag on me again and Mom was holding me real tight. Alex started helping Mom hold me still and I was trying to get away. I was hissing and growling and spitting and fighting! Suddenly Mom let go and I escaped back under the bed. Then I saw it! There was some blood on Mom’s hands! I had scratched Mom for the first time EVER! Alex and Beth were grabbing alcohol pads and Band-Aids. I just wanted to die! I had hurt Mom, the hooman I loved the most. The hooman who loved me the most. I was ashamed and angry! Alex and Beth left and Mom kept saying “It’s okay Eevee. I am so sorry we scared you.” She didn’t try to get me out, she just talked to me in her kindest, softest voice. Mom put her sleep clothes on and went to bed. She said “Nighty night Eevee! Mom loves you!” Mom says that every night.
\u00a0 \u00a0For the first time since I was a baby I didn’t sleep with Mom. I was too hurt and angry. Over the next two days Mom continued to talk to me really nice, and she kept saying “It’s ok Eevee!” I got in her lap on the second day and fell asleep. Then I heard Mom talking to someone about what happened and she said they were trying to clip my nails. A sigh of relief came over me! Why didn’t they just tell me, maybe I would have let them clip my nails, but prolly not! So Mom said that they sell cat marijuana on Amazon. She said she might buy some pot for me! Doesn’t she remember she taught me to just say “No!” to drugs. I slept with Mom last night! I am thinking she might be the one who needs the marijuana next time she tries to clip my nails. We will see how that goes! Have a great day peoples. I love you all! Toodles!!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMark Your Calendar<\/span><\/h3>11\/07 Pajama Day (Wear your pajamas all day!)<\/h3>11\/08 Shabbat Service (all are welcome) \u2013 PDR<\/h3>11\/16 Puppy party (details to come)<\/h3>11\/11 Veterans Day Program<\/h3>Take note: meet your new neighbors:<\/span><\/h3>David Dockery<\/span><\/h3>Daniel & Carol Veneto (staying here for a month)<\/span><\/h3>* * * * * * * * *<\/h3>Downsizing for my Rummage Sale<\/h3>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 by Pat Simpson<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello I\u2019m Paula Moore. People call me Paula. In 1949 I started life in small town St. Johnsburg, Vermont (pop. 7,000+) and was named after my dad\u2019s best friend. We lived in a small Sears-manufactured home. My parents were John McKenzie and Madeline Presley. I had a happy childhood growing up \u2013 with two brothers and two sisters, 1\u00bd years apart. Times were different then: our parents felt we were safe playing outside all day in the neighborhood until dusk. And Mom was a sharp lady: she taught all five of us how to play cards.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0During my life I\u2019ve lived in Vermont, Ohio, Arizona and now, North Carolina. My daughter Stephanie moved me here in 2021.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I remember family camping trips and campfires. And Trinity Lutheran Church, where I was married. I graduated from high school in Circleville, Ohio where I still have fond memories of Mrs. Frances Pritt, who was a very strict teacher but a very good teacher; she was my favorite teacher. At one time I lived in a Tucson condo back-to-back with recent resident Mabel Boerger but never knew it until I moved here to Independence Village. Since then we have played piano together and have played many hands of Euchre (the card game) as well.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I spent my working life in the administrative side of the medical field. At one time I was department supervisor over fifteen people at Genesis OB\/GYN, which is affiliated with Tucson Medical.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Not long after I met my dear Paul Moore, we became known as Paul & Paula, like singers Paul & Paula of the hit song Hey Paula. We soon went from being single to getting married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Paul was not only a good man; he was my soulmate and best friend. We loved to play bridge together. He was very good \u2013 later becoming a bridge director for the local tournaments. Sadly, Paul had heart problems which plagued him for eighteen years until his death at the young age of sixty, leaving me and our three wonderful children behind. Before that we had lived in Arizona \u2013 mainly to help him deal with arthritis.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m so happy to be here. This is my home. This is my community.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0Although I do my share of complaining I also try to help my friends and others. I volunteer to work on trash cleanup and pass out violations and help people with \u201cGo Raleigh\u201d access. I led a seminar on it so others could get out and go.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0I just set up a Community Enhancement Committee to work with residents, staff and administration. Our goal is to enhance what is already happening, as well as add some fresh thoughts and ideas. Hopefully adding more positivity.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0On the social side I play cards several evenings a week, as well as Bingo and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also belong to the book club and the drama club.<\/p>
November book club news:<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Members are now reading the historical novel The House Girl, the historical fiction debut by Tara Conklin. It\u2019s an unforgettable story of love, history, and a search for justice, set in modern-day New York and 1852 Virginia.<\/p>
\u00a0 \u00a0You don’t have to be a member to read the book. Ask Taylor to get it from the book club moderator for you. If you want to go to book club review nights you can — you don’t have to go every time.<\/p>
Resident\u2019s son appears on JEOPARDY!<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0Joey Desena, son of resident Carol Desena, will appear on the long-running quiz show JEOPARDY! at 7:00 pm, Nov. 11, 2024. The show has already been taped but not even his mother by Frank Howes<\/strong> \u00a0 \u00a0The great achievements of Western culture which include self-criticism and constant scrutiny, the backbone of the scientific method or the use of scientific reasoning, has deluded modern man into thinking free societies no longer need to worry about the fruits of civilization. Consensual government, Anglo-American jurisprudence, individual freedom, rationalism and religious belief, free market economies and capitalism are now in a constant state of peril because of this delusion. As a result Western culture has imploded and is caving in on itself. knows the results because the contestants are sworn to secrecy. So come to the theater room Monday evening at 7pm and cheer Carol on if he wins \u2013 or for that matter even if he doesn\u2019t. Just being a contestant on the show is a prize unto itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tGrandmas<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0I have often written about my grandfathers. Today, I\u2019m gonna write a little bit about my grandmothers.
\u00a0 \u00a0My maternal grandmother was a woman from the Phillips clan. I think her family was from somewhere around Knightdale, but I\u2019m not sure of this. All I know is that she had 17 siblings. 15 of those who lived have children of their own.
\u00a0 \u00a0Grandma Boyette, as I called her, was a tall woman. She always wore black Oxford heels so that she stood about 6 foot tall in her shoes, about a foot taller than my grandfather. The main thing I remember about my grandmother is her cooking. She could cook a great biscuit. In fact, my grandfather told me that\u2019s the reason he married her. She also made great homemade jellies and jams. She put up pickles and corn and butter beans and snap beans and field peas and other vegetables. Food was always plentiful at her house. She was fond of making me my favorite cake, pineapple-upsidedown cake, for my birthday. I still like pineapple-upside-down cake.
\u00a0 \u00a0I never had a serious discussion with grandma Boyette about anything, she was always too busy. Occasionally, however, she would sit down and watch a TV show of an evening. She always said \u201cof an evening\u201d or \u201cof a morning.\u201d She never said \u201cin the morning\u201d.
\u00a0 \u00a0My paternal grandmother, A member of the Batten clan, was a deeply devout Christian woman. I don\u2019t remember her very well. She died in a car accident when I was about 12. I especially remember this because I remember having a family reunion on a Sunday. The very next day an 18-wheeler hit her car on Highway 70 outside Selma. Grandma Howes was a great cook as well, but I rarely ate anything at her house. In fact, she ran the lunchroom for many years at the school in Micro, North Carolina (yes, there really is a tiny town called Micro in North Carolina). She had, including my father, 10 children and around 40 grandchildren. My father was devoted to my grandmother and speaks of her in reverent tones even today. I wish I had known her better.<\/p>Replace Western Culture with What? \u2013 by Richard Smalto<\/strong><\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0All of Western culture’s institutions and methodologies which have provided shelter, food and wealth in the past are being assailed because of structural hierarchy resentment (a biological necessity because of size, usually a dominant male) and an innate desire to exact revenge for perceived past grievances.
\u00a0 \u00a0At the core of this assault on institutions and methodologies are the distinctive elements of Western culture systematically destroying it. Self-criticism and constant scrutiny gone berserk for a variety of reasons is giving rise to an elite’s flirtation with nihilism.
\u00a0 \u00a0Is the replacement answer to Western culture, a culture based on structure and hierarchy, nihilism the antithesis of structure; an aggregation of looting, lawlessness, violence and rioting, lack of loyalty, extreme pessimism, radical skepticism and pointlessness except perhaps to destroy? I hope not. Or could it be a form of Marxist culture, without a middle class to restrain the actions of an elite class, the end result of which could be because of excessive taxation,
oppression and tyranny.
\u00a0 \u00a0I fear that there has been an overreaction to Western culture because it is predominately white and predominantly male but after we homogenize the races, create gender neutrality and form a new elite what can we expect that could be better?
\u00a0 \u00a0While we suffer from these self-inflicted wounds, street violence, open borders, excessive energy costs rampant inflation and a misdirected collapsing military force, my fervent hope is, people all over the world who wish to be free, will recognize Western culture, blemishes and all (with its Judeo-Christian values; to care and remedy wrong doing) still offers the best solution and brightest outlook for a promising future.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tEevee’s Story<\/h2>
\u2013 by Phyllis Woolley (October 17, 2024)<\/h5>
\u00a0 \u00a0Hello my peoples. It’s a beautiful day in Raleigh! Mom went to the doctor a couple days ago and got a good report! I haven’t been writing to you because I have been getting over a big mad! I was mad at Mom, Alex, Beth, and myself. Alex and Beth came over on Monday night as planned. Mom had made some dinner for them and everything was going great until everything went crazy. All of a sudden Beth decided to put me in a blue bag. It scared the bejeebies out of me! I got loose and ran under the bed. Alex tricked me to come out and I ran behind Mom’s chair. I was really scared. The last time something like that happened, was when we moved to Raleigh. All I could think about was I am not going anywhere!! Mom did not say anything about moving. Maybe Mom was giving me away. Mom promised that I could live with Uncle Tony and Aunt Laura if for some reason she couldn’t take care of me! She seemed fine to me! Maybe Uncle Tony didn’t want me either. My heart was breaking and I was so scared. Then Mom got out of her chair and picked me up and sat back down and loved on me a little! Without warning, Beth started putting that bag on me again and Mom was holding me real tight. Alex started helping Mom hold me still and I was trying to get away. I was hissing and growling and spitting and fighting! Suddenly Mom let go and I escaped back under the bed. Then I saw it! There was some blood on Mom’s hands! I had scratched Mom for the first time EVER! Alex and Beth were grabbing alcohol pads and Band-Aids. I just wanted to die! I had hurt Mom, the hooman I loved the most. The hooman who loved me the most. I was ashamed and angry! Alex and Beth left and Mom kept saying “It’s okay Eevee. I am so sorry we scared you.” She didn’t try to get me out, she just talked to me in her kindest, softest voice. Mom put her sleep clothes on and went to bed. She said “Nighty night Eevee! Mom loves you!” Mom says that every night.
\u00a0 \u00a0For the first time since I was a baby I didn’t sleep with Mom. I was too hurt and angry. Over the next two days Mom continued to talk to me really nice, and she kept saying “It’s ok Eevee!” I got in her lap on the second day and fell asleep. Then I heard Mom talking to someone about what happened and she said they were trying to clip my nails. A sigh of relief came over me! Why didn’t they just tell me, maybe I would have let them clip my nails, but prolly not! So Mom said that they sell cat marijuana on Amazon. She said she might buy some pot for me! Doesn’t she remember she taught me to just say “No!” to drugs. I slept with Mom last night! I am thinking she might be the one who needs the marijuana next time she tries to clip my nails. We will see how that goes! Have a great day peoples. I love you all! Toodles!!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tMark Your Calendar<\/span><\/h3>
11\/07 Pajama Day (Wear your pajamas all day!)<\/h3>
11\/08 Shabbat Service (all are welcome) \u2013 PDR<\/h3>
11\/16 Puppy party (details to come)<\/h3>
11\/11 Veterans Day Program<\/h3>
Take note: meet your new neighbors:<\/span><\/h3>
David Dockery<\/span><\/h3>
Daniel & Carol Veneto (staying here for a month)<\/span><\/h3>
* * * * * * * * *<\/h3>
Downsizing for my Rummage Sale<\/h3>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2013 by Pat Simpson<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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