I don’t know about you but…
To me the month of November brings to mind two significant holidays, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. But there is much more to November than those two holidays. Please continue reading….
Before a discussion of our eleventh month, I would like to mention the fact that I had occasion to attend an informative meeting concerning the Kewanee YMCA in late October and I don’t know about you but…
I consider the Kewanee Y a great asset to our community and surrounding area. I hope that the people from the Two Rivers YMCA group that now administers our Kewanee Y will be able to continue to provide us with all the services and opportunities that already exist at our Y. I also hope that they find a way to make improvements to the facilities and increase offerings as they expressed the desire to do at the meeting I attended. A daunting task, I’m sure. I wish them good luck!
I have some routine medical tests scheduled for early in November. I don’t know about you but…
I also consider the OSF St. Luke Medical Center to be another wonderful asset to our community. This won’t be the first time I will have medical issues dealt with without having to drive to a nearby hospital in another community. I know some of you have had negative experiences at our local hospital but fortunately that hasn’t been the case for me. I have always found the staff to be courteous, thoughtful and completely professional. I am confident that they can meet my medical needs or direct me to a facility that can help me. I think Kewanee and the surrounding area is fortunate to have OSF and St. Luke Medical Center as part of our community.
One of the first significant dates in November this year is Election Day, Nov. 5. I don’t know about you but…
I think it will be one of the best days of the year. Why, you ask? Because that will be the end of political ads on TV, at least until the next national election. Enough is enough. Are you kidding me?
Nov. 5 also could be the start of one of the worst times in American history. Just so you know, I am gravely concerned about the outcome of this election. I guess I just can’t see a scenario that Americans win no matter how the presidential race turns out. I hope I am wrong. I guess I wish Americans could come closer together, not further apart.
Veterans Day is Nov. 11. I don’t know about you but…
I personally think there is no way we can thank our Veterans enough. Our way of life, level of prosperity and the freedoms we enjoy are due to the service of our veterans past and present. Please do not pass up the opportunity to thank a veteran for their service to our country. And you can do this any day of the year, not just Veteran’s Day.
There is a very important day in my life that will occur this month. On Nov. 17, 2024, Mrs. Christakos and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. I don’t know about you but…
I think that is quite an accomplishment. I can guarantee you the 40 years were full of many trials and challenges. Someone deserves a medal. Maybe two someones! To be sure, everything that resulted from the union that took place on 11/17/84 at the Visitation Church represents the best part of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I realize that I am jumping the gun a bit, but I would like to take this opportunity to mention the fact that the lighting of Windmont and Northeast parks are proceeding quite well. I don’t know about you but…
I appreciate all the hard work that a great many volunteers are doing to complete these projects. Do you have some spare time? I bet they could use your help.
Something new this year at Windmont is what is being called: Swings of the Seasons. If you are a local business owner or a family looking for a festive way to memorialize a loved one, consider sponsoring one of 7 park swings offered for sponsorship. A $200 donation will allow for you to have your business or loved one’s name on a swing and decorate it as festively and creatively as you wish. But they are going fast! So, please contact Dianne Packee at 309-312-0618 for more info.
Also entering the preparation stage are the Good Fellow Baskets. I don’t know about you but…
I think the Good Fellows’ goal that no one in Kewanee should be hungry at Christmas is highly commendable. More info will be coming in my December column. Right now, you should know that the deadline to apply or nominate someone for a Christmas Basket is Dec. 6. Call Kewanee High School at 309-853-3328 if you wish to do so.
I don’t know about you but…
No column on November would be complete without mention of Thanksgiving. To me, like many of you, Thanksgiving is associated with two of my favorite things, food and football. Now I have to admit that I have been known to overindulge in both over the holiday weekend. Whether you are into a traditional Thanksgiving feast or you celebrate the holiday in some other manner, in my way of thinking there is nothing better than getting together with family and loved ones and being thankful for all that we have been graced with. Heck, you can even do it any time of year.
The fact that there is all this great football to watch over the Thanksgiving weekend is just an added bonus. I particularly enjoy watching The IHSA High School Football games. Eight championship games on Thanksgiving Friday and Saturday. It is kind of fun to watch young people play the sport for the love of the game and not for money.
I don’t know about you but…
I think it is time to wrap up this month’s column. I do so with the thought of the month which is a quote I received from my massage therapist, Stephanie Taylor of Cambridge, “Old age is a privilege not afforded to everyone”. It is a privilege that I have been blessed with. That fact, and too much food and football, usually tend to make me tired. Believe it or not I have even been known to nap on Thanksgiving!
