Well, we have certainly had some days of wind and cold temperatures, but, if the predictions are correct, Saturday looks like it will be a pretty nice day.  That makes for good conditions for all the days plans in downtown Ryan. Be sure to come and be a part of all the action starting at 3:00 pm. I am anxious to see the tree up on the street. 

 Ryan City Council will be having their regular meeting on December 4th at 6:00 pm. I missed last month’s meeting because I was voting at that time. 

There is a blood drive set for December 7th at the Ryan Senior Citizen Center from 3:00 to 6:00. 

Our town will be losing a little piece of our history to downtown Denison, Texas.  My nephew is buying all of my fountain and the old fixtures and tables that my granddad started within his business. I am glad it is able to stay within the family, even if it doesn’t stay within Ryan. Brian and his wife are both pharmacists and practice in Durant, OK. They have their home in Denison and Brian has just over the last month, purchased a building in downtown Denison, where the fountain and fixtures will make their new home. I am excited for them and the residents in Denison have already been made aware of this fountain coming to their downtown. Brian is wanting to refurbish the old fountain and get it back into working order. Brian ran for a seat on the Denison City Council and there was a tie, and so, when they have a tie, they had a coin flip, and his opponent won the toss. Brian will continue to try to be a part of making plans for Denison. He has gone through some hoops to create some historical markers in Denison, that other people had no interest in making these happen. 

Brionna called her grandparents Thursday to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and found out that her granddad was in ICU in the Denison hospital. We have been asking for prayer for his return to good health. 

We took Mom to Denison Saturday to get together with her friend from Ola, Idaho. We had a nice visit with Reeta. The day was wonderful for us to travel over there.

Kim’s news for this week:

On Thanksgiving, I ate plenty. I went with Dad, LeVita and Chin Chin to Cousin Jenny’s. All day we had good weather and were able to be together.

Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for each other.

“Roy” said Rex Armstrong.

“Huh”, was my rather intelligent response.

 “The name of the barber you worked for, his name was Roy.”

 If I had ever heard his first name, I certainly don’t remember.  Thanks Rex.

 The American Legion had their family night with food, music and dancing.  There was a pretty good crowd and the music was enjoyable.  Thanks to Bill Roberson, Cary Gore, Gene Chesley and David Sorrell.  The music for the most part was what I would call classic country.  I heard songs Saturday night that I had not heard in a long time.  All four band members taking turns singing lead and especially memorable was Mr. Chesley’s comedic turn a’ la Ben Colder.  Ricky Martin cooked the burgers and hot dogs, he did a good job.  I don’t care what Santos says’ I like my burgers thick.  There was also a fifty/fifty drawing and of all people, Dustan Bryant won.

     On my list of favorite books has to include, “One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw” by Witold Rybczynski.  This is a very interesting book that is exactly what the title says.  The author, an architect, professor and writer was asked by  a magazine editor in 1999 to write a short essay on the most useful tool of the last 1000 years. Mr. Rybczynski took the job and produced a really interesting and fact filled book about the screwdriver and the screw.  I know the book sounds odd but this is definitely a case of not judging the book by its cover.  Another book on the list is “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway.  This was the last major work of Mr. Hemingway to be published before his death.  Almost any of his writing could easily make the list, be they novels or short stories, but this is one of my favorite books.  As I age, this story seems to grow on me even more.  There were also a couple of good movie versions of this story.  The first starring Spencer Tracy and the other a made for television movie, starring Anthony Quinn.  Both fine actors, in truth I would probably pay to watch either of them read the phone book.

     One of the questions that I get as a reader.  What do you read?  The answer is almost anything.  I had a wonderful teacher, Ms. Cleta Rickard.  I did for the most part enjoy the part of her class that covered English Lit.  No matter what else, you were going to cover Chaucer.  Don’t ask me why but he bored me to tears.  Maybe I’ll give it another try.  The late Mrs. Rickard grew up in Ryan as Cleta Huskey.  That doesn’t have anything to do with boring old Mr. Chaucer, it’s just a little FYI.  I guess I approach my reading much as I do my writing.  I start out one place and often end up someplace completely different.  That may speak to a certain lack of direction, just don’t tell Curtis.

     I am writing this on Monday evening as the storms that have been brewing all day seem to be (knock on wood) passing us by.  For those not so fortunate, I hope you escaped unscathed.

     Until next week.