Lifestyle

Jacob Braude tells the story of a man who hadn’t seen an old friend in years. “How is your wife?” the man asked.

I remember that random Sunday in the fall, somewhere in 1987. Dillan was just a baby. It was the first, or maybe the second, year car seats for babies became a thing. He wasn’t walking yet, at any rate. We had been to my in-law's house that day, a lazy, enjoyable family time. It had gotten dark on our way home. We had a dog in the backyard, and I was anxious to see him, feed him. Our bedroom in this tiny first house had a door to the outside you could enter from the carport. That’s the one we used as a daily entrance/exit. I had Dillan on my left hip in order to turn the key with my right hand and use my alternate hip to bump the door open, a classic mom move. The air smelled funny, as I recall. I saw many things all at once, though none of them made sense. The curtains were blowing. I had left a window up. But, the window opening was pitch black. Where was the window screen? Why were my underwear on the floor? Where was the lovely console television we’d purchased from the rent-to-own store? It wasn’t until I heard my husband’s voice that I snapped into reality. “We’ve been robbed. Get back into the car, now. He could still be inside.” One drive to the police station later, I sat at the desk of an officer with a very tired and hungry baby, worrying about my very hungry dog, and still trying to sort out my parallel universe of feelings. Had I walked in on a burglary in process? Or, was there another Dina in a world that existed 15 minutes behind the one I currently occupied who’d met a much different fate?

For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, visit ChristmasatGaylordTexan. com.

The Forney Education Foundation will host its 5th Annual Antlers and Tutus Fun Run on December 9th at 8:00 AM in Gateway at Willett Elementary. This event will include a 1-mile fun run and timed 5K with 5K runners eligible for placement medals of 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the following age groups, both male and female: 9 and under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+. Registrants will receive a limited edition race shirt, breakfast with Santa, and children running the 1 mile Fun Run will receive a finisher medal. Visit www.forneyisdfoundation. org for more information and to register.

Last fall, the United States saw an early and significant spike in cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, which is the leading cause of hospitalizations in all infants. Now, there are options available to help prevent RSV in babies, including a preventive antibody and an RSV vaccination during pregnancy.

What exactly is luck? Why do some people appear to be luckier than others? Is luck a question of chance, fate, or are there things you can do to improve your luck? Actually, being lucky isn’t just a matter of luck at all.

Dear Connor and Leslie Ann, Congratulations on the day of your wedding. I wish to impart some advice to you two. You should know, however, this is not my advice, necessarily. I have garnered these tidbits from several older married couples whom I interviewed, strictly for the purposes of this column.

The month of December has been home to many historical events over the years. Here’s a look at some that helped to shape the world in December 1923.

On November 1, the first pair of whooping cranes of the year were spotted flying toward the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the southwest side of San Antonio Bay. Their arrival is about 10 days later than last year, but well within the typical arrival window, according to Kevin McAbee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Whooping Crane Coordinator.

November 8, 2023

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” according to Shakespeare. But is it really true that names are unimportant?

I have entertained you for years with stories of my lack of physical prowess. We all know I cannot run. I have no hand to eye coordination. When God passed out the ability to take in multiple physical instructions and execute them simultaneously, I was, apparently, hiding behind a door. I tried playing volleyball in the 8th grade. In our group picture, you know, the one that goes into a yearbook for people to look at for the rest of their lives, everyone is casually resting back on their heels with their arms held in a way that normal humans would hold their arms. Mine, however, were unnaturally straightened to the point that the insides of my elbows look like my actual elbows. If you stare at it for a few minutes, you might believe my arms are on backwards or that I needed reconstructive surgery after some horrid car accident. Nope. It’s just that someone told me to hold my arms perfectly straight so that the ball would come into contact with my wrists first. I took that to mean “hold them like that until you die.” All this to say that you’re reading what will probably be the only column I ever write about sports. ‘Cause baby, the Texas Rangers just won the World Series. Cue fireworks.

Forney’s First Presbyterian Church is proud to introduce Mideum Chung as our new Worship Accompanist. Mideum began her service at the church in September, playing the church’s newly acquired Steinway piano (Model B, 1994). She can be heard in person at 10 am Sundays at the Presbyterian Church on FM 1641 and anytime on the church’s YouTube channel.