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Page A2 The Joan De Arc Crusader / Saturday, December 24, 2005 Front Page A1 / Nostalgia A3 / Crossword A4
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” – Voltaire
Happy holidays to our dear readers
We at the Crusader have quite frankly run out of clever and/or wistful things to say about this holiday. We may have some more at a later date, but this year we have decided not even to try. So happy holidays, be safe, don't drink too much, and be sure to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." It's forty years old this year. Forty years. ______________________________________________________________________________
LETTERS
WesTown shopping memories Wow! What a trip down memory lane your Westown site has provided me. I was raised in Phoenix from the time I was 15 months old until the age of 15 years (my family moved to California in the late 70's). The house I grew up in is in the 1969 aerial photo in your views of Westown section. Looking at this picture I can trace the path that my little brother and I would take from our house to the shopping center. We loved the soda fountain that was in either the Revco or TG&Y store (can't quite remember which one), and I have wonderful memories of the fabric department in the TG&Y. I remember a large fishbowl that sat on top of the sewing pattern files, it was filled with thousands of loose buttons and I was just mesmerized by it! AJ Bayless was a friendly place, and I recall the butcher always knowing exactly what it was that my mom wanted. I remember last minute quick trips to the drive up liquor store on Sunday mornings when we found ourselves without milk for breakfast. I thought that this was the height of convenience! I remember the barber shop that my mom sent my little brother to, with me in tow, to make sure that his crew cut was short enough, and to also make sure that he used the nickel he was given to tip the barber and not to buy penny candy with. My first savings account was at the Valley National Bank and the employees made a big production out of it, I felt very special. I think that my favorite memory though was that of the bookmobile visits. That was just the coolest thing! I could just go on and on. Times sure seemed simpler back then. I loved my childhood in this neighborhood, and I feel blessed to have been brought up in a place and time that was so wholesome. Thank you for the memories. Danelle Frost
P.S. What a surprise it was to see an e-mail this evening from my brother that contained a link to your site, because, for the past two nights I have dreamt of my childhood home that was located at 3007 W. Sweetwater. I kept thinking that there must be some reason that after all of these years this place would enter my dreams. I am curious to see what my dreams will contain tonight!
The Crusader welcomes your letters at jdacrusader@aol.com
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Christmas for grown-ups Growing up on JDA Avenue, the longest 8 hours of the year, beyond all doubt, were the interval between 10:00 P.M. Christmas Eve and 6:00 A.M. Christmas Day. The anticipation of the morning events was stronger than any over-the-counter stimulant available at the time, or since, and not a wink of sleep was to be had those nights. If I ever did fall asleep, it was only to dream about staying awake in bed. Most of us generally grow out of this stage, soon finding ourselves to be young adults, eventually staying up late and assembling toys for nieces and nephews. Perhaps, with luck, we have children of our own and we are reinforced in the true joy of Christmas, which is to give rather than receive. Exhausted with planning, shopping and executing a flawless holiday, we sleep just fine. The next stage appears to be the nether-region between having small children and having grandchildren. At this point many make the grand leap of making significant donations to charity, in an effort to keep the giving spirit of Christmas alive. These people sleep the best of all, I think. I have read recently about the many people who are worried that Christmas is being taken away from us. Boycotts are threatened against those businesses that have the temerity to wish us “Happy Holidays”, rather than use the “C” word in their advertising. At a time when our government is embroiled in debate in how much torture we are allowed to perform, and to whom, and whether it is a good idea to let a branch of government spy unchecked on its citizens, I can’t believe these people can’t find something a little more serious to worry about. The only thing I can figure is that these folks haven’t gotten past stage one yet, so here’s a bit of advice from your ol’ Uncle Chuck: Celebrate the season as you wish, and allow others to do the same. Demonstrate the virtue of your holiday beliefs with charity, understanding and compassion, because the childish temper tantrums really aren’t working for you. Last but not least, find someone who needs your help, and give it to them without expecting anything in return. I guarantee you’ll sleep better. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________JDA
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It
is disconcerting to see another Christmas arriving so quickly upon the heels of
the last. Time is inclined to pass a bit more rapidly than once it did, and
summer and winter can seem almost to merge. And so here it is, the Yuletide come
yet again.
Chuck’s
Corner