Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/768930
JANUARY 4-10, 2017 UCW 5 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The protracted holiday seems always seems to bring out the creative — some might even say nutty — sides of our natures, and this season seemed especially so. In the wake of the most vicious and negative presidential race of my lifetime, the winning side told everyone else to "get over it," and the losing side remained in shock and/or issued dire predictions and/or made cruel but often-clever jokes. Neither is the path to making America great — or civil — again. Then there were the holiday cards. My favorites have always been those with family photos, and now that I am receiving cards from the Precious Jewels' friends and their expanding families, I was blessed with a bumper crop. These included a picture of a sweet baby girl about six months old wearing a big Christmassy plaid bonnet to cover her little bald head. The front side of the card showed her smiling demurely, looking like a tiny angel. Flip it over, and she is bawling, eyes clenched shut and mouth wide open, apparently not so thrilled by the charming bonnet as the rest of us were. Another card featured a clever new pet owner hugging his adorable Labrador retriever puppy under the heading, "Feliz Naughty Dog." Another dog-centric card showcasing a fuzzy pup announced, "it's the most pawsome time of the year." Next favorites are the annual letters telling us — no, bragging to us — about all the places the sender's visited over the last year, awards they or their children have received, maybe even the grand new house or car they have somehow snagged. There were not so many of those this year, perhaps because some of the usual writers are now in the throes of grandchildren deluges or maybe they just got embarrassed. The newsletter I enjoyed most featured adult children moving to a third world nation with the Peace Corps to help with public health and agronomy issues — certainly not the usual card but admirable in the extreme. And on to the presents. The Dicksons gave and received the usual items — sweaters, gloves, jewelry, household items, no ties. The dogs, two new puppies since this time last year, received pork crackling, which they liked much better than balls and Frisbees. I have — or will have since it is on backorder — something that plays music, recognizes my voice and answers my questions, reads me audiobooks, controls my thermostat and promises to call an Uber when I need one. I just hope I am smart enough to work the darn thing. Since this year was a doggie Christmas for the Dicksons, I have attached a photo of a present I received from one of the Precious Jewels. You will recognize the face and hair, of course, but you may not know the purpose of this item. It comes on a roll and is, in fact, something dog walkers take outside with them just in case — perhaps the most creative and heartfelt — for someone — present I received this season. As 2016 draws to a close and the New Year unfolds, it is impossible not to think about the future. Chances are we have very different views about what is ahead. In its annual poll this time of year, the Associated Press-Times Square Alliance finds we Americans had a rough year in 2016, with only 18 percent of us saying things got better and 33 percent of us saying they got worse. Interestingly, we are hopeful about 2017, with more than half of us believing things will be better, which is more than this time last year. Said Elizabeth Flynn, an elementary teacher, "You've got to be optimistic, and I'm going to try." I understand her sentiments. All of us were bruised in 2016, and some of us are still sore. But whether it is a case of Americans' essential optimism or hope springing eternal in the human breast, we must look forward, not back. Whether politics went our way or not, the United States and North Carolina will have new leadership in a matter of days, and the transition of power will be peaceful, as it has been for more than two centuries. This is among the greatest blessings of being an American and why millions of people have come here and still do. May 2017 be a happy and healthy year for all of us. Ho, Ho and Happy, Happy! by MARGARET DICKSON OPINION MARGARET DICKSON. Columnist. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. You may not know the purpose of this item. It comes on a roll and is, in fact, something dog walkers take outside with them just in case — perhaps the most creative and heartfelt — for someone — present I received this season.