Christmas may be a little bit more

What, exactly, is a Christmas movie? The definition has gone through some transmutations. Traditionalists rail against ever adding new works to this cultural canon. No Die Hard or The Nightmare Before Christmas for you! I am not a particular fan of these two; however, movies like this are a kind of prism with which many shades are noticeable. Some see joy, others feel melancholy. A Charlie Brown Christmas has endured because of this dichotomy. This is where The Holdovers is nestled in.

Ask an Angel: December 14, 2023

I’m a daughter-in-law, and this Christmas, my husband and I will be hosting his elderly parents at our home. While I’m looking forward to spending time with them and creating cherished memories, I’m also concerned about making the holidays as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for them.

Roses still bloom

On a cold day in mid-November, my husband came in from outside, his cheeks flushed with excitement. With a smile, he said, “The roses are still blooming!”

Long after the other plants in our garden faded and settled in for a winter nap, the rosebush on the southeast side of our house continued to grow and stretch toward our bedroom window so that when we awoke and pulled up the shades, the palest pink, delicate petals rested serenely with faces open wide, patiently waiting for us to begin our morning.

Reflecting on the history of harnessing sunlight

With daylight growing ever-shorter, I was gazing out the window at sunset yesterday watching the light fade, when a traffic-jam of sunlight-related thoughts collided in my brain.

The first was the memory of a powerful passage from a novel by Elie Wiesel, in which a man is waiting to execute a political prisoner who has been sentenced to die at sunset. He says you know night has arrived when you’re gazing out a window in the evening and you suddenly realize that you’re looking at your reflection in the darkening glass instead of the landscape outside.

The local radio stations barely wait 24 hours after Halloween to switch over to holiday music. It may seem incongruous to drive through streets lined with golden maple trees while hearing “Frosty the Snowman” over the speakers, but here we are. As the ghosts and cobwebs are cleared away, the bells and wreaths and candy canes immediately rush onto the scene to cram every crevice with lights, tinsel, and excess.

A guide to apps for people who hate apps

Although I am as much a slave to technology as the next guy, I don’t embrace it willingly. I never play video games. I don’t listen to music while riding my bike. I refuse to jam a white stick in my ear so I can talk to distant people as I walk.

It would be a stretch to call me a luddite, but it’s fair to say I’m luddite-adjacent.

Step 1, plan a trip… step ‘84,’ finally get to Barcelona!

You’re getting that itch to travel, so what do you do first? Most likely, step one of any travel plan is to decide where you’re going to go, and how you’ll get there, and then everything else tends to flow along. But, what if somewhere in the process everything comes off the rails and you have to make changes? It doesn’t mean your trip is a disaster even though I’ve been told about some that did go that way, but it does complicate the whole process. But even disasters sometimes provide memories that tend to last.

Going old school

Lately, Jim and I have been reviewing restaurants that cater to senior citizens. Because of this, we received a letter from one of our loyal readers recommending an “old school” favorite. With empty stomachs and pockets to match, we took our reader’s advice and decided to try Andy’s Restaurant in Crystal Lake.

Giving thanks to all that surrounds in nature

As we approach the much-loved Thanksgiving holiday, it feels like an appropriate time to give thanks to all that our landscaping, our community and nature give to us. As I write this column, I am able to view the beauty of sunshine filtering through the bright red leaves on a maple tree. This common fall sight has brightened my afternoon and brought joy. It is by our interactions with nature, that joy can be found throughout the day.

Ask an Angel: November 16, 2023

I’m writing to you as a senior who is feeling rather down around Thanksgiving this year. While the holiday season has always been a time of joy and togetherness for my family, recent changes in my life have left me feeling somewhat disconnected and melancholic. Thanksgiving used to be a time of gathering with loved ones, sharing stories, and expressing our gratitude for each other. Today, Thanksgiving looks much different as family members have moved away and gatherings have become smaller. This shift has left me feeling lonely.

Obscured histories

Some people may be really mad about what I am about to write, put off by what is considered sacred.

But as we well know, even our idols are human; nobody’s perfect. In theaters, Priscilla comes to us from writer/director Sophia Coppola, just a little over a year after Baz Luhrmann’s rapturous bedazzled send-up to the King.

Permission to cry, permission to feel, permission to rest

Tragedy is the first thing that shows up when I turn on the news, or log in to social media. The cruelty that humans can perpetrate on other humans takes my breath away. In so many ways I want to retreat into the world that I believe existed when I was a young child, where everyone was a friend and anyone would offer help if you needed it.

Besides the spectacle of war, natural disaster, and crime broadcasted on our screens, tragedy has touched my own community, too. A 17-year-old boy’s life was cut short this week, and the high school where my daughter attends has been reeling from this senseless snuffing out of a beautiful life that was just getting started.

Not losing sleep over a hero’s fall from grace

Years ago, when I taught high school English, I assigned students to write an essay about some real person they considered to be a hero, and why. I met with each student beforehand to discuss their choice, to ensure they understood the assignment and were going in the right direction.

And when a boy named Jim said his hero was Jean-Claude Van Damme, I asked him why.

Ask an Angel: November 2, 2023

My dad is a senior Veteran facing challenges in his life. Having served our country with pride and dedication, he’s now in a situation where he requires help and I’m unsure where to turn. He has some physical difficulties that are making it challenging for him to lead a comfortable and fulfilling life.

Once upon a time

Once upon a time in Crystal Lake there was a family business called Frank’s Barber, Toy, and Hobby Shop. Think about it. You could get your son a model airplane, your daughter a Barbie doll, and get a haircut all in one place. This is one stop shopping at its finest. Curiously enough, this place is no longer in business. The Giangrande family took over the location and it is now da Baffone Cucina Italiana.

Tucking your plants into bed for the winter

Tucking our children into bed used to be a treasured ritual. It included snuggling and reading a book, a bath, combing their hair, brushing their teeth and, of course, hugs, kisses, and a made-up story about something fanciful. Our wonderful little ones are now fully independent and employed adults living in three different states, so the bedtime ritual in our home, while no less important, is not nearly so treasured. Taking medication, brushing one’s teeth, and setting out clothes for the next day just doesn’t hold the same appeal.

Booking programs

To paraphrase Jane Austen, there is no greater enjoyment like reading.

Of course, she never lived to see the age of moving pictures on large screens nor the advent of cathode rays and LED.

Venturing into Vege-sorta-terianism

Last night I tried a new recipe for dinner: Vegan Sloppy Joes.

The “vegan” part of the recipe went straight out the window the moment I decided a trip to the grocery store for vegetable stock was out of the question: the beef stock in my cabinet would have to do.

This is precisely why I’ll never embrace veganism. I’m simply too lazy and don’t have the discipline required.

In memory of an unhinged Bear

Whenever someone you know passes away and their name comes up in conversation, a mental image of that person will rush to the surface of your thoughts — and often it’s one very specific image of one very singular moment, before other images come flooding into your mind’s eye.

It’s like that with me whenever I hear the name of Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus — “the most feared tackler of all time” according to the NFL Network — who passed away two weeks ago on October 5.

Not a mis-steak

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

Fifty years ago, after dating for six weeks, I asked the moron to marry me. My parents said it was a “mistake,” and made us wait a year to marry. To celebrate us proving them wrong, we decided to commemorate our 49th year anniversary with an elegant meal at St. Charles Place Steakhouse in St. Charles.

Scary tales and short stories

The last flashes of summer have given way to a chill that can only mean one thing; autumn is upon us. And as we settle into darker nights, our collective screens reflect a certain mood. Whether at home or in a theater, we seek out movies to give pause and even a slight tingle down our spine. Well, Disney Plus has just the ticket for you then.

Ask an Angel: October 19, 2023

My aging parents recently experienced a fire scare in their home, and it’s left us all concerned about their well-being. My parents are at an age where certain physical limitations might pose challenges in the event of an emergency. I want to be proactive in helping them create a safer living environment, but I’m not sure where to start or what steps to take.

Giving tree: how caring for nature can lead to real joy

My son, Christopher, graduated college in May. He lives in Tennessee, and we have been meeting virtually each Friday to discuss his job search. I can unabashedly say it is the highlight of my week. Our weekly chats give him an opportunity to let me know what he has accomplished and for me to give him feedback and ideas of where he should be focusing his efforts. The feeling that I am tangibly helping him to chart his future is very rewarding. As Elie Tahari observed “Sooner or later, you realize that real fulfillment comes only from helping others. All of the rest is just temporary.”

When the AI gods plunk you into a demographic

It can be a bit jarring to learn that you’re part of a demographic, especially if it’s one you didn’t particularly want to be part of.

Oh, sometimes we choose our demographics willingly, if unconsciously. If you watch a lot of Duck Dynasty, you’re probably glad to see ads for camouflage outdoor wear. Watch a lot of Golden Girls reruns, and you’ll find the best prices for hearing aids and hemorrhoid cream.