……Christmas is all about memories. The magical ones live forever in our hearts. Unfortunately, death, tragedy and sickness observe no holiday and those memories also take up space in our memory bank emerging at unexpected moments. But time often softens the edges of the memories…
by Mark Patterson In the early 19th century, Washington Irving, who wrote such classics as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Rip Van Winkle, set his fabled pen to Christmas, with a public service in mind: to call out the use of the holiday as an…
Let there be light The holiday season should be a time for reflection. We have much to be thankful for at this timeo f year. But sometimes we forget.First of all, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous…
Magic moments occur at Christmas. Our towns are lit like stars dropped out of the sky to welcome Santa. Numerous events make memories for our youngsters who still believe and those who are just now wondering about Santa and the elves. But, we all know…
by Mark Patterson Lifelong misers going charitable overnight, bumbling, big-hearted dads striving for a Norman Rockwell Christmas, department store Santas who are actually the real sleigh-jockey…three short summaries of holiday films pushed by cable tv as “beloved” fixtures in our yuletide firmament. Sweet. My family…
….As parents, we baby boomers are maligned quite frequently. Look at the profiles even today on Facebook about our relaxed manner of raising children. I was one of those mothers who trusted in everybody to watch out for my kids. After all, why live in…
By Mark Patterson Customarily, network execs, the people who decide what tv shows to roll the dice on, offer at least perfunctory applause after viewing prospective programs for the first time. As a courtesy to the creative forces sitting nervously in the private studio- theater…
………..Like Walter Mitty, I live an exciting life in my head. I conjure up all kinds of situations and adventures mostly when I drive. Inside my head is a fantasy life that has no resemblance to my real life. …….Yet, I persist. Ever the optimist,…
By Mark Patterson I didn’t realize I’d been set up until the fourth or fifth round of “Buzztime,” a then-popular trivia game at that ubiquitous wing joint where rivers of suds wash down dry rub and burgers no thicker than parchment. Having embarked for Boardman-unquestionably…