Where the Old Soul Embraces the Impassioned Youth!
Welcome to Confessions of a Classic Soul (COACS)! Are you constantly jamming to classic hits? Do you often find yourself binge-watching TV shows that are completely in black and white or are full of sappy comedy? Can you name more icons from decades past than you can celebrities present? Do you wrinkle your face in disgust when you hear modern music? Then you’ve landed in the right place (and no, that would not be Fantasy Island or the Twilight Zone)!
Whether this blog is a stroll down memory lane for you or a trip to uncharted territory, I hope you enjoy the variety of COACS. Let the good times roll and have a groovy time!
Nostalgia for All Ages
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In the natural progression of life, children become caregivers for their aging parents. Yet caregiving takes on many forms for friends and various family members. No two caregiving roles are the same, just as no two patients have the same diagnosis, symptoms, and living conditions.
Nurses and aides are caregivers within different facilities and environments, but today let’s focus on the families and friends of patients who do not get paid for their services. Sometimes caregiving isn’t much of a choice but an acquired role, and definitely not an easy one.
Who am I, and how do I know? When I was 17, I became a caregiver, alongside my mother, for my father, who through no fault of his own, developed a spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. The long-term results were excruciating nerve pain and chronic urinary tract infections.
From someone who has witnessed too much and had to grow up at an early age, here are 10 things no one tells you about being a caregiver.
#1: You’ll Experience Self-Care Guilt
All. The. Time. Even when you’re no longer in a caregiving role. The amount of empathy and concentration you need to take care of a loved one is draining. You have to remember appointments and medicine schedules, household chores, and tend to your loved one’s physical needs, whether that be making dinner, helping them get dressed, or finding ways to relieve pain.
When you find the time to do something for yourself, even if it’s to sit down to watch a baking championship on TV, you might feel like you’re forgetting to attend to something. You might feel on edge that your loved one will need you at a moment’s notice.
#2: Becoming a Secretary
You have now been hired as a personal and medical secretary! You can add that to your resume! In all seriousness, this depends on how well your loved one can advocate for themselves. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself juggling phone calls, voicemails, booked calendars, and the like. Doctor appointments will need to be scheduled, medicine picked up from the pharmacy, and every other task in between.
Our Story: My dad passed the buck to my mom when it came to scheduling most appointments and keeping track of medicine times. In his moments of pain, he couldn’t stay on hold for too long or stay concentrated. Besides, my mom was the better communicator. Yet, she spent hours playing phone tag or waiting on hold with insurance companies. When billing departments would process a claim incorrectly, there would be my mom perched in the recliner with the phone to her ear, hoping my dad didn’t need something in the meantime.
#3: Becoming an Equipment Mechanic
Before you know it, you’ll have a drawer full of Allen wrenches! 🔧 Here’s the deal–equipment techs can only do so much, and they certainly don’t work 24/7. Sometimes it’s like taking your car to the mechanic and the noise doesn’t happen in the presence of the expert.
It can be hard to wait for replacement parts or even pay for them. Depending on the company you work with, you may have to talk to multiple people, and not all of them have years of experience in the trade. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself trying to fix the walker or chair lift in the downtime. Just be safe in your efforts!
Our Story: My father was a construction worker by trade and loved working with his hands. If a technician wasn’t coming soon enough to fix his wheelchair, guess who tried to do it himself? The one arm on his wheelchair wouldn’t work properly, and he was always tinkering with the screws to make it looser or tighter. And if he didn’t feel up to the task, I was handed the tools and commanded on how to do it! 🙃
#4: Listening to Too Many Opinions in the Room
#4 is a gentle reminder that you don’t have to accept every medical opinion as the most accurate for your loved one. With complex diagnoses, you have a right to compare notes and options. Doctors are expected to collaborate to layout the best options for patients. Sometimes there are conflicting opinions. My advice to you is to communicate with your loved one and the medical professionals. Ask questions and don’t be afraid of new consultations. You have to stick with science, but there is always a glimmer of hope.
Be aware that sometimes this also applies to family members. Family members may think they know what’s best, even if they’re not in the role you are, taking care of your loved one every day for hours.
#5: Insurance Wrangling 101
Insurance is complicated and overwhelming. It can be scary! Applying for Medicaid and Social Security Disability involves a lot of steps. As caregiver, your loved one may rely on you to do the heavy lifting in the application process. It’s mentally exhausting.
Research when you can and reach out to concierge services, if available, through the insurance plan. The more information you can gather, the more prepared you’ll feel. The to-do list may not shrink, but you deserve to have your mental burdens relieved as much as possible.
Keep records of billing statements and invoices. You may need to cross-reference these in the future. Have an insurance handbook or list of benefits to refer to as you navigate different services, treatments, and billing errors.
#6: Dirty Houses
Not much to say about dirty houses. Just know that household chores can get shoved to the backburner when all your energy is focused on caregiving. Give yourself some grace. Yes, you’ll feel guilty if you’ve got a home health nurse coming over and your kitchen table is cluttered with items and your floor hasn’t been vacuumed. Remember that your circumstances are special. You’re entitled to get some rest, even if the dishes wait an extra hour or two.
#7: The “Never Alone” Myth
Family and friends around you will argue that you’re not alone. Sometimes, though, when you need help, you don’t know who to turn to. You scroll through your contact list and come up with nothing. You feel like talking, but you don’t want to talk to anyone. You want to ask someone who might be able to help you do something, but it feels like imposing. What if they don’t even pick up?
The mind can be a lonely place, especially if you’ve got a lot on it. The weight of the responsibilities can make you feel isolated. It’s not pretty, but it’s true.
Our Story: My father had a habit of falling out of bed all the time. He hated his hospital bed mattress, and he firmly (no pun intended) believed sitting on the edge of it helped his leg pain. Until he’d fall asleep and casually roll onto the floor. Except he couldn’t feel his feet and didn’t have enough strength in his legs to pull himself onto the bed or into the wheelchair. Imagine…it’s 4am on a work day, you hear your name being called through wisps of sleepy dreams, and the next thing you know you’re moving pillows and a mattress and unplugging an electric wheelchair….who do you call at 4am? You don’t want to wake family, who would come and critique you anyway. The neighbors are also asleep. So you push, pull, and do what you can to solve the problem. Frustrations and tempers run high. There’s lots of yelling but eventually your head gets to hit the pilllow again.
#8: Social and Emotional Strain
A recap here of other things mentioned already–it’s no surprise that caregiving leads to social and emotional strain. Your social life is impacted when you can’t go to events with friends because you’re helping your loved one. Sometimes, you don’t feel like going anywhere anyway.
It’s okay to feel emotions. Each day can bring new challenges. Don’t be afraid to seek help and go to therapy if needed. Maybe you’re not alone after all…
Our Story: My dad’s pain would strike at the most inconvenient times. We’d often leave places early because of it. We spent plenty of restaurant dinners where my dad would go out and sit in the car while my mom and I would hurriedly eat our food, not enjoying it. What was worse was when people in public would look at you like you’re crazy with a man yelling in pain. Or when you’d have to park in a regular parking spot because all the handicapped spots were full, and you’ve got a man who has a wheelchair that needs to be assembled, not simply unfolded.
#9: Becoming a Hospital Afficiando
No joke, my mother has a designated “hospital bag.” When you have to take your loved one to the ER or visit them during a hospital stay, you want to have snacks, entertainment (books and word searches and such), and a list of medicines ready to go. You’ll start knowing nurses by name–and yes, they’ll know you. You’ll know the layout of each floor by heart, and you can practically be on the hospitality team because you know everything, from visiting hours to cafeteria food.
#10: Beware of Hopeless Romantics
“Hang in there! I’ll pray for you!” Really, there isn’t a whole lot else to say. Sometimes someone will even say, “I don’t know what to say.” People try to offer support, but it’s not always helpful. They mean well, honest they do. But if you ever feel like you want to throw an IV pole at the fifth person in a row who tells you to “hang in there,” just know that it’s okay to hate that response. Stay polite and definitely do “hang in there,” but allow yourself to be irritated by it, if you’d like.
“Hang in There”
On a recent episode of Brilliant Minds, a show on NBC about doctors who treat mental and neurological conditions, a main character, psychiatrist Dr. Pierce, tells a patient that 48 million people suffer the effects of being a caregiver because there is currently a caretaking crisis in our nation.
That doesn’t mean everyone should place their loved one in an assisted living facility. It simply means that help is available. Maybe a home health agency would support your situation. Maybe, like in my dad’s case, it wouldn’t solve much. The point is, there are options, and there are people to consult. Being a caregiver is not simple and straightforward by any means. Your feelings are valid. Don’t push them down. Speak your mind and advocate for the care you and your loved one desperately need!
Roses are red, violets are blue, and poetry does not have a vendetta against you! April is national poetry month, so what better time to debunk a few myths about poetry? You either love poetry or you’re intimidated by it. Perhaps you can’t fully appreciate poetry until you learn more about it.
Let’s take a look at common misconceptions about one of the most complicated yet beautiful art forms.
Myth #1: Poetry Doesn’t Make Sense
“I have no idea what they’re talking about!” is the most common complaint I’ve heard from readers who try to work their way through a poem. True, poetry can be hard to understand, but there is a hidden beauty in the fact that poetry can be subjective.
In literary criticism, critics over the years have argued over whether or not readers should take a text at face value or try to enter the author’s mind. For example, the Formalism/Structuralism critical movement emphasized that a story or poem’s meaning had nothing to do with historical context. Artfulness is more important than message, so flowery language is valued over what the poem is trying to say. According to these critics, if the poet says “the sky is on fire,” we’re not supposed to think about the how or why. We’re supposed to just go with it because it’s in the poem. Don’t worry about what the poet was thinking. Just stick to the words and the form of the poem.
Meanwhile, literary critics like Shklovsky believed that basic, simple language led readers to zone out while reading. For instance, “the sun is shining” isn’t going to move readers, but saying “a gleaming ball of joy peeked out from the cotton candy clouds” stirs the imagination and gets readers involved. Here, meaning is important.
So are we supposed to understand poetry, or what? Yes and no! Poetry is meant to be heard and read aloud more than read silently. Poetry provides an experience for listeners and readers alike. Sometimes poets are very direct with their messages and sometimes you wonder if random words were just thrown on a page. Either way, our job as readers and listeners is to be present and experience the poem. We don’t need to understand it all, and we can all have a different interpretation. In some cases, the poet doesn’t want to just convey one meaning, so the words may seem cryptic. It’s also important to understand that sometimes poets write in a “stream of consciousness” mode where they literally put what pops in their head onto paper. As a result, the poem may seem wild and jumbled. If a poet chooses not to revise the poem, then their intent may be for readers to experience the poem just as it came to mind.
If you read a poem and think, “huh?”, then reread. Sometimes it takes a little rereading to get a better sense of the message. If you’re still confused, focus on what words stand out to you. How might the poem connect to the title? Do you notice any imagery? What does the poem remind you of? What images come to mind? All of these are valid questions to ask yourself while experiencing poetry. Often times there is no right or wrong answer in regards to meaning. You are invited to make the poem personal to you and interpret it as you will. Appreciate the poem by approaching it just as you are.
Did you know that there is no exact definition of a poem? Many poets even write poems called Ars Poetica, which means “poem about poetry” that seek to uncover what makes poetry, well, poetry.
Is a poem written in verses/stanzas instead of full-sentence paragraphs? Yes!
Do poets still use punctuation like commas, periods, question marks, dashes, and exclamation marks? Yes!
Is repetition common in poetry? Yes!
Does poetry use alliteration (letters starting with the same letter) and metaphors? Yes!
Does all poetry have to rhyme? NO!
Wouldn’t you get annoyed if every poem you read sounded like a Dr. Seuss book or a nursery rhyme? Rhyme is still very popular in poetry, especially with different lines rhyming with each other. Rhyming words can appear at the end of a line or in the middle. There are exact rhymes and near-rhymes. Rhyme does not mean a poem is cheesy, just as the absence of rhyme doesn’t make poetry any less poem-y.
Many poets today choose to write free verse poetry, which doesn’t rhyme or have a strict form. Think of good ol’ Shakespeare, who used to write numerous sonnets. Sonnets must have a certain number of syllables, 14 lines, and a pair of rhyming words in the last two lines. Free verse poets still write intriguing poetry, but they don’t cram their message into a specific box, like Shakespeare. Haikus, limmericks, and the like are all forms of poetry that have a set of rules to follow. Some poets do better with structure and others don’t.
Can free verse look and sound extra jumbled and messy? Unfortunately, yes. Sometimes it’s easy to get led astray while writing free verse because it’s like daydreaming onto paper with no guidelines. You can make up your own guidelines. For example, a free verse poem can still have some repetition. It’s just fluid in the way the words are arranged. One stanza may be longer than another, and that is perfectly okay!
Poetry is constantly changing, which can make it a harder concept for non-poets to grasp.
Myth #3: Poems are Boring
Zzzzzz….Okay, you’re not that bored! True, poems can seem boring, especially if they drone on or are 100 years old with a lot of thous, thys, and thines. Sometimes you just need to find the poetry that is right for you. You may not like a lot of traditional poetry, but you may be a music lover or a sucker for mushy greeting card verses.
Have you ever found yourself doomscrolling at night and stumble across those carousel posts where you have to slide images to read the next line of text? Some of those are poetry because the lines are broken up, almost like verses. Short verses can have characteristics of poetry. Those acrostics that spell out your name where each letter stands for a different characteristic about yourself? That’s poetry! For Christians, the Book of Psalms by King David is all poetry, as well as the Song of Songs.
Poetry can also be a tad more artsy. Black-out poetry consists of drawing over an old text to make a new design and poem. See cool examples here!
Guess what? Poetry is in motion, all around you, even if you don’t know it. Images and sounds can seem poetic. No matter how you choose to define poetry, it’s meant to help us get in touch with the beauty within. We’re to grow closer to others, ourselves, our emotions, and our humanity.
Romantic relationships aren’t always roses and chocolate, whether it’s February 14th or March 14th. Is it time to give up or time to wait patiently? This deep question is explored in two songs from different decades.
Marshall Crenshaw’s 1982 “Someday, Someway” is a champion of hope and endurance in love. On the other hand, Jerrod Niemann’s 2014 “I Can’t Give in Anymore” laments how it feels to walk away broken-hearted.
Two unappreciated songs, two different perspectives on what it means to surrender in love. It’s a classic Monthly Mixtape review! Let’s dive in!
“Someday, Someway” by Marshall Crenshaw
What’s notable is that “Someday, Someway” was always a Marshall Crenshaw song. He composed the song, which was sung by Robert Gordon, a rockabilly artist in the early ’80s. In 1982, Crenshaw recorded it for his own debut album. Overall, the song itself hasn’t changed much and has aged well.
The track is simple and repetitive, but not without profound meaning. Notice the tender yet upbeat background. Although this song has been played on Sirius XM’s “1st Wave” channel, make no mistake: this is characteristically not a New Wave song, but instead leans toward a folk or even blues vibe.
Communication is at the heart of this song. We can’t stand to see our loved ones suffer, but sometimes we find ourselves unequipped to help, especially when we don’t understand. Crenshaw’s lyrics show a tense situation where he doesn’t understand what his lover needs. He can wonder, but he has no answers.
Then enter patience. Instead of surrendering with a white flag, he surrenders to the relationship. He’s not going to leave because of miscommunication. Being a human is hard. Having emotions is hard. Being a human with unexplainable emotions…that can cause turbulence, especially without clear communication.
“Someday…Someway…” He vows to understand, not give up.
“After all you’ve done for me All I really want to do Is take the love you brought my way And give it all right back to you”
-Marshall Crenshaw
Take a moment with that verse. Just…wow! If that’s not love, what is? Words might be hard to convey right now for the lover, but he’s not going to let that break their bond. Simple, but beautiful!
One last note on this earworm, which comes from the verse that mentions the couple “taking everything from each other.” At first listen these words might sound like a giving up moment. Taking things away sounds like an instant breakup.
For Crenshaw, this is no breakup. In a relationship, a genuine couple knows everything about one another. They know wounds, insecurities, successes, all of it. After sharing life deeply, day-in and day-out, he’s not going to just leave over communication struggles.
What an admirable, inspirational love! ❤️
“I Can’t Give in Anymore” by Jerrod Niemann
Unfortunately we are shifting gears with our next song, and the ending isn’t so inspirational. Yet, this masterpiece by country singer/songwriter Jerrod Niemann presents a worthy contrast to Marshall Crenshaw.
“I Can’t Give in Anymore” is the classic broken-hearted ballad but with poetic lyrics that paint an emotional picture. The bottom line? Communication only gets you so far.
“Rolling down that same road…” Doesn’t that sound like how you feel when you’ve repeated yourself over and over but no one is listening? Right from the start we see a lull in communication.
The fact that she won’t make up her mind leaves Niemann with no choice but to walk away. Sometimes communication just can’t be fixed when both hearts aren’t committed.
“Honesty is something we both swore But honestly, I don’t know if I know you anymore…”
-Jerrod Niemann
Honesty is revealed through words and actions. Since the lover is not communicating, her lack of communication becomes the tragic action that leads to the end of the relationship.
In this song, surrender takes the form of a white flag. Niemann was ready to surrender to his love with sincerity and honesty, just like Crenshaw. When that surrender couldn’t be reciprocated, he had no choice but to save himself and walk away. As he sings, “I’ve seen the signs,” there’s no denying that he knows what’s coming. You just can’t make someone talk to you, let alone spill their heart and soul.
Poetic but gut-wrenching, Niemann’s emotion is strong from the first somber note to the last.
Communicate…or Not
Communication is key — what a cliché! Yet, it’s true. Without hard conservations, you’ll never know just how someone feels. Sure, some people struggle with saying what’s on their hearts, but this is where patience enters.
In analyzing both Crenshaw and Niemann’s songs, we find that surrender can be beautiful or painful. Perspective also matters in these situations. For Crenshaw, he sees the bigger picture. He and his lover have been through so much together that he realizes this communication slump is normal and fixable. On the other hand, although Niemann does see the big picture, he’s also able to zoom in and acknowledge that, if she can’t talk to him about day-to-day things, then they don’t stand a chance in the long run.
Will you surrender for the chance at a worthwhile love story, or will you hesitate when given the chance?
Before You Go…
Be sure to listen to and follow the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist that has all the songs we’ve featured here on the blog for our Monthly Mixtape reviews.
An eerie mood typically follows Rod Serling’s classic narrations of Twilight Zone episodes, especially when the plot zooms in on questions of morality. Many vintage TV shows feature moral lessons, and the Twilight Zone is no exception. Humanity is exposed and dissected, often leaving viewers with more questions than answers. But maybe that’s the point. Besides, old souls can’t help but seek wisdom that can unlock natural or supernatural secrets!
One particular episode of the timeless series, “Valley of the Shadow” from 1963, sheds light on moral questions about violence, trust, and compassion. If we had the very tools to save humanity and make the world a more peaceful place, would we put them to use or bury them until society is ready for them? Will humanity ever be ready?
Moral Lessons from Peaceful Valley
Synopsis
*Spoilers Ahead*
Peaceful Valley, population 981. It could have risen to 982, had journalist Philip Redfield not overstayed his welcome in the quiet little town. When he makes a pit stop for gas in the town, his dog, Rollie, jumps out of the car in pursuit of a cat. Philip quickly learns Peaceful Valley is not a normal town, as he watches a girl point a device at his dog, who then disappears! A few minutes later Rollie reappears just as quickly as he’d vanished. Now in a hurry to speed out of Dodge, Philip and Rollie take off, only to crash in what seems to be an invisible wall preventing him from escaping.
Philip finds himself stuck in town while his car gets repaired. At the hotel, he meets Ellen, who assures him that there are no vacant rooms and all of the current residents are out for the day, despite the fact no room keys are missing on the rack behind her. Philip is beyond suspicious.
Soon enough Philip is brought to the leaders of the town: Dorn, Connolly, and Evans. They sit at a rectangular table like a set of judges, Dorn being the presider. After a lot of hemming and hawing, they explain to Philip that over 100 years ago, a visitor from another planet bestowed on this little town instructions on how to use special technology to create new objects, as well as to arrange and rearrange matter. They give a demonstration of this by stabbing Connolly and then using a little remote to heal him. They have the power to take atoms from one place and transport them to another (“Beam me up, Scotty!”).
In essence, this alien gave the citizens of Peaceful Valley the power to use a machine that we would compare to a 3D printer. All they need to do is input a set of instructions and poof–an object!
Sounds perfect, until Dorn tells Philip that the residents of Peaceful Valley were instructed to not let the rest of the world know about this technology until humans stop being violent towards one another. As a result, they can’t let Philip leave the town. He knows too much.
After much argument, Philip is left with no choice but to remain confined to a house that the men give him. Sure, it’s nice and luxurious, but Philip recognizes himself as a prisoner in this forsaken town. Meanwhile, Ellen from the hotel visits him and professes her supposed love for him. Philip scoffs at her and explains that she has never seen the real world. She doesn’t know what love is since she’s lived in this prison-town all her life.
Then Philip gets an idea. He sneaks into the secret basement where the alien technology is. He 3D prints himself a handgun, grabs the book that has all of the code for this technology, and drives off with Ellen and Rollie. What Philip doesn’t know is that he was set up. Ellen claims her love wasn’t a lie, yet Dorn used her as a pawn to bring Philip back to him. Dorn is convinced that Philip is an example that proves humans are still violent. Philip could have chosen to make any object with the machine, but he didn’t think twice about making a gun. To Dorn and the town, this means humans are still violent.
This also means Philip is a danger so he must be executed. Dorn points a machine towards Philip and bids him goodbye. When we see Philip again, he’s sitting in his car at the town gas station where everything began. Peaceful Valley looks normal again. He spies Ellen from afar, but she doesn’t seem to know him.
Philip and Rollie finally drive off as if nothing ever happened.
Who Wields the Power?
Dorn and company are adamant that the alien told the town to hold onto these secret instructions until humans stop all violence. Philip points out that this technology could cure diseases and make the world a better place. This doesn’t matter to the townspeople. For them, the “no violence” part of their directions is non-negotiable.
But why should Peaceful Valley reap all the benefits of this revolutionary technology? 981 people out of billions in the world have access to technology that could literally change lives. This machine could make food and water so no one would go hungry. For Peaceful Valley, however, they have a duty to uphold their commands. What we don’t know is if there would be any repercussions for the townspeople. Will this alien come back and punish them if they let the secret technology out to the public too soon?
This question leads to an even better one: why would an alien gift the humans with this technology? The alien, even its species, would have to have some compassion for others since the assumed goal is to help humanity with the technology. Or, could it be a trap? The alien trusts Peaceful Valley, but can Peaceful Valley trust the alien?
Can we blame Philip for using the technology to make himself a gun? How many of us would do the same? Humans may have violent tendencies (as Peaceful Valley so claims), but what about emotions? Philip was in an unknown, strange environment. He felt threatened, so he planned his prison break with a self-defense weapon in mind. Humans go into fight or flight when their adrenaline hits. Maybe Philip wasn’t thinking clearly. Maybe he was. Does this give Peaceful Valley the right to use Philip as proof humanity hasn’t changed?
In Rod Serling’s social commentary, he states:
“You’ve seen them. Little towns, tucked away far from the main roads. You’ve seen them, but have you thought about them? What do the people in these places do? Why do they stay? Philip Redfield never thought about them.”
The moral lesson here has nothing to do with the fact Peaceful Valley is a little town off a main road. What matters is whether or not they have a right to withhold life-saving technology from the rest of the world. Instead of using the technology as a tool, the residents are using it as a social weapon. They’re punishing the innocent who could use this technology to survive!
Who is more morally lacking: the humans who contribute to a violent world or the humans who could save that world but choose not to because of there is violence? Which is the lesser of two evils?
Maybe Peaceful Valley should start asking themselves if their technology could facilitate an end to violence instead of hoarding it for themselves. Technology is meant to be a tool, not a buffer.
While Jesus wasn’t born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, residents of the Keystone state have developed many holiday traditions that Americans all over the country know and love.
PA Christmas celebrations are rooted in traditions that are ethnic, pagan, and Christian. Here are 10 holiday traditions, foods, and famous persons associated with the merriest time of year!
10. Famous Candy Commercial
Thank Milton Hershey for one of the most popular Christmas TV ads. The chocolate company, located in Hershey, PA, released the famous “Holiday Bells” commercial in 1989. There are no spoken words in the ad, just the chocolate kisses posing as a handbell choir, complete with a maestro (the silver-wrapped one).
During the company’s “Whimsy” marketing campaign, John Dunn wanted to capture the simplicity of the holiday season. The Hershey Company has been around for 130 years, and the chocolate kisses are the most sought-after Christmas candy. Peanut butter blossoms anyone?
9. Colorful Christmas Lists
You can’t write your Christmas letter to Santa without Crayons! Pennsylvania is the home to the Crayola company, founded in 1903 by Binney & Smith. Now the company is owned by Hallmark, but the mission to support children’s creativity and imagination remains. Maybe Santa will wear a purple suit this year. Anything is possible with Crayons!
8. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Many of the Pennsylvania Christmas traditions were brought to America when German immigrants settled in the territory. Pretzels are no exception.
Pretzels were brought to life in Italy and spread across Europe. They’ve symbolized good luck, marriage, and even the Holy Trinity! In 1861, Julius Sturgis began making pretzels in Lititz, PA. Today Pennsylvania is the U.S. pretzel capital!
What does this mean for Christmas traditions? Remember PA’s influence when you munch on chocolate-covered pretzels, especially if you received them as a gift! They’re also a staple among Christmas candy fundraisers.
7. New Year’s Pork
Thank the Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants for the pork you eat on New Year’s Day. It’s believed that pork will give you good luck in the brand new year. Why? Have you seen a pig eat food happily, stepping forward as it does so? This movement inspired the belief that we can also move forward in a new year.
Additionally, pork was a meat that could last long throughout the winter months, so Dutch settlers considered pork a delicacy.
6. Christmas Tree Villages
Ever heard the saying “putz around?” Well the word “putz” doesn’t mean lazy when it comes to PA Christmas traditions. In German, the word means “to decorate.” Some Germans, who were part of the Moravian Protestant group, would decorate their nativity scenes and the underneath of their trees with wood and paper houses and village decor. These Moravians brought this tradition to PA. If you’ve seen very old and thin houses from decades past, then you’ve seen a putz. It’s Christmas, so you may as well enhance the festive atmosphere with a creative village scene. What stories can you tell with the houses and figurines?
5. Christmas Pickle
You’ve heard of Elf on a Shelf, but a pickle?! There are several theories, but it’s believed that this is more of an American tradition than German. To gain popularity for glass-blown ornaments, especially the pickle-shaped one, Woolworth’s, a popular department store, told people the pickle was a German tradition. Thus, the tradition grew, and people today hide a glass pickle ornament on the Christmas tree for someone to find!
4. American Gingerbread Houses
Good luck getting those gingerbread walls to stick with royal icing! Historians are unsure if Germans considered gingerbread house-making an art form before or after the Grimm brothers published their 1812 fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel.” The children were lured into the witch’s trap thanks to the edible candy house sitting in the forest.
No matter the origin story, we know that the Germans brought the tradition to Pennsylvania. Today there are different flavors and structures. Don’t want a house? Built a gingerbread train! Gingerbread competitions are fierce, and bakers will construct massive buildings to create a scene.
3. No Place Like Home
For the holidays that is! Perry Como was the first crooner to sing “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays”, and he was from Pennsylvania. After all, “I met a man who lived in Tennessee, and he was headed for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie.”
2. Christmas Tree Capital of the World
“O Tannenbaum”….Yes, the Germans also brought to America their tradition of decorating a pine tree. Indiana, PA is known as the Christmas tree capital of the world because it earned that title in 1956. Many tree farms had been operating since the early 1900s. In fact, 700,000 Christmas trees were cut down from Indiana County in 1956. Way to go, PA!
1. George Bailey
Finally, many consider it a holiday tradition to watch the 1940s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. After all it’s aired every year on Christmas Eve by NBC. The main character, George Bailey, is played by actor James “Jimmy” Stewart, who was also from Indiana, PA. Stewart played in many films, including The Man Who Knew Too Much and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
From the Keystone state, we wish you a magical Christmas and a peaceful new year! 🎄
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Ghostbusters II show us just how Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s can all go awry. These classic films remind us how holidays don’t always go as planned. We love to dream and imagine how wonderful and magical the holidays can be, but how often do plans go perfectly?
Instead of getting caught up in all the frazzle and dazzle of the holiday season, here’s how you can keep your sanity!
During the holiday season, we get bombarded with a million things to do, from cooking to watching our favorite holiday movies. How do you get it all done? Plan early, but don’t crunch every number and detail. Make an outline of what you need to do and want to do. If you pencil it in hour by hour, then you’ll likely find yourself panicking when events start to shift from the amazing schedule you have overplanned. Make a broad list and cross things off each day.
Strive for simplicity! If you don’t want to host a huge complicated dinner for multiple households, then don’t! Make time for yourself and what you enjoy. If you’re not enjoying the process, don’t force it. Holidays are special for a reason, and you’re included. Don’t stress and compromise your peace of mind. Yes, it’s the season of giving, but don’t give away all of yourself!
Guess what? You can find the perfect gift for your loved one without second-guessing. Ask that special someone for 2-3 ideas of what they’d love to receive as a gift. Want to surprise them without asking? Consider their hobbies and interests. Or, find something that reminds you of them. If you’re running out of time, it’s okay to resort to edible gifts or gift cards. Gift giving is a love language, so you’ll be spreading the love no matter what!
3…2…1…PARTY TIME! Hosting a party sounds stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Ask the guests to bring a dish so you don’t have to prep a lot at the last minute. Ask them to bring a board game or a movie recommendation. Asking the guests to help you plan the party creates a less stressful experience for you and allows everyone to better bond.
Be spontaneous! Just because you can’t see a certain family member on the day of the holiday doesn’t mean you can’t visit them the following day. We tend to get so fixated on making every little detail perfect, but we know life doesn’t operate how we’d like it to. Some people spend major holidays in hospitals or nursing homes. This doesn’t mean the holidays can’t be fun; a little creativity, patience, and compassion are needed. Don’t get caught up in the perfect Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas Eve festivities you see on TV or described in a book. Make the holidays your own!
Key takeaways? 🔑 There is no perfect holiday or incorrect way to celebrate. Just enjoy it. Enjoy the gatherings. Enjoy the solitary moments. Stick to traditions, but don’t overdo it. Leave yourself breathing room for spontaneous fun!
The spookiest day of the year is upon us! But even if you’re a kid at heart, that doesn’t give you permission to trick or treat with a pumpkin bucket in your hand.
So how do you celebrate Halloween as an adult and still get all the feels and vibes of the autumn season?
Watch a Halloween Movie (or 3)
Whether it’s a thriller, jump-scare, slasher, classic, Gothic, or good ol’ cartoon, make the most of the holiday by curling up with a blanket and good horror film. Keep the lights on or hold on tight to a loved one (or don’t because you’re an adult and aren’t scared by monsters under the bed anymore).
Eerie Bakes
Watch a Halloween baking competition (thanks, Food Network) or Google a few new recipes to try. Whip up some icing with a few drops of red, orange, or black food coloring and you’re good to go. Heck, it can be a no-bake dessert. Just have fun!
Read a Chilling Tale
Dust off a few books and sit by the fireplace. Maybe it’s a classic monster tale or a modern vampire adventure. Pour a hot beverage, grab a light snack, and get reading!
Dress Up Anyway!
You don’t have to go to a Halloween party with alcohol to wear a costume. Do it for fun! Give yourself a photoshoot or go to an event that hosts a costume contest. Why let kids have all the fun?
Decorate
Posing giant skeletons in your front yard has been a growing trend, but you don’t have to follow the crowd on this one. Set out a scarecrow or something orange and purple lights. Stick a few knick knacks around your house. Get creative! And yes, you can keep it up until Thanksgiving…
Pet Fun
Dress. Up. Your. Pet. No other commentary necessary.
Candy
You might not go trick or treating, but you can always stock up on candy for yourself! The real question is: are you Team Chocolate or Team Sugary?
Men must be ruthless to survive in the western frontier. Kindness and mercy are few and far between. Go about your way and don’t get into anyone else’s business.
Except Mary Breydon is not a man, and she ends up jeopardizing other people’s business.
Famed western author Louis L’Amour is known for his vivid storytelling and wild west tales that keep readers intrigued amid the fast-paced action. A string of his novels focuses on the Sackett family, but he also wrote plenty of standalone books with other enthralling characters.
The Cherokee Trail features a female protagonist who learns to tough it out in the wild while navigating a male population who is intent on her execution.
Let’s take a look at this whirlwind novel! Yes, spoilers ahead…
The United States is in the middle of a bloody Civil War and the Overland Stage Line is expecting Major Breydon from the U.S. Calvary to come and take command at the Cherokee stagecoach station. Scant Luther wasn’t prepared for the major’s widow to show up instead.
Mary had nowhere else to turn. Her family estate was destroyed by a vigilante crew, who also killed her husband in the process. She wasn’t expecting her husband’s murderer, Jason Flandrau, to be nearby the station, let alone be running for governor.
With a quick wit and no-nonsense manner, Mary is able to get the stage station up and running thanks to the help of Peg, her daughter, Matty, an Irish immigrant, Wat, a wayward boy, and Temple Boone, a mysterious man who becomes a tremendous ally.
Atmosphere and good food are the most important qualities Mary works to instill in Cherokee station. In fact, she admits that “what she could do was to create a more restful, homelike atmosphere. On the way out from Missouri, she had noticed most of the stations were untidy, and the food was often thrown on the table.”
Meanwhile, Flandrau can’t compromise himself and personally eliminate Mary as a threat since that would ruin his shot at becoming a respected politician. Instead he sends in members of his former outlaw gang to get their hands dirty. One by one Mary and her new family outsmart each one.
When she learns that her horses have been stolen, she finally mounts her horse and travels to meet her closest neighbor, Preston Collier, who owns a wealthy ranch. Mary barges in on a gathering of noblemen and comes face to face with Sir Charles, a British officer she knew from her childhood. Sir Charles was one of many guests her father would invite to grand parties at the Harlequin Oaks estate in Virginia. A familiar face is what Mary needs, for Preston Collier instantly respects her, given her personal connection to the British officer.
As time progresses, Mary grows a united front and knows who she can trust when Flandrau decides to come for the kill. For now, all she can do is continue running an efficient station and ensuring that Peg and Wat have a proper upbringing. She learns that Wat’s parents were killed by Flandrau’s outlaws years ago. Wat is able to provide inside information on the gang while helping in Mary’s stables.
One day Wat takes Peg up the nearby mountain to explore old Native American camps. Scant Luther, who is still hellbent on getting revenge on Mary for her takeover of his stage station, is in no mood to play around. He has been camping on this mountain waiting for his opportunity to reclaim what is his. With Peg and Wat in immediate danger, Mary must decide if it’s time to finally do what she never wanted to have to do, not in the West, not in the East: kill a man. And so she shot Scant Luther to protect the children and Cherokee station.
Jason Flandrau continues his cowardly ways by sending in others to do his dirty work. He devises a plan to set up Mary. Word gets around that there is a Wells Fargo stage coming, and it holds a lot of money. There is fear that Denver Cross, the leader of Flandrau’s gang, will rob the stage when it gets to Cherokee station. So Mary and her allies prepare to defend themselves at that station. It turns out, however, that Denver Cross is misleading. Now that Collier knows that Flandrau is an enemy who cannot be allowed to seek a position in office, Collier is another threat that Flandrau must eliminate. Therefore, the stage attack is actually set to take place at Collier’s ranch while other allies are waiting with Mary at Cherokee station.
Yet again, Flandrau doesn’t realize Mary’s intelligence. In the nick of time, Mary puts two and two together. While she and her allies defend Cherokee station, Preston Collier has the U.S. Calvary and the Overland Stage Line’s division agent on his side. Between Cherokee station and Collier’s ranch, the remaining members of Denver Cross’s outlaw gang are either killed or imprisoned.
All is quiet. Jason Flandrau has double crossed everyone and now possesses the money from the Wells Fargo stage. He begins his trek to Mexico to start a new chapter of his life when he runs into a Comanche tribe. Little does he know, this tribe befriended Mary months ago. She made peace with the Native Americans and even fed their children when they were in need. In the end, they show Flandrau what happens to greedy, selfish, bloodthirsty men.
And Mary? For now she has the Cherokee station and the new family she’s built out West. She still longs to go back to the Virginia estate when the war is over. But for now, an independent woman won in the West.
One drawback to reading L’Amour’s books is the number of characters you need to remember. In the case of The Cherokee Trail, men make up the majority of the characters. They’re either obstacles or allies for Mary. How does she fight the patriarchy?
From day 1 Mary’s determination to run the station is scoffed at, especially by the man she’s firing. Drunk Scant Luther believes, “No woman can run a station on the Cherokee Trail! Why this here’s the roughest–Ma’am, you wouldn’t last two days!” (5). Mary does indeed last longer than two days!
Although Mary grew accustomed to the fancy parties her father hosted during her childhood, she has the prime advantage of having been her father’s daughter. One night Mary reflects, “He [Papa] would have been shocked to hear her say it, but had there been a son, she would never have learned how to do so many things that she now knew” (21). In other words, she became the son her father never had. His military and ranching experience was passed onto her at a young age. Without a caring father who taught his daughter what she needed to survive, Mary wouldn’t have known how to handle horses or use a whip. She is prepared!
Yes, women are stereotyped for their abilities to run a household, but these traits come in handy for Mary. Of course she could cook and clean for the stage passengers, but she also knew how to plan and organize. She even has a routine: “Each night, before going to bed, she took a small tablet and planned her work for the next day, thinking out each step that must be taken” (29). Mary knows what she’s doing!
Mark Stacy, the division agent for the Overland Line Station had his doubts about a woman running the station. He travels out one day on a stage to evaluate her progress and methods. Mary couldn’t deny she was nervous. She had heard that “He [Stacy] was prepared…to discharge her and bring in a man, almost any man” (37). It didn’t matter what kind of man. Just not a woman! He didn’t care if the person was qualified. He just didn’t believe a woman was strong enough to keep both herself and the passengers alive. Luckily, Stacy was very impressed and becomes another ally.
Mary loves reading and wants Peg and Wat to read the classics she had. She even tries to persuade Temple Boone to read. Reading leads to knowledge. For her, reading isn’t feminine. It is a necessity.
Several times throughout the plot, characters, especially Matty, mention to Mary that she and Temple Boone would make a great couple. Matty can’t help but point out that “He’s a fine figure of a man” (48). Mary is lonely, but she still misses her deceased husband. Mary has hope, but she’s not ready to fall into Temple’s arms like a damsel in distress.
Women are great at listening and observing. These feminine qualities work to Mary’s benefit. She remembers that her father told her to “Learn to see what you are looking at” (59). Here her father is talking about the ability to see a person’s true colors–to look beyond surface level. Mary has a great ability to do so. She can see deep down into men like Jason Flandrau, which makes men like him squeamish.
The cooking and cleaning? Again, Mary has that etched into her memory and routine. As the story progresses, the quality of her work only improves. She even plans to grow a garden! She knows her cooking isn’t the best, so she wants to refine her recipes and have the food hot and ready (78). Not all women can be so meticulous and keep a rifle in the corner!
In the end, Mary is valued. Mark Stacy admits that, even after the railroad is built and stages are obsolete, “We need people of vision, both men and woman. And–well, we need you” (176). At last Mary is perceived as woman who can handle the frontier and help transform it for the better.
Louis L’Amour had a knack for storytelling, and he remains one of the best selling American Western authors. If you’re looking to find yourself immersed in an action-packed tale of character-building and grit, look no further than The Cherokee Trail.
2025 has certainly been a somber year as beloved celebrities, artists, and public figures continue to pass away. Plenty of warm tributes have been flooding in in honor of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, and rightfully so! Sunny surf culture became a household vibe as a result of Brian and his iconic band.
Less than a month following Brian Wilson’s passing, the music world lost another falsetto from the ’60s era: Lou Christie, who died on June 18, 2025 following illness.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Christie earned his way to stardom with his songwriting talent and vocal range. 20 years after his popular songs “Lightnin’ Strikes”, “Two Faces Have I”, and “Rhapsody in the Rain”, Christie continued to write music and tour, even experimenting with different genres.
Although the falsettos of Frankie Valli, The Beach Boys, and the Bee Gee’s are obvious staples of the ’60s and ’70s pop scene, today we remember and honor Christie’s own legacy, which has been posthumously been praised by music peers like Frankie Avalon.
Let’s take a deep dive into a few of Christie’s tracks, which will showcase his captivating vocal range.
“Lightnin’ Strikes”
We must of course start with “Lightnin’ Strikes,” perhaps Christie’s most famous song, as it topped the charts in February 1966. One characteristic that we’ll find amongst all Christie’s songs is how he was able to sing insanely high falsettos before dipping down to impressive low notes. This characteristic enhances each song and adds touches of emotion and emphasis to build lyrical meaning.
This song plays on gender roles. In our culture, we like to assume that men are never ready to settle down with a wife and family. At the core of the song, Christie acknowledges his manhood with the lines, “You’re old enough to know the makings of a man / Listen to me, baby, it’s hard to settle down.”
Christie’s not denying that he falls prey to his one-track mind. This song is a plea for the woman he truly loves to stick around until he’s fully ready to settle down. He promises his love and devotion, but he confesses that he can’t always control himself. So if there’s a pretty girl nearby “begging to be kissed”, you can bet he’s going to make himself available and cave to his body’s desires.
Hear the background vocals say “stop” repeatedly? This repetition shows Christie’s will breaking down. He knows that he has that one girl that he’ll love forever. In the interim, he’s a victim of human nature.
So what’s with “lightnin'” and where’s the falsetto? Notice how in the verses, when he’s proclaiming his love to his forever girl, his vocal range is deep, manly? Cut to the chorus and the falsetto kicks in to show how he can no longer control himself when other women are in his presence. Just like how lightning strikes quickly and powerfully, Christie’s vocal range soars to mimic this effect.
We typically here the phrase “lightning never strikes in the same place twice.” Our song here proves this adage wrong, doesn’t it? Not if we consider that Christie is moving from girl to girl. Each girl represents a different “place” for his lustful lightning to strike!
If we go even deeper, consider that he hasn’t settled down yet, at least not by the end of the song. Lightning hasn’t struck again for him with this girl because he hasn’t decided to settle down. The question we as listeners come away with is, “will lightning ever strike again so that he and his true love will settle down?”
“Two Faces Have I”
Now we turn to a track that reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts: “Two Faces Have I.” Although the song is shorter, we get to hear a lot of Christie’s signature falsetto.
The song tells the sorrowful tale of a man who is heartbroken but has to put on a brave, happy face when in public. He lives a lie and pretends to be happy and carefree so she doesn’t see his tears.
Overall the song’s meaning is very simple, which aligns with the style of other ’60s pop hits. The falsetto, however….WOW! We can interpret the vocalizing of the lyric “I” in several ways. Is it a happy note that he’s using to mask his sadness? Does the high pitch of the note symbolize his heartbreak and how hurt he feels inside? Is it a bit of both?
“I’m Gonna Make You Mine” is a sweet song! Unless you compare it to songs like George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set On You,” which can upset feminists because it focuses on a man who is determined to win over an unwilling girl. Do you see the song as innocent or does it feel like Christie’s persona here is trying to force himself on a girl who doesn’t want him?
Okay! We’re not going to tumble down that rabbit hole today because here at COACS, this song is optimistic! What girl wouldn’t want a guy who dedicates himself to winning her over? Just maybe not every minute of every day, as he implies.
Christie’s falsetto, as we’ve seen so far, frequently shows up in the chorus of his songs. It again does that here when he repeats the “make you mine” lyrics. In doing so, he emphasizes how determined he is to get the girl. We hear his manly charm in the versus and his perseverance in the chorus.
“Rhapsody in the Rain”
A number 16 hit for Lou Christie, “Rhapsody in the Rain” is another of his famous songs, although a bit raunchy for its time. To understand the full meaning, first we have to make sure we can define the word “rhapsody.”
Rhapsody: a poem or unstructured piece of music that evokes powerful, enthusiastic feelings
-adapted from Cambridge dictionary
Quite bluntly, this song is about sex, but it is poetically disguised, just as a rhapsody would be. He made love in the backseat of a car and now the girl doesn’t want to see him anymore. That night was a rhapsody of rapture. Today is a “lonely rhapsody” where he is feeling desperation. This desperation is enthusiastic enough to lead him to sit outside the girl’s door and wait for her.
Now, the line, “the angels crying, ‘don’t stop,'” seems rather odd at first. Where did the angels come from? Remember this is a rhapsody IN THE RAIN! The angels from heaven are calling from the sky (angels, heaven, rhapsody, rapture, enthusiasm…seeing the connection?), persuading Christie to keep trying to reunite with the girl.
Shall we talk falsetto? Yes, it pops up in the chorus again. Christie’s insane vocal range mirrors the elation of the rhapsody he’s referencing. He’s in the moment, remembering the joy he experienced and mustering up the enthusiasm and courage to win his love back.
Finally, this wouldn’t be a COACS Monthly Mixtape review if we didn’t throw in a song that didn’t quite reach the Top 10. We’ll end our Lou Christie showcase with “The Gypsy Cried.”
Guess what? We get falsetto in the opening lines! Christie begins by lamenting about the trouble he had with his love, and the high vocals show his distress. Trying to find answers, he goes to see a gypsy who will read his fortune and tell him whether or not he has a future with his love. If you’re listening along with the video above, please stop at the 0.23 second mark. Did you get a chill when he descended on the notes in “said?” (we talk about three-descending note patterns a lot on COACS).
The vocal range on this song flip-flop from what we expect from Christie, as he sings in his normal range when he gets to the chorus. Perhaps the point of the falsetto is to highlight his sad desperation and the fact that the gypsy didn’t just “tell” him his fortune. She didn’t just “read” it or “state” it. She cried. His regular range makes it sound like he’s talking with the gypsy. When his questions get answered, the emotions heighten.
At the 1:01 mark in the song, notice how Christie leaves very small pauses in between the syllables of “cried.” In music notation, these are called staccato notes because they’re separated with tiny breaks in between. This effect mimics the gypsy’s crying.
Unfortunately, Christie hears the heartbreaking news that he won’t be seeing wedding bells anytime soon. The falsetto continues to deliver emotional punches throughout.
Lou’s Legacy
Alongside his great songwriting skills, Lou Christie’s secret weapon was his incredible falsetto. His discography includes covers of other famous ’60s songs. From Mo-Town covers to a serious-sounding rendition of “Teenager in Love,” Christie was a vocal force to be reckoned with. His voice crossed genres and cultures. You can even find a cover of Diana Ross!
Lou Christie’s music will be fondly remembered, and his falsetto will continue to impress generations of music lovers past, present, and future.
Before You Go…
Be sure to check out other songs that have been reviewed on Confessions of a Classic Soul (COACS)!
Running out of time to bake Easter basket-worthy cookies? Look no further! This classic recipe features a simple twist and can be customized.
Start by making a basic peanut butter cookie dough. You can make it from scratch, if you prefer, or simply use a ready-to-go pouch. If you really find yourself in a bind, you can add 1/2 cup of peanut butter to a sugar cookie dough mix.
Roll your dough into 1-inch round balls. Instead of rolling them in colored sugar, we’re going to use coconut. Be careful because longer strands may not want to stick to the dough at first. You may have to reshape the dough as you press in the coconut.
Want to make your coconut an Easter color? Pour coconut into a bowl and add food coloring. Then, mix vigorously until all the coconut is dyed. I used green to resemble a bird’s nest, although I will admit it looks a little like lettuce!
Additionally, you can also dye your dough green or even add a little cocoa powder if you truly want a “nest” effect. In lieu of coconut, you could roll the dough in crushed pretzel bits to resemble twigs in a nest.
Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes at 350-degrees. Don’t flatten them before baking.
While waiting for the cookies to bake, unwrap your chocolate candies or prep chocolate chips. I ran out of candy, so I substituted white chocolate chips to look like eggs. Small chocolate eggs, though, would add a cute touch to the cookies!
Once the cookies are baked, gently press the candy/chocolate chips into the cookie. Let the cookies cool, and then vóila! You have a simple treat for your Easter baskets or dinner guests.
Looking to further customize? Add nuts or use crunchy peanut butter so your cookie tastes like a certain name brand candy bar with coconut and almonds! 😉
Confessions of a Classic Soul 