Making Mem ories
Last year was wonderful. We
were fortunate to be able to
create and live a variety of
memories. For the first time,
COMMAERNTTARY
Togethe r
By John Wilson
John Wilson
our entire family, 14 people,
including six grandchildren, three sons and their beautiful and
charming wives, were able to spend time together in my
hometown of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where we gathered for a
blessed holiday celebration. Our home in the mountains is not
huge, but it seemed as though the limited and shared space
created a great atmosphere for fun and conversation.
We had our cell phones, but found that we used them less
and less each day, as we became more involved in having
conversations with each other. We had a rule, “no cell phones
during meals,” and because there were so many of us, we ate
in both the dining room and the living room. We enjoyed being
together in our home that is dear to us, yet far away from our
daily lives in Florida, New York/New Jersey, Indiana and North
Carolina. It was a retreat for all ages, and the children found
new ways to play without depending on their cell phones. It
was a perfect atmosphere for contemplation. We would strike
out on our own for walking strolls, or pile into cars and take off
for new adventures.
It was a quiet, peaceful and joyful get-together as we played
games, put a giant puzzle together of the State of Virginia, enjoyed
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a fire pit and took an exploratory trip
up to a mountaintop to see a natural
wonder, one of the five lakes used
to provide water for our little town
and surrounding community.
By walking along the country road in front of our house, we
went on a leisurely country stroll flanked by evergreens and
hardwoods that had shed their leaves for winter. It was a serene
setting in the beautiful valley formed by two towering mountains.
Visiting with relatives along the way renewed some close family
relationships that brought back precious memories of another
time, when life was less chaotic and relationships seemed to be
more important and lasting.
Given all the discord that is apparent in our country now,
I suggest everyone find the time to have conversations with
family and friends who share our lives. I urge you to step back
from day-to-day rituals and enjoy some leisure time. There is
nothing more precious than sharing time with your loved ones.
I don’t know when it will be possible for all of our family to get
together again, but we are going to try. Our youngest grandson
summed it up, saying, “This was the best Thanksgiving ever!”
And it was. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Wilson, who retired from Fox TV in 2014,
worked more than 50 years in radio and television news broadcasting.