My friends and I made
up a gang called the Rotor
grade. We wore black shirts,
slicked our hair back, and
climbed into local sewers to be
initiated. This was a stupid and
smelly gang, but we were plenty
proud of ourselves for our bravery
and knew that only a few could
make it into our gang. My friends and I continually
made up different clubs, gangs, and make-believe
organizations that had a test or rite of passage as
part of the initiation.
Rites of passage have been around in every
known society marking social, cultural, religious,
and lifecycle changes. Some cultures have very
distinctive rites including quests, initiations, battles,
psychological tests, eating weird food, saying
prayers, chanting rituals, and countless rites that are
unique to that culture.
Every family should develop their own unique
rituals, part of what makes your family special.
We have a blessing book in our house in which
we celebrate important events, including holidays,
12 Bham Family June 2020
JUST FOR DADS
birthdays, and religious celebrations. Rituals help kids
realize that something has been accomplished. My
family celebrates accomplishments with Dairy Queen
treats just as my wife did when she was a child.
With this pandemic, there have been lots of
rituals postponed, cancelled, or celebrated in a
different way. Just because this has happened,
doesn’t mean it can’t be celebrated in your own
way. What memories will you make during this
time? How will your time during this pandemic
be remembered? During this time, our family has
established a ritual of a nightly long family walk
where we have talked to each other more than we
have in a long time. We are promising to continue
this even when things get back to normal. As my
high school graduation, I pray he is ready for this
transition and that he is deeply connected to his
family with fond memories of the steps he has
taken. My prayer is that you and your family are
have established over these past months.
Ward
Williams
Applause Dancewear
1629 Oxmoor Road,
Homewood
205-871-7837
Applausedancewear.net
The largest dancewear
store in the state, Applause
Dancewear asks for patience
and support during this
unprecedented time. They
have sanitized their store
and will continue to do so
between customers and at
the close of business each
day. The store’s employees
are wearing masks and ask that customers do
the same. They have placed markers to clearly
form 6 feet of distance between patrons when
their customers in a separate area of the store
to distance them. The store asks that groups
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
make appointments so
they can sit in their cars
and be brought in one
person at a time, allowing
them to be taken care
of individually. They
also ask that families
bring just one adult with
the child who needs to
purchase items from
the store. The store will
offer hand sanitizer to be
used upon entering the
store, and they are selling
and adults. Applause Dancewear is also offering
online ordering and curbside pickup. Currently,
they are open Monday through Thursday from
12 to 6 p.m., Friday 12 to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10
a.m. to 3 p.m.
/Applausedancewear.net