Between Wednesdays in Champion, the days have gone from sunny, bright and warm all the way to chilly, dank and drear—from dry to a little less dry. Yard dogs are worn out from barking at the trucks and side-by-sides wearing out the country lanes in pursuit of deer. The harvest seems to have gone well. A great deal of generosity shows up during deer season, as hunters share their harvest with neighbors and with the community at large through area processors. The deer that decimated various gardens had a healthy diet that makes them tasty on gardener’s tables. Most Wednesdays find a little music, some interesting reminiscing, some outright fabrications, some genealogy and laughter around the old wood stove. Some of that kind of thing happens on other days as well.

Cheerful givers have been contributing to the “Jeff Jar” at Jean’s Healthway, in support of the Barry family, declining to take the change from their purchases. The Peace Valley Poultry folks from West Plains shared a bunch of their wonderful free range chickens and others are finding creative ways to help the family through the difficulties arising from the accident that occurred on November 8th. It feels good to be part of a community that comes together to meet the needs of a valued member.

Champion granddaughter Luxe Krider was born December 2, 2014. She is Teagan’s little sister. Captain Whetstone, David Richardson, was also born on December 2nd, but quite a few years previous. Miss Lorelai Day celebrates her big day on the 3rd. Wade will likely sing to her. We remember Lonnie Krider and his wonderful music on his birthday December 4th. The Hub’s lovely Ms. Spivey shares her birthday on the 5th with Skyline seventh grader Michael Hall and with Levi Crownover, a kindergarten student at Skyline. Dawn Henson, Champion by marriage, down in Houston, Texas, parties big on the 5th. Happy birthday to all of you.

A computer virus slowed things down for some Old Champions. That, combined with an excruciatingly slow internet, gave them time to catch up on some of the neglected projects that have been lingering for a while. If nothing else, it rekindled the notion of balance. It helps to remember the time when no one had a computer. It was also a great help to get connected with Josh Abernathy at PC Express. Some folks of a certain age now consider themselves ‘analog people in a digital world.’ We are grateful to have Josh help us navigate it. We will be delighted when the White River Connect folks connect us, maybe after the first of the year.

Neighbors living just down the road from one another may not have their paths cross very often. It is a rare and enjoyable occasion when they meet at the Historic Emporium at the end of the pavement on Fox Creek or sometimes in town at the grocery store. Such a happy meeting on Monday added to the joy of the Thanksgiving holiday as they caught up with each other’s news and shared their plans for feasting with family and friends. They agreed that they all have much to be thankful for. Twenty wild turkeys spent Thanksgiving morning browsing big open fields along Cold Springs Road, taking their time on a beautiful day. Phone calls took the place of warm hugs for some and some chose to say their blessings over leftovers with a thought toward the unknown numbers of people here and elsewhere in dire straits, hungry and displaced in these turbulent times. We mix gratitude for our own good fortune with hope for an easing of the world’s suffering. We remember Rosalynn Carter and all the good work she did just because she thought helping each other is what people are supposed to do. She was a Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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