by Paula Gail Benson
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Punk Noir Magazine |
a blog by Paula Gail Benson
by Paula Gail Benson
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Punk Noir Magazine |
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Brenna Bunt/Getty Images/Readers Digest |
by Paula Gail Benson
by Paula Gail Benson
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Aoutrow 24-Day Advent Calendar featured on Amazon |
In the spring, celebrating twenty-five married years, Pop gave Mom a new engagement ring. She removed the original and told me. “Joe, this is for your bride.”
I said, “Keep it for me.”
We lost Mom unexpectedly. Auto accident. With Sheila beside me, I watched Mom’s remains guided into the mausoleum vault.
The holidays approached. Important little things went undone. Regretfully, I lifted the empty Advent calendar, not having the heart to fill it until I heard something rattle in drawer 24. Mom’s engagement ring for Sheila.
by Paula Gail Benson
In the 1970s, Takeshi Okawara, who managed Japan’s first KFC, began the “Kentucky for Christmas” campaign after visiting an elementary school dressed as Santa. He realized that Japan did not have established family cultural traditions for celebrating Christmas. In addition, fried chicken is similar to the popular dish of karaage, panko-breaded, deep-fried chicken or fish. Some think chicken also might have been a good substitute for turkey that was not as accessible and drier in taste. KFC offered its Japanese customers a “party barrel” which included chicken, cole slaw, and cake. Although alternatives now exist, KFC remains a holiday favorite.
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CNN Travel Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images |
by Paula Gail Benson
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Hoteiosho with good luck fan |
From: Mommy Nearest
As she grew older, Betsy Ross took in many family members and offered
them a home, including nieces, Betsy’s widowed daughter Clarissa, and Clarissa’s
five children. With Clarissa’s help, Betsy continued to work as an upholsterer
and flag-maker until she retired at the age of seventy-six and went to live
with her daughter Susanna outside Philadelphia. Despite losing her vision,
Betsy made the weekly carriage ride into Philadelphia to attend services at the
Free Quaker Meeting House. Three years before her death, Betsy was completely
blind. She spent the last years of her life with her daughter Jane in
Philadelphia.