Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 16, NOVEMBER 29, 2010, THE ISLANDER
ALK
Finding thanks in
strange places
As upset as I was about Alabama’s
one point loss to Auburn on Friday, my
weekend turned around with Georgia's
last minute win over in-state rival
Georgia Tech on Saturday and the
Atlanta Falcons' major Sunday after
noon last minute win over the mighty
Green Bay Packers.
But, Pam said, “Not another football
column this week.”
She said I had to write about Thanks
giving.
What a bully. Right?
Growing up in the Permar house,
Thanksgiving was always, always a
family affair.
And since the Permar family was
small, it was always just the five of us,
until my mother's mother came to live
with us in the late 1960s and made it
six. My other three grandparents were
gone before I was bom.
My mother only had one brother,
Uncle Bill, but since he lived in San
Rafael, California just across the bay
from San Francisco, we only saw him a
few times on rare trips east. He and my
aunt never joined us for Thanksgiving
dinners.
Likewise, my father only had one sis
ter from whom, sadly, he was estranged.
She didn't come to his funeral, so it's
not surprising we never got together
with them at holidays.
After my father died in July of 1987,
my mother started inviting a few people
over for Thanksgiving dinner to round
out the conversation and make things
more festive.
It was usually people who didn't
have family around to celebrate with
or my friends who just wanted to eat
twice.
At some point we started going up to
Atlanta and Watkinsville to spend holi
days with Pam and Charles and Andy,
Debbie, Scott and Steven.
After Pam and Charles moved back
here in 1996, their Dover Bluff Rd.
home became Thanksgiving central
and the tradition of inviting people to
dinner who couldn't get home to their
families or vice versa continued.
Over the years Permar Thanksgiv
ings became get togethers for all sorts
of families and friends.
This Thanksgiving Pam and I were
invited to a friend's house who hosted
about 15 to 20 people. Some I knew,
some I didn't, but it was a wonderful
time filled with delicious food and good
conversation.... except for one minor
political disagreement between me and
a friend. Although we did reel it in
before it came to blows or frightened
the children.
It was the first time that I can
remember not having Thanksgiving
dinner at my parents' or sister's house,
so I do want to offer a heartfelt thank
you to our hostess for providing a won
derful evening.
As thankful as I am for my small
family, all my wonderful friends and
Matthew J. Permar
Publisher
The Islander EDITORIAL
the many good things in my fife, includ
ing many years of memorable Thanks
givings, I have to admit this year I've
got something extra for which to be
thankful.
Facebook®.
Yeah, Facebook®, the so called
"social network."
A friend and business expert con
vinced me that being on Facebook®
had potential business benefits, so I
signed up, albeit it rather reluctantly.
Facebook has proved somewhat use
ful in connection to my job but not a life
changer, although I know one reporter
who uses it rather regularly to gather
input and ideas for articles and stories.
But for the most part it seems to
be good only for idle chit chat. It's dif
ficult at times for me to not respond to
posts with sarcastic comments. I've also
learned not to get involved in political
discussions... people tend to quickly
become insulting if you challenge them,
regardless of your logic.
As far as the 'friend request' thing
on Facebook®, I haven't been terribly
impressed with that either.
A very good friend with whom I
lifeguarded and lived back in the mid-
1970s contacted me through Facebook®
and then disappeared a short time
later. I don't think he 'unfriended' me
specifically because remembering him
from years ago, I think he just decided
Facebook® wasn't for him.
Another time an old girlfriend sent
me a 'friend request,' which I accepted
though I thought it odd to hear from
her after all these years, her being mar
ried and with a family and all.
Anyway, I never heard back from
her.
But then, about a month ago I got a
'friend request' from Ellen Weaver.
Back in the 1970s Ellen and I were
best friends. I mean carpool-to-Bmns-
wick-Junior-College-everyday-friends,
hangout-all-the-time-friends, talk-
about-everything, including our crum
my love lives, friends; we were buddies
and close to inseparable.
But sometime in the late 70's she
went to the University of Georgia and
then moved to Atlanta and I moved
to Florida and we lost track of each
other.
That is until she tracked me down
on Facebook®. After I accepted her
'friend request,' she surprised me by
following up with a message and things
clicked... just like the old days.
She lives in Cincinnati now, where
she grew up, and in a couple of weeks
she's coming to the island for a visit to
see me and all her old island friends.
And it's all directly because of Face-
book®, as strange as that is.
So this year I'm also very thankful to
be rekindling an old friendship. □
For the person who has
everything.
The gift that means
everything.
This holiday, give a wonderful, heartfelt and
practical gift - an Air Evac Lifeteam member
ship.
In a life-or-limb-threatening medical emer
gency, your loved one’s successful recovery can
depend on how much time it takes to reach
definitive care. Ai Air Evac Lifeteam air
ambulance can cut that time in half. Aid saving
those precious minutes can mean the differ
ence.
If that hard-to-buy-for person you love lives,
works or travels in rural communities, an Air
Evac Lifeteam membership is the perfect gift.
Ainiial Ar Evac Lifeteam memberships are
only: $50 for an individual, $55 per couple or
$60 for a household of three or more.
For more information call
Membership Sales Manager,
Janice Gendreau
912-403-0848
Have a safe
holiday season!
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