About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2025)
16 FLAGPOLE.COM ■ DECEMBER 24, 2025 & DECEMBER 31, 2025 slackpole continued from p. 15 After the last flight, I promised myself there would be no more blame—nor bitterness—for my having left home in the first place. Instead, I decided I would forgive him. I wasn’t quite there, not yet. I needed more time. But I was determined. I knew that in order to start my life over, and to find peace, I had to forgive him. Someday. I promise. Someday, I will. Cajun Christmas Possum By Tony Paramore It was the evening of Dec. 24, and as the sun set a little possum was just waking up and decided to see what the humans were doing. He saw bright lights in the yard and decorations everywhere. As the door opened he heard music, talking and laughter spill out. That sounds fun, he thought, and snuck in the house. There were people every where, and he almost got stepped on. Finally he found safety in a corner of the room and looked around. There was a tree lit up with lots of presents around it. The kids were shaking the presents and guessing what was inside. People were eating all kinds of yummy food, and everyone looked like they were having a great time. Little Possum wanted to join in the fun, but the noise of music and laughter was giving him a headache and the bright lights hurt his eyes so he escaped back to the woods. Little Possum’s heart was racing, but he was fascinated by what he had seen and vowed to return later. The lights outside were off, but the tree inside was still lit up. The house smelled so good, and he found lots of delicious crumbs. Then he heard a sudden racket on the roof and a crash in the fireplace. He dropped to the floor and played dead. A man in a red suit with white trim and a belly that looked like jelly came out of the fireplace. He began putting toys under the tree and filling the stockings with candy. He then helped himself to some cookies and milk and read the note sitting beside them. As he headed back to the chim ney, he saw the Little Possum. The man whispered, “Little Possum you need to get out of here. Go back to the woods and have a Merry Christmas!” Little Possum did as he was told, but only after eating the cookie crumbs the man in the red suit had dropped. Little Possum was so fascinated by all he had seen and wondered why the man had left all the toys and candy. Before the sun rose he saw lights coming on in the house and decided to see what was happening. As he approached the house he heard the children shriek and yell as they played with their toys and ate their candy. As he rambled home in the early morning light he reflected on all the incredible things he had seen, but also on how scary it had been. He pondered how he could visit the house without the noise and light and danger. Finally he had an idea. The next year on Dec. 23 Little Possum crept over to the house. The family was relaxing around the tree reading and playing board games. This was so much better. He could enjoy the holiday without all the noise and confusion. He remembered how happy everyone was to get the presents from the man in the red suit, so Little Possum left presents, too. He returns every year on Dec. 23 to bring a present and enjoy the holiday spirit in the home. That is why every Christmas Eve Eve we each get to open one present in honor of the Little Possum who became the Cajun Christ mas Possum! Recipes By Ellie Riddell With December officially here and Girl Scout cookie season right around the corner, I am sharing two Girl Scout Cookie inspired recipes perfect for the chilly weather and upcoming holidays. Thin Mint-Inspired Hot Chocolate A minty, warm cup of holiday cheer. Perfect for sipping by the fire or cozying up on the couch. Ingredients: 1 serving hot chocolate mix % cup peppermint syrup 1 peppermint candy cane Directions: Prepare your hot chocolate according to the package. Pour into your favorite mug. Stir in the peppermint syrup while it’s hot. Finish it off with a candy cane... and if you happen to have Thin Mints nearby, crumble a couple on top for the full effect. Adventurefuls Caramel Brownie Jar Layers on layers of chocolate, caramel and cookie good ness. This one looks impressive, tastes even better and makes a fun dessert for guests. Brownie Levels Ingredients: Fudge brownie mix Fudge brownie mix ingredients (on package) Whipped Cream Cheese Custard Levels Ingredients: 8 oz. cream cheese 1 cup sugar 8 oz. tub of whipped topping Cookie Level Ingredients: 8 Adventurefuls, finely chopped Milk chocolate frosting Topping Level Ingredients: 6 Adventurefuls on Chocolate salted caramel sauce % cup pecans, chopped (optional) Equipment: 9x13 baking pan 7 mason jars (8 oz.) or tall glasses (8 oz.) 2 medium mixing bowls Small plate Spatula Piping bag Hand mixer Round cookie cutters (optional) Directions: Prepare for layering: Prepare brownie mix as directed package. Bake brownie mix in a 9x13 baking pan and set aside. To make the custard, combine cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl. Use hand mixer to blend until smooth. Add whipped topping and blend until smooth. Place custard in piping bag, set aside. Sweeten the jar: Turn mason jars or tall cups upside down and rotate the rim in the chocolate frosting. Place finely chopped cookies on a separate plate. Turn jars upside down and rotate the frosted rim in the finely chopped Adventurefuls to coat all of the frosting. Lightly pat to make sure the crumbs stick. Shake off excess crumbs. Turn jars right side up and drizzle caramel sauce in the bottom of the jar. Build the jar: Using the additional matching jar as a cookie cutter, cut out 12 jar-sized circles of brownie. Place one circle at the bottom of each jar. Use a piping bag to add a layer of custard over the brownie level. Repeat brownie and custard layers for each jar. Top it off: Drizzle the top layer with caramel sauce. Gar nish with Adventurefuls. Add chopped pecans if desired. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Enjoy! Relax: Nothing is Under Control By Kathryn Kyker The exercise studio had a prompt on the white board, asking members to share: “What saying, quote, or mantra, helps you in difficult times?” Wanting to be a good community member, I wrote a saying that I find comforting—“Relax: nothing is under control.” (author unknown). I stepped back to admire my work. A woman standing behind me smiled as she began to read what I’d written. But as she finished reading, her smile was gone. She looked horrified. I had failed to read the room. I’d been living in a bubble. My bubble is full of liberal thinkers, often with a Bud dhist bent. They are kind people with a fierce courage. They know that the only things fully under their control are their PAIN & WONDER VOTED AN ATHENS' FAVORITE TATTOO STUDIO 2011-2020 Respiratory Viruses are HERE... Are you up to date? 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