Celebration Magazine Blog
#CelebratingLifeAfter60

by Cynthia Houck Christmas during my early childhood was magical. Christmas Day started with Mass. After church, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor’s to celebrate with them and Mom’s two sisters and their families. Breakfast was ham and eggs with two kinds of homemade bread, plain and raisin, as well as several kinds of pie and two cakes Grandma made from scratch every Christmas. My favorite was her “Bride’s Cake.” It was a pound cake made in a tube pan and covered with

by Mary Frances Hansen One of my very favorite quotes is by Mark Twain...“Age is mind over matter; if you don't mind it doesn't matter.” As we age, unfortunately, our parts start wearing out just like an old car! We can't do anything about the normal aging process that takes place in our bodies as we age, but we can do something about our attitudes to slow it down. Why not have a positive attitude about aging instead of a negative one? As we grow older, we can still rema

by J Rick Brown The other day I read that many older adults are getting tattoos. Some stated they got one because it was on their “bucket list” and others said their tattoos were to remember special people or expressed who they were. I mentioned the article to My Bride, and then asked, “What would you think about me getting a tattoo?” My Bride started laughing, and at first, I thought it was something she was watching on TV, then I realized the TV was not on. “Why would yo

by Judy Allen, Denton County Master Gardener Association Gardening can be a wonderful activity for people of all ages. In addition to enjoying the fruits of your labor, gardening offers many opportunities to exercise different muscle groups, get some daily vitamin D from the sunshine, pass on knowledge to children, and make new friends who share common interests. Quality tools and supplies are always a thoughtful gift. For beginning or experienced gardeners, a raised bed gard

by Pam Hakala This is the story of my great-grandfather, William Atkinson, a man whose life was marked by unanswered questions and a transatlantic journey that forever changed the course of our family. My dad researched our Atkinson family history, beginning with his grandfather, William. After my dad passed I took over where he left off. With so many unanswered questions, I reached out to the North East Lincolnshire Council Archives in Grimsby, England. I was transferred t

by Shanon Weaver Every December, as the first tinsel glints under fluorescent lights, those familiar notes crackle through the speakers: a guitar riff, a saxophone squawk, and Brenda Lee’s voice—warm and wild—promising we’re about to start rockin’ around the Christmas tree. It’s the moment the season finally loosens its tie. In the late ‘50s and early ’60s, Christmas music stopped behaving. Up to that point it was all choirs and crooners—Bing Crosby dreaming of a white Christ

by Dr. Brian Nwannunu, Orthopedic Surgeon As we welcome a new year, it’s the perfect time to take steps—literally—toward better health and mobility. Whether it’s keeping up with grandkids, traveling, or simply enjoying a walk around the neighborhood, strong bones and pain-free joints are key to maintaining an active, independent lifestyle. Keep Your Bones Strong Bone health begins with the basics: nutrition, movement, and awareness. Be sure you’re getting enough calcium and v

by Dan Price The holidays are in full bloom, with images of snowy winters and sleigh rides appearing on social media, reminding us Texans that shorts are not the norm for holiday weather wear. But I always get excited for the holidays and the upcoming new year. What new adventures will I have? What opportunities will come? And what stories will I have to tell from those moments in time? Case in point! Not a Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa or even New Year's Eve-related story, but

by Pat Rodgers Let’s take a look back at childhood memories of Christmas and the traditions that defined Christmas around the late 19th century. The Christmas we celebrate today seems like a timeless weaving of customs and familiar mix of carols, cards, presents, trees, and multiplicities of Santas. How did children celebrate Christmas in 19th century rural America. The year is 1891 and the small town of McKinney prepares for Christmas. Local newspaper, The Democrat, reports

by Wayne Jordan I had moose for lunch today. Not mousse, but moose. It did not taste like chicken. We were docked in Helsinki, Finland. I got off the ship because the sun was shining and the ground was firm. After a few days onboard, cabin fever sets in, even though the ship is the length of three football fields and ten stories high. When my feet hit the ground, I was confused. What day is it? What city is this? When working on a cruise ship, there are no days off to bookend

by Coy's Kitchen Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two - the ball drops and Dick Clark welcomes in the New Year wishing us a good night. Silly hats, champagne in hand, noise makers tooting and confetti floating in the air - Shouting HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we kiss our significant other, we begin to wrap our arms around each other and begin singing or humming a song no one really knows. “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind….” Well, who knew this was

by Katie Butler Johnson We’re on the cusp of 2026! Now’s the time to make sure all your important appointments and activities are inked in on your 2026 calendar. And, while you’re at it, how about carving out “down” time scattered over the year just to allow for something that might spontaneously pop up? In the summer of 1990, Husband and I did just that. We set aside two weeks and let our whims direct where we went and dictate what we did. While our youngest was at summer c

By Dave Friant An enjoyable beginning to bundle up weather in North Texas. Still another occasion when interacting with a bright and still on top of his game octogenarian moves the needle. Toss another log in the fireplace and hunker down in that temporarily moved for Christmas season form-fitting recliner. Discard the dynamics of the Evelyn Wood speed reading course to get a sound glimpse of a gentleman who continues to maximize the positives in life. George Padilla w

by Kim Marvel My wife and I followed a familiar Christmas tradition when our two boys were young. We typically travelled to the homes of our families of origin, splitting our holiday vacation time between our two sets of parents. Our sons, indeed all of us, enjoyed visiting grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides of the family. Those special visits were filled with gift exchanges, games, scrumptious meals, lots of smiles and laughter. We wouldn’t change anyth

by Phyllis Jenkins When I reflect on my childhood memories of Christmas, I immediately think of that cold, crisp Christmas morning when my sister and I woke in the wee hours of the morning and ran to the living room to find shiny new bicycles with a big red bow on them. My wish had come true. The bicycle was exactly like the picture I had seen in the Sears and Roebuck catalog. I looked at the picture every day and daydreamed of riding it up and down my neighborhood street. Fi

by Jill Rumbley-Beam Wow! Where has this year gone? It’s Christmas and there are a lot of things that happen at Christmas!! Parties. I love parties. I have many party memories but my most favorite memory and not such a good one is when I was entertaining at a big party for residents at a high rise in Oak Cliff, Cliff Towers. Those of you from Oak Cliff may remember this place. It’s still there but has a different name. It’s located right near Stevens Golf Course. Well, I was

by Shanon Weaver For David and Connie Eldred of Plano, Christmas isn’t just a holiday—it’s a way of life. What started with a beard and a sixty-nine-dollar Santa suit has grown into a shared adventure that fills their December calendar with laughter, stories, and purpose. David grew up in Red Cloud, Nebraska, where the holidays glowed a little brighter. “They turned on the Christmas lights the night after Thanksgiving,” he remembers, “just strings of colored bulbs between the

by Nelsie Petersen It was the holiday season of 1996. My daughters were busy with their own activities, and I faced being alone on Christmas Day. Having been widowed for a number of years, I finally made the leap and placed an advertisement in the Green Sheet: “Husband Wanted.” It didn’t actually say that, but that’s what it meant! Don Petersen, who had recently been widowed and was tired of living in a large house alone with his late wife's cat, responded to my ad. On T

by John Vance Bandleader John Thompson blends his passion for music with his love of service work “Suzi, we’ll need to move your...

My Mary Frances Hansen A person's legacy is the memory someone leaves behind in others and has an impact that remains after they are long...