8 • December 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC. Real Holiday Cheer


Healdsburg, CA. ~ A good friend who loves the holiday season decided she would have a party — a party with- out children.


It had been so long since my wife and I had been out, any- where, without children that it took awhile for the concept to sink in. I even heard myself saying, “With- out children,” as


if the concept had to be re- peated before my brain could absorb the notion.


After I hung up the phone it began to dawn on me what was ahead.


It didn’t matter what else might happen at this party, the fact that no little person would be clinging


by Gabriel A. Fraire ~ gafraire@comcast.net


to my leg was excitement enough. Since we don’t go out much we don’t have a list of babysitters. The few friends we have that we exchange sitting times with, were probably


going


to the same party. The neighbor girl who sometimes helped us out had the nerve to go away to college. After dozens of


calls and asking favors from strangers we finally found a sitter.


As I stood in front of my closet I felt another strange sensation. It had been so long since I actually “dressed up” I was actually going through a decision process as to what to wear. It had been so


long since I’d even had this thought process I finally had to break down and ask my daughter what I should wear. She picked out an ensemble. We were at the party less than an hour and I was trying to make small talk about non- sense of little importance to me. I laughed at myself. All I could do was think of my daughters and the quickest way to leave the adult party and get home to my girls.


If you don’t think


every day is a good day, just try missing one.


Cavett Robert


These columns are excerpts from the book Daddy I Need to Go Potty by Gabriel A. Fraire. Fraire has been a writer more than 40 years and is the current Literary Laureate of Healdsburg. He can be reached through his website: gabriel- fraire.com


Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer. Her love of flight and planes drove her to set world records in flight, includ- ing holding the distinction of being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Had she not disap- peared near Howland Island in the Pacific, she would have been the first woman to circumnavigate the globe by plane.


In China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong: Noodles are eaten in honor of a person’s birthday. The noodles are uncut and are made extra long to signify a long life.


Big River, Mendocino, CA.


Birthday candles: In 18th- century Germany, birthday candles were first placed atop birthday cakes for Kinderfest (a celebration for children). Extra candles were added to represent “upcom- ing years” and consequently, good fortune.


Weird Facts & Fun Trivia - 3


All cows are female. Male cattle are called bulls.


Dairy cows provide over 90% of the entire planet’s milk supply.


Milk delivery to homes began in 1942.


8 • December 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


It’s so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to. ~Annie Gottlier


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