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Show Thursday, November 24, 2011 Oinions p The Gunnison Valley Gazette Letter to the editor.. I'm Just Saying... A GREAT EXPERIENCE We experience something really special every once in awhile. That happened to me last Friday evening when I attended the Gunnison High School play Les Miserables. I marveled at the talent of the youth in the play. All of them sang and acted so impressively. I found myself wiping away a tear or two many times during the performance, both because of the talent exhibited but also because of the storyline—which came alive with the talent of the youth. I express appreciation to all who spent countless hours preparing for this play for our benefit. I was backstage during one practice trying to help my son Alex know which scenes he was in, and noted the dedication of the youth and those helping backstage behind the scenes. My wife Marcia was in the orchestra, so I know firsthand how many hours the orchestra members practiced, both in rehearsals and home. I also thank director Mark Lyons (and his wife Anita who I noticed was always there by his side helping), Jody Allred, Patrick Summerhays and all those who helped organize this wonderful play for the rest of us to enjoy. One can't help but be comforted knowing future leaders will be coming from youth like those who participated in Les Miserables. Greg M. Rosenvall The origin of Thanksgiving foods Much of the food traditionally consumed on Thanksgiving actually originated in the Americas. Consider this information on the history of Thanksgiving menu items. • Turkey: Of all the Thanksgiving foods, turkey is the best known. Turkey was first domesticated by the Aztecs and brought to Europe, where it is also popular as a holiday food, in the 15th and 16th centuries. It may have actually been introduced independently at different times to Europe by both the Spanish and English. • Potatoes: Potatoes originated in South America, but were widely cultivated in much of the Americas before European settlement. Since being introduced to European settlers, potatoes have become the fourth most important crop consumed by humans in the world behind wheat, rice and corn. The vegetable's use is still expanding due to its nutritious nature, ease of cultivation and high yields, com- pared to other food crops. In After the great depression, the United States, almost 50 they were considered a food percent of all commercial of the poor, and consumption potato production occurs in dropped greatly. However, Idaho and Washington. they are a dietary staple in • Sweet Potatoes: Sweet many other parts of the world. potatoes are also native to Additionally, sweet pota- South America. They were cultivated in the Caribbean, the Americas, the Pacific Islands and even the Philippines before European contact. They are mostly considered a holiday food in the United States, but in the recent past, they were a dietary staple. toes (although they are commonly referred to as yams in the United States) and actual yams are two separate species and not at all related. Yams are a root crop like sweet potatoes, but of much greater size. Depending on the variety, an individual yam tuber Page 5 may weigh as much as 150 pounds. • Squash: There are several squash species used for food. All are native to the Americas. Squash was an essential part of the Native American diet along with beans and corn. These crops are commonly called the "three sisters." In the garden, corn provides a stalk and support for beans to grow up, beans add nitrogen to the soil and squash, especially as it matures, conserves soil moisture and reduces weed competition by shading the ground. • Cranberries: There are two or three cranberry species that are native to the European, Asian and North American continents. However, the cranberry species we most commonly eat is only native to the Eastern United States and Canada. Unlike most other agricultural crops, almost all fruit, whether sold fresh or processed, is exclusively grown in these same areas. by JANIS SAURIC "Ready or not, here I come." I listened nostalgically to my sister's and my grandkids playing hide and seek together. How many generations have enjoyed this simple game? "It" counted to the magic number that was designated before the game – in this instance the number was 20, although "it" is only three years old and he got stuck on 17. Finally he just called out with the help of an older second cousin (or is that a third cousin – two sister's grandchildren?) "ready or not, here I come." A universal cry for "game on!" I bet every reader has some memory of a good old fashioned hide and seek game. My mind's eye takes me back more than 50 years and I hear my little sister, in a giggly voice, call out the same words, "ready or not, here I come." I stand straight and tall in the back of a closet behind my mom's skirts, hopefully my feet hidden among the shoes and my body a part of the wall. I hear her find the other three kids playing with us. I hardly breathe as I try to be invisible so she won't find me. Eventually she does—rats !—and the next one becomes "it." Looking back a generation, I think of my dad playing "Kick the Can" with all of those kids on Kid Alley. This version of hide and seek originated in Sweden and Norway where a can is called "burken." The person who is "it" has to search for the other players and, if someone is found, run back to home base, get there before the other player and call out that person's name before the can is kicked. If all players make it to home base without being tagged they yell "burken ar sparkad" and "it" has to do it all over again. My kids played "Bloody Murder." The variant here is "it" is the one who hides, and all other players attempt to find him. Once "it" is found, the player who spots him, shouts out the phrase "Bloody Murder" and the game becomes a game of tag. All players try to run to a designated spot before being tagged by "it." There is lots of shrieking and squealing associated with this version of hide and seek. Of course, my kids choose this version so there could be lots of noise! There has been a movie called "Hide and Seek" and a song by the same title. Now there are online hide and seek games that kids can play. I'm still opting for the old fashion version I played with my sister or my dad played in his neighborhood. Sometimes in life we play an adult version of "Hide and Seek." We look for that which alludes us. We hardly see what we have, but are always in quest of more. Sometimes when "it" is found, we realize it wasn't what we wanted at all and we begin our search for something else. Blessed is the person who realizes what he already has is good and can then be satisfied with life as it is. Lucky is the person who knows how to play a little, regardless of age. I treasure my memories of the games of youth. I do have to admit it's been a while since I played hide and seek. How about you? Life awaits us. Let's charge forward. I'm just saying, "Ready or not, here I come." ENTER THE ' GUNNISON MARKET I COLORING CONTEST! I Color the picture, bring it I into the store and receive a I free glazed doughnut! I I Your picture will be displayed in the store! I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Name Age Gunnison Market will be open Thanksgiving Day from 7 am to 2 pm |
