I was never so glad to be on vacation as I was this time. I got accomplished what I really wanted to do…prepare my house for winter time.

It meant getting rid of things I don’t use or need. It meant organizing not only my home life but my work life. It meant regrouping, which I should do seasonally actually. It meant getting papers shredded, and there was a lot of that. It meant recycling, but I’m always doing that.

But, most of all, I’m trying to make things in my life positive again…to go at my day’s activities with positive reactions and deal with the negativity in privacy with talks and prayers with Him on a daily basis.

I know I can’t promise anything, though, if certain things should occur, but I will give it my best shot.

I have been giving many things a lot of thought in recent weeks and I want to live life to the fullest in the golden years of my days on earth.

My last vacation was marred with the death of my father, and I think that’s when I realized things have to change as long as we live.

And, I have a good group of friends and family whom I adore and I sure hope they know who they are. They’re the best and I’m blessed.

•••••

Don’t forget:

• The Treaty City Senior Dances will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays at the VFW Post on North Ohio Street in Greenville. This week will be the Halloween dance, and those who attend can wear costumes. Cost for admittance is $3 for singles and $5 for couples. Music will be provided by Tom Everhart.

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 7084, Union City, Indiana, will be having a bake sale Nov. 6 from noon until sold out. Items will include candy, cakes, cookies, coffee cakes, breads, cheese cakes, brownies, cupcakes, pies and Scotcheroos. Proceeds will go into the auxiliary’s cancer fund.

• Upcoming events at Ansonia American Legion are: the all-you-can-eat fish fry from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 for $8; Wing Night from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with euchre from 5 p.m. until close Nov. 9; the free Veterans Day bean supper, with serving at 5 p.m. and drawings at 6 p.m. on Nov. 11; the steak fry from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at $13; Jennifer’s Burritos from 5 to 8 p.m. for $7 on Nov. 18; and the OSU vs. Michigan football game Nov. 26 (brings a covered dish and bar opens at 11 a.m.)

•••••

Happy birthday to:

• Nov. 2 to Don Yagle, Lynn Newbauer, Tonya Boatright, Tom Graber, Don Everman, Amy Barga Maher, Cortnie Drew Kremer and Laura Durham.

• Nov. 3 to Tom Stevenson, Ryan Riffell, Hilly Moody, Shelly Nieport, Marla Fourman, Vicky Pfledderer, Keith Smith and Austin Ignaffo.

• Nov. 4 to Josie Deaton, Shirma Pence, Rachel Morrison Jenkins, Scott Rowland, Roger Oliver, Frank Lenker, Vickie Martin (70) and Louise Partin.

• Nov. 5 to Mike Koverman, Corey Bickel, Linda Hogue McGuire, Mike McClurg, (70), Duane Edwards, Linda Stoltz and Autumn Everman (12).

• Nov. 6 to Melissa Riffell Mansfield, Nathaniel Gray, Maxine DeMange, Chris Muhlenkamp, Darla Batten Printz, Roy Dohme, Colin Moody, Jeff Amick, Jake DeMange, Gabe Howell, Isabel Capowski, Christopher Hill, Mary Saintignon, Barbara Dircksen and Jenny Mamazza.

• Nov. 7 to Pamela Carney Hale, Darick Rose, Mary Thornhill Edwards, Sharon Knick Shelley, Phil Hetzler, Amy Midlam Gessler, Rita Peck, Kevin Fullroth, Kent Clark and Holly Grow Hill.

• Nov. 8 to Tony Best, Gabriel Werner, Vicki Easterling, Dan Hufford, John Rismiller, Kay Camacho, Brady Dowler (20), Connie Apple, Jason Crist, Drew Meadows and Rita Drew-Neff.

Happy belated birthday to: Mary Wood on Oct. 12; Connie Leis on Oct. 29;

Happy anniversary to Ron and Nancy Moody on Nov. 2 and Dennis and Paula Moody on Nov. 5;

Happy belated anniversary to Mike and Rose Stegall (40) on Oct. 22; and Carla and Doug Cothran and Tony and Becky Schultz, all on Oct. 23.

•••••

Don’t forget to pray for: Tom Brumbaugh Jr., Pastor Don Brode, Steve Schafer, Tom Hawkins, Roxanne Reichard-Grant, Chris Young, Greg Moody, Robin Grice, Connie Apple, Jodie Glick, Ron Kreitzer, Kohen Thwaits, Jerrod Pratt, Keith Starks, Scott and Judy Stahl, Dawn Oldiges, Judy York, Lowell Elsass, Linda Johnston, Stacy Dorko, Tracy Bailey, Shannon Peters Hall, Jack Riegle, Bruce Knick, Aiden Turner, Brody Wilson, Terri Martin, Marie Rieman, Carol Bollheimer, Roger McEowen, Lara Brunner, Al Bliss, Tim King, Gary Poor, Clinton Linebaugh, Layna Best, Jean Eastridge, Justin Ungericht, Alishia Clark Funk, Glenna Curry, Mike Bale, Phyllis Gibbons, Rosemary Wetzel, Angie Young Noggler, Kenny Borger, Mary Marshall, Jenson Fullerton, Gary Reier, Carmen Sanders, Michael Allen Clark, Elmer Long, Anthony Joyner, Shirley Mead, Harry Moody, Jim Moody, Linda Subler, Shelly Hoffman, Betty Grimes, Kathy Magoto, Dean Brewer, Lisa Hall, Tammy Shapiro, Ken Martin, David Magoto, Phil Clark, Sonny Hunt, Don and Nina McDaniel, D’Arleen Waymire, Pappy Harshman, Delores Duncan, John Klipstine, Elsie Svajda, Dave Sherman, Sue Chitty, Phil Chilcoat, Christine Pipenger, Paul Barton, Terry Ungericht, Gracyn Blackburn, Robert Codling, Dave Starline, Bob Hiestand Jr.

Also, Kathy and Tom Hamilton, Joanne Sharp, Ivan Miller, Cindy Elson, Cary Van De Grift, Dina Dancer Morris, Teresa Mayo Amspaugh, Tina Kiser Deaton, Tonia Thompson, Fred Monnin, Stephen “Brownie” Brown, Nate Epperson, Brad Pipenger, Faye Schlecty, Sheila Reed, Bill Beasley, Steve Cunningham, Kody Ketring, Bob and Sandy Finkbine, Kevin Dickey, Joe Martin, Brenda Grimes, Margaret “Peg” Bundy, Kevin Hemmerich, Penny Starns, Tim Heck, Vanna (Hannam) Abbott, Addie Henderson, Barb Morrow Zimmerman, Samantha Smith, Todd Walls, Ron Kramer, Dana Holzapfel, Kara Didier, Carla Welch, Bill Schuette and to all those others who suffer from the many debilitating diseases.

And, God bless all of our military people serving and protecting this nation, as well as rescue, fire and law enforcement personnel who put their lives on the line to protect us.

•••••

Think about it: “Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” — Joseph Campbell