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Valerie Boyle's avatar

Merry Christmas and Happy(as you can muster) Holidays!

All you can do is to get through it and to do that you have to go through it.

It is as Dickens would say, The Best of Times ( because it is Christmas) and the Worst of Times( because of your grief).

I wish you well today.

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Wendy Aronson's avatar

Merry Christmas to you, Ken, and Joseph, and your brother, and Sophie! I'm hoping you find comfort, as well as great food (!) in New Orleans! But I also hope you come home to the North Country. For me, you are our voice, and it will somehow speak from Glens Falls with more of a mandate.Besides, I just LIKE knowing you and Will are home telling our truths!

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Maggie's avatar

My feelings as well, Ken - your posts are a breath of fresh air - I always learn something if not lots of things. I'm not close by but really not all that far away either!

I hope your Christmas visit with you family (which includes Sophie) gives you peace. I'm sure Gillian would want that for all of you.

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Paula Collins's avatar

Merry Christmas, Ken. Thanks for writing so beautifully about the raw side of navigating the holidays. One year I thought I would beat the holiday blues by taking a trip to Paris. That worked. And then in January, the holiday blues walloped me with what seemed like a double dose. I'm so glad you have your family with you, penguins and all, in The Crescent City.

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Carol L. Clark's avatar

Wishing you so many blessings through these tough times.

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Rosemary Armao's avatar

You have giant penguins?! We need a picture of that and are you willing to sell a couple? Wow.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Just posted photo on Facebook.

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Diane Collins's avatar

Ken your deep moving sharing brings me again to a memory. This time of my best friend now gone and her love of nutcrackers, so many a part of her holiday decorations and of course many of them from me as I just couldn’t resist getting her nutcracker gifts for Christmas 💕

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Jwkmkaren@gmail.com's avatar

May your memories always be a blessing to you.

Happy holidays!

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Catherine's avatar

Beautifully said, reading through the tears. So happy you have your beloved son, brother and of course your dog Sophie.

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Beatriz Roman's avatar

Dear Ken,

Rep. Granger is not necessarily too old for service, she's (or her advisors) are just too dishonest to maintain that title and responsibility. Mazeltov! How wonderful that you faced the holiday spirit and it won! Wonderful that you brought your Santa hat along, that you found some more penguins to admire, and that you were in the company of loving family and beautiful decorations that would have made Gillian smile! So glad it wrapped you in it's warmth.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

And I’m hoping to go ice skating today. Yes, they have skating in New Orleans.

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Beatriz Roman's avatar

That's really cool! I hope you had fun. I just read your response, don't understand why I didn't see it before.

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Kathleen Jones's avatar

I managed to visit the Chapman Museum last weekend… The Penguins! The Nutcrackers! Such a beautiful, beautiful place… Your wife’s spirit was there…Checking to see how you did with the decorations! She approved!

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

Merry and happy all. Let’s keep hope in our hearts and seek love and justice for all who need protection. 🖖🎄🕎

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Donna Davison-Smith's avatar

I understand your grief. I lost my devoted husband 4 years ago. I wish I could say it gets easier but it doesn’t. It’s simply different. Thanking God for my family but missing my husband so very much! There’s no magic healing of grief, I don’t think there should be! One day or holiday at a time…..thankful for the memories we shared….thankful for being able to feel his presence!

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Barbara Bubar's avatar

Totally beautiful.

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June Woodard's avatar

I sensed you were running away, absolutely normal reaction after losing a loved one. Glad you put your brakes on. Give yourself time, you WILL get through it.

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Don Shuler's avatar

We all are creating new memories each and every day. The choice is ours as to the kind of memories we are creating. Thanks, Ken, for sharing your beautiful memories—old and new!

Joy and peace to you all during this holiday season and throughout the New Year!

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Suzanne Appleyard's avatar

Well I thought I had successfully made it through another Christmas without crying until I read your piece... Thank you for sharing.

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