Our much anticipated holidays are now becoming memories. My memories this holiday season have been most wonderful.
All three of my children were home for Christmas. They all made me very happy by going to church with me on Christmas Eve as they normally do, but I don't take it for granted. Sister even entertained her brothers during the wee hours by sleep walking for us.
It wasn't an especially "big" Christmas at our house but it was very much a blessed Christmas with family and many friends. Many of those friends are our longtime West Laurel friends.
The lights on the tree still give me delight in a dark room. I'm not sure if I'm ready to put away the ornaments, each with its own story. Goodbye to Santa who twists his hips as he sings "Jingle Bell Rock."
I'm not sure if I'm ready to put the baby Jesus back in the Styrofoam box; he's still waiting for the three kings. So maybe just a few more days of the holiday spirit.
However, if it becomes Valentine's Day, I'm going to need an intervention!
Cpl. James Beasock got into the holiday spirit and had his own unofficial West Laurel Holiday Light Contest. He was assisted by his young son, Christopher, who would be the one to ultimately decide the winners. They cruised all the West Laurel neighborhoods, taking notes and checking out who had the most brilliant lights and displays of Santa in hot air balloons or reindeer on the lawn.
Drum roll please … the winners of the unofficial 2011 Cpl. Beasock holiday lights award goes to Debbie and George Kapanoske, of Ashland Drive; Barb and Kirk Zack, of Sherwood Drive; and David Whipple, of Sandy Street. Thank you Cpl. Beasock — you are a bright star in West Laurel.
The next West Laurel Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held Jan. 19, at 7 p.m., at the West Laurel Community Building. The Prince George's County Police, District 6, along with the West Laurel Civic Association, are sponsoring a Neighborhood Watch event about cyber crimes. A representative from the FBI assigned to the Internet and cyber crimes unit will speak about the current crimes committed on the Internet and what we can do to protect ourselves.
It's good to know how to enjoy the Internet without opening ourselves up to cyber crime. This will be a very informative session; our hosts will be Cpl. James Beasock and Cpl. Gerald Knight.
The new Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center (aka "The Club") sponsored a rockin' New Year's Eve party that was very well attended. It was reported that the DJ kept the crowd on their feet dancing the night away. Seniors, if you haven't made the short trip to the new center on Contee Road next to the Laurel Regional Hospital, make it your New Year's resolution to get there soon and check it out.
Happy New Year West Laurel! May you be blessed in 2012 with good health, love, happiness and prosperity.