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Talking to My Arm
By Marie Craig
Christmas was last week, and my goal is to write about this wonderful holiday. I decided to buy myself a smart watch that would monitor my health and exercise and about a hundred other things. “Merry Christmas,” from Marie to Marie. Most of my features are installed and remembered by me, but this morning was the first time that I answered a phone call on it. As I talked to my wrist, I remembered the long-running comic strip of Dick Tracy and his wonderful wrist radio. A little bit of research yielded the following information.
Chester Gould started this wildly popular daily comic in the newspapers in 1931. His main character, Dick Tracy, was established as a crime fighter. In 1945, Gould invented the wrist radio for Dick Tracy, precursor of today’s smart watches. The comic strip was so popular that other media followed: many movies, radio programs, merchandise, and comic books. Gould had a marvelous sense of inventiveness and had other technology, such as atomic light, portable surveillance cameras, closed circuit TV [suspects could be interviewed remotely], and electronic telephone number pickup. All of these inventions on paper were before the real thing, and probably led to their actual creation.
He named his characters with great humor. Sam Catchem worked for the police department, of course. B.O. Plenty was a casual man who married Gravel Gertie. Their daughter was named Sparkle Plenty. I remember now that I received a Sparkle Plenty doll one year for Christmas. She had real long blonde hair. Bonnie Braids was another little girl in the comic strip.
From the Dick Tracy Museum Website, www.DickTracy.com, I learned that the cartoonist’s last strip was on Christmas Day 1977. Gould entertained the public with his stories for over 46 years. He died in 1985.
Part of these 46 years were during World War Two. That would have been a pleasant diversion for people reading the newspaper full of war and death. The museum listed this quote from his writing: “The nation that controls magnetism will control the universe.”
This strip continues, but with a different cartoonist.
 
Christmas 2025
By Gaye Hoots
This year I came to Advance early to get medical and dental appointments done and to spend time with my family. The medical appointments went well, but I did have a molar pulled which slowed me down a bit. I did not get to see the Advance Christmas parade because of this. In addition to time with familY, I also had lunch with Lorene Markland and Gail Frye and ended up with Christmas goodies that I am still enjoying. Christine Smith and Kae Stockton took me to an event where I heard Dr. Gary Chapman speak. He and his wife made an impression on me as being totally dedicated to service. Janine Vogler, a friend from first grade, and I had lunch, and we visited Larry Vogler.
Today Janine and I attended services at Advance Methodist Church, and I got to see several friends I only see when I get to attend church there. I also paid a visit to Betty Potts, Jack and Jane Carter, Judy Howard, and Larry Carter, where I saw Kay Morris. Another reason I planned a longer visit was to get time with Tiffany and Mia, now that they are home from NICU. Their church is being supportive with visits, food, and prayers. We continue to pray for miracles for Mia. Jaden welcomed them home, and I got several visits in and plan to spend Christmas there.
All my immediate family is here for Christmas except for my grandson Vann, who is active military, Navy EOD, and his wife Laura, who is an officer in the Air Force. The twins are young enough to enjoy a traditional Christmas and Mia is enjoying her Christmas tree, programs and music. We are blessed to have her home.
I learned that Katy Potts, daughter of Ken Potts, piloted the plane that did the flyover at the Panthers game in Charlotte today. Ken is a commercial pilot, and his mother Betty earned a private pilot’s license, I believe. Roy and Gray Potts operated a small airport in Advance and Roy had an instructor’s rating. We owned a small Tri pacer and flew often then, so flight is a family tradition. I saw Ken briefly at his business, Kopter Supply, and gave him a copy of my book.
The time here is always too short, and there were many friends I did not get to see, but did see some of them when we joined the twins at the Loop for their birthdays. They celebrated with friends their age and Weston, Faye’s grandson. They will continue to celebrate through Christmas and will enjoy their goodies. They both like to read and enjoy books, and that warms my heart. There are a few other visits I hope to make and if not, I will try on my next visit.
I want to wish a merry and blessed Christmas to family, friends, classmates, church members, all our community, and the world. This is my seventy-ninth Christmas, and each one becomes more precious. Both my siblings are deceased, and I am aware the sand is trickling away, and am grateful and blessed to have today.
 
Christmas Now and Forever
By Julie Terry Cartner
Squeals of excitement filled the house as the children tore into colorful wrapping paper and found their gifts. Laughter filled the room and joy filled the house. Family, Martha breathed in the warmth, the comfort, the cheer, is everything. She truly felt blessed as her eyes scanned the room. Her husband, Paul, now helped their daughter unpackage a toy as their son puzzled out the solution to a trick box. If only every day could be Christmas.
She smiled as she could almost hear her father’s reply. “Martie, my girl,” he’d say with a tender smile, “if every day were Christmas, it wouldn’t be so special.” And he was right, to a large degree, she mused. But other parts of Christmas should stay with us throughout the year. She and Paul had striven to ensure their children knew and understood that presents weren’t the highlight of Christmas. First and foremost in their family, was the true message of the Christmas story. Not only did they read the Bible to their children, but they also had an advent wreath on which they lit the weekly candles and read the accompanying scriptures. Both children had been involved in the church’s Christmas program: Jacob as an adorable donkey and Bethany, an adorable lamb. They understood, as well as their ages allowed, that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus.
In addition, Martha and Paul wanted their children to understand that giving back was more important than receiving presents. As a result, they went shopping with their parents and picked out presents for the angel tree. They impressed upon the two that they should pick gifts that they would be happy to receive themselves. Martha laughed as she thought about Jacob’s disgust when she purchased socks, gloves and hats for the angel children. “I wouldn’t want to get those for Christmas,” he grumped. Bethany agreed wholeheartedly. Then Martha had to explain that she bought her children those things when they needed them, but some people couldn’t afford to buy them. “So we’ll give them special gifts for fun, but we’ll also get the children things they need,” she said. Bethany’s response came quickly, “Then can we get them each another fun gift?”
“Of course,” Martha agreed.
Now Martha smiled to herself. Our children are growing up to be kind and caring, she thought. But we need to keep this understanding all year; it’s not enough to just help others at Christmas time. She decided to enlist the family’s help.
Ater the family cleaned up the trash and put their presents safely back under the tree, Martha and Paul broached her idea. They told the children how proud they were of how giving they had been in sharing their Christmas with children in need. “But now,” Martha said, “I believe we need to do more. Tonight, I want you to think about this, and tomorrow I want to make a list of things that we can do to help others. Then, when we have a list, I’m going to put them on a calendar. I’d like to try to do two things a month to help others. They can be big things, like raising money to donate to the homeless shelter, or they can be smaller things like helping someone mow their lawn. Do you understand?” she asked.
Jacob and Bethany loved the idea and immediately offered suggestions. Laughing at the enthusiasm, Martha and Paul jotted down ideas, then told the two to go play and enjoy their new gifts. Smiling at each other, they agreed, “We have great children.”
As this Christmas season comes to an end, perhaps we too can strive to keep the love going. As the song, “Christmas Every Day” says, “If I could have one more gift just for me, Joy to the world, it would be with more Christmases under the tree. Hunger, homelessness and poverty don’t end on December 26. Let’s keep the spirit of Christmas all year round.