The pendulum of opioid prescribing for pain has swung sharply in the last decade, as the epidemic of opioid overuse, addiction and overdose has led policy makers and health care providers to ratchet back on the prescriptions patients receive.

But for about 5 million Americans who have taken prescription opioids for years to address their chronic pain, that pendulum swing has led to trouble getting refills, finding new providers when their former ones retire or relocate, or getting access to multi-modal pain care that goes beyond pills.

Surprising others used to be a challenge for me. If you read “Christmas Present Fiasco,” then you’re very well aware of this fact. After I grew up, I not only conquered that, but I lifted my ability to surprise to another level.

How strange it seemed when during the Christmas break of 2023 that I should suddenly have so vividly remembered something that has never left my mind.
As I do practically every day, my eyes wandered to the picture of the old house where I spent most of my growing up years. It was the original home of the Burl Warwick family, located on Old Luttrell Road, near the intersection with Highway 61. My family rented the house from Jack Warwick, and we moved there just as I entered first grade.

Gas tanks full, car and truck maintenance were all up-to-date, goats received thiamine shots to help their rumens with stress, hay bag hanging in the cargo trailer, wifi camera working to monitor goats on the iPad in the front seat, Leo the livestock guardian dog loaded into the car back seat, goat and dog feed in the back of the SUV, everything in the RV closed or tied, RV fridge full. With a stomach full of butterflies and already missing family and friends, we headed eastward to Ramsay. The plan was to take it real easy for the whole trip but especially for the first day.

Here is a go-to recipe for the depths of winter. I would have most of the ingredients on hand. What a wonderful aroma to greet you when you opened the door. Memories are made of this.

I’m sure you have looked up at a gray winter sky and wondered if it will snow. But have you ever wondered why it snows at all? What follows is God’s recipe for a snow, but I must warn you that the ingredients and mixing directions are tricky to try at home.

First, get around a million tons of water, vaporize it, and mix it in the atmosphere. Next, cool the air down, which will cause the humidity to rise. At 100% humidity the air is saturated with water vapor. Further cooling pushes the humidity above 100% and it becomes “supersaturated” and can’t hold any more vapor. Now add a ton or so of microscopic dust particles for the vapor to condense on, and you end up with countless minute water droplets so light they float on air…in other words, a cloud.

There aren’t many large studies on the value of chiropractic treatment in managing migraines. One study examined chiropractic treatment for different types of headaches, including migraines. The study combined the results of 22 studies, which included more than 2,600 patients total. The studies show that chiropractic treatment may serve as a good preventive treatment for migraines.

As with our Thanksgiving writing contest, we had some wonderful entries for our Christmas/New Years writing contest. We are happy to announce that Natalya Bender is our first place winner. Congratulations Natalya! We will be in touch with your prize.
Below is Natalya's wonderful story. The first four runners up stories follow in no particular order.
Thanks again to all who entered our contest. Watch for more writing contests to come next year!

The nativity scene took center stage on the mantle above the glowing fireplace. Following our yearly tradition, the freshly cut Fraser Fir stood magnificently, illuminated by a myriad of lights. Our gold and silver ornaments were dispersed evenly throughout the tree, glimmering like precious metals. I had always wondered why, however, I was never allowed to help put those shiny trinkets up.

Back in 1978 my dad Bob Hansen and I set out on a cold sunny Sunday afternoon in December to find my first live Christmas tree. I was 16 years old and had never had a real living Christmas tree.
We set out to Darrel Hundley’s farm along Bull Run Creek. Dad and I had never done anything like this alone, as I was one of eight Hansen kids, I felt special on this day. Dad carried a bow saw and I was on the lookout for the perfect tree.