Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
30 Friends at Our Doorstep
Our cul-de-sac is different from any other in the development: all our homes were built at the same time. So, there was no suffering through construction noise and dust, because we all moved in about the same time in 2006. From the time I invited everyone for a coffee and dessert gathering shortly thereafter, we were sure to be friends. And out of that friendship, an annual event is a highlight of the year for many of us.
A year or two after we all had moved in, our next-door neighbor (whom we call Mr. Mayor, since he often spearheads activities), suggested at one of our periodic neighborhood gatherings that the neighborhood do some subtle decorating for Christmas. His idea was to wrap a cord of white lights around the trunks and in the branches of the oak trees which were planted in front of every house. Most people loved the idea; I was uncomfortable at the thought, since I had never “decorated for Christmas.” No one made a fuss about my decision, but the first night the trees were lit off, ours was the only home, sitting sad and lonely in the dark. It was like a statement that white lights don’t really signify anything. The next day I went tearfully to our neighbor across the street and asked if her husband could help me string a set of lights on the oak tree. They were delighted to help, of course, although my husband grudgingly stepped in, too.
President Biden has issued firm 
When it was time to re-start my volunteer efforts with hospice, I decided it was premature to be exposed to patients and their families. So, I asked my supervisor if she had other work I could do in the meantime; I still wanted to make a contribution, even if I wouldn’t be visiting patients. She suggested I could make bereavement calls to those who had lost members of their families. It seemed like a great idea.
No one — I mean no one — is going to put me through the fear and misery of the last two years with COVID-19. Fortunately, I live in Florida, and we’ve watched Gov. DeSantis behave like a mature and wise adult regarding the virus. But once again, panic reigns as another variant shows up on the scene. And one state and most definitely the federal government can’t wait to pass more draconian measures supposedly to protect us.
Jack “Rattler” Owen had a dream when he was growing up: to become a US Navy fighter pilot. He is now a Navy pilot in today’s US Navy, but he is flying the E-2C Hawkeye, not fighters.
Every month I’ve been leading a group on Zoom to discuss some aspect of Judaism that we all may not know much about. Although some of my research describes familiar practices and beliefs, almost everyone learns something new. This month we discussed Chanukah, which begins very early on the secular calendar on November 28. We reviewed not only the familiar stories, but I realized that everyone, American Jews and non-Jews alike, have opportunities to reframe the way we see our lives during a season that is holy for many. These are the insights that emerged for me.
I clipped two dessert recipes from the November 1982 issue of Chicago Magazine, “Best of Dines, Worst of Dines.” Four decades later, they are still in my recipe file. One is complex and very rich, while the other is true simplicity and light in both preparation time and calories. I further simplified the simple recipe to universal acclaim this past week. For Thanksgiving, I will prepare a cranberry relish, made from scratch, that is both flavorful and ridiculously healthy. I suspect I will also make cornbread muffins, relatively healthier than general-purpose flour breads. What tasty, tempting recipes have you enjoyed with Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts and parties?
You’ve heard how parents having been fighting back at some school board meetings to take back the rearing and education of their children. Now Florida has set a new standard for fighting back, and it’s spreading all over the country. The message it is sending is more than a shot over the bow to angry Progressives. This exciting movement is called 
emocrats are running around like they found a hair in their biscuit. — Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy
Well, the title is sort of true. My husband began calling me Annie Oakley after my early performance on the gun range, and my trainer enjoyed calling me Annie just to tease Jerry about my prowess. For some crazy reason, I’ve always had a certain level of skill. So, what’s the big deal for me? I hadn’t been to the gun range since the end of last year, after I received my cancer diagnosis.
