Happy Holiday, readers! I’m not sure if we’ll be able to post much of anything later from the road. Phil is off drunk somewhere, for one thing. But here are a few small items.
As a nod to the day, the puzzle at 1D had “Site of what many regard as the first Thanksgiving,” and the answer was PLYMOUTH. Several folks noted what a dud Plymouth Rock is, as a site to visit. It’s just a rock (duh) not very well maintained. An anonymous poster wrote: “I grew up in MA and Plymouth Rock is literally just a rock. My sister dropped a flip flop down there which was the highlight of my visit.”
But it did inspire Son Volt to share this tune with us, called “Plymouth,” by Strand of Oaks. “Sometimes I move like shadows. Sometimes I move like wind.”
This beautiful note was posted on Rex’s site by Lewis:
Just a silly little diversion, crosswords.
Or so some say. I for one love silliness, so give me silly in any form. Give me play. Give me inventiveness. Give me riddles to crack. Give me laugh-out-loud moments. Give me a diversion that takes me to a place that I deep down enjoy. Give me the work of people who earnestly strive to entertain, strive to give the brain the opportunity to figure things out and feel exercised and happy.
Thrust me into a community of those who are like minded, and who pile on more silliness, inventiveness, and edifying insight, and who feel like family – as this place is.
Have the puzzles be honed and scrubbed by skilled and talented craftspeople who set a high bar.
And what a gift! What a ball of beauty! What a piece of magic, spark, and brightness to adorn the path we travel. It never had to come about, and yet here it is, this towering gift. I give thanks for it always.
Amen, Lewis.
I also received this email from CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodriguez:
I had the privilege to participate yesterday in Kingsborough Community College’s “Thanks for Giving” festivities, a yearly tradition where administrators, faculty and staff serve students a Thanksgiving meal. From start to finish, I was able to do my part in giving back — in the form of a delicious potato station — to excited students.
The experience reminded me of what an honor it is to serve the CUNY community. It’s days like this that reaffirm our school’s motto, “the education of free people is the hope of humanity.” Each day, we strive to work together to ensure that all 25 campuses are thriving and that we continue to provide a life-changing education to New Yorkers.
Our campuses are centers of knowledge and places of acceptance. We understand that our many differences are special qualities to be celebrated and embraced. It’s what gives me hope in good times and bad.
Last, a big thank you, readers, from Wilma and Welly, the owls behind Owl Chatter, from our crazy photographer Phil, and the entire OC staff. Now dig in!
The Wellington Files 