The Kiddie Dining Table Takes a Hit

The upper part of the Bergeron
family Christmas tree.

As of this Christmas, it has been dispatched to happy memories – another sign that the years are marching on, and that the grandkids are, well – no longer mere kids. 
 
That was the clear takeaway this December when Priscille and I hosted our two grown offspring, together with their families at our home in Bridgewater. 
 
At some of our past Christmas celebrations in this township, the four grandchildren sat at a temporary table in the dining room, thoroughly engrossed in their conversations, while the adults sat nearby at the larger table – bantering taking place among all of us.
 
As the kids grew into their early teens, they moved their venue to a larger, wooden butcher block table in the kitchen. 
 
However, this year was different.  Matthew is now a freshman in college.  Margot is a senior in high school.  Danny becomes a junior next year, and Monique will be a freshman.
 
Not little kids any more.

On Sunday while the food was being prepared, the teens were invited to join the adults at the dining room table.

Excellent decision. 

Listening to them was a delight.  Not one bit bashful (never were), they easily and gracefully joined the conversation, underscoring a level of respect, thoughtfulness, and developing maturity.

Our holiday meals have never been a quick, eat-up-and-clear-the-table sort of thing.  We spent a long time conversing, eating, and simply enjoying one another’s company.  I don’t know for how long.  I never looked at my watch. 

These four young people are part of an upcoming generation that will lead this country in the near future.  They and tens of thousands like them deserve all the support that we can give them.  They have earned the gift of a good example – a rather rare leadership commodity in our nation these days.

Thanks for reading.   May you be blessed with good health and the wind at your back in 2014.


(Click on the Image for an enhanced view.)
 

PC Woes – Humbug!

After my last blog post of December 14, the PC started acting up.  I was able to use it for a couple of days.  But then a near digital disaster made its ugly debut when the warning of an imminent hard disk failure unexpectedly popped up on the screen. 

I immediately called into action the diagnostic power of Norton 360 to check out the entire PC. Not good!  The analytic software kicked out the following message:  “The disk hardware is predicting the hard drive will eventually fail.  Backup your data and replace your hard drive.”

That’s a warning message of impending computer death and the loss of all files.  It’s not what any PC user wants to see.  But it definitely is one that a PC user can ignore only at his or her peril.

Nature’s Own Icy Christmas Tree

A Wintry Freeze. (Credit/Dick Bergeron)

After the last snow storm which showered the Bridgewater area with about 5 inches of snow less than a week ago, I looked out of the dining room window.

There, I discovered that ice had decorated the entirety of the white pine that stands at the back corner of the house.

Overnight, the tree’s soft branches stood drooping in a suspension of pine needles individually frozen in a thick coating of ice, yet one not heavy enough to cause the boughs to break and fall to the ground.

Individually transformed into icicles, pine needles sported a drop of frozen water hanging from their tips.

All by itself, nature’s wintry mix had created a work of beauty.

Thanks for reading.  Be safe in the snowstorm now upon us.

(Click on the image for an enhanced view.)

New Food Emporium to Anchor Pluckemin Center

Tomorrow, December 11^th, at 8:00 a.m., The Fresh Market plans to welcome food lovers on the occasion of its grand opening at the Somerset Hills Shopping Center. 

The Fresh Market takes over the Former A&P
operation at a totally renovated Somerset Hills
Shopping Center.  (Credit/Dick Bergeron)

This new food store is in the historic Pluckemin section of Bedminster, NJ, at the spot where Route 202/206 connects with Burnt Mills Road to the west and Washington Valley Road to the east.  It is one of the busiest little intersections in Somerset County.

According to a press release, The Fresh Market is a specialty store of over 22,100 square feet.  It boasts an on-site bakery that offers 30 varieties of bread and 14 different pie selections each day.  It also features a full service meat counter, fresh seafood delivered twice a week, a huge selection of cheeses, and a produce department with over 400 items and a large organic selection.

Although this company has 149 stores in 26 states, the one is Pluckemin is only the second in New Jersey.

After the A&P decided to close down its operations at the same location, it became clear that it would not be too long before another business moved in.

Helping Moms-to-be

Bridgewater Councilman Matthew Moench, pictured
here at a Township meeting on July 1, 2013.
(Credit/Dick Bergeron)

This month marks the second year that Councilman Matthew Moench is sponsoring a “holiday drive to benefit the Raritan Pregnancy Aid Center.” 

According to Moench, the Center is an “all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping pregnant women and new mothers in time of need.”

The full explanatory text of this highly beneficial outreach can be seen on the Bridgewater Township web site by clicking here.  It is only a couple of paragraphs long, and it is well worth your time and response during this especially busy holiday season.

The women who are helped by the services of this center are truly in need. 

For example,