EXCLAMATION POINTS! Publisher, PATTI PARISH-KAMINSKI
Freedom for the Ages It’s been said what a difference a day makes. Well, what a difference a year makes when comparing this summer to last summer. We’ve shed – for the most part – the one item we learned to never leave home without. I don’t care what American Express says about, “Don’t leave home without it.” I left my AMEX card Momma and Kolton shopping at a real store home many times over the past 18 months, but – in person – for his birthday. Freedom! I always had my mask. That was the important accessory you could not leave home without in 2020. This summer is different. Vaccines are readily available to combat the catastrophic C-virus. Restaurants are open to dine in. Galas are popping up again, the word “vacation” is being used liberally and we can go to the movies – all novelties based on our experience last summer. I hardly know what do with myself now that there are so many options. One of the things I absolutely plan on doing and would like to encourage all of my Fort Bend friends to do is celebrate. Just in time for July 4th, both Sugar Land and Missouri City are hosting amazing events. Celebrating our freedom truly means a just little bit more to me this year. Freedom is a theme in this issue’s Fort Bend Strong. Congressman Olson shares with us two amazing stories about men who fought for our country – for our freedom – penned by a man who served our country proudly. Read about these heroes on page 12. I do believe the past year has taught us much about freedom. The pandemic taught us the freedom to work from anywhere, the freedom to educate our children in a different way and the freedom Bob and Carole Brown with Patti and Tim Kaminski of time. Socrates said, “The secret of at their favorite hangout – Fernando’s – in September 2020. change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” I believe the last year has been a reset for us. We had the time to be introspective – to assess our lives and prioritize what matters the most. And the things that made my list? Family, faith, friends and of course, freedom. Happy 4th of July Fort Bend! The very day we were at press with this issue, I learned that my dear friend went home. Bob Brown was Sugar Land royalty, and he will be greatly missed. He left an indelible footprint on our community, and he will live forever in our hearts. I will miss our dances, visits, dinners and most of all, his stories. Bob was an original. He not only made our community a better place, he made us strive to be better. We’ll carry the torch now Bob - in honor of you.
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PUBLISHER Patti Parish-Kaminski AC C OUNT EXECUTIVES Kay Garrett Gena Horak A RT D I R E C T O R Grace Belleza WEB DESIGNER Joey Belleza S O C IA L M E D IA M A NA G E R Natalee Moore I T S U P P O RT A D M I N I S T R AT I V E / S A L E S A S S I S TA N T Kolton W. Kaminski CONTRIBUTORS Steve Kursar Alisa Murray Pete Olson A D V E RT I S I N G I N Q U I R I E S 281-690-4242 E D I T O R IA L S U B M I S S I O N S Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com
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Vol. 17 No. 7 Summer 2021
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