OPINION | The Local Views
Sometimes you just have to laugh By Roslyn Ryan Richmond Suburban News
T
he other day, when the twenty-something daughter of a good friend complimented the sweater I was wearing and asked where I got it, I thanked her and explained that it was actually a handme-down from one of my aunts. The girl looked confused, and I have to admit I couldn’t immediately figure out why. Maybe she didn’t know I had aunts? In fact, as I quickly figured, it was the first part that puzzled her: she didn’t know what I meant by hand-me-down. As I’ve gotten older, I always try and adhere to a personal policy of hiding my amusement whenever I find myself in a situation like this. When someone under 25 asks me what a “long-distance call” was, or the way to write
a capital “Z” in cursive, or if it’s true that the television once had only three channels and no remote, I always try and remember that there are plenty of things they understand that I don’t (including Twitter, YouTube stardom and Bitcoin, just to name a few). In this case though, when my friend’s daughter confessed that she had never heard of the concept of hand-me-down clothes, I have to admit my first reaction was something more akin to pity rather than disbelief. Perhaps this is because so many of the things I treasure might be considered handme-downs of one sort or another. Maybe I’m a bit strange—I’ll admit to that—but I have always loved the concepts of second-hand, gently-used and, if we’re aiming a bit more fancy, heirloom. It’s not that I’m against buying new things, but I would have to say that I have never derived much joy from it. My favorite pieces of jewelry will always
be those that belonged first to my mother or grandmother, and my favorite dining room chairs had already served for decades at a relative’s table before they came to me. Every once in a while, when I drive the 15-year-old truck that once belonged to my adored late fatherin-law, I can almost smell the concrete dust that always clung to his boots. Maybe it won’t make sense to some, but I know my favorite winter coat will always be one that my best friend passed on to me, and my sofa at home is often occupied by a onceunwanted hand-me-down dog that I wouldn’t give up for a million dollars. Years ago, I suppose the idea of hand-medowns was more about thrift and common sense, but to me, these days, it just feels a lot like love. Out with the old, in with the new? Call me old-fashioned, thrifty or even peculiar, but I prefer things the other way around.
Unrecognized mentor leaves powerful legacy By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist When you are 14 years old and possess less than refined social skills, it’s not easy to find a summer job, so I headed to the community pool to celebrate the first day of summer vacation. I immediately noticed my two best friends, both of them in similar employment status, as they scouted out the best location for a day of fun
and mischief that only happens in those neighborhood pools. As we settled in, my friend alerted us to what seemed like earth-shattering news at the time. “I think I found a job,” he exclaimed. It seems he had stumbled on what would become employment for all three of us, working on a Charles Chips delivery truck and running chips, pretzels and chocolate chip cookies door to door in a variety of neighborhoods.
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The Mechanicsville Local
February 23, 2022
Bright and early the next day, a vintage panel step van pulled in front of my house and collected me for what would be my first day of work. Sure, I’d had paper routes, sold seeds door to door for Boy Scouts and mowed a fair share of lawns in my neighborhood; but real employment at a real job was a new experience for me. Joe had been delivering Charles Chips for some years, and had a good grasp on how to sell see LEGACY, pg. 8
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LETTERS | Reader Views
Reader replies to recent school book banning discussion Dear Editor, I am responding to Hanover Board of Supervisor Michael Herzberg’s targeting to ban the book “A Place Inside of Me. A Poem to Heal the Heart.’ In life there are teachable moments and this is one of them. It is book about feelings we all experience in life, young and old, and have inside us. The feelings are listed in this order joy, sorrow, fear, anger, hunger, pride, peace, compassion, hope, love of all people and lastly love yourself. How is this bad? Any child feeling the sorrow and anger will see they can come through these feelings to a more positive outlook. This can help avoid the anger building up inside and may save a life of oneself and others. It is where discussions are made and solutions can follow. Children mental health crisis is on the rise because the turmoil of events we are in now. This book can help with a piece of it. There are multiple great sources of information on how to talk to your kids about race. I welcome an open in person dialogue with both Michael Herzberg and Sheriff Hines together on this matter. Concerned Citizen Dottie Walsh Ashland, VA
The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Mechanicsville residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Mechanicsville Local. Send letters to: The Mechanicsville Local 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: (804) 344-8746 E-mail: news@mechlocal.com © 2022 Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 31,156.
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