Lot of medications out there to fix problems. And a lot of them are aimed directly at anxiety. Am I here to poke fun at people for feeling anxiety? To tell you that it is your problem and you can fix it yourself? To ‘Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps’, or to ‘Put on your big girl panties.’ Or maybe this one; ‘Fake it ‘til you make it.’ How about; ‘It’s all in how you decide to look at life. So just make up your mind to change your thinking.’ No way, stupid I am not. But I do happen to be intelligent enough to realize that our long-term mental or emotional state has a lot to do with our current anxiety levels. No doubt about that. Here’s why. Childhood sets us up. Negative childhoods influence us as adults… period. If there was no training back then to have the confident attitude of, “Yep, I gotta a problem right now, but I know I can handle it until it’s gone” - that creates a problem. The learned self-assurance and confidence that helps to ward off anxiety and worry as adults can easily be missing. And evidently that happened a lot back when we were all playing in the dirt, riding bikes, or feeding imaginary milk to our little dollies. Because there are prescriptions by the armload for medicating anxiety problems away. And folks, the pharmaceutical companies do not just manufacture a drug for the fun of it. There has to be a huge need for it. The cost of bringing a drug to the United States market is not small, and for some odd reason they insist that they be able to pay the costs involved and also make a profit. But experience with anti-anxiety meds has taught that there are problems with the ‘Just pop a pill and make it all go away’ mentality. Problems that make the initial worry a simple walk in the park. Oh, sure, you swallow that little pill, and that huge anxiety ball that lives 24/7 in your chest will float away. But depend on your ‘Sweet Little Friend’ long enough, and you can easily find yourself living with three ‘Big Ugly Enemies.’ 1) Over time, your body will demand more friends to give you the same effect. 2) Your body can easily become actually dependent upon the chemicals in that pill. 3) The problem that is creating your anxiety doesn’t dissolve when that anti-anxiety pill dissolves in your stomach. We need a better, healthier, and permanent solution. Here it is: Isaiah 41:10 in the Bible. Read it, believe it, learn to quote it to yourself when the panic attacks hit every few minutes. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Try it for yourself.

By Kara Kimbrough Famous chefs and culinary experts never cease to inspire me...but not for the obvious reasons. Julia Child’s response to a reporter’s question asking if she ever ate fast food was golden. “I order fast food occasionally – everybody does when they’re on the road. A burger has protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.” Hearing Food Network star Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, state on national television this week that she was “over” cooking elaborate dishes was equally inspirational. Her words caused me to try a shortcut lemon treat that looked too easy to be good. “When the pandemic was over, I thought I’d start cooking large meals again,” Drummond said as she stirred together three easy oven-baked pasta dishes on the Today Show. “It hasn’t happened.” Drummond’s recipes, which can be found on the show’s website, were short on ingredients and preparation time. As a result, I tried a recipe containing only four ingredients that appeared, from all photos, to be every bit as delicious as “Oprah’s Favorite Lemon Cake,” a recipe I’d made once and loved but shelved due to the long ingredient list. I have a hard time distinguishing between cakes and quick breads made in small loaf pans simply because, once sliced, most are very similar in taste and appearance. The major difference? Most quick breads have less sugar and fat than cakes, but they can still be moist and delicious if the right ingredients are used. Another plus is the fact that stirring everything together in one pan and baking it in a loaf pan instead of a heavy Bundt or other cake pan appears to take less time. I may think, “I don’t have time to bake a cake…but in mere minutes, I can bake a lemon loaf or my favorite cherry bread. Wrapped in clear cellophane and decorated with festive ribbon, it’s the perfect Christmas “happy” - or treat to enjoy with a cup of morning coffee any time of year. Call them whatever you desire…small cakes, loaves or quick breads…if you’ve stopped baking because of the time involved in cake-baking, these recipes will have you back in (and better yet, out of) the kitchen in no time. Crazy-Easy Lemon Loaf 3 extra-large eggs 11.25 ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup self-rising flour 1 medium lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zest of lemon Icing: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 tablespoons milk Splash of lemon juice or flavoring (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper; leave paper hanging over long sides. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add in flour and mix until incorporated. Then, add in lemon zest and juice and whisk together until smooth. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely (about an hour) before adding the icing to the top. Icing: To a medium bowl add all icing ingredients and whisk together until smooth. Top loaf evenly with the icing. Grate a little more lemon zest on top of icing for decoration. Blueberry-Lemon Quick Bread 2 lemons, zested and juiced 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1/2 cup sour cream 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries Sugar for sprinkling Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 1/2 – x – 4 1/2-inch loaf pan and line with a sheet of parchment paper; leave paper hanging over the long sides of the pan. Rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers in a bowl until fragrant. Whisk in oil and vanilla for 30 seconds. Whisk in eggs, one at a time; then the lemon juice and sour cream. Sprinkle baking powder and salt into bowl, one at a time, vigorously whisking after each. Fold in the flour just until a few streaks remain. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Fold in 1 cup of the berries. Pour the batter into the pan, smooth the top, then arrange the remaining 1/2 cup of berries over the top of the loaf, pressing down gently. Lightly sprinkle with sugar and bake for 60-70 minutes, rotating at 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edges, then lift the cake out by the parchment paper overhang and transfer to a rack. Let cool to room temperature before slicing and serving. Christmas (Or Anytime) Cherry Bread 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup of buttermilk ¼ cup juice from 10-ounce jar of maraschino cherries (reserve the cherries for the end) 1/2 cup each white and brown sugar ¼ cup softened butter 2 eggs 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon each - salt and baking soda Cup of chopped walnuts, lightly toasted Add everything except cherries to mixing bowl. Beat well, scrape sides of bowl and beat again. Add chopped cherries and mix well. Bake in a greased and floured bread pan in a 350-degree oven for 60-70 minutes. Cool on rack, then invert onto a serving dish. Glaze: just mix a cup of powdered sugar with a teaspoon or two of milk and a teaspoon of almond extract. Beat and add milk until you get the consistency you like. Drizzle over warm bread. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Mika Hartman When you try something new, there can be hesitation. Like riding a bike. It’s exciting, but when your dad lets go and you likely will fall. You get up and try again. The reward of independently riding is worth the risk. Some days give me that feeling of riding a bike, like, I got this. Other days, I am learning something new. And sometimes I feel like we are on autopilot and out of nowhere, I have to grab the handlebars again. Hear this part loudly: This applies to every child. Period. Children with Down syndrome have a third copy of the 21st chromosome. There are three types of Down syndrome. People often can’t tell the difference between each type without looking at the chromosomes because the physical features and behaviors are similar. Below are definitions provided by the CDC website for “Facts About Down Syndrome”. • Trisomy 21: About 95% of people with Down syndrome have Trisomy 21. With this type of Down syndrome, every cell in the body contains 3 individual copies of the 21st chromosome instead of the typical 2 copies. • Translocation Down syndrome: This type accounts for a tiny percentage of people with Down syndrome (about 3%). This happens when an extra part or a whole extra 21st chromosome is present, but it is joined or “trans-located” to a different chromosome rather than being a separate 21st chromosome. • Mosaic Down syndrome: This type affects about 2% of the people with Down syndrome. Mosaic means a varying pattern. For children with mosaic Down syndrome, some of their cells have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, but other cells have the typical two copies of 21st chromosome. Children born with mosaic Down syndrome may have the same features as other children with Down syndrome. However, they could have fewer features of the condition due to the presence of some (or many) cells with a typical number of chromosomes (CDC,2023). I was recently asked (again) if you can have levels of Down syndrome. The answer is no. You either have an extra copy of the 21st chromosome or you do not. You can have a different type, but that would be determined in genetics testing and not based on a feeling. Hudson was tested and fell under the 95% of those born with Down syndrome, Basic Trisomy 21. The third copy of the 21st chromosome was present in every cell of his body. It is hard not to compare your child to other children, but I truly advise you to not do this. As a beautiful community that prides ourselves on kindness, to think your child is exceeding compared to other children with Down syndrome is the opposite of the message that we work so hard to share. Our children are on individual journeys, each child is perfectly made, and the time it takes them to move their bar is an individual goal determined on an individual basis. I often feel as if we don’t fit in with our community of children with Down syndrome because of Hudson’s dual diagnose with Autism. And we don’t fit in with those who alone have Autism, either. However, Hudson is perfect. He accomplishes many goals made and he’s on a path that we call “Hudson-time”. If I spent time comparing, this journey might get heavy. He can’t do what his peers are doing today, but that doesn't mean he won’t. I actually believe he will do big things. While Hudson isn’t riding a two-wheeled bike yet, he does stumble and he gets back up and tries again. We expect this from him. The independence he gains daily is worth the risk. What is Down syndrome to me? I know my son has an extra chromosome. I am sure you can see it, too. Down syndrome is a diagnosis that I wish I had been praying for; that someone would show us a life full of new beautiful firsts by just changing our lenses. If you have known someone with Down syndrome, you know what I mean. Down syndrome is love. I do wish Hudson didn’t need so many doctor appointments, surgeries or need to live in a bubble to keep him safe; but his resilience has shown me so much about him AND so much about me. We are blessed. We are strong. We are love. Hudson’s light and his laughter are so charming. They’re contagious. They’re infectious. Hudson gets to take the time he needs to live the life he wants. I am happy to be on this journey with him. Risks can come with benefits and some risks are worth taking. Don’t compare our children to typical children and certainly don’t compare our children to one another. All children are charming individuals, but it’s undeniable that children with Down syndrome are EXTRA charming. References CDC, 2023, “Facts About Down Syndrome.” https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html

What is a Sewer Water Slushee? Put any of your favorite fresh fruits into the blender. Add a bit of vanilla or cinnamon. Then pour in a splash of your favorite milk and some sparkling clean ice cubes. Blend it all together, then pour into a tall glass and sip away. Oh, but before you blend it, be sure to add a tablespoon of sewer water – straight from your local sewer. Sounds yummy, huh. After all, it does have healthy milk, vitamin-filled fruit, and clean refreshing ice with the faint hint of cinnamon and vanilla in the background. What’s not to love? Nothing, if you can ignore the fact that you are drinking awful-tasting and seriously contaminated sewer water that will definitely cause you to develop serious problems. Or instead, how about a swigging down a ‘Sickening Suicide Slushee?’ Made with the same selection of fresh fruit, cinnamon, vanilla and ice. But instead of adding milk, just pour in a full cup of thick soupy sewer water before blending it all together and slamming it down in one big gulp. Mmm-mmm-mmm, now THAT’S a meal in itself! The sippers of the Sewer Water Slushee make fun of the Sickening Suicide Slushee slammers. “You stupid idiots! You are killing yourself, don’t you even care?!” But the Sickening Suicide Slammers glare at the Sewer Water Sippers and angrily yell, “Hey, #*%, back off! It’s my life, and I can drink whatever and whenever I want!” What am I talking about? The average Sewer Water Slushee recipe contains things like a responsible job, paying the bills and spending time with loved ones. Eating healthy food and trying to get in a little exercise each week. Loving the kids. Maybe even attending a local church on Sunday. Some good healthy ingredients. But it also has another tiny ingredient. Might be the ‘harmless’ flirtation going on at work. Or the end-of-the-day relaxing time with a favorite hard drink. It could be the recreational drug that brings on a peaceful enjoyment of life. Or having sticky fingers every once in a while. Maybe the little white lie occasionally to keep out of trouble. You name it, a tiny portion of whatever you add is in there. But the Sickening Suicide Slushee recipe? I don’t even have to describe its major ingredients – you’ve already got the idea. Here’s my point. BOTH SLUSHEES ARE ABLE TO KILL YOU! And it does not matter whether you sip it slowly or you slam it. They both have contaminated sewer water. And there simply is no avoiding the fact that drinking sewer water is taking in body-murdering bacteria. Either drink IS going to harm you and can eventually destroy what you love about living. Yes, Sewer Water sippers, you can laugh at the Sickening Suicide slammers - while you ignore what’s happening to your own life. But it is still happening. One contented sip at a time.

Halloween should be scary and fun, not scary and dangerous. Keep trick-or-treaters safe from injury by following advice of paramedics at AMR. Remember: More youngsters are struck by cars on Halloween than on any other day. Injuries from falls are also common. Paramedics at AMR give these 13 Halloween safety tips: 1. It is crucial trick-or-treaters can see well and be seen easily. Avoid costumes with masks because masks can interfere with vision and hamper breathing. Instead, use makeup on the kids’ faces. 2. Go out in small groups. Decide on a definite route and timetable before leaving your house. Finish your trip before dark. 3. An adult should stay with and constantly watch all of the children. The younger the children, the more adults should be constantly present and alert. Keep the children together. Do not let them run ahead of their chaperones. 4. Costumes should be brightly colored, reflect light and have a label that says “flame retardant.” Stripe reflective tape across the front and back of the costume including the shoes. Give each child “glow in the dark” necklaces, bracelets or anklets called “glow sticks,” but do not let the children carry such items since they tie up one of the hands. Avoid hats, helmets, wigs, beards and capes. 5. Costumes should fit well, not so loosely as to trip over or snag on things. Wear flat shoes with closed toes that are the right size for the child. Avoid over-sized shoes such a clown would wear. 6. Keep at least one of each child’s hands free. Instead of letting a child carry a candy bag by hand, add a strap to the bag and drape the bag over the child’s shoulder. Be sure the bag doesn’t drag on the ground. 7. Give each child a flashlight to carry. The other hand should remain empty. 8. Stay on sidewalks and walkways, walk facing traffic, cross streets only at intersections, don’t run across lawns and don’t jump ditches. 9. Approach only those houses with outside lights on. 10. Trick-or-treaters should not enter any candy-giver’s home. 11. Do not allow the kids to eat any treats until the group returns home and an adult examines each bag. Eat nothing that is even slightly suspicious. Look for items that appear to have been unwrapped and then re-wrapped. 12. Dress appropriately for the weather, stay alert and keep handy a small first aid kit for scraped knees and other minor injuries. If a serious injury happens, dial 911 immediately. 13. Drivers should be especially vigilant for trick-or-treaters who might dart across the street. Moving flowerpots and other objects from porches and walkways will help prevent injuries from tripping and falling. AMR says, “Boo!” to you, too! Serving 20 Mississippi counties, AMR companies are the state’s busiest ambulance services. Operating in 20 Mississippi counties, AMR companies are the state’s busiest ambulance services.

As part of annual Homecoming festivities at Hinds Community College, Tra’Shaylah Wilson of Lake was named Miss Utica Campus and K’cy Jones of Canton was named Mr. Utica Campus in a ceremony on Oct. 19. Wilson is the daughter of Shawanda Pinkston and Marcus Wilson. Jones is the son of Reshampton Luckett and Albert Jones. Mr. and Miss Utica also participated in halftime Homecoming ceremonies at Joe Renfroe Stadium on the Raymond Campus.

By Kara Kimbrough What do you do when your football team is playing badly? Find a comfortable spot in the tailgate tent and find solace in the dips. Lack of entertaining football action can be tolerated and in some cases, totally ignored by continuously dipping chips, crackers, chopped vegetables, toasted bread sticks and more into tangy black bean salsa...hot seafood dip...cool and creamy vegetable spread...just a small sample of the dip delicacies at the Homecoming tent at my alma mater a couple of weeks ago. Dips have come a long way since a California housewife mixed a cup of sour cream with Lipton’s onion soup mix in 1952 and called it California dip. Today, there's a homemade version without the freeze-dried onion bits. And dips served cold, warm, baked, bubbly and hot can be made with every possible ingredient, filler and topping number in the hundreds, possibly thousands of recipes. I enjoy almost every dip known to man, especially those that double as a sandwich spread. Here are just a few of my favorite dip recipes to be enjoyed when your favorite team is playing poorly...or even when it's not. Black Bean Salsa Dip 4 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained well 1 (16 ounce) package frozen shoepeg or yellow corn, thawed 1 green onion, diced 1/4 red onion, finely chopped 2/3 cup olive oil 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro Stir the black beans, corn, green onion and red onion together in a bowl. Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, cumin and cilantro together, then pour over vegetables (add mixture to taste); then stir. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight. Cold Crab Dip 1 package imitation crab meat, chopped fine 8-ounce cream cheese 16 ounces soup cream 1 packet Hidden Valley ranch seasoning Small bell pepper, chopped fine 1 small yellow onion, chopped fine Mix together crab, bell pepper and onion. Combine cream cheese, sour cream and ranch packet. Mix everything together and refrigerate at least two hours. Serve with crackers or chips or serve on croissant or sliced bread. Louisiana Hot Crab Dip 1/2 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, 8-ounce cream cheese 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 3 tablespoons minced green onions (white and green parts) 2 large garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients in a skillet and gently stir until thoroughly mixed. Adjust seasoning to taste. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until lightly golden on top. Serve hot, with hot sauce on the side for those who like it spicy. Original Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip 8-ounce cream cheese, softened 3/4 pound cooked cleaned shrimp, chopped (about 2 cups) 3/4 cup cocktail sauce 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese 2 green onions, chopped fine Spread cream cheese onto bottom of shallow bowl. Toss shrimp with cocktail sauce; spoon over cream cheese. Top with remaining ingredients and chill before serving. Beefy Cheese Dip 1 pound ground beef 1 pound sausage 2 pounds Velveeta cheese, shredded 16-ounce jar salsa 1 bunch green onions, chopped Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef and sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 7-10 minutes. Drain and discard grease. While the meat is cooking, combine Velveeta, salsa and green onions in another large skillet over low heat. Stir constantly until cheese melts. Stir meat into the melted cheese mixture until incorporated. Simmer, uncovered, for a few more minutes or until ready to serve. Creamy Vegetable Dip 8-ounce sour cream ½ cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix 1 tablespoon grated onion ¼ teaspoon dried dill or 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill ¼ teaspoon seasoning salt Whisk together all the ingredients. Serve with fresh vegetables and/or chips. (The flavors get better with time; dip can be made several days in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve.) Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Mississippi Farmers Market will host the Halloween Extravaganza 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 28. The Market will feature complimentary bags of popcorn, a photo opportunity for attendees to pose in their Halloween costumes, a variety of food trucks and unique vendors for shopping. The Market will also have pumpkins available to purchase for painting — paint will be provided at no extra cost. Shoppers are invited to wear family-friendly costumes. “I encourage everyone to join us at the Mississippi Farmers Market for our Halloween Extravaganza this Saturday,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “This seasonal event is a great way to celebrate the fall harvest. Our farmers have worked hard this year bringing bounty to the market, even during this harsh drought. Come out this Saturday to support our farmers while having some family-friendly fun." The Farmers Market Café, located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, is open 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every weekday and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. For daily menu schedules, visit the Farmers Market Café on Facebook. The Genuine MS® Store, also located inside the Mississippi Farmers Market, is open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. For additional information about the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Genuine MS® program, visit www.genuinems.com or follow Genuine MS® on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. For additional information about the Mississippi Farmers Market, visit www.msfarmersmarket.com or follow the Mississippi Farmers Market on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Join Central Hinds Academy for Red Ribbon Week, Oct 23-27. Take aim at a drug-free future and stand up against substance abuse. There are exciting events and activities in store!

WHO: JDRF Southern States Chapter, Mississippi WHAT: JDRF’s ONE Night Hope Gala, presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield Mississippi, includes a cocktail reception, multi-course sit-down dinner, silent and live auctions, JDRF’s signature Fund A Cure – a program in which all funds raised go directly to T1D research, and The After-Party where guests enjoy drinks, dancing, late night bites and entertainment. WHEN: February 24, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at The Westin Jackson HOW: Buy tickets at www.jdrfonenightms.comor call (601) 981-1184 Gala Chair, Amber Davis, along with her committee are planning an amazing event for the 2024 JDRF ONE Night Hope Gala Saturday, February 24 beginning 6:00PM at The Westin Jackson. Fund A Cure family Forrest and Julie Johnson will be sharing their story during the evening. JDRF is accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type one diabetes (T1D) and its complications. The event will include a cocktail reception, multi-course sit-down dinner, silent and live auctions, JDRF’s signature Fund A Cure – a program in which all funds raised go directly to T1D research, and The After-Party where guests enjoy drinks, dancing, late night bites and entertainment. Our goal this year is to raise more than $350,000 for research to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs for type 1 diabetes on the way to finding a cure for this disease. Every dollar raised will help lighten the burden on 1.25 million Americans with type 1 diabetes and help us realize our vision of a world without T1D. More than 100 JDRF Galas take place each year in the United States, bringing together thousands of people who are inspired by JDRF’s mission. As a signature JDRF fundraising event, the JDRF Gala Program has raised more than one billion for life-changing T1D research—research that has led to breakthrough discoveries, many of which have already moved into clinical trials and real-world testing. Although there has been considerable progress, there is so much more we have yet to accomplish. Event Schedule: Doors Open at 6:00 PM-Silent Auction Dinner 7:15 PM Program, Live Auction, Fund A Cure 7:45 PM to 9:00PM After-Party 9:00 PM to 10:30PM

By Bob Garver Taylor Swift is the single most powerful force in pop culture at the moment. Every other musical artist is eating her dust on the charts. Television, upended by writers’ and actors’ strikes, is only doing well with sporting events where the topic of conversation is Taylor and her possible relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On the big screen, audiences’ summer fling with Barbenheimer has cooled off with no heir apparent… except for Taylor, of course. Her concert movie “The Eras Tour” doesn’t play by conventional rules. It doesn’t have the backing of a major studio. As of this writing, it is scheduled to only run for only four weeks. It only plays Thursdays through Sundays. It was officially announced only six weeks before its release, sending all competition running (“The Exorcist: Believer” forfeited a Friday the 13th opening to get out of its way). And it is still the theatrical event of the season. As far as box office records for concert movies, forget it, this one already blows everything else out of the water. Domestically, its opening weekend take of nearly $100 million already makes it the #1 of all time, beating previous record-holder “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” by over $20 million. Worldwide, it merely has to roughly double its haul to take the crown away from “Michael Jackson: This Is It,” though some will say that the posthumous documentary doesn’t count as a “concert film.” My guess is that by this time next week, it isn’t going to matter. I saw the movie on a Thursday night, at a screening that was added just a day before. Because of the short notice, the large theater was uncrowded, with less than ten people in attendance. This could have made the film less enjoyable, since large crowds of passionate fans make for a wave of enthusiasm. But Taylor was thinking ahead and brought her own crowd. Okay, that’s not exactly true, but the in-movie crowd of screaming fans at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA more than adequately compensated for the lack of fans in the theater. By the way, that crowd deserves credit for keeping its energy up for the entire show. Cheering as loud as they do would have shredded my voice after about five minutes. From a technical standpoint, the movie does everything pretty much perfectly. Every image is crisp, every note is clear. Taylor usually takes up the whole frame, so even in smaller theaters, her presence is towering. On something like an IMAX, I’m sure she really is the monster she appears to be in the “Anti-Hero” music video. For better or worse, Taylor is in your face for nearly three hours. And the movie is loud. I imagine theaters were specifically instructed to crank up the volume at least a few notches. The night after my screening, I went back to the theater for another movie, and I must have walked past six houses that were blasting music from this movie. It was a weird experience, hearing that much Taylor Swift music in such short order. Did I enjoy the movie? I’m a casual Taylor Swift fan and I enjoyed the movie on a casual level. It makes for a heck of a party (even without a big crowd), and I cheered for my favorite hits (especially the third verse of “Anti-Hero”). But I also thought that it went on too long, and I’m in no hurry to spend that kind of time on it again. If you’re decidedly not a Taylor Swift fan and you got dragged to this movie by a partner, family member, or friend, you’re probably in for a long three hours. For the Swifties, enjoy your Taylor Swift concert, it’s everything you could possibly want. Grade: B “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is rated PG-13 for some strong language and suggestive material. Its running time is 168 minutes. Reminder: the film only plays Thursdays through Sundays and is currently only scheduled for a limited engagement of three more weekends. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

In our country there are entire families who will suffer through a severe issue that eventually severs family relationships for many years. Eventually, someone might tentatively extend an olive branch, and another will cautiously reach out to accept it. Filled with anxiety, dread and hope, the family will then arrange to meet together for the first time in a long time. As everyone smiles and talks about a united future together, the past will never be brought up in the discussion. No attempt will be made to understand another’s point of view, no misunderstandings clarified, no apologies made. The issue will be left untouched, leaving important questions unasked and unanswered. Nothing will be finally understood, forgiven, and put to rest. Therefore, free-roaming imaginations will be permitted to misinterpret everyone’s future behavior. In other words, the dirt of the past is swept under the rug – out of sight, hopefully never to be seen or heard from again. But the problem is this; dirt is still dirt, even lying unseen under the family living room rug. It doesn’t just magically disappear. Nor does it somehow lose its power to be just what it is - ugly, hurtful, and always underfoot, with the ability to cause more misunderstandings and conflict in the future. So much safer, in the long run, for the family members to meet, greet, sit down together and begin the awkward process of getting everything out in the open. Always talking and listening with this in mind: “It is a mighty thin pancake that only has one side.” It is very difficult to try to understand the other person’s point of view when you are unwilling to listen with an open mind and a willing heart. And don’t let it become “Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts.” The discussion needs to include thoughts, emotions, and fears. That is real and honest communication – and given time, it can heal a family who is sick of the hurting and is willing to forgive and reconcile. Difficult? Sure it is. Along with scary. But well worth the effort. Ask a family who did that hard, scary work and is once again a caring and loving bunch. A bunch that has learned some hard lessons. a) Try to always communicate openly and fairly, unless you are willing and ready to suffer the long-term pain of a family split. b) And if a split does happen, be willing to set aside pride and assumptions that the other person is deliberately and totally in the wrong. c) Accept that you may not be sinless in this family crisis. You ain’t Jesus Christ. d) Forgive. Everyone including yourself, for your part in the entire mess. Family is too precious a commodity to give up easily. Think long and hard before you make the decision to angrily pack up your long-suffering pride, gather up your self-righteous skirts, and simply walk away.