Welcome to the Friday mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“I always make our bed and have passed this habit onto my husband because making your bed is the first thing you can accomplish in your day (Habits, rituals and routines, Dec. 4, 2023). And I like everything being neat.” - Samantha

As Ben Franklin said, a place for everything, and everything in its place. - Shane

“I loved reading your hat column this morning (Hats off, Dec. 5, 2023). I, too, remember when there were ‘hat’ rules, but it is fun to sometimes see all the new varieties of styles, etc. Thanks for a fun read. Have a great holiday season.” - Kay

Hats also seem to fall into our habits, rituals and routines. At least for me. When I do wear a hat, it looks much like the ones I wore as a younger man. That may explain why Dad was still wearing those goofy hats in his later years. - Shane

“On an anniversary trip to Scotland in 1999, my wife and I ventured to the Isle of Lewis, part of the Outer Hebrides Islands (Hats off, Dec. 5, 2023). A devout place, there was only one public establishment open on Sundays, and the ferries did not run between the islands and mainland on Sundays. We went to services at a local Church of Scotland. Upon entering (and picking up our copy of the King James Bible, of course), my wife immediately noticed that she was the only female not wearing a hat. We entered anyway. After the service, the pews dismissed orderly, front to back, with an individual from one side of the aisle exiting with a person from the other side of the aisle, so I let my wife go first. The person across the aisle would not go with her — so she went by herself — and the person then walked out side-by-side with me. The next day on the 2.5-hour ferry ride, we talked to the on-board beverage vendor for a bit and he said, ‘You were in church yesterday at Callanish, right?’ My wife, with a smile, said, ‘Yes, I was the woman without a hat. Am I going to hell?’ We had a great laugh about it.” - Brad

I assume you bought her a hat? - Shane

“Our CD changer has about 25 Christmas CDs loaded all the time (Christmas songs, Dec. 6, 2023). These are grouped by music type — traditional carols, hymns, vocals, instrumentals, jazz, country, etc. After our last move, we finally downsized our Mannheim Steamroller Christmas collection from 10 to just three remaining CDs. We have a similar number of general music CDs loaded all the time. Our joy from Christmas music, with all that is out there, makes the season too short to spend a lot of time loading and unloading any kind of recordings. To the dismay of our children, even digitally! Merry Christmas.” - Chuck

You should break out the Jim Nabors Christmas 8-track. - Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman 

President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

The polls have closed and a record number of readers have cast their votes in the latest CITYVIEW'S Best Of Des Moines readers' poll — the metro's original and largest poll of its kind.

 

Winners will be announced in the February 2024 issue of CITYVIEW!

$4,500,000

28 Foster Drive

Des Moines, IA 50312

 

Own a piece of Des Moines history on one of the city's most exquisite streets! Built in 1918 and fully renovated in 2022 by MainBuilt Custom Homes, this stately three-story South of Grand home sits among picturesque oaks on a nearly 2-acre park-like lot backing to Greenwood Park. Extensive landscaping along with brick colonial sophistication welcomes you home.