Well, I think we can all say that 2020 has not been the year we had expected. As we look forward toward 2021 you may be considering making a New Year’s resolution. At the beginning of 2020, an estimated 164 million Americans said they were planning to make a plan to improve themselves moving into the New Year. And if you were one of those people who decided to make a resolution and be successful, well you are not alone. A recent finder survey revealed that 72.4 million Americans, or about 44.2% of all Americans, think that following through on their New Year’s resolution is well within reach.
So with most of 2020 in our rearview mirror, we can begin to think of the ways we want to improve ourselves. Maybe you want to quit smoking or save more money. Maybe you want to eat healthier or move a little more. No matter what your resolution may be, psychologists say you need to have a plan, not just a resolution.
John Norcross, a psychology professor at Scranton University and author of “Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing your Goals and Resolutions”, says that if you want that resolution to become a lifelong habit then you have to have an actionable plan to get there. Here are some tips that Dr. Norcross provides:
Be realistic and plan ahead – Most successful resolvers plan their goals ahead of the January 1st deadline.
Have a reward system – You must replace a bad habit with a good habit.
Eliminate triggers from your environment – Certain everyday behaviors could be triggering your bad habit. Review your daily routine and make changes where they may be needed.
Get social support – Build a support network that can help get you through the rough times and cheer you on in the good times.
If you are like the approximately 65% of Americans who resolve to exercise more in 2021, OHAI wants to remind you that we can help! OHAI provides movement classes like Tai Chi, Staying Active and Independent for Life, and Walk with Ease. All of these programs meet you where you are physically and allows you to build a support system of others while you are achieving your goals.
The Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative, or OHAI, provides free, virtual classes that are open to anyone at any fitness level. These classes are currently being held on the Zoom platform and also on Facebook Live so you can exercise in the comfort and safety of your own home.
OHAI’s 2021 class schedule is being finalized now, so please feel free to email devon-murray@ouhsc.edu, tina-ruding@ouhsc.edu or christopher-m-anderson@ouhsc.edu and we can provide you with the classes that will work best in your busy schedule. You can also check out our website at www.ohai.org or like our Facebook Page at Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative to find a current Facebook Live class schedule.
Let’s all try to make 2021 a happier, healthier year not only for ourselves but for everyone around us.
Few New Years have been welcomed as heartily as this one. If you’re like me, you’re probably eager (and hopeful?) for the new beginnings a new year brings.
Along with my fresh start as a newlywed, I recently quit my job to take my digital marketing business full time. Now I’m starting this monthly column, where I get to share my love of writing with you regularly. (For all of the above, I’ll say Yay God – Thanks for 2020!)
So, raise your glass with me to new beginnings! And tune in here each month for hot takes on how to grow your business (even during a pandemic), fun features of friendly faces from around town, and hopefully the occasional full-bellied laugh.
Now that we’re acquainted, I want to share something important. Your business cannot afford to ignore the digital era we’ve been ushered into. I know… As the need for various online delivery and communication rises, the annoyance level that comes with the words remote and virtual seems to rise at an equal rate. It can be intimidating, but you must take action to adapt. Read on to learn some of the best practices I’m using to help each of my clients grow their business.
WHY DOES MY BUSINESS NEED TO BE ONLINE?
Before I dive too deeply into digital marketing news and theories… I want to acknowledge that this digital world is absurd to many of you. You’ve always done business one way, and the last year pushed you so far out of your comfort zone, that considering anything else that includes the word online makes you want to drive straight to Callahan’s. Bear with me. Learning and implementing online strategies will transform your business. And after 2020, you’re probably ready for some transformation. Going online is worth the effort, especially with so many working online, remotely, virtually.
Recently in a meeting, someone asked me, “Ok, so I start posting about my new orange pants on social media. Do people actually care?” Yes – yes, they do. Maybe not specifically about your pants, but many are isolated and craving connection more than ever. If a conversation about those orange pants leads to a connection with you, which in turn leads to you becoming the first person they think of when in need of an electrician, a Realtor, a new shirt…or a-whatever-you-offer, wasn’t it worth the post?
SHOULD I JUST START POSTING ANYWHERE?
Before you race over to Facebook and start posting, it’s important to put some thought into a strategy. In the digital world, likes and views aren’t enough. You want new customers.
You’ve got to one, know who these customers are, and two, know where they are. Just as every age group and demographic isn’t flocking to the same physical location, everyone is drawn to a different online platform.
Think of platforms as virtual buildings, and their features as rooms within those buildings. Every person physically gathered at an event is drawn to a different room with different refreshments, decor, and conversation.
As you shift your view of consumers in the online world to mirror them in the brick and mortar world, it’s important to be informed. Posting on every platform is not a guarantee of success.
WHAT PLATFORMS ARE RIGHT FOR MY BUSINESS?
I thought you’d never ask.
Facebook – The Dinner Party
Attending dinner with friends and only talking about business will soon land you on the far end of the table alone. Be sure to throw some casual or personal thoughts out there, too. Make sure to ask about their lives, comment on their lives, and let them respond.
Instagram – Brunch
This is a comfortable, casual, trendy environment. A place for cozy, stylish outfits. Conversations about your career are veiled in a more personal cloak, and you’re probably having a couple of mimosas.
LinkedIn – The Networking Luncheon
Have you ever left a luncheon and said, “Dang! I passed out too many business cards!”? This is a room with McAlister’s sandwiches and iced tea. You can’t over-connect. No super personal information is shared; it’s all about business trends and tips.
YouTube – Educational Work Conference
You hop through different channels with different educational videos, like a conference with different breakout sessions. What you post here should be educational, and set you up as a subject matter expert.
Snapchat and TikTok – Happy Hour
Things are rowdy here. There is dancing, and attire ranges from sweats to skinny jeans and stilettos. The conversation is 92 percent personal, eight percent business. To find success here, you have to commit to becoming a regular.
Twitter – The Coffee Shop
You pull up to Da Vinci’s for a quick catch up with friends. The conversation might be work or personal, but it’s fast and caffeinated. Some acquaintances will chime in as they pass your table. To make connections here, you need to show up daily.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Remember those two big questions I asked earlier. Who are your customers? Where do they hang out?
Think about the platforms where your customers are already hanging. Think about what type of content they consume. Then focus your energy on creating content they’ll enjoy on those platforms.
Oh, and of course, if you ever need help, I’m just a phone call or email away. (580) 231-1554 / wordygirlcreative@gmail.com.
As January approaches in Northwest Oklahoma, basketball season becomes the central focus of high school sports. Such is the case at Chisholm High School, as they prepare to host the 52nd Annual Wheat Capital Basketball Tournament on January 7, 8, 9. The Wheat Capital has long been known for its exciting atmosphere created by the competitiveness of some of the best teams from around the area. Alva, Blackwell, Chisholm, Garber, Kingfisher, Perry, OKC Knights, Tecumseh, and Woodward fill out the brackets for the 2021 edition of the Wheat Capital Tournament.
The Wheat Capital Tournament is an event that the Chisholm Community takes great pride in hosting each year. In 1969, the tournament began and was hosted at the Chisholm Elementary School gymnasium. It has also been hosted at Phillips University until the current Paul J. Outhier fieldhouse was constructed in the early ’80s. The history of the tournament is one part of the tradition that fuels the atmosphere and energy among the teams participating. Long-standing teams such as Alva, Chisholm, and Kingfisher ensure that the semifinals and finals are well attended every year. The Alva girls are 6 time Wheat Capital Champions. The Kingfisher Boys have been crowned champions 11 times in 51 years. The Chisholm boys and girls have combined for 11 championships.
This year’s edition of the Wheat Capital will be extremely competitive. In the girl’s bracket Kingfisher, Alva, Perry, and Garber are ranked in the top 10 in their respective classes. Chisholm and Woodward both return enough experience to knock off any of the teams in the field. On the boy’s side of the tournament, Kingfisher is loaded for another run at the championship as the top-ranked team in 4A. The rest of the field is well balanced with Perry coming off a berth in the state tournament last year, and Woodward and Chisholm teams both returning a lot of experience on their respective teams.
The Chisholm Lady Longhorns have a senior-laden team. They start four seniors; Regi Pasby, Courtney Petersen, Brinidey Willson, and Gracie Holder. Add in starter Alice Watkins, and valuable bench player Grace Winter, and the Lady Longhorns will have a solid, experienced team that should find themselves gelling together as they approach the Wheat Capital tournament. The Chisholm Longhorns boys team is very similar to their girl counterparts. They are driven by senior starters; Luke Balenti, Parker Warnock, Heston Daniels, Cody Wichert, and Hunter Combs. Key contributors off the bench include senior Bryson Young, sophomore Huston Lane, and junior Tristan Crosswhite.
As with most indoor events, the Wheat Capital Tournament will have some restrictions on attendance this year. Each team will be allotted 40 tickets per team and 40 extra tickets will be open to the public per set of games. Indoor events at Chisholm High School will require spectators to wear a mask and are asked to make sure that spectators do not enter the gym with any symptoms or recent exposures to Covid-19.
Chisholm High School takes great pride in hosting the Wheat Capital Tournament and embracing its history. It allows Chisholm High School to showcase its students, athletes, staff, and community. It takes a lot of great people to pull off such a huge event. Chisholm High School would like to thank the Chisholm Community and everyone in the Enid area that has had even the slightest hand in making the 52nd Annual Wheat Capital Tournament what it is today.
While job growth is seen as the primary function of an economic development office, it is not possible to recruit employers without a strong pipeline of skilled employees to fill available jobs. This puts economic developers in the role of supporting an environment and education system that produces and attracts a talented young workforce. One of the many ways that Enid supports our talented young workers is through the Enid Young Professionals organization.
Enid Young Professionals (EYP) is an organization whose mission is to attract and retain young people in Enid and to foster the next generation of leaders in the community. EYP offers opportunities for professional development, community service, civic engagement, and networking through their regularly scheduled events. EYP also recognizes outstanding young professionals in the community through their annual 10 Under 40 Awards. Since forming in 2010, many who have been involved with EYP have gone on to be top leaders in their workplace, to serve on non-profit boards, and to make lasting impacts in the community.
9th Annual 10 Under 40 Winners: Shelby Cottrill, Autry Technology Center, Stela Jantzen, Park Avenue Thrift, Hannah Hankey, BKD, Virginia Miller, Groendyke Transport, Jenna Rosine, Edward Jones, Chris Trojan, Attorney at Law, Lydia Kelley, Loaves & Fishes, Alex Evers, Family Martial Arts, Jake Krumwiede, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Tiffany Misak, NWOSU-Enid.
As a small metropolitan community, Enid is just the right size to give people a diverse set of activities, while being small enough to provide everyone an opportunity to make a difference. Over the past few years, Enid has made great strides in becoming a desirable location for young professionals through good-paying jobs, affordability, and quality of life initiatives. If we are to continue to grow Enid by recruiting high paying jobs, it is vital to provide a quality of life that attracts young talent and keeps them in our community.
9th Annual 10 Under 40 Winners: Shelby Cottrill, Autry Technology Center, Stela Jantzen, Park Avenue Thrift, Hannah Hankey, BKD, Virginia Miller, Groendyke Transport, Jenna Rosine, Edward Jones, Chris Trojan, Attorney at Law, Lydia Kelley, Loaves & Fishes, Alex Evers, Family Martial Arts, Jake Krumwiede, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Tiffany Misak, NWOSU-Enid.
If you or someone you know wants to get involved with the Enid Young Professionals or would like to be a mentor to young professionals, visit their website at www.enidyp.com or follow them on Facebook “Enid Young Professionals” or Instagram “@enidyoungprofessionals.”
Wow, what a year! I can’t say that many people are sad that it ended, and who isn’t looking forward to the new year? It just HAS to be better than the last, doesn’t it? For us here at Enid Monthly, there are a lot of exciting new developments for instance, you may have noticed the new name! With it will come some really amazing opportunities for us to provide more content and value for our readers and advertisers, such as a new website which will roll out in the coming weeks. We will also be providing the same great content you have come to expect from us here at Enid Monthly. Who knows where this year will take us, but we do know that we LOVE being a part of the Enid community and all that Enid has to offer.
p.s. We wish Curtis and Enid Buzz all the best on their new endeavors. They have been a great partner for our startup and we are also excited to see what they will be up to in the future!
Students knew that the 2020 school year would look very different to the Seniors as they navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic. How different they had no idea. For one Senior, she soon found that there would be many obstacles including quarantine and coaching changes, but that didn’t stop her from making the All-State Pom team.
After asking Chaney about her thoughts going into her Senior year she said “we knew it would not be anything close to normal but that we would be grateful for whatever opportunities we did get.”
The EHS Pom team would have one other obstacle, a coaching change. This would be the 4th coaching change in her career at EHS. For this change, Chaney said that “although change is difficult we had been through it before, as a group we stepped up and helped make the transition less stressful.”
EHS Pom Coach Abigail Necarsulmer said this about Chaney: “Chaney is adaptable to change and has kept a positive attitude throughout the Covid-19 environment. Making All-State affirms her expertise and commitment to her sport.”
Chaney Tucker has been a member of the Enid High Pom Team since middle school and has been dancing since she was little. This, along with an excellent work ethic, has made Chaney a very talented dancer. So good in fact, she was recognized this year by being named an Oklahoma All-State and All-Region West performer.
Chaney Tucker – EHS Pom
“Chaney Tucker has been a dedicated member of the Pom team since she joined in 7th grade. Chaney works hard in and out of practice and her skills display consistency and mastery of dance” said Coach Necarsulmer.
It is not surprising that Chaney will continue her Pom career at the next level. Her sister Piper is a member of the OU Pom Team. Chaney told me that she will definitely be pursuing a Pom or Dance position at the collegiate level. One thing is clear, Chaney has a great work ethic and is very talented, two traits that will serve her well as she continues on her path. We at EHS are excited for her future and can not wait to see what she accomplishes!
Enid Athletics Plainsmen/Pacer Pride of the Plains Brought to You by Slater Mechanical
Every family celebrates Christmas a bit differently. Traditions carried on from generation to generation, lend comfort, familiarity, and fun to the holidays.
For instance, some families of German descent in the US Midwest add to the holiday celebration with the Christmas Pickle. The pickle is a glass blown ornament and is typically the last one put on the tree. It is camouflaged among branches, but the first child to find it gets an extra gift and wins good luck for the next year.
Adopting an Elf on the Shelf has gained popularity in recent years as a way to encourage children to be on their best behavior during the days preceding Christmas. The Elf will report back to Santa every night to say whether the youngsters have been naughty or nice. After his nightly visit to the North Pole, he returns to a new spot every day. Oh, one more thing… if the kids touch the Elf, all of his Elf magic goes away! Parents get very creative, often posting their Elf’s antics on social media to add to the merriment.
This month we explore three distinctive cultures found in the Enid area and learn of the intriguing Christmas traditions they embrace.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day
The Hispanic community in Enid starts their annual holiday celebrations much earlier than December. On October 28 of each year, parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church begin the tradition of recognizing the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The story behind the celebration is one of miracles.
According to St. Francis parishioner, Octaviano Don Juan, on December 9th, 1531, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico as the pregnant Mother of God to Juan Diego, a recent Catholic convert. She asked him to go to the Bishop and request that a church be built on the hill of Tepeyac, which is now part of Mexico City. He did as she requested, but the Bishop would not believe him without seeing a “sign”.
Our Lady appeared to Diego again on December 10th and 12th. On the third meeting on Tepeyac Hill, she instructed Diego to go to the top of the barren hill and gather the roses growing there. Although he was confused, as roses were not known to grow on the rocky ground, he obeyed, wrapped them in his tilma (a cactus fiber cloak), and carried the roses back to the Bishop to again make Our Lady’s request. He opened his cloak to display the “sign”, and when the white roses tumbled out, the image of Our Lady had appeared on the fabric of the tilma. Immediately, the Bishop fell to his knees and believed. The church was later built as Our Lady of Guadalupe requested.
The survival of the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe remains a mystery.
The miraculous image is on permanent display at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. It is not a painting, as no pigments were used, and has been determined to be a true reflection of Our Lady. According to Don Juan, a duplicate image was created on similar tilma fabric, and within 15 years, the copy disintegrated, while the original image remained intact. He also tells of another miracle in 1921, when rebels in Mexico sought to abolish the Catholic faith and attempted to destroy the image of Our Lady by placing a bomb in front of it, hidden in an arrangement of roses. The huge explosion did not harm it, and the image of Christ was witnessed standing next to the image of Our Lady after the blast.
Because of the miracles that surrounded the legend of Our Lady of Guadalupe, over 9 million indigenous Indians in Mexico were converted to Catholicism in the next 9 years. Pope John Paul II established December 12th as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In the reflection of Our Lady, her blue mantle has 46 gold stars, so the annual celebration of the Feast Day begins 46 days before December 12th. For 46 consecutive days, homes in the Enid area are voluntarily opened so that people may gather and pray the rosary. Don Juan says the number is usually 50-60 people at a time. His wife, Claudia, notes that usually the rosary is dedicated to the healing of a sick family member, or for protection from harm.
Claudia and Octaviano Don Juan kneel as Julia Vega stands honoring the Our Lady of Guadalupe image.
On the 46th day, December 12th, the church is opened at 4:00 am for the final rosary to be prayed. A mariachi group is on hand to serenade Our Lady. Her image is on special display in the front of the sanctuary, decorated with Mexican serapes, twinkle lights, and masses of roses are arranged at her feet, according to Tillie Sewell, a Parish Council member and Eucharistic Minister at St. Francis Xavier. At 5:00 am, Mass is celebrated with the mariachi group serving as Cantor during the service. After the service, breakfast is held in the Parish Hall, featuring hot chocolate, bunuelos (a sweet treat), and tamales as a final celebration of the Feast Day.
Our Lady of Guadalupe came to offer faith, hope, and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile them with their Spanish rulers who conquered and evangelized them. She put an end to the human sacrifice of the Aztec Indians and converted them to the Catholic faith, bringing peace to Mexico. The annual holiday tradition of honoring her is indeed considered sacred to many.
Pacific Island Ministry Celebration
The Marshall Islands have experienced five centuries of colonization under Spain, Germany, Japan, and finally the United States. During the twentieth century, global wars and US military expansion led to the forcible displacement of much of the population. In World War II, the Marshallese people were forcibly evacuated from Kwajalein Island to make way for the Japanese, then later US military installations, and during the Cold War, many more Marshallese were forced to leave northern atolls (such as Bikini and Enewetak) in preparation of US nuclear testing. This testing made their islands uninhabitable and many migrated to the United States.
Over the years, Enid has become home for at least 5,000 Marshallese residents. Emmanuel Enid recognized a need for professional community planning assistance, and in 2017, Yohanes Arwakon was named Pastor to the Pacific Island Ministry. He heads the English as a Second Language Program and has been heavily involved in assisting area educators with the fast-growing population of Marshallese children.
Mark Anzelone (left), Yohanes and Yenni Arwakon (right) with the English as a Second Language group
Before our interview, Mark Anzalone, Lead Interpreter for the ministry, was speaking to his English class students in attendance about possible questions that may be asked of them. What is your name? How do you celebrate Christmas? were a few of the questions written on the chalkboard. Yohanes Arwakon and his wife, Yenni, were also present along with several members of Enid’s Marshallese community.
When questioned about their holiday traditions, many spoke of the holiday’s singing and dancing groups and then the topic turned to food. On Christmas Day, large containers of food are exchanged and the entire day may be spent watching various local groups, called Jeptas, perform original songs, dances and skits. This involves much prior preparation and the uniforms can range from casual attire to more formal clothing.
Mark Anzelone as Santa Claus and Yenni Arwakon, Santa’s Helper, distribute Christmas gifts. (Photo provided by Yohanes Arwakon)
As for the type of food that is exchanged, the group responded that it could be chicken, ribs, hot dogs, ham, or fish that is gifted. “Sometimes we eat turtle,” piped up one man, to a round of chuckles. It was agreed that there is enough food in each container for the recipient to “eat for days.”
When asked what was the best Christmas gift to receive, the answer was “anything.” One participant mentioned that her children were enrolled in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project and always loved the gifts they received.
Anzalone shares his favorite ministry Christmas story. “A Santa Celebration was held at Emmanuel Enid for the Pacific Island Ministry in 2017, and I was asked to dress up as Santa (with a bit of padding)! In order to help the youngsters in attendance feel more comfortable about sitting on Santa’s lap, I called out Pastor Arwakon’s name first and pretended to be astonished when he wasn’t a 6-year-old boy.” Another special memory of his involves the 15-minute long Thank You song that is sung at the end of Marshallese performances. He also spoke of a handmade seashell necklace he was given. “I really treasure those things,” he says, wistfully.
The Pacific Island Ministries Choir in uniform. (Photo provided by Yohanes Arwakon)
Childhood Christmas Memories in Denmark
Jens Ruding has made his home in Enid for over 20 years, but his family roots are still deep in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. He had just returned from a family visit before our interview in his home.
Ruding spoke of the Christmas Calendar that he would receive on the first of December. Danish children typically count down the 24 days before Christmas with a colorful Advent Calendar. Each of the 24 days promised a chocolate bar or piece of candy, which was not an everyday childhood treat. “We were very sensible about sweets during the year,” he explains.
On December 13th, St. Lucia’s Day (Luciadag), children in Denmark are dressed in white clothes and visit schools, retirement homes, churches, and hospitals while holding candles in their hands. According to legend, Saint Lucia was a martyr who brought food to Christians that were hiding in the catacombs, and in order to light her way, she wore a candlelit wreath on her head. Usually, one older child is chosen to play the part of Saint Lucia complete with wearing the illuminated wreath.
The weekend before Christmas was always reserved for his family selecting a freshly cut tree at a local tree farm. But the real celebration was afterward when they gathered for Julefrokost (Christmas Lunch) at the Søllerød Kro, a local Inn. This meal could be as elaborate as Christmas Eve Dinner and is still a much-anticipated and well-attended Danish tradition. Julefrokost can be a family-get-together, or a gathering of office staff, club members, or friends. Most Danes look forward to being invited to Julefrokost…in fact, refusing to attend can be considered impolite!
As for the date of the main Christmas festivities, “The majority of Danes hold their big Christmas Eve celebration at night. The 25th was just for sleeping in, digesting, and playing with our new toys.”
On Christmas Eve, the whole family gathered at Ruding’s grandmother’s home for a delicious holiday dinner and gift exchange. The traditional menu consisted of roasted duck, potatoes with gravy, and red cabbage. The dessert dish would be risengrød (rice pudding), and the person finding the hidden blanched almond in the dessert won a mandelgave (almond present) in the form of a marzipan pig or another small gift. Ruding recalls his family members attempting to “fake out” others at the table and act like they had crunched into the almond first, just to keep things interesting!
Jens Ruding (in blue) holding hands with family and encircling the Christmas Tree, circa 1976. (Photo Provided by Jens Ruding)
Once everyone cleaned their plates, it was time for singing and dancing around the family Christmas Tree. The final trimming of the tree included the lighting of wax candles, so it was done immediately before the grand reveal. The tree was traditionally decorated with handmade ornaments, garlands of Danish flags, and red and white woven paper hearts (Jule-hjertes) that held candies or gingersnap cookies called peppernuts (pebernødder). The lighted candles were the beautiful crowning touch. The tree was situated in the center of the living room, which had been closed off from view during dinner.
After the excitement of seeing the tree in all its splendor, the entire family would hold hands, encircling the tree, and sing Christmas songs, carols, and hymns. “Nu Er Det Jul Igen” (“Now it is Christmas Again”) and “Dejlig Er Den Himmel Blå” (Lovely is the Blue Sky) were among the top choices for that special moment.
Ruding and his wife, Jill, still keep many of his childhood traditions alive even though living in Oklahoma. “Jens is fantastic in the kitchen,” according to Jill, and both enjoy cooking traditional Danish dinners for family and friends on special occasions. So much so, they regularly place orders from a Nordic store in Berkley, California, utilizing overnight shipping as many of the foods are extremely perishable.
Jill and Jens Ruding relax at their Enid home.
Danish pork roast (flæskesteg) is a special delicacy, as the skin is left intact to yield crispy “pork rinds” when prepared. Once, the couple traveled to Berkley and decided to bring the coveted meat home with them. They bought a 6-foot long pork loin, cut it in two, and packed it with dry ice in one of their suitcases. “When it arrived on the carousel at the OKC airport, it was sweating!” laughs Ruding.
The Rudings admit to “double-dipping” when it comes to Christmas celebrations in the States, meaning they celebrate both Christmas Eve and Day to accommodate everyone in their immediate family. They have also kept the tradition of the mandelgave, but have substituted a bottle of champagne, board game, or gift card as the almond present since their children are older.
Interwoven into all three of these cultural celebrations are the special bonds shared by the participants. Christmas marks one of the few times during the year where people can slow down from the hustle and bustle of the world they live in and gather together with friends and family to partake in time-honored traditions or possibly institute new ones…maybe donning matching pajamas for that cute family portrait or organizing a yummy cookie swap?
Have a Merry Christmas, no matter how it is celebrated!
Larger than the planet Mercury, huge moon Titan is seen here as it orbits Saturn. Below Titan are the shadows cast by Saturn's rings. NASA/JPL
If you ask yourself, “what’s the most pressing issue in the world of astronomy and astrophysics”, something I know all of you do, you’ll most likely come to two obvious solutions: “Where did the universe come from?” and “Is there life elsewhere in the universe?” While we currently have no knowledge of extraterrestrial species wielding lightsabers and manipulating inanimate objects through their blood-borne disease, we do have an understanding of locations in our solar system that could harbor microbial life. In this month’s The Cosmic Mariner, we’re traveling to the strange and downright mysterious world known as Titan.
Unlike Europa, Jupiter’s 2nd Galilean moon, and perhaps the most promising place in the solar system for extraterrestrial life to exist, Titan is often snubbed from Hollywood films due to its lack of space appeal. After all, Saturn’s 6th moon is quite bland with nothing more than a golden-brown haze covering the entirety of the planet. Like many worlds, Titan is an incredibly inhospitable place. Want to go for a hike on the dunes? Make sure you take a coat as it’s a bit chilly at negative 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s not the kind of place you’d want to spend your summer vacation…or your winter vacation…or actually, I don’t really recommend going there at all unless you breathe nitrogen and methane. Oh, and if you don’t enjoy the ear-crushing pressure of a swim at 49ft beneath the water’s surface, then I wouldn’t visit Titan since the air pressure is roughly the same.
Coincidentally, however, this pressure allows nitrogen and methane to split apart through their interactions with ultraviolet radiation in Saturn’s magnetic field. These molecular puzzle pieces then recombine to form organic hydrocarbons that rain onto the surface of Titan where they form the darkened dunes and lengthy riverbeds. Wait, riverbeds? One of the most important pieces of Titan’s habitability equation is the presence of liquid rivers and lakes littered across the surface. In fact, Titan is the only object in the solar system known to contain liquids on the surface. These liquid bodies, however, are not as swim-friendly as Earth’s. On Titan, these are composed of liquid methane and ethane. As far as we know, carbon-based life forms, every living thing we know of, requires the existence of liquid water to survive and carry out metabolic interactions. However, the idea that life on the surface of Titan would require liquid water is an earth bias. If we are to discover new life forms, perhaps we must look outside the cell wall and eliminate our earthly concepts. In 2005, Chris McKay and astrobiologists at the Ames Research Center published a paper that described how methanogens, or methane-based life forms, could survive. Essentially, the paper postulates that these methanogens could subside through the consumption of hydrogen, acetylene, and ethane, all while releasing the waste product methane. While Chris McKay holds reservations about the possibility of these methanogens existing, even though there is data backing the potential existence of these organisms through the observation of depleted numbers of hydrogen and acetylene on the surface of Titan, this concept is not completely out of this world.
While these organisms would be vastly different from our current understanding of life, they would present the potential existence of life on another world and effectively open Pandora’s box to an array of planetary bodies capable of hosting life throughout the cosmos. While Titan’s methane lakes and river systems remain a primary target for life unseen by humans, this mysterious moon does, in fact, possess water. That’s right, our favorite molecule, dihydrogen monoxide. Say that next time you order a glass and watch your waiter’s reaction. Unlike Earth, rocks on Titan are composed of frozen water. Take a look at the above photograph captured by the Huygens probe that landed on the surface in 2005. See those rocks? They are water! In addition, measurements taken by Cassini and Huygens seemed to confirm the existence of a subsurface ocean of liquid water. This means that Titan, like Europa and Enceladus, are potentially habitable worlds right within our solar system! And guess what. We are going there!
A view of the surface of Titan during the descent stage of the Huygens Probe. ESA/NASA
As is the mission of NASA, the United States is going to land a nuclear-powered quadcopter on the surface of Titan and fly it from destination to destination to better and more efficiently study this mysterious golden world. Launching in 2026 and arriving in 2034, the Dragonfly mission will “look for prebiotic chemical processes, common on both Titan and Earth. Dragonfly marks the first time NASA will fly a multi-rotor vehicle for science on another body. According to NASA, the spacecraft will have a 2.7-year baseline and research a variety of important environments such as riverbeds, dunes, and the presumed subsurface ocean. While the Dragonfly mission is still a decade away from its first flight on the golden world, we can only imagine what incredible insight this important mission will provide. While the rest of the world focuses on Europa (and the Coronavirus) due to its potential to harbor Earth-like organisms, why not focus our attention on the golden gem; Titan. A moon bigger than our innermost planet Mercury and, if life happens to be discovered on it, could rewrite how we view not only ourselves but also how we look for life and intelligence in the greater extent of the cosmos.
Dragonfly, NASA’s mini rotorcraft that will study the surface of Titan, is seen landing and flying into the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. NASA
I have a lot of friends that start decorating for Christmas as soon as the Halloween decorations are put away, but I cannot seem to skip Thanksgiving and the browns and oranges of fall. However, in our family, we use the days after Thanksgiving to put up our beautiful Christmas decorations and make our house as festive as can be.
This year, however, will mean a little bit more to me than most. My life has changed much in the last couple of years, but my new focus on the true meaning of the season, the birth of Christ, makes it a little more special this year. While our beautiful tree, twinkling lights, and fun decorations make for a cozy home, it’s the spirit that fills our heart that means the most. Enid Buzz Monthly wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
