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November 2025
Thanksgiving Football With a Side of Drama
The Most Heated Game of the Year
November always makes me think of two things: turkey and football. I’ve always been a Vikings fan, but my best football memories aren’t from the NFL. They’re from pickup games we played after Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt Sylvia’s house. Those backyard games were just as full of family drama as fun. Aunt Sylvia had a big yard with plenty of flat ground and enough space for what felt like half a stadium’s worth of cousins, uncles, and neighbors. My dad was one of 14 kids, and by the time you added in spouses and children, we had at least 60 people most years. You can imagine what that meant for football. It was 20 against 20 and sometimes more, with no refs and plenty of opinions. Chaos is the only word for it. Of course, the yard wasn’t exactly regulation. Our boundaries ran from the corner of the barn to a tree on the far side. Hats and gloves stood in for pylons but never stayed put. And if you ran too
wide, you risked hitting the tree. That was a lesson you only had to learn once. The rules were constantly shifting, too. One-hand touch or two-hand touch was a yearly debate, and pass interference got argued on nearly every play. If the older uncles weren’t paying attention, nobody agreed on anything. It usually came down to shouting until someone gave in, which is about what you’d expect when you mix football with family. Huge age gaps made things even more complicated. When you’ve got college kids playing against fourth-graders, somebody is bound to get knocked over. The rule was that if you ran over a little kid and they cried, that counted as a tackle. Tears ended the play. That was the only way to keep things fair when 22-year-olds barreled through the elementary school crowd. The younger cousins found other reasons to cry. Some never got the ball thrown their way, which led to tears of frustration instead of pain. The quarterbacks wanted to throw to the faster, older kids, so we had to make up “special plays” so the younger ones could catch a pass. Quarterback itself was another battle. Everyone wanted the job, even the kids who couldn’t throw straight or far enough to clear the crowd. They’d usually get one series before someone else took over, sparking a fresh argument about who was next.
Then came the potato count. Defenses had to give the quarterback a grace period, so we used the old “one potato, two potato …” countdown before rushing. It was three potatoes or sometimes five, but the problem was that people rushed too early or said their “potatoes” so fast that it didn’t matter. More shouting followed, usually until an uncle stepped in to make the final call. We can’t forget the cold, either. Some years, we had snow on the ground, which made things more unpredictable. Gloves were a constant argument. If you wore them, you couldn’t grip the ball. Take them off, and your fingers froze. Either way, you lost. But the cold never stopped the game. The NFL was the only thing that could. Everyone went inside to watch when the Vikings were on, but we were back in the yard as soon as the game ended, still arguing over rules and boundaries. Even today, all those memories come back when I play in the Thanksgiving Day game at church. My kids join in, and I get to relive the chaos from my childhood. It might be a different field with different faces, but all the same family fun and drama is there. It’s still the best part of the holiday and my favorite game of the year. –Samuel Harms
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Find Your Rhythm in Retirement BUILD A RETIREMENT ROUTINE THAT FEELS RIGHT
Retirement is a well-earned chapter in life, but transitioning to it can feel like stepping into the unknown. After decades of routines built around work, it’s easy to feel adrift. Fortunately, structure can go a long way in finding your freedom. Start With Purpose Waking up with something to look forward to is one of the simplest ways to infuse your day with purpose. Whether it’s reading the newspaper, taking a morning walk, or working toward a long-held dream, these purposeful starts add rhythm to your day. Set small goals that
appointments and errands can sit comfortably beside lunch dates, gardening time, or a
painting session. Mix the predictable with the spontaneous. After all, retirement is your time, so make it flexible and fun. Reimagine Your Routine Establishing new routines adds a sense of comfort and control. A consistent morning routine, complete with your favorite breakfast and a bit of movement, can kick-start your day with energy and
intention. End your day with a relaxing ritual to wind down, reflect, or connect with loved ones. Keep It Fresh Avoid falling into autopilot mode. Challenge yourself to try something new regularly, whether exploring a new walking path, attending a local workshop, or picking up a new skill. Your retirement life should be anything but dull. This is your time to thrive!
excite you: Learn a new hobby, volunteer in your community, or dive into a creative project you’ve always wanted to try. Learning and progress feel good at any age. Balance Planning With Play Planning isn’t about creating a rigid schedule; it’s about sprinkling your calendar with things you love. Doctor
The World’s Rarest Blood Type
The Only Match? Herself
You’ve heard of A, B, AB, and O, but have you heard of Gwada Negative? Odds are you haven’t, and for good reason: It belongs to just one person on the planet. After over a decade of research, scientists in France have
“Gwada” by locals. What followed was anything but routine. Researchers first spotted a strange antibody in 2011, so they knew it was unusual, but lacked the resources to investigate further. Years
Now dubbed Gwada Negative, this new type has captured the attention of scientists worldwide. It’s a medical unicorn, a reminder that plenty of mystery still runs through our veins. This discovery adds a new branch to the blood type family tree and highlights how critical diversity is in blood research. Who knows? A revolutionary find could be sitting quietly in someone’s bloodstream, waiting to be uncovered during a routine checkup. So, the next time you roll up your sleeves for a blood draw, remember that your body might be more unique than you think!
later, thanks to advances in DNA sequencing, they
officially classified this ultra- rare blood type as the 48th recognized blood group. The discovery started with a seemingly routine blood
finally traced it back to a unique genetic mutation passed down by both of the woman’s parents.
The result? A blood type so rare that the woman is only compatible with herself.
draw in 2011 from a woman originally from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, affectionately called
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TAKE A BREAK
Somatic Journaling Will Change How You Heal
Apples Basketball Black Friday Election Kindness Leaves Nap Parade Pie Scorpio Topaz Veteran
And How You Move Through the Day
You know that feeling when something’s off, but you can’t quite explain it? You’re not “sick,” but you’re not thriving. Maybe your shoulders are tense, your stomach is in knots, or your energy crashes every afternoon. That’s your body trying to get your attention. Fortunately, you already have the tools to listen. Welcome to somatic journaling , a practice that helps you connect the dots between what your body feels and what your soul needs. Feeling better starts with feeling. Unlike traditional journaling, which often lives in your head (think thoughts, plans, overthinking), somatic journaling takes you deeper. It allows you to tune in to your body, where your emotions, energy, and stress are stored. Those tight hips? That shallow breath? They’re clues. Somatic journaling is your chance to decode them. All you need is a bit of mindfulness, a notebook, and a few moments to breathe and ask your body, “What’s going on in there?” Let’s say you’re anxious before a meeting. Instead of spiraling into “Why am I always like this?” you pause and notice: Your chest is tight, your breath shallow, and you feel like you’re running on empty. Then comes the “aha” moment: “I’ve had no breaks all day. No wonder I feel this way.” That’s the body’s version of a breakthrough and a chance to reset. Try these easy somatic check-ins. The 3-2-1 Body Scan
PUMPKIN DUMP CAKE
• 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin • 1 (10 oz) can evaporated milk • 1 cup light brown sugar • 3 eggs • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice • 1 box yellow cake mix Ingredients Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, add pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. 3. Stir to combine and pour into the prepared pan. 4. Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix on top, followed by nuts or graham crackers and toffee bits. 5. Pour melted butter evenly on top. 6. Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the center is set and edges are lightly browned. 7. Serve warm or at room temperature. • 1 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers or pecans • 1/2 cup toffee bits (optional) • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
Start small and write down:
• 3 sensations (feet on floor, jaw tight, clammy hands) • 2 slow breaths • 1 question: “What does my body need right now?” Do it when you wake up, before a tough conversation, or anytime you feel “off.” A journal is your translator. Somatic journaling helps you shift from judgment to curiosity, from disconnection to trust. It’s a practice of tuning into the intelligence that lives under your skin. You don’t need to “fix” yourself. Just feel. Your body has the answers, and your somatic journal is where they begin.
Inspired by CookiesAndCups.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Family, Football, and a Little Chaos
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Pumpkin Dump Cake The Journal Practice That Cultivates Your Mind-Body Connection Reimagine a Retirement Routine That Works for You The Caribbean Woman With the World’s Rarest Blood Type
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4 The Match That Lit the Fuse: Inside the 100-Hour Soccer War The Soccer Match That Launched an Invasion
How a World Cup Qualifier Exploded Into a Real War On July 14, El Salvador used that World Cup qualification game to send troops across the border. Blackouts darkened
In the summer of 1969, what should’ve been a sweaty, rowdy World Cup qualifier turned into one of history’s strangest armed conflicts. El Salvador and Honduras, two Central American neighbors with a long history of simmering tension, found themselves lacing up not just for soccer but for war. The fuse? A three-game soccer series, drenched in passion, politics, and pent-up resentment. The first match in Honduras ended with riots. The second, in El Salvador, saw tensions combust into full-blown violence. The third, a tiebreaker in Mexico City, sent El Salvador to the World Cup and straight into a diplomatic meltdown. But let’s be clear: This wasn’t just about the games. Behind the brawls were deep-rooted land disputes, decades of migration, and resentment over Honduran land reforms that displaced many Salvadoran settlers. The soccer field was just the stage for long-simmering tensions.
both capitals as air strikes lit up the skies. For four days, just 100 hours, the conflict raged. The war ended almost as quickly as it began, thanks to pressure from the Organization of
American States, but the damage lingered. Nearly 3,000 people were killed or injured. It shredded diplomatic ties — and it took 11 years for a peace treaty to be signed. To this day, many Salvadorans regard the “Football War” as a moment of national pride, proof that even a tiny nation can pack a serious punch when pushed too far. So, next time someone tells you sports aren’t political, remind them that in 1969, a soccer ball started a war.
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