THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
She drove across the Pennsylvania winter landscape, and the years seemed to peel away.
The road signs counted down the miles to her hometown, and her anticipation grew.
She knew Johnstown had changed much in the time she’d been gone.
And, of course, so had she.
Would she even recognize the once-gritty place known as the “Flood City”? Would there be a rush of old feelings and familiar emotions?
Or would she now be the outsider, a stranger intruding on the peaceful Conemaugh Valley?
Night was falling as she crossed into Cambria County for the first time in a decade. The highway carried her through town names from her past as lights of the season twinkled from houses along the quiet countryside.
On the radio, a holiday song was playing. “White Christmas.” One of her favorites.
The dusk was broken by bright lights from a shopping center, and her mind again returned to Johnstown.
And to the day she left.
What would happen after all these years? That question caused the nervous excitement to grow within her.
Bing Crosby gave way to Nat King Cole, singing of chestnuts on an open fire.
Outside the wind shook the pines above the highway.
She shivered – not from the chill of the wind, but from the memories of that sudden parting, from thoughts of the circumstances that led her to leave.
As if to punctuate her thoughts, Karen Carpenter followed Nat, and declared: “I’ll be home for Christmas.”
Despite her anxiousness, she smiled at the irony.
She was sure of only one thing. This Christmas was taking her home in many ways, back to the town she had left and back to confront the past she had left behind.
With snowflakes swirling before the headlights of her car, she exited the highway and turned toward downtown Johnstown ...
Write the next chapter
Here is your chance to help write the story.
Beginning today in the Living section and continuing every other Sunday leading up to the holidays, The Tribune-Democrat will publish an ongoing serial story written by you, the readers.
We’ve provided the first chapter here.
The final chapter will be published on Christmas Day.
“Your Story” will contain five chapters, which must have a holiday theme or time frame and be set in Greater Johnstown. To submit an entry, pick up the story thread where it ends today and take the story wherever you like.
Please submit your entry for the second chapter, up to 750 words, by Friday.
Entries can be e-mailed to Renée Carthew, Features Editor, at rcarthew@tribdem.com; sent by fax to 539-1409; or mailed to The Tribune-Democrat, 425 Locust St., P.O. Box 340, Johnstown, Pa. 15907.
Or you can submit your story on line at Story Form
The winning second chapter will be published on Nov. 15, and a short story about the author will also appear.
At that time, new entries can be submitted for the third chapter to continue the story.
The ongoing story will appear on The Tribune-Democrat’s Web site – www.tribdem.com.
Events
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Novel idea | T-D wants readers to become authors
- Events
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All things afield at annual sportsmen's show
Folks who crave the great outdoors will have the chance to get a jump on their adventures by attending the 27th annual Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the Monroeville Convention Center. The show, which runs from Feb. 15-19, is the only western Pennsylvania show dedicated to hunting, fishing and camping. It offers hundreds of exhibitors, dozens of live demonstrations and many seminars presented by experts in their fields of interest.
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Venue of Merging Arts to host Slovak Mardi Gras
Slovak heritage will be the center of attention at an upcoming party. A Slovak Mardi Gras, or Fasiangy, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 19 at Venue of Merging Arts, 305 Chestnut St. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.
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Go jump in a lake | Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge at Que to raise funds for Special Olympics
It takes a hearty soul to jump into a freezing Pennsylvania lake in February and pay money to do it. But that’s what organizers of the first official Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge are counting on. On Saturday, if people donate to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, they can go jump in a lake.
- Area high schools have scheduled spring shows
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Westmont Hilltop High School has reached theatrical milestone
“The Pirates of Penzance” will mark Westmont Hilltop High School’s 50th year of presenting musical theater.
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Curtains rising | Students acting out roles in spring productions
A variety of performances that promise to be entertaining are scheduled for area high school stages.
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Tribute band to play best of Pink Floyd at War Memorial
This arena show will bring the lights and sounds of Pink Floyd. Brit Floyd, billed as the world’s greatest Pink Floyd show, will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.
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Religion in brief | Holy Trinity sets worship services
Worship services for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 525 Main St., Berlin, will be held at 5:30 tonight and 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by Sunday school at 10:15.
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Events | Slippery slide
The 36th annual World Championship Ice Racing Series will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.
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Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show a nine-day extravaganza
If exploring the outdoors sounds appealing, then attending the 57th Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show may deserve a visit. Touted as the largest show of its kind in North America, it has attracted hundreds of thousands of devotees who want to see the latest in outdoor equipment and enjoy shows and educational seminars. This year’s expo will be held Saturday through Feb. 12 at the Farm Show Complex, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg.
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