The Nov-Dec Peaceable Table is now online

[Gracia Fay Ellwood]

In this issue:

• Our Glimpse of the Peaceable Kingdom features an arranged friendship between a widowed and grieving orangutan named Tonda and a ginger cat named TK. Tonda recovered from her depression, and the two became fast friends. Their story is told in a book for children entitled (of course) Tonda and TK.
• "Happy Endings" is the title of the Nov-Dec. Editor's Corner Essay. Whether or not a story has a happy ending is important for what it implies about the real world, particularly our labor for justice. When seen as a parable, the story says that, despite ignorance, violence, and suffering in our world, hope is valid; there can be a happy ending, or at least a bittersweet one.
• One of the NewsNotes tells of the successful rescue and rehabilitation of four koalas from the terrible fires in Australia in the southern hemisphere's last summer.
• The Review features two books by animal psychic Laura Stinchfield, recounting some of the insights she has been able to share with the human companions of the animals for whom she consults. In one book, or example, a dog sharply disapproved of his person's boyfriend, and described the boyfriend's faults clearly enough that she accepted their truth and broke up with him.  In the second book, Laura presents words of wisdom she received from the connection with her beloved deceased dog Stormy.
• Instead of a Pioneer essay, we have a Pilgrimage account of Laura's life.  Having had a deep sense of awareness of animals' minds from her earliest days, she couldn't understand how people could thoughtlessly eat them.  At age ten she announced that "I am now a vegetarianism," and has maintained that commitment ever since.
• This issue's Recipe is for a tasty lentil-cheeze casserole called "Christmas Roast," from a 1967 British vegetarian cookbook that I acquired in 1971.  Enjoy.
• One of the Poetry selections is a song of thanksgiving entitled "Thanks Be to God," from the tune to a 1920 song of the same name.

Please accept my apologies, Dear Readers, for the lateness of this issue.  Lake many others, I was anxious and preoccupied before and during the election, and got behind on my various projects.  To read in this issue, go to http://www.vegetarianfriends.net/issue164.html.

Happy holydays!  May all of our stories finally have a happy ending in God, the Home of all beings.

Gracia Fay Ellwood

Editor

P.S.  The January-February 2021 PT is likely to be as late as the present issue, because Robert and I plan to downsize and move at the end of the year.  This will be no small task, taking up a number of weeks.  So I ask your patience--again.  Thank you.