NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner is Thursday Husband likes open road, wife happy at home
New London branch to present Lifetime Achievement Awards
New London — The New London branch of the NAACP will honor several residents with Lifetime Achievement Awards on Thursday during its annual Freedom Fund Dinner, the civil rights organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
The theme of the dinner, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Port ’N Starboard Restaurant at Ocean Beach Park, is “Defeat Hate — Vote,” which New London NAACP President Jean Jordan said represents the goals and initiatives of NAACP branches on a local, state and national level.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will include Spencer Lancaster, John Harris, the Rev. Herman Pollard and Albert Garvin. An Education Award will be presented to the Hempsted Houses. Shirley Gillis, a past president of the New London NAACP, a former New London teacher and a former state teacher of the year, will receive the President’s Award.
The keynote speaker for the event is Carleton J. Giles, the chairman of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles, who determines both the parole eligibility of inmates and which ex-offenders have earned the right to be legally forgiven for their past actions.
The NAACP also plans to recognize several formerly incarcerated individuals living in New London County who have given back in some way to their communities.
“We wanted to recognize people who have made an impact,” said Tamara Lanier, a retired state Adult Probation employee, vice president of the New London NAACP and the criminal justice chairwoman of the state NAACP.
Lanier said there are people who have come out of prison to lead successful and crime free lives while making contributions to society that could encourage others to do the same.
“These people have not only defied the odds and re-entered the community, but given back and continue to give back with little resources,” Lanier said. “They’re an inspiration. They are really making life impacts. These are the kinds of people we want to celebrate. When we lift these people up it encourages others and shows it can be done.”
The cost of the dinner reservation is $65 per person or $600 per table. No tickets will be sold at the door. Checks should be made payable to the New London NAACP and mailed to: New London NAACP, PO Box 987, New London, CT 06320.
Anyone with questions is asked to call (860) 439-1423.
DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for 42 years. For the most part, we have had a good marriage. We raised two children, are helping to raise three grandchildren and still enjoy each other’s company.
I am retiring shortly and looking forward to enjoying it. For years I have anticipated being free to travel the country and see things I didn’t have the time to see when I was employed. The problem is, I like the idea of seeing the country via road trip. My wife says she’s a “homebody” and doesn’t want to be “stuck in the car” for a week.
Several friends have suggested I should take my road trips without my wife. I don’t really want to do that, and she says that if I did, she would feel deserted. How can I be a good husband and spend time with my wife, and not feel cheated out of something I have wanted to do for so long?
— HEADED FOR THE OPEN ROAD
DEAR HEADED: I can’t help thinking about how many widows would give anything to share an adventure like that with their husband. I also don’t think leaving one’s spouse for a week qualifies as desertion. Many husbands and wives do it regularly to conduct their business. Perhaps if you return from one of your excursions with tales of how beautiful and interesting the road trip was, it will pique her interest.
P.S. If the problem is that your vehicle is too small, have you considered renting something larger to give your wife more room to stretch out?
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been together for almost 20 years. With every year that passes, I fall more in love with him. He’s a wonderful person who treats me very well.
I could go on and on about how caring and considerate he is. However, when it comes to being intimate, I’m just not interested. I have known him for so long and know him so well that, for me, the “spark” is extinguished. In some ways, he almost feels like a brother, which makes it difficult to have sexual feelings.
I tell him many times a day that I love him, because I do. I want him to know he’s my best friend and I care deeply about him. We have tried role playing, games, sexy clothing, etc. — nothing helps me. I go through the motions when I must, because I know it is one of the ways he expresses his love for me.
I don’t want to be with anyone else. I just want to know how I can feel excited about being intimate again. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
— EXTINGUISHED SPARKS
DEAR EXTINGUISHED: My suggestion would be to have a frank talk with your OB/GYN about this, and ask for a referral to an endocrinologist — a doctor who specializes in hormones. If, after a checkup, your hormone balances are what they should be, some sessions with a psychologist for you — and a sex therapist for both of you — might relight the spark that has fizzled. It’s worth a try.
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