Christmas comes to our newsroom in most of the usual ways.
We publish Christmas stories as Akron celebrates the season.
We have an auction of various items sent our way and give the proceeds to charity.
We have Christmas parties and lunches, and wear funny ties and hats.
Christmas comes in unusual ways, too.
Meet The Pie Lady.
Every year as Christmas arrives, The Pie Lady gives me a call.
We set up a time for her to come by and visit. And with each visit, she brings a pie.
It is something she has done every year since I became editor in 2007.
She calls me Mr. Winges. I remind her that my late father was Mr. Winges and she can just call me Bruce. We laugh.
I am calling her The Pie Lady because she does not make this Christmas visit for recognition. She comes by because it’s Christmastime. She feels that the Beacon Journal gives a lot to the community, so she wants to give something back. Christmas, after all, is a time of giving.
But even though I am sure she would not want me to share her name, her story is worth telling.
The first year she called, I wondered who this person was. She said she wanted to meet me and bring some food. So, I thought, why not?
My office has windows that look right out into the newsroom. And the newsroom can look right back at me. There are times when I am talking to The Pie Lady that I see puzzled looks from the reporters and editors as they wonder who this person is. Over the years some have come to recognize her.
The Pie Lady has not had an easy life.
There are times when life puts roadblocks in front of her. She always finds a way around them. She works hard at life.
She was reared in the South (in the South, we rear our children and raise our animals — think about it), and came to Akron. She has been married, but isn’t married anymore. She has family, some children.
She is happy that someone takes time — even if it’s only once a year — to visit with her, to listen, to share a little bit of Christmas.
We talk about life — what is going on with her family, what is going on with mine.
She was so proud and happy when her daughter graduated from high school. Her son has served our country in the military.
A couple of years ago, she became a grandmother to a sweet baby girl. That made her happy.
She expresses her frustrations and joys of life through poems she writes. They tell her story as her life unfolds.
In return, I usually give her some First Night buttons for her family.
As the visit draws to an end, we hug. We wish each other well. We look forward to the next visit. After all, it’s a Christmas tradition.
And the pies? They are pumpkin. They are darn good pies.
But hearing from The Pie Lady every year lets us stop the presses and remember Christmas.
Bruce Winges is editor of the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com. He may be reached at 330-996-3858, bwinges@thebeaconjournal.com or @BruceWingesABJ .