Christmas Lights

O.K. so now we come to this. I have no problem with decorating early for Christmas, outside. It makes sense in my area , with the weather more agreeable early in November. Decorate but don't turn them on before Thanksgiving.


We have become a spoiled society. Our world has changed. We want instant gratification. If we want something we go out and buy it. When I was a child and wanted a toy or anything, I had to wait until my birthday or Christmas but I see my friends and family buy there kids stuff anytime they want it. They miss the anticipation factor. And they should learn that you can't always get what you want or atleast you can't have it when you want it.


Back before dvd, vhs and 150 channel cable and satellite, the networks would show a movie once a year. Take the Wizard of Ozz for example. They might show it during the Thanksgiving Holiday, since you couldn't own a copy or see it some other time on one of the other 150 channels, you had to watch it when they showed it. This made watching it an event. Mom would make popcorn and Dad would join us for a real family night. We would sing the songs and say the parts we had memorized just from seeing it once a year.


Now kids watch a movie over and over. They become bored. There is no anticipation, no build up to tonights showing. They miss out on tradition. I don't mean just movies either, it's every thing. We move holidays to make them more convenient. We celebrate the Fourth of July on whatever weekends closer to the day. The fireworks seem to rarely be set off on the Fourth. One year we went out to Mount Rushmore, arrived in the area on the third and thought we would go see the fireworks on the fourth. Wrong, the fourth was a Monday so they had the fireworks on the previous weekend. Come on, no fireworks on the fourth, at Mount Rushmore, whatever.


I'm just suggesting that we keep some traditions. Don't give the gifts early. Don't celebrate on the convenient weekend. (at least not all the time). Don't turn the Christmas lights on till after Thanksgiving.

Why the Mayan calender ends in 2012.

Bob Mayan: Bill, the reason I called you here is to see how the new calender is coming along.

Bill Alsomayan: I 've got it figured out till the year 2000.

Bob Mayan: Don't you think thats bad luck to end on a Millenial year like that?

Bill Alsomayan: I could keep going. When do you think I should stop?

Bob Mayan: Well this Thursday is my 12th anniversary, why not end it in 2012?

Bill Alsomayan: You got it Chief. I'll have a copy on your desk in the morning.

Bob Mayan: Thanks Bill. On your way out could you send in whoever is next?

Christmas Party

It was another successful Christmas eve blowout thrown by yours truly,
or so it seemed. The food had been ready since 6 o'clock about the
time the first guests arrived. This party had become quite the
tradition for friends and assorted family. We couldn't invite some
members of the family they were a little too straight laced and
wouldn't have approved of the drinking and carousing. Of course we
had to invite uncle Al, he was the one with the eggnog recipe that
would defrost anyone, no matter how cold it was outside.

This years party had gone the way of many previous years, eating,
drinking, someone hitting on someone else wife or girl friend. Words
were exchanged, blows were threatened, peace was returned by everyone
admitting that perhaps it was just the alcohol. Eventually the party
had started to wind down.

Couples were seeking quiet corners for a little snuggling by the fire,
listening to soft Christmas music. I decided this seemed like a good
idea to me. I found my wife, hard at work in the kitchen, and tried
to convince her to take a break and sit by the fire. She said she had
spoken to our next door neighbors the Whites, who had invited us to a
special midnight service at there church. I told her that I hoped to
be past out by midnight and that there was no way I was going to
church with the neighbors. I mean I had done the neighborly thing and
invited them to my party, and did they show? No.

Well the snow had been coming down all night. And Uncle Al was of course
the last to leave. I walked him to his car and wished him a Merry
Christmas, asked him if he was O.K. to drive. He said he was, but
hoped his kids would sleep in because he was sure he'd have a
hangover tomorrow. I said good luck tomorrows Christmas they'll be up
by 6:00. He laughed and drove away.

As Uncle Al drove down the street I noticed the hat from our snowman had
blown over into the neighbors yard. Everyone in the neighborhood
seemed to have decorated this year, I lined the house with
multi-colored lights, my neighbor across the street had the giant
blow up Santa, a little tacky I think. And the Whites had the
traditional nativity scene. I wandered over and bent down to pick up
the hat and stumbled a little and found myself face to face with
Christmas. I knelt there in the yard in front of that manger and I'm
sure I looked just like any other character in that scene. It was as
if I could see the whole scene from a distance, there I was kneeling
with hat in hand in front of Jesus. All of a sudden it came back to
me, all that I'd been taught all that I knew, The real reason for
this holiday. I didn't waste any time, I ran to the house, got my
wife, who was ready in a second. When I told her what had happened
she didn't say a thing, we walked over to the Whites and joined them
at there church for what was to become our new Christmas tradition.

We now have the Whites over every Christmas and some of the family, the
straight laced ones. No more spiked eggnog. You know Uncle Al can
make it even better without the rum. And all the friends that come
are invited to go to church with us, and many do.

If you'd like to find out the meaning of Christmas read Luke chapter 2 Verses 1 through 19 

or at least Luke chapter 2 verse 11.

Ghosts of Chistmas past

Reminiscing...
There was the room, or at least the room as it was most of the time,
tired old couch, Dad's worn chair, old table for Dad's Hi-Fi, And I
think the only piece of furniture my mother ever had new, an end
table, that she saved S&H green stamps for. I believe it was
early American, the only piece of that style. But that's the way we
were, simple, plain and mismatched. I can see the room as described,
and yet, I can see it as it was one Christmas morning, tree in the
corner brightly decorated, with ornaments that became so familiar,
like friends who returned every year, presents stacked and filling
half the floor, it seemed as if there was no place to step. Earlier
in the week. As Christmas loomed inevitable, each of us kids had
chosen our spot to sit and receive our gifts when Dad passed them
out. Chris by the heater vent, Craig by the couch and I by the door
that led to the front hall. Mom would take her seat on the couch. Dad
would put a stack of records on the turn table, walk to the tree and
begin handing out gifts. I loved all those packages brightly wrapped.
I remember the anticipation, not only for what I had received but to
see what the others would receive. I remember the smell of pine and
the rush of heat when the furnace would kick on. I can't remember all
the gifts that I received but I do know one, one that filled the room
and fills my memories, the gift of love, the gift of family. So this
Christmas make a memory. Remember your family, remember to love.