Family Reunions

I'm looking over my blog and I realize it has been awhile since I posted, not that anyone reads it. We have a reunion coming up soon. Some family members from out of town will be there and this is good. As I get older it seems more important to stay in touch with family. 

I remember when I was a kid and we would go to the reunion. It would mean swimming and volleyball and good food. But their always came the time for the meal and that meant the blessing. We kids did not look forward to this, it meant remembering those that had passed away. A reading of a poem about those who were gone or perhaps a favorite Bible verse. And this would lead to a general sadness and bringing down of the revelry we kids felt. I always felt a little guilty about not being able to feel the loss others felt. I had too much to live for on this day, we were out to make memories not relive memories. 

Now as an up and coming old timer I get it. This too is part of the reunion, the memories of those who are gone is part of what binds us together. My folks are no longer with us, also gone are all my aunts and uncles and several of my older cousins. But what is remembered about them is the good times. People tell me how much they loved my mom, how fun my dad was; and this is what I remember about my cousins. I remember their jokes, their smiles and the good and often crazy times we were all part of. 

So here is to a fun and memorable reunion. Eat, play hard(it's only once every other year), laugh and joke, and don't forget to pause and remember those who are waiting for that final reunion.







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Happy Holidays

When I wish you "Happy Holidays" I'm actually wishing you, crystal snowfalls, bright blue skies and crisp cool air. I am wishing you pumpkin pie or apple pie, and cinnamon & spice cookies. I'm wishing you the warmth of a fire, the glow of a candle and the smell of pine. I'm wishing you turkey, ham and goose. I'm wishing you hot chocolate and apple cider. I'm wishing you hope for your future and peace in your present. I'm wishing you friendship, camaraderie and love. I am wishing you Joy.

Just a Dream?

So, I'm sitting in my chair, every man seems to have a "chair" even if it's the floor or couch. That spot where he chooses to sit 99% of the time. As I say there I sat preparing to watch the Cleveland Browns first preseason game. Now I know many people are excited to watch said game but I was just killing time. Just trying to stay awake as long as possible into the wee hours because recently I started working Midnight to 8:00 a.m. and attempting not to get too far away from those hours during the weekend.

Back to the game. As exciting as the first preseason game is I found myself becoming drowsy. Jim Donovan is one of the announcers. I don't know Jim personally but if I had to make a guess I would say he is one of those people who gets too excited over things that just aren't that exciting, probably spits when he talks, and can't get the words out fast enough before another idea has popped into his head. Because of this he often is wrong on the play by play. Now remember I said I was getting drowsy so where reality & dream meet I can't really draw that line, all I know is Jim says "first down" and I'm thinking can't be a first down because the guy doesn't have the ball, now I make a comment about the guy being an idiot and my Dad gets up & moves closer to the T.V. trying to see if it's a fumble. Here I drop off into a deep sleep and am no longer aware of the game.

When I awake I replay all I've just experienced in my head and I think to myself, thanks for the visit Dad, tomorrow would have been your 89th. birthday. Dad passed away 24 years ago, and while I do miss him & think of him from time to time, it's not often I watch a Browns game with him.  

Where is the Punch Line?

I'm waiting for the high sign
I'm waiting for the punchline
I'm waiting for someone to tell me Bing & Bob aren't dead
I'm waiting to hear your not 50, you'll always be 30.

How could all this happen? I'm sure everyone else is in on the joke.
I'm not over weight, my clothes have been replaced with a smaller size.
I'm not going grey, must be the shampoo.
I'm not getting tired, just not enough caffeine, since when do I need caffeine?

Come on where are my parents hiding? They can't really be gone.
What do you mean I've been working for over 30 years?
Retirement? that's for old people, why would I plan for that?
As soon as I take this nap I'm gonna get busy, not much time left, I guess.

It is Spring, Palm Sunday

Sundays when I was young were a day unlike the rest of the week. Our day would begin with my dad playing gospel and hymns records, Jim Neighbors, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Eddie Arnold and Jim Reeves to name a few. All played loudly & accompanied by my dad singing along. Dad had a nice voice, I don't think he could of been a successful recording artist but it was nice. The smell of eggs frying or pancakes on the griddle would greet our noses. And we were up & ready for breakfast. There was a bustle to the household as we all took turns in the bathroom getting ready for church. If you were ready early you could read the "funnys" as we called them, comics to everybody else. Or look through the adds at things you were never going to buy. And then it was off to Church. In my memories it's perpetually Spring, I am somewhere between 10 and 14 years old and hoping to get to talk with one of the girls I went to grade school with. Dad was a Council member so he was an usher and he stayed & counted the offering. This meant we would be one of the last families to leave church. It was very difficult for boys in spring to stay neat and tidy while we waited to go home. Home from church kick off the dress shoes & clothes and into relaxation mode. Dinner would be ready soon. A roast or perhaps fried chicken, mashed  potatoes and gravy. You just couldn't beat Moms cooking. 

Needless to say I would love to do this all again. As I write this the memories are awesome. I am happy but so full of heartache, I miss these people, this time and the Love I didn't even see was there in everything that was done. It's as if we lived in a bubble or cloud of love, I can still remember it, warm, peaceful and calm.
Thanks Mom & Dad.

The Internet & Alcohol.

The internet is full of people pouring out there hopes & fears. We use this medium to say what we can't say. There are many reasons we find it difficult to open up to each other. If life was like a movie I could pour out my heart felt feelings to everyone about everything, there would be a pause and the movie would fade to black. But life is not a movie. Unlike the movie, there is no fade to black. Instead there is tomorrow and tomorrow can be awkward when the truth of how you feel is out there. You just can't undo it. And that is why we use the internet. I can ignore what you think you read on the internet. There is wiggle room. The internet is like alcohol, it can give you a false sense of courage. I can say what I want to say and blame it on the alcohol/internet. Or your interpretation of what I said. 

To be clear I don't drink and then write, I don't have to, I have the internet. To be even more clear I haven't had a drink in almost 20 years. My reasons are my own. I don't want to get preachy. I started out to write about how sad I feel, missing my parents, the Sundays we use to have and our little world. Somehow I got sidetracked.

Past Remembered.

As evening approaches and I sit on my patio/sunroom and just listen to the sounds of the neighborhood, a dog barking, crickets, kids playing several yards away, a late attempt at mowing the lawn by a neighbor, I'm reminded of the neighborhood I grew up in. We lived a little more in the city then but many of the sounds are the same. The things that are missing and standout to me are the sound of dishes being done, heard through the open kitchen window, the sound of a t.v., again heard through a screened window and the low hum from a window fan. I'm not saying we should do away with air conditioning. Just remembering the past, and somehow missing it.

Wearing your Mask Backwards.

They say that everyone wears a mask or puts up barriers, protection from embarrassment. We never laugh the same in front of strangers as we do in front of friends. We try not to cry in front of anyone except our closest friends or family. We usually play it safe and reserved  until we know what others will say about our actions or our feelings.

For years I have lived my life thinking I was different then I am. People generally like me, they trust me they confide in me. In school I was often one of the favorites, one year in high school we actually had a cake for my birthday during class. I can't remember this happening on anybody else's birthday. I usually have a better relationship with my bosses then the other employees. The list goes on, parents of friends, friends  and neighbors. I'm not bragging. just stating the facts. But despite all this evidence I have seen myself differently. I thought people were wrong about me. I don't know, I just didn't like me as much as other people seemed to. I've seen myself as lazy and I've been afraid that people would find out how wrong they were about me.

Now we come to recent events. The other day my wife was telling a humorous story about me to a friend of mine. The story so caught my friend by surprise that for just a moment he let down his guard and I could see the real him, I liked what I saw. Now for just the briefest instance I could see what he saw in me, I was flattered, he saw through to the truth. And then it hit me for nearly fifty years I've been wearing my mask backwards. How could I be right about me and everyone else be wrong? I haven't been hiding myself from others I've been hiding myself from me. Well if you think I was nice before look out because now I know I'm nice. I'm going to try and use the fact that people trust me to be more helpful and generally to try and be a better friend and just a better person.

Simplified

Years ago I posted this blog...

Creation

This seems so simple, if you believe in creation you must find away to make it fit.

My thoughts are this, when God created Adam was Adam a newborn  No. I don't know his exact age, but for sake of argument let us say he was 21. Adam was one second old but he was 21 as compared to you & I. His body had a past built into it. His skin wasn't newborn, his hair, we can presume, could be cut, as if it had not just appeared brand new.

Now take that thought & transfer it to all of creation. The universe was created with a past, not a past that actually happened but a past created by God.

The Earth was created with a past. Scientists can say the Earth is such & such old, but only because God created it in that first week with a built in past.

I have simplified it. 

If at the moment of his creation, a scientist were to examine Adam he would declare him a man of (for sake of argument) 21. Same with the universe. Billions of years? Big bang theory? Just a calculation with God removed as a factor. Scientists can't help but come up with the wrong answer because God does not allow himself to be a factor in logic.

New Theories

Today it was theorized by me after practically no research, that Ohio was first colonized by Vikings in 1025 a.d.. I believe they settled in the Sandusky area and if we could excavate enough of the area we would surely find evidence of their settlement.
 It was also theorized by me that deep in the bottom of lake Erie a passage leads to the lake on the other side in the hollow earth.

These theories came to me after spending time watching just as well thought out theories on You Tube.

My Dad

Stuff I remember about my Dad: Stuff he said. He used to say, when heading to the shower, "I've got to sh*t , shower , shave & shampoo". He used to say while smacking you in a upward motion on the back of your head, "sizzling rockets". He would say while clenching his fist, "Pow, right in the snot locker".  More to come...

Behind the Twelve Days

I've been reading a book called Stories Behind The Great Traditions Of Christmas By Ace Collins. This book is full of explanations of how and why we celebrate the season the way we do. I find this kind of thing interesting. Any way I thought you mite be interested in the story of the Twelve days of Christmas. I was quite surprised.

 

In sixteenth century England all religions except the one of the King were outlawed. To practice another faith could mean prison or death, so the Catholic clerics of the time created poems that were written in code. Now the code translated.

 

First the Twelve Days of Christmas started on Christmas day and ran to the January 5th, Epiphany.

 

The words "My true love: is code for God. So these are gifts from God.

 

A Partridge in a pear tree Stands for Jesus, remember the first day is Christmas. And a partridge is used because a partridge will die to defend its young.

 

2 turtle doves... the Old and New Testament.

 

3 french hens... Faith, Hope and Love.

 

4 calling birds... the four Gospels- Mathew, Mark, Luke and John

 

5 golden rings... the first five books of the Old Testament-The Pentateuch

 

6 geese a laying... the six days of creation

 

7 swans a swimming.. the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit- prophecy,ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion.

 

8 maids a milking...  8 people who are blessed- the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and those persecuted for righteousness sake.

 

9 ladies dancing... the 9 fruits of the spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentelness and self-control.

 

10 lords a leaping... lords were also the judges, judges keep the law, Ten Comandments.

 

11 pipers piping... the eleven disciples

 

12 drummers drumming... the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and the life everlasting.

So there you have it. The meaning to the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

Remember this is from,Stories Behind The Great Traditions Of Christmas By Ace Collins.

 

A Good Hare Day

Easter Morning: as I look out my back window, glancing over the yard and into my neighbors back yard, where the neighbors children are collecting eggs. That no doubt were put there by Grandma or perhaps Mom. I am able to tell that something has gone amiss with there  Easter festivities. Curios, I wander  outside to eaves drop on there conversation.

 It seems that all the eggs can't be found. They have gone over the yard several times and they are still missing an even dozen eggs. Now one or two eggs, even three or four, this I could call understandable. But an even dozen,
hard to believe. How hard does this neighbor hide these eggs?

Now from my vantage point I see a curios thing, perhaps not curios in itself. but given the day and what happened next, well  I leave it to you. I am just stating the facts. Now as I was saying from my vantage point I see a rabbit. Just your run of the mill average rabbit. Run into my neighbors bushes, at quite a rapid speed. Not twenty seconds later I hear one of the children exclaim that they found one of the missing eggs. And the eggs continue to be found in the yard in rapid succession. all except one.

At about this time I see the rabbit leave the bushes just as quickly as he came. Again I say nothing unusual about a rabbit running out of some bushes.

I found that last egg where the rabbit left the bushes.

To quote Alice from her adventures in wonderland "Curiouser and Curiouser".

Disclaimer:

This next writing is a work of fiction. I am not claiming that this is what happened, or am I even saying this could of happened. I have done little to no research on this story. The Biblical account given in the story is taken from The Gospel of Luke, King James Version.

The Shepherd

     I am a shepherd, my father was a shepherd,  my grandfather was a shepherd, and so on, as far back as I know we have always been shepherds. My father died when I was quite young, he fell from some rocks trying to gather in the flock during a bad storm. Not the most rewarding life. But a good life and an honest life. Which leads me to my story,

     Mother and I went to town, something we do almost every month. It was always exciting and a little frightening, there are so many people, and lots of noise. Mother knows some of the people. And by these people we are treated very well. But many other people are rude and treat us as if there is something wrong with us. Mother says it is because we are shepherds, and many people think they are better than us. She also says not to worry about it because there is nothing wrong with being a  shepherd, do a good job , be honest in your trading and people will respect you.

On this particular trip, as we walked to town, Mother asked me if I thought I was ready to take over the flock from Grandfather. She of course new that I felt I was. For Grandfather was getting very old. I had spent a lot of time with Grandfather and watched and learned all about shepherding from him. I loved my grandfather and thought I new all about him.

When Mother and I entered the town and made our way to the market a friend of ours told mother that a man named Luke, a holy man, had asked about Grandfather and wanted to speak to him, and had left word that when we came to town we should look for him in the temple district. Mother looked worried but said she thought that someday this would happen.

After concluding our business in the market we went to the temple area to look for this holy man, Luke. I wondered what this was all about, for Grandfather never went to town, and while he was a very good man, and we kept all the holy days of the calender, what could a holy man want with Grandfather? After a little searching we found the place where this man, Luke was. He and Mother had a hushed conversation and she agreed that he could accompany us home. On the way home I tried to question the man to find out what he wanted with Grandfather. But all my questions were answered with his own questions about the flock, and how old I was, and my knowledge of Gods Law. Even though I felt he was avoiding my questions I liked this man.

When we got home Mother told Grandfather all that had happened on our trip and of course that he had company. Grandfather seemed happy, almost as if he had expected this man Luke to come. He said he would tell Luke all he wanted to know after he had supped with us. The conversation at supper was about the man named Jesus, I had heard much about him, for his fame reached to even the fields of us shepherds. when ever someone had news of him Grandfather always listened and smiled.

When supper was over and I was sent to bed. I lay for a long time listening to Grandfather tell Luke a story I had never heard Grandfather tell before. He told of a night when Grandfather was a younger man, and my own father was around my age. He told of how he had been on the night watch of the flocks, and was conversing with some of the other shepherds when suddenly the sky was light and an angel appeared and they were very afraid. And the angel spoke to them and said  Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Then Grandfather told of how after the departure of the angel, he and the other shepherds went into Bethlehem.They found all as the angel had said. And as they went away from this scene they told all that  they met of what had transpired and people were amazed.

Grandfather finished his story and Luke thanked him. Then it was Luke's turn, Luke told Grandfather much about the life of Jesus. I continued to listen as there conversation went on into the night but I eventually fell asleep and did not hear all that was said.

The next day Luke stayed for awhile and came to the fields to see the sheep. I told him I had heard much of his conversation with Grandfather, he said that it was a good thing and that I should remember the things I had heard. And that I should tell of these things to all who will listen.

            

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.