Decking the doors on the Monday OPEN thread
Shot by Dan on 5th Street in Old Southwest
“Kelly Finch: What is your favorite Christmas memory?
Steve Finch: You know what it is.
Kelly Finch: Tell me.
Steve Finch: I was 7, my dad and I moved to Alabama… and Christmas morning we ate on the floor, ate French fries and drank chocolate milk.
Kelly Finch: That’s what Christmas memories are made from, they’re not planned, they’re not scheduled, nobody puts them in their Blackberry, they just happen.”
From the 2006 movie, “Deck the Halls.”
Tell us your Christmas memories, folks!
December 10, 2012 - 10:00 AM
Who’s holiday is it anyway?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rLjHAzqqOm0
http://richarddawkins.net/foundation_articles/2012/12/4/a-very-atheist-christmas#.UMXrBoOCl0c
I have several.
We always lived in older houses, so we always had to stay in bed while Daddy shook the grate, stoked the fire, and got the living room warm for us. To this day, I can hear that grate and Daddy stirring his coffee as we waited in our beds for him to call us in.
We didn’t have a mantle, and the wood stove used the chimney, so we all saved a shoe box and wrapped it in wrapping paper, put our names in the bottom of it and Santa always left us some nuts, oranges, tangerines and candy in each of our boxes.
But best of all was after opening our presents from Santa, we got in the car and headed to Granny and Papa’s for Christmas Dinner. Granny and Papa were never about presents, but the hugs and the love was more than any gift could ever be worth.
By any standard, we were never “well off” but in love, warmth and family we were kings!
As for Christmas memories with the family, I very fondly remember the whole family meeting at my grandparents house. They’ve been gone a good while now and family Christmas has, unfortunately, decentralized. I haven’t enjoyed the holiday nearly as much since.
Other than family Christmas memories, the night that involved, among other things, towing an untrailered Christmas tree down the road, running over a flaming lawnmower, and cutting a box of donuts in half with a chainsaw is my favorite. Ah, my old shop… we knew how to party!
Big yay to the Natural Food Co-op opening a store downtown!
fyi, I trashed a post by pammala that she tried to put up here becuz it called someone an “idiot,” not cool with the new civility.
If y’all want to say an idea is idiotic, that’s fine.
“we knew how to party!” Sounds like it, John W!
It appears there a few people who have problems with civility, since they’ve disappeared. Oh well.
Thanks Dan. They will learn or they will leave. It is really fairly simple.
“fyi, I trashed a post by pammala that she tried to put up here…”
Was it a post about the Grandin Service Center, Dan? Or does she continue to avoid answering that one?
I remember one Christmas I was still in the Marines, I had two buddies who couldn’t afford to fly home for Christmas, so I brought them home with me. My mom rushed out that day and got them a few gifts and we threw a hell of a party that night! We partied like Vikings, roasting hot dogs, marshmallows, we broke out the grill and grilled chicken and venison… later that night I learned why you don’t chug eggnog spiked with moonshine! LOL! The good ol’ days! We didn’t run over anything on fire, JW! But it was a good time!
I completely missed the posts about the decision to require civility. However, it doesn’t effect me since I’m pretty consistently calm when I’m around on the blog. I just miss being in on the loop about how this extraordinary decision/change came to pass. But yay!
Haven’t been around lately, have new, or should I say have any terms of service been initiated? This will certainly stifle at least a couple people who seemingly cannot express an opinion without trying to hurt or malign someone while doing so.
gdad, no, it was something else.
Fyi, I was down there this morning. The owner told me he’s bought his land tanker of gas, and most likely will shut down at the end of this month, unless there are decent prospects for a sale, in which case he might stay open to assure continuity for the new owner. Story for Tuesday. . .
scott whitaker, welcome back!
http://blogs.roanoke.com/dancasey/2012/12/a-few-notes-on-this-blogs-moderation-and-civility/
Just when I thought the candidates couldn’t get any weirder:
http://tinyurl.com/ahnnx7d
**
Salahi Ready to ‘Crash the Vote’ With New Website
Reality show star and alleged White House crasher launches gubernatorial campaign website.
By Karen Goff
December 9, 2012
Tareq Salahi, the former cast member of The Real Housewives of DC who earned star status when he and then-wife Michaele allegedly crashed a White House state dinner, launched a “Crash the Vote” website Tuesday for his bid for the Virginia governor’s mansion.
Salahi announced in October he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2013.
Salahi is not seen as a serious threat, but he is the only contender to go against Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli since Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced last week he would not seek the GOP nomination.
SNIP
**
Wonder if the resident auto-canonized (or at least auto-venerated, if not auto-beatified) blogger will pontificate for months on end proclaiming how there is no way Salahi can lose?
His wife dumped him for a member of Journey. Talk about getting karmically kicked in the ass.
“Story for Tuesday. . .”
pammala provides a lead!!!
I missed the post on civil discourse. I ducked out after writing a particularly scathing post, rightly censored. I’m used to reading and posting at communities where troublemakers know the line between what is acceptable and what is not and get their jollies encouraging others to cross the line.
When my sister and I went off to college, my parents sent us both small hanukkiyahs in felted boxes. We take pictures them, candles lit, and send them to each other on one of the nights.
Apropos of nothing significant and so as not to distract from the substance of Mark J’s thread, I’ll comment on fruit relative to my memories of Christmas, here.
Oranges leap to my mind. On that red-clay farm of South-side Virginia oranges were never seen — save at Christmas.
I really don’t know how available they were in the towns and cities on the early ’40s. But, coming out of the Great Depression an orange was only seen once a year — one in the stocking of each child.
Another “Christmas only treat” was a “Rocky Mountain” cake, which was the only time we had coconut, also. But the cake, itself, not the fruit made the impression on me as a child.
Cake:
Batter:
3 eggs
2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sweet milk
1 cup butter
Vanilla flavoring to taste
Beat eggs separately.
Cream butter and sugar.
Sift flour and baking powder twice.
Add milk and flavoring to eggs, then add butter and sugar, then add flour and baking powder.
Bake 3 in layers — when cooled split each layer to make 6.
[From here down, my receipt doesn't have quantities, so like my mom and my grand-mother before her, I play it my eye and feel.]
Filling between layers:
raisins, ground
chopped nuts
the coconut liquid
Frosting:
Heat milk in double boiler. Mix in sugar and flour and dissolve in milk. Cook until thick, then gently fold in beaten egg whites. Spread on top and sides of cake. Decorate with colored dried fruit (if you have any) and top with shredded coconut.
Re: I remember one Christmas I was still in the Marines, I had two buddies who couldn’t afford to fly home for Christmas….
Ditto that brother. In my case, both were foreign nationals. [Yes, you can be an enlisted Marine, as a foreign national.] One was a Kahnawake Mohawk and yes, that came as a shock to some relatives. The other from Sweden.
It was an interesting cross-cultural experience — to say the least.
http://techcrunch.com/2012/12/10/google-reportedly-skirts-2-billion-in-taxes-with-offshore-haven/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
I guess this is the “oppressive” corporate tax policy in this country we hear so much about.
If y’all want to say an idea is idiotic, that’s fine.
Comment by Dan Casey — December 10, 2012 @ 12:18 p
whats the difference? it still means the same thing…never mind, you’ll just come up with something idiotic
well, tickle-me elmo, if’n the european union didn’t just accept the nobel prize for peace. hmmm. and after all president barack hussein obama has done for world peace, since his last noble nobel prize was…ahem…”awarded”… i say, “bummer” for the president.
I’da thought ol’ Morsi woulda walked off with this’n, since he hasn’t yet, like, really slaughtered anybody, yet. i guess it’s kinda like the celebrity industry, where the celebs give awards to, like, themselves, ya know?
“it still means the same thing…”
Of course it doesn’t, pammala.
Thanks for the recipe Dave Hicks, it sounds good!
I am enjoying the Christmas memories too!
Kristen, I truly wonder if there is a corporation in the US that does pay the actual corporate tax rate. Surely none of the complainers have proven to.
Christmas Eve 1956, my family was in transitory housing in Bremerhaven ending a 3-year tour in Germany. We children were very worried that we had no tree, and that Santa didn’t know where we were, and that his sleigh might be shot down since we were on a military base. Our parents pulled open the curtains so we could “borrow” a Christmas tree shining in the second-story window of an apartment across the street. They told us that Santa knew where we were (after all, he knew if we’d been bad or good)and since he would come in one of the helicopters we constantly heard, he would be safe. They tucked us in and pulled the curtains closed for the night.
The next morning, Christmas Day, our parents told us to open the curtains. Children can be skeptical creatures, and we doubted that there was any point. We didn’t want to open the curtains and be disappointed. Eventually we were convinced that it was worth the try, and pulled the curtains back against the wall. There, on the windowsill, under the lights of our “borrowed” tree, was a gift for each child . . . something that would fit in the luggage and be played with on the ship that would carry us across the ocean to America.
Graycie, great story!
Anybody got any more?
“I guess this is the “oppressive” corporate tax policy in this country we hear so much about.”
It makes that whole “let’s tax the wealthy to fix the fiscal cliff” idea look like something that requires Viagra. The same rich liberals that say “raise my taxes” are hiding money overseas to avoid taxes.
I remember the Santa at the Country Club smelled like the stuff in the bottles under the bar sink. We always left bourbon for ole St Nick because we were the last house on his route and he needed a “knock” to get home (according to my dad). Christmas morning, we had Moravian Sugar Cake early and Oyster Stew at lunch.
I have a Christmas memory that involves fruitcake. My dad used to make fuitcakes and one year my youngest brother was in the kitchen watching him. My brother was three or four at the time, and when my dad got a bottle of bourbon from the cabinet to pour over the cake, my brother insisted on having a drink of it. My dad kept telling him no, but my brother kept insisting. Finally my dad put a tiny bit of bourbon in a glass and gave it to him. My brother took a drink, gasped and in this loud whisper was calling for Water, Water!
“We children were very worried that…Santa didn’t know where we were, and that his sleigh might be shot down since we were on a military base.” comment by graycie
In the early 1960′s, a Cave Spring High School choral group recorded and had released as a commercially available 45 the song “Can Santa Miss Those Missiles”. It was a followup of sorts to a record that had been a bit of a seasonal hit, “Happy Birthday Jesus”, by Little Cindy, which in the 90′s was compiled on a John Waters Christmas kitsch cd. “Can Santa Miss Those Missiles” isn’t readily available, but here’s Little Cindy’s hit (ignore the comments, several are full of wrong information):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlNt-uQ_GRI
I’m enjoying the Christmas stories. My grandchildren give me wonderful Christmas memories and I hope I’m doing the same for them.
We always had biscuits and sausage gravy, and cinnamon buns for breakfast on Christmas morning. They always tasted extra good on that day.
My Christmas memories center around a lump of coal, WAH!!
Seriously if you have ever taken the Richmond Va Tacky Lights Tour,
you will never forget the sights. Some of those people start hanging
lights in Sepetember, they hire crews to work and electrical engineers
to do the logestics and wireing schemes.
Graycie…
Terrific story…
wow!
Two Christmas memories stand out. We lived in a 150 year old house with what seemed like 20 foot ceilings, at least to a little fella. Our christmas tree was always tall. We didn’t use a tree stand, just a large wash pail filled with gravel from our driveway. I helped get the gravel – got to use a shove,
My favorite present of all time was a Huffy 5-speed bike with a banana seat and a sissy bar. It was purple, and it had a “slick” for the back tire. I sure could make that bad boy skid in the driveway!
For an honest appraisal, rather than a self-aggrandizing claim of a stolen election, check out:
http://tinyurl.com/c752uod
**
RNC Announces Postelection Self-Examination
By Abby Livingston Posted at 3:40 p.m. today
The political autopsies of 2012 are continuing more than a month after Republicans fell short in the race for the White House and lost ground in both the House and Senate.
The newest postmortem announcement came from Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. In a statement Monday, he announced a new “initiative to grow the Republican Party and improve future Republican campaigns.” It’s called the Growth and Opportunity project.
SNIP
**
—–
PR here: http://tinyurl.com/cxfrccf
Sorry, got to use a shovel in my previuos post.
Wow, I can’t believe John Waters did a Christmas kitsch collection and DIDN’T include one of the all time great Christmas songs, “Xmas at Kmart” by Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band.
Recorded in the late 70s and only released on 45, it was collected for New Wave Chrismas (1996).
And while I’m on the subject of Root Boy:
Tthe band’s ultra-rare and legendary LP, “Left for Dead,” recorded in 1979 but not released on vinyl until 1987, was reissued this month on CD with two previously unreleased tracks, “The Shah is Gone,” and “Space Ship Boogie.” This is a marvelous but preposterous album, a spontaneous blues jam that was unwritten, unrehearsed and recorded in one take over a course of a night. The band’s two founding members, Root Boy Slim (Foster MacKenzie III) and Bob Greenlee, who met as frat brothers at Yale, are no longer with us. (But their DKE cohort, future President George W. Bush, who banned them from the frat house for life, is). You can buy it here. And it’s well worth the money.
I had set ideas about how Christmas had to
happen the year before my dad died.
I was looking for proof . I think I wanted
to cling to another year.
All the tv shows and books had Santa in a sleigh.
All we had that year in ’62 was a hard freeze..
The muddy grass under our gutters was frozen solid.
After inspecting everything under the tree..and going
back to leaf through the wrapping paper just in case there
were some smalls in there I walked out on the porch.
I convinced myself I could see a runner track in the mud.
I went back in and halfheartedly tried to tell whoever would listen
that I-d seen his tracks. (even if just one)
Daddy gave me one of those looks..where his lips disappeared
and he almost shook his head. I watched his every move and expression.
He was gone before we got far into Spring.
I imagined him forever as trying to say.. “Its alright son”
Some good Christmas memories:
I remember my grandmother’s Christmas cookies, we always got a tin full and I can taste them till this day. My wife and I have the recipe, but we can never seem to get it completely right (I think the missing ingredient is her love).
I remember the bedroom all four of us kids shared; and trying to stay awake for “santa “ (who never seemed to come until we were asleep). The first one awake would wake the rest; usually about 2 or 3am and we would “wake” our parents to tell them that “santa” had come; we would open our presents and then have a very early breakfast of my mother’s “chipped beef gravy”. (Which can still not be duplicated, I believe, due to the same missing ingredient of my grandmother’s cookies).
Some (not so good memories):
I remember when some selfish little brat (I hope name calling is ok here Dan as I am referring to myself) never quite got the message that our family couldn’t afford “big” gifts, but mom and dad somehow begged, borrowed (I hope not stole…lol) enough money to get the “mini-bike” I so desired and my uncle proceeded to wreck it on it’s maiden journey.
Finally, and sadly, I remember the Christmas when my wife and I (who at the time had little for our own children) decided we would show our kids the benefit of charity and compassion by “adopting a family” and (unknowingly) chose a “single” mother who spent, our limited time with her explaining, to us, how to get the most money she could from the government.
I still remember my son saying that her child had more “Nintendo” games than he had. (that one was not my most well thought out move to instill charity in my kids)
Sorry for the length, all of these made me cry. This post makes me consider making; what do you remember of Christmas’ past a part of our holiday this year.
Maybe a new “family” tradition; where the most important “ingredients” can never be lost.
I watched a John Waters film one night this past summer, that was such a waste of two hours. I kept waiting for it to be funny, and it never was.
Re: Debbie @ 4:58 pm
When I think of Christmas traditions, what pops to my mind is my kids and how my wife and I had to work out our family’s “traditions” from the quite different traditions of our two families-of-origin.
The first seven years we were childless. So, like many adult children, we did the Christmas shuffle between homes. But with our first child, we decided that she (and later they) should have Christmas day at home — albeit we did try to visit the grans sometime that week.
That is when it hit us how different the Christmases of our youth had been:
when the tree was put up?
who and how decorated?
when was the big Christmas meal (Christmas eve v. Christmas day)?
were any gifts opened Christmas eve?
which Church service (Christmas eve v. Christmas day)?
did Santa’s gifts come decorated?
etc
etc
etc
all the way to when did the decorations come down?
And, of course, on occasion life got in the way of plans.
Dave Hicks, when my daughter and her husband were first married they used to alternate between her family and his for Christmas. When my grandson came along, they came here on Chrstmas Eve when he was two and then decided the next year that they wanted to start their own traditions at home. They now come here every year on the day after Christmas and stay until Jan. 2nd. I truly treasure that week.
Dan,
I truly believe this is one of the best threads I have ever read. It brings an opportunity for memorable times where each of us, as individuals, can ponder the “larger” meaning of our existence and our past, and all of those who have made us who we are; and also be united in the understanding that we all share a common good.
Considering this thread you have made on the back of your thread from J.M. White, I am wondering if you have been visited by the “ghost of Christmas future”?….lol
Thank you for the “push” to remember and feel again, that which is often forgotten.
(between me and you… don’t tell anyone… but maybe next year you can suggest that one of “your” best Christmases, was enabling others to remember.
If you have ever prayed “to help others” with your “skills”; I believe it has been answered (at least today).
Merry Christmas. God Bless…
When the kids were small late one Christmas Eve, we were in the living room listening to Manheim Steamroller Christmas on the stereo (Yamaha receiver,Klipsh KG-4′s). The KG’s are amazingly accurate. One song opens with sleigh bells. When the bells sounded, my daughter dove under the couch and my son sprinted to his room at full speed.
We need a Dewey’s around here.
joe,
I’m sorry you lost your father at such a young age.
Here’s a Christmas memory from me, which was my 2011 Christmas column.
Working on another one for Sunday’s column, that’s a little more hair-raising.
Great stories! Thanks graycie, Joe that is a sweet and sad story. After we lose someone, many things come clearer.
That one was a hoot Dan!
My best memories of Christmas would have to be those of my dad, specifically his consistent ability to convince me that whatever I wanted was unreasonable. Each year he would listen as I told him what I wanted. He would then immediately list a bunch of reasons why my request could not be met. Too expensive, not age appropriate, piece of crap,… whatever. He would stick with the lie too and even embellish it as time when on. He would even prop up the lie by telling me of some family financial emergency that had made it difficult to meet “under the tree obligations”. Although a very honest man, he was deviously convincing in this regard. Most Christmas nights I slept very little as my subconscious brain created sad scenarios where the desired gift was replaced with some inferior and equally undesirable item. Think Sears Toughskins instead of Levis.
In retrospect, he surely enjoyed the game of fooling us. I should have slept better. We always got what we asked for and he often went out of his way to find something for us that we didn’t ask for, but he thought we would like. In my case, the precursor to satellite radio, the shortwave.
Dave Hicks @ 5:44 pm being an adult is hard work when you’re young.
My daughter quit believing in Santa Clause when she was 7 or 8 years old, but I did get her to believe again for a little while that year. Roanoke County Parks & Rec had a program where you could sign your child up to receive a call from Santa. I signed her up and when “Santa” called her, her eyes became huge and she hung up the phone saying, “he is real!”
Sandi, I really enjoyed your Christmas Story. Don’t have much to recall, except one coustom which I’ve never seen heard or mentioned. We always had a cedar tree. It was put up just before christmas and not decorated. When we awoke on Christmas morning the first shock and Awe was the glorious decorated Christmas tree that I think we thought Santa had done…Seeing how things are done today with trees up weeks before Christmas…..I realize now how truly special our Christmas tree was to behold and so much more special to us than it is today.
My favorite Christmas would be all of those when my whole family was home. One son home last year, the other will come this year. Both live over 4 hours away. My daughter-in-law is in emergency medicine and has to work some holidays. The other son’s girlfriend is a resident (slave) in a hospital and gets the crappy shifts by default. My wife and I stayed in our hometown so we have always been around family for Christmas.
We always knew this would happen, but we didn’t realize how painful it would be.
If you are fortunate enough to have your children at home for the holidays, cherish the moment.
I’m sure there are fellow bloggers who can sympathize with me.
Like someone said earlier, the kids start their own traditions. So, we will be happy and sad at the same time if that makes any sense.
It is nice to have one thread where everyone gets along. Merry Christmas to you all.
What’s really simple is the self-deluded notion that calling someone’s ideas idiotic differs substantially from calling that person an idiot.
Your happy and sad makes perfect sense, Alfred. You miss that they aren’t there but you understand that as adults they have to have their own lives too.
E Duane, we had a cedar tree one year. A friend from church gave it to my dad. It was beautiful with little blue berries on it, and it smelled wonderful but the needles tore your hands up. As the chief tree decorator, I declared no more cedar trees.
E Duane, that is a sweet story and it would make Christmas morning very special! We always had a wild cedar too – I cannot imagine decorating that sucker quietly! The smell is wonderful!
Alfred, I do know how that feels. My daughter is near Philly and cannot always come home at Christmas or Thanksgiving and it matters in my heart every time. I see her in January and we have Christmas then (she even leaves her tree up until we get to have Christmas). Next year she plans to come home for Christmas and we are all very excited. My son is still local, although that could change any time.
LOL Debbie, we both remember the revenge of the cedar!
I struggle terribly with the holidays. The Christmas season reminds me of estranged family members, deceased friends and lost loves. I have to be very careful not to let myself fall into depression around this time of year.
With the addition of my incredible fiancee and her precious children to my life, the last six years have seen a huge turnaround in my attitude. I suppose I feed off of their excitement as Christmas Day draws near and I can’t help but get a little excited, myself. I used to do my best to put on a happy face and just go with the day, always dropping the facade as soon as I walked away or was alone. Still, I’d let that darkness return and consume me. The answer – the solution – was in front of me the whole time…
Every year, the scars heal a little more. The memories don’t have the same sting as they once had. I found it’s not time that heals wounds; it’s life and the unstoppable, indescribable beauty of it all. It was simply me who had refused to open my eyes to it.
Now when I walk away, the smile never fades. I don’t even have to try.
It’s something you don’t forget, Sandi!
“What’s really simple is the self-deluded notion that calling someone’s ideas idiotic differs substantially from calling that person an idiot.”
–Comment by Chuck
Chuck,
Have you ever done or said anything stupid?
I would argue that does not define you as a dunce. We all say or do stupid things from time to time. It’s saying or doing stupid things REPEATEDLY that defines you as a dunce.
In that respect, calling an argument idiotic is not the same thing as calling the person who makes it an idiot.
In the comment that I trashed, pammala was taking issue with an op-ed today in which Frederick Fuller noted that Social Security is an entitlement. pammala was arguing SS is NOT an entitlement because people paid into the SS system, therefore they earned it. And she called Fuller the name, rather than criticizing his argument.
If you can’t understand what I’m writing here, just let me know and I’ll try again using simpler terms.
Our best Christmas trees were always volunteers. We had a cedar growing next to the house and used it one year. When we moved here, we had two spruces next to the house that were used for those years. Because we have 15 ft ceilings, we started visiting a tree farm. Tall trees are much cheaper because no one wants them. Now we only use tall white pines which we have to wire to the walls because of the cats.
” I’ll try again using **simpler** terms”
Oooooh…you misspelled “sarcastic”.
I agree with pammala on SS? OH, NOES!!
Not sure I’m a big fan of the new Kumbaya.
With the addition of my incredible fiancee and her precious children to my life, the last six years have seen a huge turnaround in my attitude.
She’s been your fiance for six years? Somebody’s getting used.
Mr. Fuller’s letter was not about Social Security. It was about the epithet, “entitlement”.
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/317706
“Of course, I didn’t mention entitlements for the very rich: Social Security, Medicare, tax write-offs, etc. They get what the rest of us get, and in many cases pay way less a percentage in taxes.
We all pay taxes, the rich a little less of their income than the poorer lot among us, but we are all entitled to something for our tax dollars. When I pay my taxes, I think I’m entitled to help from government if I need it. I’m not a deadbeat; I’m an American. So are we all.
Get over it, O’Reilly, and stop taking handouts to the rich, of whom you are one.“
Chuck, how often is any idea expressed here an actual, original, personally devised offering? Most often (from either side), the POV is parroting someone else’s idea, and that is often felt to be “idiotic” by someone else. It could easily be called idiotic without calling the person offering it an idiot.
Still using every opportunity to use whatever someone shares against them. How Christian.
Dan, it is your blog, you trash what you want and you owe no one any explanation for it, blogging is not a right. If someone does not like it, they can leave.
I think the improved climate will get us more participants and lead to better discussions. We certainly have nothing but hate and bile to lose!
No doubt the losses and the changes to routines we adore can make Christmas somehow less and sad. The year my dad died we did not even have Christmas and I cannot bear to put up my Charlie Brown tree (after 30 years of use) if both my kids are not home for Christmas. It does help to have other things to concentrate on and people to start new traditions with.
Years ago I found a little carved wooden Christmas tree with little hearts hanging on it that said “All hearts come home for Christmas” and I put Daddy, Papa and Granny on the hearts and added loved ones as they passed so that they are still with me when I do manage to decorate — the years we are all here.
Everyone has their own way of coping, including the past and present and making spirits bright. What gives comfort is what matters.
It is nice to have one thread where everyone gets along. Merry Christmas to you all.–Comment by me
Looks like I made that statement a little too soon…..
She’s been your fiance for six years? Somebody’s getting used.
Comment by Suzie — December 10, 2012 @ 10:13 pm
Ho ho ho! Let’s take a walk, Suzie…
First, the proper way to speak of an engagement by gender is as follows: “fiance” refers to an engaged male; “fiancee” refers to an engaged female. Either with or without the appropriate accents is acceptable.
Second, it’s a large logical leap to assume that merely because I said she’s been in my life for six years that somehow we’ve been engaged for that long. Normally, you’re sharper than that…
Still, it’s nice to see how little provocation it takes for you to show your true colors. It’s peculiar how you slime a little proselytizing onto my PotD, get called out for your continued cowering in anonymity and then want to pick at something deeply personal for me on another thread.
That’s okay, though. I share these things knowing that the weak and cowardly will use seize them and use them. See, you lash out at my personal sharing like it might actually hurt me, like it holds some power that you’re permitted to yield. Instead, it only exposes your weakness, your hollowness, that abyssal void within yourself that, try as you might, you will never be able to fill.
Even for that, as shallow, fallow and callow as you may try to be on this blog, I love you, Suzie. I hope this holiday season brings you happiness, joy and the peace you so desperately seem to need.
Re: Sandi Saunders @ 8:32 pm
Plus one more, here.
Suzie:
“She’s been your fiance for six years? Somebody’s getting used.”
So tell us, what is the appropriate amount of time to be engaged? Who are you to opine on the relationship of someone you don’t know? The world would be a better place if self righteous, judgmental, holier than thou hyocrites would keep their noses on their side of the fence.
By the way, I don’t think that quite the same standard of civility should apply towards what is said to anonymous blog entities as real people who post under their real names.
Re: Suzie @ 10:13 pm
Ah. The thin veneer of the newly done-over Suzie persona cracks and the hate-filled old Suzie is beginning to reemerge.
That didn’t take long.
Re: J.M. White @ 11:19 pm
Well done, sir. Very well done, indeed.
Were we to have access to a range of emoticons on this blog, I give you three :applause:
If Dan were serious about cleaning up the blog he’d ban this individual and be done with it. Just sayin’.
The best Christmas gift I ever received came in 1974. My grandfather, who ran the farm on which I was reared between 1911 & 1962 when he suffered his first stroke, had passed away the previous August. He, in addition to my parents and grandmother, were great influences on my life. To say that I was still in mourning over his passing would have been an understatement.
At any rate, on Christmas Day, my grandmother, with help from my brother, carried in an old box filled with 61 journal books. Also, included was a hand written note in an envelope with my name on it. The note was from my grandfather and had been written a few days before his passing. It turns out that my grandfather had written notes to each of his grandchildren in the days prior to his passing. I was nearly 28 when my grandfather died. I don’t know what my grandfather said to my siblings and my cousins. In his note to me he explained that the journal books were given to me because of my interest in history. He further explained that recorded in the journal books were his daily written reflections between 1911 & 1962. He knew that I would preserve them and enjoy them. His note also explained many other incidents and occasions of my life to that point and what they had meant to him.
As my grandfather knew, I have preserved the journal books. I have studied them carefully and repeatedly since 1974. From them I learned much about myself, and most other members of my extended family especially my grandfather. My mourning about my grandfather ended that Christmas.
Do not let one person hijack and ruin the spirit of this thread. Ignore the remark and let it go.
Ron, what a wonderful blessing your grandfather left you.
I think the improved climate will get us more participants
That’s not the way it works. People like to have freedom to mix it up. If Dan goes ahead with the schoolmarm stuff, people will get tired of it and leave. Others will leave because of boredom.
, it’s nice to see how little provocation it takes for you to show your true colors. It’s peculiar how you slime a little proselytizing onto my PotD, get called out for your continued cowering in anonymity and then want to pick at something deeply personal for me on another thread.
Sorry you’re offended, but I have to continue to tell the truth. Cohabitation is one of the biggest problems our society has. If you care for this person like you say, why not fully commit and get married?
I love you, Suzie
I love you, too, J.M. White.
One of the best things about anonymity is the freedom to tell people things they should hear, but that their friends wouldn’t want to tell them.
If Dan were serious about cleaning up the blog he’d ban this individual and be done with it. Just sayin’.
Yeah, really. We don’t need to bother with summits or violations or reasons. That’s the Soviet way.
So tell us, what is the appropriate amount of time to be engaged?
When you know someone is “the one”, I see no reason to wait beyond six months or a year. That way you reduce the temptation for premarital sex.
————
Who are you to opine on the relationship of someone you don’t know? The world would be a better place if self righteous, judgmental, holier than thou hyocrites would keep their noses on their side of the fence.
Did Jesus withhold opinions of what He thought was right or wrong? Cohabitation is a ticket to unhappiness. Premarital sex violates the laws of God. And since I don’t know J.M. White and he doesn’t know me, that proves it is not personal. I just want him to do the right thing and be happier for it.
——-
By the way, I don’t think that quite the same standard of civility should apply towards what is said to anonymous blog entities as real people who post under their real names..
I wasn’t uncivil in the least.
Dan, would you consider putting a muzzle on suz at least throughout the Holidays? I think the level of civility will be a whole easier to manage without her constant sniping. If you decided to let her post in 2013 I think she’d behave knowing you’d bridle her for thoughtless outbursts. The tenor in this thread was beautiful to read until suz piped up and spread her special brand of holiday cheer with everyone. I swear that girl could mess up a two car parade.
Thanks Ron, that was a wonderful and thoughtful gift!
The most memorable one I can remember…we were living in Naples, Italy at the time. My mom threw a couple pop-tarts in the toaster oven we had (which back then did not have an actual “toast” button). Some time later, we smelled something burning and ran to the kitchen, to find the toaster in flames. My dad grabbed it and threw it out the back door, flaming pop-tarts and all. I don’t re call if that was the same year, but we were also in Naples for a rare accumulating snow, which at the time was their first in over a decade.
Suzie, you might want to consider reading up a little on the libertarian point-of-view on social issues. In a nut shell, they believe that if an individuals actions do not cause harm to others, they should be allowed. Not a bad doctrine!
Suzie, I do agree with some of your fiscal positions.
I remember standing outside waiting for Dereik Crouses’ funeral and we were anticipating Westboro Baptist Church’s protestors as they announced that they would be there. They never showed, so I’m still waiting to meet “Suzie.”
Suzie, you’ve already incorrectly assumed once that I was cohabiting with my fiancee a while ago and now you’ve done it again. The entire premise for your comments toward me is nonexistent. Engaged for six years? Wrong. Cohabitation? Wrong, twice. I know you’ve been going for some kind of record since your election humiliation, but this is really getting kind of sad.
You did say something that struck me and that I believe is very revealing about you: One of the best things about anonymity is the freedom to tell people things they should hear, but that their friends wouldn’t want to tell them.
Comment by Suzie — December 11, 2012 @ 6:41 am
How sad it would be to not have any true friends! I’d never call someone in my life a friend if they refused to tell me like it is. If I want sugar-coated cliches and disingenuous lip service, I can get that from a suicide hotline operator.
Anonymity has nothing to do with it. You’re simply flailing at a justification for your cowardice. It’s nothing more than a shield for you. You suggest with the above statement that you’re even more fake in real life than you are on this blog. Good luck with that because your God will take issue with it one day.
Another Chuck:
“Suzie, you might want to consider reading up a little on the libertarian point-of-view on social issues. In a nut shell, they believe that if an individuals actions do not cause harm to others, they should be allowed. Not a bad doctrine!”
Suzie does not understand what a libertarian is. Dave Hicks and I have tried many a time to explain it. According to Suzie, there is Catholic, Republican, authoritarian, pseudo-saint material and “other”. The latter of which is all going to hell.
Suzie:
“I love you, too, J.M. White.”
Isn’t codified, indoctrinated “love” heartwarming? J.M. White will have a better life knowing you feel that way.
Can the thread go back to topic?
John Wilburn @ 10:19 am I sure hope so!
Christmas evokes so many memories that it becomes impossible to separate out one that is more memorable than others. Like Sandi, I can recall the 5 AM shaking down of the grate and rekindling the fire in the wood stove of the three room house where my family of seven lived in those easrly years. And like E Duane, the smell of the cedar trees that were a staple for us in those days because we could go down in the mountain and cut one brings back special sensations. And I can remember, because those were the days when the local dairies still delivered milk and dairy products to homes, when at 5;30 am on a snowy Christmas morning , the milk delivery man who was also a personal family friend pulled up to the door to make his early morning delivery which always came, holiday or not. And my Mom insisted he come in for a warming cup of coffee and a piece of pie.. But for my family, good times and bad, Christmas was Christmas because of my Mother. She was from a depression family with nine brothers and sisters and for all of her life she had been the one who took care of everybody else and who everyone turned to in times of need. And for her,
life was always about giving, not receiving. That made Christmas even more
special to her. She was the glue that held everything together, scrimping and saving to buy presents, cooking and baking and serving as the center of attention not just for us, but for her brothers and sisters and their families as well. They always seemed to end up at our house sometime on Christmas day. In her later years, when we couyld afford to try to give back to her, one of my special memories is the Christmas when we were able to buy her one thing she had always wanted—a dishwasher! Even to the end, though, she was still about giving. She passed away early in the morning on December 21, 1981 . That also happens to be my birthday .
She had fought a five year battle with cancer and knew the end wwas near. But from her hospital bed, several weeks before that day, she sent my sister on an errand to do two things. One was to buy me a birthday card which she signed and had my sister put in the mail on Dec. 20. The other was to buy and wrap a gift for my Father so he would have a present under the tree from her. I got that card later in the day on dec. 21. And my Dad
unwrapped that special last gift on Christmas day. She was thinking about others right to the end. I have many other Christmas memories, mostly good, some a little sad. But for me, Christmas and my Mom are one and the same.
“Isn’t codified, indoctrinated “love” heartwarming? J.M. White will have a better life knowing you feel that way.
Can the thread go back to topic?”
Wilburn, I love you, man.
Contra, I asked for Christmas memories, but it’s an OPEN thread. There’s not necessarily a topic on open threads.
When you feed a pig the same way and at the
same place long enough ..that pig
will be looking up the food chute over its
snout at the same time everyday.
It doesnt know that the whole point of this
process is chops and bacon.
Sometimes something happens that you realize will BECOME your fondest memory and for me, it happened a few weeks ago. I have always done the Santa gig. Not a single present under the tree, ever, until Christmas morning. Of course my daughters are 15 and 17 now but still Santa always has come during the dark, cold, wee hours of Christmas eve – tippy toeing around, trying like crazy not to make noise, throwing threatening glares at the cats not to chase strings or rip wrapping paper, exhausted, fearful of waking the girls up, dog tired. So, a few weeks ago, I tossed the idea out, very casually, to the daughters: “Would you guys prefer to have presents under the tree before Christmas, is that something that matters?” and the answer was two overlapping variations of: “But mom, Santa has to come!” and then after a short pause a secondary round of: “I mean, if you just really don’t want to get up in the middle of the night, I suppose it’s okay.” To which I responded “Forget I ever said that. Santa will come on Christmas Eve night just like always.”
I sort of feel like a dumb adult for thinking that should or could ever change. But I feel like a happy mommy that there still must be Christmas magic!
I think my sister pretended to believe in Santa until she was in 8th grade. She was afraid that if she confessed her disbelief, the presents would end.
The only thing under our tree this year, have been the cats. But we still enjoy the season regardless, and enjoy giving meaningful gifts to friends and family. I’m awful to buy for though. Every year I get asked what I’d like, and my answer is always “nothing” or “I don’t know” because I have everything I could possibly need in life. But I get my wife a few gifts each year, and she invariably manages to find something unique that I’m happy to receive. The holidays for me are more about building memories than engaging in the materialism that it has come to be known for. Getting to see the family we had living with us a while back when they lost their apartment and minivan have a place to celebrate the holidays together was a very memorable occasion. I’m also happy to say that they are doing much better today and have now gotten back on their feet.
Dave, your mom sounds like a truly wonderful woman. Thanks for sharing that with us.
Suzie@85 “When you know someone is “the one”, I see no reason to wait beyond six months or a year. That way you reduce the temptation for premarital sex.”
Key word here is “I”. Aside from you, I do not detect too many people who would spend a millisecond considering what mutually consenting adults choose to do. Who knew short engagements curbed sexual appetites though?
Re: Dan Casey @ 1:00 pm
Given the wonderful theme that developed, I was beginning to feel bad about a couple of the random comments that I had made — even though it is an open thread.
Dave, your story about your mom made me teary eyed. Thank you for sharing it.
Loved your story too Miriam, so sweet.
Kristen, my daughter quit believing in Santa when she was 7 or 8. When she was about 9 years old we were in Kroger one day and ran into a friend of hers who was there with her mom. Her friend started talking about losing her tooth and the tooth fairy. My daughter asked her if she really believed there was some little person who flew through the air to bring you money for your teeth. Her friend gave a timid little, yes. My daughter came back with, what about Santa Clause? That’s when I stepped in and told her to shut up. She said, but mom. I repeated, shut up! I then noticed a woman who had been standing there listening was laughing hard.
Dan, I realize it’s an OPEN thread. I should have left off John W.’s last sentence about getting back on topic in my response. I was trying to make an admittedly rather lame joke in connection with his comment about “codified, indoctrinated ‘love’”. It reminded me of the many times I’ve heard a Christian say, ‘I love you because my Lord commands it’, or ‘I forgive you because Jesus says I must’.
Oh well. Not so funny after all. Can’t score every time you shoot.
My Happy Xmas Memory by Contrasuzie
When I was in Kindergarten, we moved to Floyd County about a week before Xmas. My parents moved the majority of our belongings one weekend and my Grandmother was going to bring the last carload of odds and ends on Xmas Eve and spend Xmas with us. Part of those odds and ends were almost all of our Xmas decorations. We were going to have a great Xmas Eve with Mom and us kids putting up the tree and Granny was going to bake cookies. (My Mom cannot cook a batch of cookies to save her life.) However, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, Granny couldn’t come to our new house until the day after Xmas. When Mom first broke the news to us, we were devastated. ‘What about the Xmas treeeee?! Who’s gonna make cookieeeees?!’ we whined. Mom thought for minute or two, then gathered up the newspaper Xmas ads and some wrapping paper, scissors, and tape she had luckily thought to go ahead and bring and my brother and I made ornaments for our tree. I still have a couple. My favorite is the Power Rangers one.
Mom also made the worst batch of sugar cookies I have ever eaten in my entire life. We each ate about two bites and decided to share the rest with the birds. Granny came to see us the day after Xmas and baked cookies and her special made-from-scratch chocolate cake.
Sorry about junking up this thread, guys. I have a hard time not rising to the bait. She’s just so much fun.
Funny story Contra!
Part of every Christmas always included new clothes, one year, Santa brought me a pink bra. Well Christmas morning, after all the opening and excitement (there were 4 kids), Mom asked, “Did you like the bra”? “What bra” I answered? And the hunt ensued. We went through all the wrapping, everyone’s pile, she went back to her bedroom for some reason…anyhow, my pink bra never was found and we laughed about it for years at Christmas. Still waiting…
Sandi Saunders:
“anyhow, my pink bra never was found and we laughed about it for years at Christmas. Still waiting…”
Even if found it is not likely to fit anymore, so why not ask for a color that flatters Eeyore insted.
.
Suzie, you’ve already incorrectly assumed once that I was cohabiting with my fiancee a while ago and now you’ve done it again. The entire premise for your comments toward me is nonexistent. Engaged for six years? Wrong. Cohabitation? Wrong, twice. I know you’ve been going for some kind of record since your election humiliation, but this is really getting kind of sad.
So you’re not having premarital sex? Excellent. Forgive me for my false assumption. We can assume you wedding date is imminent then?
“So you’re not having premarital sex? Excellent.”
suzie the sex nanny. You really are obsessed.
Suzie:
“So you’re not having premarital sex? Excellent. Forgive me for my false assumption. We can assume you wedding date is imminent then?”
J.M. White, please go over to your bedroom window and slam it shut. Suzie needs an excuse for a nose job.
Suzie@10:17
After that ridiculous question JM White would be fully justified in asking you if you are having “marital” sesx. I’m sure your answer would be “none of your **** business.” The same answer would be appropriate for you.
It’s perfectly normal for Suzie to be interested in what’s going on in my bedroom; I’m dashing, daring, debonair, and dead sexy. I wrangle and weave the English language into enigmatic prose, filled with emotive imagery and coded triggers. It’s only natural that such powerful art stir the primal urges within that she so desperately tries to suppress. The inescapable heat of the autumn years has driven many a nun from the convent and in abstract, this is no different.
Alas, there is no satisfaction to be had from me and my ethereal ways. Though I enjoy manipulating and guiding the imagination of those who suffer my words, they are like fog on a cool morning pond. They fade away into but distant memories, only to return again guise je ne sais quoi. As beautiful as things could be between us, maiden Suzie, my very essence belongs to another…
…one who’d rather you not know how many times a week I’m “knowing” her.
Mother Inferior has it all plotted out…
As soon as she can clean up the inferiors
and non practicing Catholics out of Vatican West
she will be in line for the sainthood..
And she will have done it without a single strand of beads.
Quite a feat.
” It’s only natural that such powerful art stir the primal urges within that she so desperately tries to suppress. The inescapable heat of the autumn years has driven many a nun from the convent and in abstract, this is no different.”
JM White, with all due respect to your admirable command of the language….please never, ever, bring her “primal urge” to the blog again.
It’s the conservative way. You stay out of what goes on in the boardroom, but we have to know what goes on in your bedroom.
I’m not a conservative so I have no desire to know what’s going on in the bedrooms of anyone on here. Please don’t share those memories.