Merry, Happy
Christmas Holidays
with Season’s Greetings!!!
Be it merry or happy, Chanukah or Advent, Kwanzaa or Boxing Day, Winter Solstice or multiple choice; may the season hold both meaning & moments of joy. Whether you’re recreating traditions or creating new ones, have spent too much or have nothing to spend, what’s clear & what matters is taking the time to reflect. What do you believe, what are you open to &, moreover, who do you love but, most importantly, how are you showing it? From taking time to be kind to yourself to the thoughtfulness you’re showing to those around you, it’s not that December has a corner on the market nor should but with all these holidays intertwining; take advantage, people!
No, Christ wasn’t born at this time &, yes, He’s a controversial character to boot. Saint Father Claus & origins are also in question yet, whatever you believe or might consider, both represent concepts we should all hold dear. While PC & PR have dimmed the intended messages, allow this time of year to be what makes you happy & brings your family together. There’s no right or wrong way to go about celebrating whichever holiday or holidays you choose, each of our celebrations are what we make of them & special simply by being ours. My ideal holiday would integrate them all for they each have phenomenal purpose. May all of you have or find something worth commemorating this time of year..
“I will honour Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year.”
~ Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’ ~
Having a home for the holidays this year has allowed our stockings to be hung which I find means a lot; more than the fact they’re likely to remain empty. If only I were exaggerating for impact but we’re barely surviving amidst an overwhelming need to repay the unintentional loan that provided this home. There are no hard feelings tho’ we were told the funds wouldn’t have been made accessible if our friends had it to do again which would’ve worsened our homelessness & jeopardized all we have, especially our kids — er — cats. As harsh a reality as their desire to undo our saving grace is, the harsher reality is that we hijacked our friends’ money.
What has all this to do with Christmas? What’s more Christmasy than a miracle? Whatever the means, we would not otherwise have a home nor would we have anytime soon & a home is by far the best gift we could’ve gotten this holiday. Although the funds are urgently needed by them now, we can’t help but hope that they’ll trust their gift to be granted as well thus providing two miracles for the price of one. While our obscure holiday wish may be finding a benefactor ready to replace that 10% of their adoption fund we ‘borrowed’, all we’re really asking for is their understanding & recognition of the true miracle they unwittingly made possible.
Attribution: Tab, The Calgary Sun
Whatever your circumstances, however you got there, grab hold of what’s working & let go of what’s not then take hold of what’s left. Building on that foundation will not only reveal the shape your holidays should take but will lay the groundwork for the new year to come. After all, it’s the first year of the rest of your life. To all of us: To miracles that happen despite our best efforts & the little joys that take us by surprise but, most of all, to being!
(|_| *ch33rs* |_|)
“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
~
Charles Dickens, ‘
A Christmas Carol’ ~
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The leader of the band has died & my eyes are crying still, but his words run through my varied thoughts & his song is in my soul.. My life has been much better for the music of this man; he was a living legacy & still leader of the band.
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument
And his song is in my soul –
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I’m just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.
~ Leader of the Band ~
Although the song my heartfelt words are based on is about his father, Dan Fogelberg picked up where his father left off & absolutely was the living legacy any musician could hope for. Moreover, he was a poet; honest & direct, offering words that reflected what we’ve all been through. By keeping his songs alive in our hearts & minds, we will in turn take the next watch. To further continue his legacy, may no-one else die of Prostate Cancer.
It’s the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it’s high time you joined
In the dance
~ Run for the Roses ~
He had reminded us that life’s fleeting & urged us to make the most of the time we have. He led that charge by example, giving his words added meaning. My Granddad, who just miraculously & ever so thankfully turned 88 a couple months ago, is a survivor of Prostate Cancer. To add insult to the injury of losing Dan to something essentially treatable, he was merely the same age as my mom!?
Love when you can
Cry when you have to
Be who you must
That’s a part of the plan
~ Part of the Plan ~
He became a part of my own being right in the middle of my high school years, of all times. As a punk, alcoholic, habitual runaway; there was little connecting me to the parental unit. Coffee was just about the only common ground left with Momma & I’d certainly never had much in common with her husband. The only thing we all agreed on was some of their music, which is to say Dan Fogelberg.
What we really want
You know we rarely say
Such is the language of love.
~ The Language of Love ~
They each offered me worthwhile vinyl — No age cracks lest you sound like a broken record. 
— to peruse. I had always shared John Denver & a plethora of 60’s options with Momma while I agreed with David (That’s his name, not to be confused with my Dave.) on the likes of Blood, Sweat & Tears. The Eagles were equally enjoyed by all three of us but nothing compared to Dan on this front for we were all actually moved by him.
Our words don’t ever seem to
Say enough
But a simple smile
A tender touch
Speaks the true language of love.
~ The Language of Love ~
Music is recognized as the universal language. Given the separate universes family members take refuge in, music can become both the only language left & the bridge to any other. It wasn’t a generation gap needing bridging but one of resentment thus only Dan’s truly human sentiments could do so. In the midst of his lyrics, each of us singing despite ourselves, we were one. Truth be told, even though Momma & I emerged stronger, Dan Fogelberg may well be the only thing David & I really agree on; especially his song to my mom:
Longer than there’ve been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there’ve been stars up in the heavens
I’ve been in love with you.
~ Longer ~
Dan’s departure from this world does feel like a personal loss yet there’s so much he’ll continue to give me; it hardly seems fair. What I can’t imagine, by the grace of God, is what his family is going through. They’re being notified of the donations made in his memory to fight the cancer that took him & there’s a site to share our condolences. Surely the ongoing feedback prolongs the hurt even while easing the pain. That which offers meaning though is never black or white; nothing ultimately is & he understood that.
Oh, If I had you beside me
Then I just might sleep through the night
Your love is the promise that guides me
All of the days of my life.
~ Missing You ~
I’m out of words for now but not out of tears. Yet, like so many times before, he speaks for me.
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
I have cried too long
No more sorrow
Got to carry on.
~ Phoenix ~
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It would seem there is a method to my madness. The order amongst chaos may be in the numbers for my favorite is three & this, my third blog, is the one finally providing me a home online. Then again, it may be that; the synchronicity of having a brick & mortar home at last. The wait implied therein & explained herein points to patience as wondrous things do seem to come to those who wait.
Whatever the reason, the timing brings it all together. Not only will this blog never be abandoned (tho’ my cold, sick fingers will periodically be pried off) but it turns out I’m not the only one who enjoys it! So, one form my ordered chaos is taking is that no sooner am I tagged then awards start arriving.
Having always been one to welcome votes of confidence, what can I say but keep ‘em coming!?
Ever so cleverly, Nom de plume The Poetress has included a tag with my very first award. I cannot thank you enough, Michelle! Thus, my acceptance speech for being declared an Amazing Blogger is presented as
“7 Weird or Random Facts”:
- I require but don’t need coffee; it doesn’t keep me awake.
- I know much but remember little; making me my own fact checker.
- I have to be reminded of my own memories; which doesn’t always work.
- I’m first in my family to stay w/a 1st husband; but he’s also my 2nd.
- I’m ill but have no diagnosis; nor can I afford one anytime soon.
- I’m an alcoholic that drinks; moderation IS the family mantra.
- I’m a poet without poems; so have opted for prose.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be more proud or touched, especially in the head, “Omyword!” did Lisa say that? Turns out I make her smile, as does RhodesTer, & we both got some lovin’ to boot.. Truth be told, imparting love & inspiring smiles are my raison d’être. You guessed it, I’m a hugger & am feeling the virtual love so — to all you who keep coming back — “I’m gonna love [you], and squeeze [you] and call [you] George.”
Well, George, since I am feeling so loving & want to keep you smiling, I won’t be tagging today. However, I challenge (read as beg) you to leave a weird, random fact or seven in the comments. As for blogging credit going where credit is due, those of you reading this ARE spreadin’ the LOVE & helpin’ make the SMILES!!! Consider yourselves squeezed.. 
(|_|*cheers*|_|)
“Sanity is a madness put to good use.”
~ George Santayana ~
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