A FEW MORE LINES FROM MY BOOK

We always got a real Christmas tree. It wasn't really
Christmas without a real evergreen tree like Jesus had.
It was purchased around Dec. 1 every year. (Dad would
say he stole it off the lot). 

It was taken down on NewYears day.
Needless to say, when we took it outside and put a
match to the sucker, it simply exploded like raw gasoline.

I looked forward to that each year.
It is nothing short of a miracle that we didn't have a
major fire in our home with mom and dad smoking their Pall
Malls, candles, and me, loving the whole concept of beautiful
fire.

I can't remember mom ever buying a decoration for the
tree. They were all heirlooms or something made by the kids
in school.

I made the world's ugliest ornament by putting paper
mache on a potato, painting it white, and dabbing red spots
on it. ( My mom cherished it.

The ornaments were old, faded and chipped. They
ranged from big round ones, the size of a grapefruit, `to
very small, like a cherry. Then, there were the long, slender
ones that, I think, were supposed to look like the Christmas
star. They had real fragile centers that would disintegrate
at the slightest touch. (Whoops, there goes another one,
Sorry!)












We had some paper chains, popcorn strings, tinsel, and a
well worn silver star on top.

We believed with all our heart, that we had the most
beautiful tree in town.

When brother Dick got married and moved out, he got
an aluminum tree that had a color wheel that reflected
three different colors in succession.

We viewed it as a sacrilege,
A real Christmas required a real Christmas tree!

Christmas Eve. St. Louis. Circa 1960.

Outside the frosted kitchen window (by the way, the
frost looked like' little white pine trees or tiny little
ferns that God painted around the edges of the pane of
glass)

I saw the misty hoar frost upon the lawn (not to be confused
with "hooker" frost), and suddenly, huge snowflakes
(about the size of pit-bull puppies), started falling down, oh,
so gently.

Down, down, down, then up a little and down again and; a
little to the left, then right a wee bit, rocking to and fro in
the sacred Christmas wind that once cooled the manger
where Jesus slept so adorably.

Pure, white, pristine, unadulterated snow. (About three
feet deep, according to the bicycle handlebars).

The porch light revealed hidden "diamonds" in the
frozen white "angel's dandruff", while a bunny had to hop
way up and down, way up and down, to transmigrate himself
(or herself) through the deep cold pile of a billion unique and
completely individual, snowflakes.

MAHESS MUSIC MONDAYS

A little Christmas video I did at one time in my lice.

Merry Christmas!

SORRY! I'M SO BEHIND ON STUFF!

Christmas tree went up today,

10 days 'till Christmas time,

So much crap we've had to do,

From ridiculous to sublime!

Family, car, and health stuff,

All took priority,

Over decorating the household,

And our little Christmas tree.

Don't think that I'm complaining,

God has blessed us truly great,

We have food and clothes and shelter,

We're just running a bit late.

It seems that in my older years,

Christmas is much sweeter,

The memories more vivid,

My heart warms like a heater.

When I think about my childhood,

In St. Louis visiting kin,

We always felt so welcome,

When they bid us "come on in!"

Gifting was more simple,

Only one or two,

Nothing very fancy,

Not a big tadoo.

My Mom would buy some apples,

Oranges, nuts and candy,

This all was such a treat for us,

We liked it fine and dandy!

Just wanted everyone to know,

You are in my heart and mind,

Just like when I was just a boy,

And you treated me so kind.

Merry Christmas to my loved ones,

May peace flow unto you,

God please bless you precious ones,

Make your wishes all come true!

This is what my wife put on Facebook yesterday in a desperate plea for help:

We need a miracle! Medical expenses for little Granddaughter Breanna have devastated the finances of our son-in-law, Matthew Heeren and daughter, Ash Heeren to the point where they will lose their home if no help comes.
The fact is, without her medicine, Breanna will not survive very long.
Lately, Ashley and Matt have had to choose between making their house payment or buying Breanna's medicine she desperately needs for Cystic Fibrosis. Of course, they had to choose Breanna's medicine.
As most of you know, Matt serves in the military, he served our country in Iraq, works full time at Methodist hospital, and serves with the National Guard. Ash, has been going to school for the past few years, trying to get her nursing degree, while trying to keep up with the never ending Doctor and Hospital visits.
It is literally impossible for them to keep up with the thousands of dollars for medical expenses each month.
We need your prayers for a Christmas miracle that will save their home and keep Breanna breathing.
We know how so many are struggling and we are leaving it in God's hands to send the help Breanna needs.
God is loving and merciful and we truly believe he will answer our prayers and yours before time runs out on this beautiful family.
Thank you, from the heart!
Donna and Danny

She did not ask for money, because we know God is the one who will have to help them, very few people have enough money to relieve their situation. We need to leave things in God's hands, and we believe "prayer changes things," like I read on a little plaque when I was a child, and that's what I firmly believe.
Today we took Ashley and Matt to the Cracker Barrel restaurant for Ashley's birthday, and some kindhearted, wonderful person paid our entire bill, anonymously! 

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.

 Author: Amy Li



I have written about my sister Dee-Dee a number of times before, and this time I just want to thank her and her husband Stan for always being there for me.
Even though I've been a misfit,
Since I was a  child,
My big sister loved me,
The times when I was wild.

When I acted selfish,
Made everybody sad,
Dee-Dee always seemed to know,
I wasn't really bad.

She cheered for me at football games,
Even though we always lost,
She was always my defender,
When someone I had crossed.

I did not deserve her loving care.
When she tied my shoes at school,
And never put me down too much,
When I acted like a fool.

Dee-Dee has a heart like Mom,
She gives without a thought,
Of ever getting a return,
For the happiness she's brought.

Just ask the ones who know her,
They will all agree,
There is no one kind as her,
She's been wonderful to me!

I truly owe you heartfelt thanks,
My guardian angel, Dee-Dee,
May God bless you and keep you well,
And also Stan, your sweetie!!

OUT OF THIS WORLD WEDNESDAY

Just to refresh your memory, here is how we left our heroes last week:

Sure, they argue about things from tom to tom, try to outdo each other on their missions, get on each others nerves occasionally, but deep down they are forever TRUE friends, and would miss each other on Glirkmas.

So off they zoomed to their respective destinations, looking forward to a great and glorious Glirkmas vacation!

 Little did they know what would soon befall them!

Gary was zooming off to the west side of  the planet, Glirka, and Yellow Rose to the east side...or was it the other way around? 

Gary was singing ancient, traditional Glirkmas songs to himself as he relaxed on his respite from defending his fellow Glirkazoids, and headed for his birthplace of  Glirksha Rah.

♫We 3 Glirkazoidian Kings,♪

♪ Travel like the Lord Of The Rings,♪♪

♫ Glirkmas traveling, stress unraveling,♫

♫ The joy glorious Glirkmas brings! ♪♪

♫ Oh, oh, star of Glirka, very bright,

♪ Star that gives us Glirkmas light,♪

♫ Westward leading I am speeding,

♪  This holiday's a great delight! ♫ ☺

At the very exact same time we see Yellow Rose heading home for Glirkmas to the east side of Glirka (or is it the west side?), and she's singing too! (Is this a musical or what?)

♫ Sleighships fly, are ya listenin',♪

♪♪ Out in space, stars are glistenin', ♫

♫ I dodge asteroids, but don't get annoyed, ♫

Flying through a Glirkmas Wonderland! ♪♪ ☺

Gary and Yellow Rose were blissful, carefree, joyous, a little high on candy cane, and looking forward to a great tom with friends and family.

What could possibly go wrong?

Dramatic music!

Gary closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them, saw a great big fat dude in a green robe, wearing a wreath on his head, with a big black beard, and SNACKING ON HIS CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES!! 

Gary cried out, "How did you get on my ship...and get your big fat paws off my candy!!"

The fat guy said, "Just chill, Magill! I'm the Ghost of Glirkmas Past, to remind you, in detail, of all of the joys and fond memories of your past Glirkmases.

Tune in next week for OUT OF THIS WORLD WEDNESDAY to look into Gary's past Glirkmases!

FRIGID COLD FREEZING STUFF

I can handle snowy days,

They're worse since I've grown old,

But I can't stand the blowing,

Freezing, frigid cold!

Even though I don a sweater,

Two coats bought by me Mum,

A hood to block the weather,

The wind flies up me bum!

Benji doesn't seem to mind,

As he walks his merry way,

I guess his fur is way too thick,

To feel the frigid day!

I shiver so hard I feel that I,

Could shake myself apart,

While sitting on my car's iced seat,

 God, let this buggy start!

I remember as children we would play,

Outside in zero temps,

We wouldn't stop 'till we were numb,

Oh, no, we were not wimps!

I get confused now in the cold,

And lose my navigation,

The freezing frost goes through me,

Due to lack of circulation!

I now know how a well digger feels,

On a bitter day, a bit,

Or like the proverbial coldness,

Of the lonely witches t**!

SUNDAY SONGS 

Have a nice Sunday!

MY COLONOSCOPY WAS FUN!

My first colonoscopy was 20 years ago,

I cried like a girl, so pathetic,

I had to drink a whole bottle of Castor Oil,

And they didn't use an anesthetic!

Yesterday was quite an improvement,

They gave me stuff that tasted like Kool Aid,

To give me an all night bowel movement,

After that I had it "made in the shade!"

The doctor had me lay on the table,

After a sec it was "night night,"

 So I was ready, willing and able,

To endure that 20 foot snakelight!

Doc found one polyp and snipped it,

He said it didn't look bad,

Then he took him 3 clips and he clipped it,

So it wouldn't bleed, and I'm glad!

So don't put off this procedure,

Cancer is nothing to mock,

Colonoscopies aren't as bad as they once were,

Time's running out on your clock!

BURMA SHAVE