Christmas Eve

Live and learn; click on the title of this blog and review the meaning of Christmas Eve. I was more than a little surprised. I guess after all these years of celebrating this day I forgot its true meaning and significance.

I must say that this Christmas season is different than most. I find myself anticipating celebrating with family tonight and tomorrow more than I can ever remember. You would think with the economy in the dumps and no one being able to afford giving presents this year that I would be in a funk. Just the opposite has occurred. Each family member is making a special Christmas dish to be shared with a liberal sprinkling of good cheer and happiness because we still have so much to be thankful for.

I find myself also thinking strongly of family that cannot be with us during our celebrating. I can only hope that they too have a loving, sharing and wonderful Christmas.

The men and women serving our country in the military also come to mind. Without them protecting our freedoms the world over, we would not be able to worship and celebrate according to our faiths. I pray that each and every one of them return safely so they too can celebrate Christmas with family and loved ones in the years to come.

I could write page after page expressing good wishes for all the oppressed people of the world who will not be able to celebrate the season, but suffice to say, they are in my thoughts. I would also be remiss if I did not mention all of our animal friends in the world who suffer from abuse. Please be kind to animals. They were here long before us and in all probability, they will be here long after we are gone.

Well, there you have it. What started out as an expression of Christmas spirit has turned into a dissertation of the ills of the planet. But, such is the way of being an author. Once started, never stopped.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Write on,

Mittster

Christmas!

I Googled pictures of Santa Claus and picked this one because this is the Santa I grew up with as a child. I know, there are those who will say that this one symbolizes commercialism in Christmas. Well, that may be true, but it's my blog and this is my Santa!

My wife and I had a wonderful Christmas Eve (at our son and his wife's house), with friends and family. We drank homemade Tom and Jerry's, ate fabulous sausage and sauerkraut, crab dip, olive dip, delicious cold shrimp with sauce, and assorted candies and nuts. You see, all the foods were given to each other in lieu of presents. At least that was the plan due to financial hardships caused by the economy. But, there were those in attendance (you know who you are), who presented homemade goody baskets, small, but wonderful gifts, and some gave large sums of money to those who needed it the most. No matter what was agreed to, giving is what the season is all about.

While we were all enjoying each other’s company, soft Christmas music played in the background. The house that we had helped build from the ground up was filled with love and companionship, while the Christmas tree and decorations gave off a magical feeling that is always associated with the holiday season. It was great to be part of the magic that is called Christmas.

We left happy, thankful for family and friends, and arrived back home just in time to see some Christmas lights in our neighborhood. The whole day had been sunny and clear, which is typical of the winter Arizona desert. While wifey drove back toward our Verde Valley from the Prescott area, I gave thanks for the beautiful country we live in and the wonderful life we live. We have all been through hard times before and I know that this too shall pass.

Christmas day will dawn with a bright, warm sun and deep blue skies. We plan to have dinner with my wife's mother (whom we affectionately call Mum), and our daughter Nissa. She was unable to share Christmas Eve with us due to work obligations, so we will make it up to her today with a nice dinner at Denny's. Denny's, you say? None of us want to cook or do dishes, and it's all that is open. I hope I can get a double cheeseburger with fries. Now that's my kind of Christmas dinner!

I'm just saying,

Mittster

Anti-Christmas

I watched South Park last night like a zombie. The program was about Christmas, but of course it was anti-Christmas. Click on the title of this blog, and after some commercials, you too can see the Christmas program that starts out with a talking turd.

Normally, I would watch South Park and laugh my butt off, but this time I was unable to find the humor. Come on, a talking turd, sick Jew jokes, and Christmas in hell featuring Hitler, Dalmer, Hussein and other assorted infamous mass murderers? Have the South Park writers lost their minds? I think not. Why? Because Christmas today pretty much sucks, that's why, and this episode of South Park illustrates just how much. After realizing the parody, I was able to laugh till it hurt.

In order to really appreciate what Christmas used to be, you need to read Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol or see the original movie. Now that's what I'm talking about! A Christmas where Scrooge finds his grove and shares his wealth, and Tiny Tim finds love everywhere. Food and gifts made by loving human hands are given with joy and love. The smell of roasting duck mingles with pine scent from a real Christmas tree as carolers' voices singing Silent Night drift into the house from outside. I remember this kind of Christmas as a child.

Now I have visions of people being trampled to death in a department store rush for good deals on merchandise. Television crammed with commercial after commercial trying to sell the newest electronic toys and such. Outside Christmas lights that can be seen from outer space and Christmas cards that say little and mean less. Kids who wake up Christmas morning and are disappointed because they didn't get as much or what they wanted, while their parents suffer through massive hangovers from celebrating Christmas Eve too much.

I, for one, salute South Park for saying and showing what most of us feel. Today's Christmas is a sham. There is one bright spot though. I also salute the people out there who celebrate Christmas in the spirit that was intended - loving, gentle folks who know how to love and be loved just as Christ intended. I am going to join those people in wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas season.

I'm just saying,

Mittster

Merry Christmas

I grew up wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and feeling good about doing so. Now, I am confronted with what is, or is not, politically correct, and the prospect that saying, "Merry Christmas," might offend some people. Does that mean that all the years I wished even a passerby on the street a Merry Christmas that I was offending them? In all those years, not one person ever said that they were offended. Does that mean they didn't say anything because they were afraid I would be offended? It's all so confusing.

Well, I have the answer to this dilemma. I am going to wish everyone who reads this blog a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! If it offends you, get off my blog and go Bah! Humbug! yourself in the pie hole.... Politically incorrect? Indeed, and I prefer it that way.

Write on,

Mittster

A Christmas Season Wish

I wish the world Peace, Love, Prosperity, Health, Kinship, and Forgiveness. It is through forgiveness that our hearts sing and our souls stop crying.

Merry Christmas Season to all,

I'm just saying,

Mittster