| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
Christmas Christmas is my favorite Holiday. I enjoy almost everything that surrounds it. I become a big kid when it comes to Christmas. I like trying to find the ideal present for a friend. I look and listen as the season approaches and try to consider their wants, needs and how much money I can afford to spend on them (and I nearly always exceed my budget). I try to find a gift that will make them happy, if only for a short time. Occasionally, I come up dry, but usually I do pretty well. A shrink once told me that I spend money better than anyone he’s ever seen. He meant it as a compliment. He watched and listened as I went through my Christmas list and what I bought for people and he was impressed. I enjoy sending out Christmas cards. I love motorcycles, so I get motorcycle themed cards. I try to send out different cards each year, so it’s getting more and more difficult as time goes on. But the search is fun, and so is sitting down with my Rolodex and writing addresses on envelopes and leaving a short message in each card. This year, I didn’t buy enough cards, and had to dip into my stash of leftovers from past years. I’ll have to remember that for next year and increase the size of my order. I like listening to Christmas music. I have a collection of CDs that‘s pretty diversified. From the Time Life Treasury to Trans Siberian Orchestra to Mannheim Steamroller to the Glen Miller Band to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to some Classical assortments to Doctor Demento and a lot of others in between. I have many hours of Christmas music and I enjoy listening to all of it. I enjoy Christmas lights. I like driving around at night looking at houses to see what people have done. When I had my own house, I would outline the roof of the house and garage with C-9 LED lights, and I put small LEDs outlining the windows on the inside, and C-3 LEDs on the porch and in the bushes out front. It looked good without looking too gaudy (In my eyes, anyway). Now that I’m living in a third floor apartment, I don’t put lights outside any more. But there are lights in all my windows, and I ran the C-9s along the molding between the balls and ceiling in the living room. I used thumb tacks and green twist ties to hold the lights in place. The apartment looks pretty nice, in my opinion. Christmas Dinner is a Meal that takes some planning, and in this area, I’m falling behind. I’m not putting in the effort to make something really special. This year, I’m going the easy route. Broiled Delmonico steaks, mashed potatoes, gravy, Italian green beans with bacon, garlic and stewed tomatoes , biscuits, etc. with good coffee and dessert. I don’t know what dessert is going to be; the kids are bringing it. I wanted to get a Capon and make meat stuffing, but I just don’t seem to have the energy. I think I used up a lot of my energy this year between fighting off the cancer, trying to find a job and finally retiring and applying for my Pension and Social Security. Hopefully, by next year I’ll be a bit more charged up. I also want to remember the religious part of Christmas. It seems that it’s way too easy to forget why it’s called Christmas. I don’t really consider myself to be a good Christian. I was raised Catholic and attended 13 years of Parochial School but by the time I graduated, I’d lost most of my faith. But I have that small amount of belief that never completely went away, and I try to remember and acknowledge that at this time of year. Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men. It’s a great sentiment. I hope each and every one of you have a Wonderful and Joyous Christmas. |
