Merry Christmas From Me to YOU

 

Christmas comes but once a year, and when it comes, it brings good cheer.

Personally, I wish it would last at least a week longer than it always does. It’s been increasingly so, the older I get. I mean, commercially it starts on Halloween with Christmas ads making their annual debut. I love the small ascent up to the glorious day of legend. Then, the giant holiday eraser gets to work.

There are several reasons why Christmas is so important to me:

First and primary is Jesus Christ, the Holy Child of God. It is from Him that the carols have been written and sung over the centuries. From the Nativity, we are subject to so many images of Christ, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, three kings bearing gifts, angels, and the magical star that shone bright in the night.

I will spend so many hours listening to classics like “Silent Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “We Three Kings,” and “Away in a Manger.”

By the time I was a child in the ‘50s, the iconic Santa Claus as we know him emerged. Poems about him were written, then movie after movie. His tales evolved to fit our image of him.

I did, I do, and I will continue to sing the songs I grew up with.

Familiar Christmas Song Lyrics

“He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.” • “Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring.” • “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus.” • “Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walkin' home from our house Christmas Eve.” • “Silver bells, silver bells, it's Christmas time in the city.” • “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

I could go on and on, but I’ll have too many ear worms in my head.

I do love the glitter and sparkle of decorations. Remember what we used to call Christmas icicles? We called them tinsels, because they were made of tin foil, and I do believe celebrants still call them that. The newer ones are shinier, for sure.

The design of the glass balls haa taken a dramatic turn for the better, they’re lighter and less breakable — true works of art. And the Christmas tree garlands sometimes exceed the beauty of jewelry.

After testing the tangled mess of bulbs, turn on the string of Christmas tree lights, then off the living room lights. Turn on some Christmas music so we all can sing and sway.

And that’s Christmas to me.

One last thing before I go: Don’t forget your furry friends and family members, no matter what they do to your beautiful Christmas tree. I’m sure that in their own way, they love Christmas, with all the tree ornaments, presents, ribbons and bows.

(Of course, there is a limit, so don’t overdo it …)

That’s Hawaiian for Merry Christmas!

Vintage Christmas Classic Cartoons

MeTV recently ran two hours of classic Christmas cartoons.  Instead of posting them on my Facebook page, I thought I’d share three of them in this blog.

Somewhere in Dreamland (1936)

(Click Here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH4gC69ZEhc

Christmas Comes But Once a Year (1936)

(Click Here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbssjgg-juU

Santa’s Surprise (1947)

(Click Here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaGum8trti0

The End is the End of an End

I was thinking of endings — you know, the end of an era, the final out in a World Series Game 7, the proverbial “end of my rope,” the closing of a powerful quotation, stuff like that.

We all know there are an infinite number of “ends,” but only a few registered recently in my early morning dream wanders, two standing out in my semi-stupor memories.

They are both inspired by today’s date, Dec. 7.

The first is the end of an era in 1941, when the U.S. peace exploded with the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. (Period, capitalized new sentence.)

On Dec. 8, the U.S. decisively committed to World War II. And we all know what’s happened since that day

The second “discussion” identifies celebrities appearing on U.S. Social Security Medical Helpline insurance commercials touting the Dec. 7, 2021 filing deadline.

[Above] Joe Namath (Star NFL QB) • George Foreman (heavyweight boxing champ)

[Below] Jimmy “J.J” Walker (“Dy-no-MITE!) • William Shatner (“Star Trek”)

TV is flooded with these, as we speak. Oh, and if you decide to call them, you are probably too late. But there’s always the new cycle in 2022.

Happy New Year!

The end.

Post-Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving is … not necessarily for wishing others a “Happy Thanksgiving,” but more a time to reflect on how fortunate we all are.

You do realize, don’t you, that but for some strange modifications in our genes along the way, all we might be thankful for is our hairy bodies with four legs, two tails and tall trees that we can call our home. We are, after all, accidents that happened along the way. If nothing else, be thankful for that.

Thanksgiving has always been special for me. I shudder when someone wishes me a Happy Thanksgiving, as if the day is meant to experience nothing but a happy smile and gleeful heart. I’d rather they ask me to reflect on what’s good in my life and to be thankful for that.

So anyway, when someone wishes me a Happy Thanksgiving, I smile, and although my mouth says “And a Happy Thanksgiving to you,” my heart is telling them to be thankful.

Be happy, my friends. But most of all, be thankful. Because that’s what Thanksgiving is for.

Thank you.

Kitties Are Cute and ’Meme’rable

In my last blog post, I shared a baker’s dozen doggie memes with you. This time, I’m posting memes I created of our other favorite pet —kitty cats.

They’re just so gosh-darned cute. No wonder I’ve made 19 Facebook kitty memes during the past couple of months.

As usual, enjoy, and share if you like. Permission is not required, although acknowledgment is appreciated.

A Meme’s Best Friend is a Dog

Remember the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? That works for an occasional blogger like me.

To illustrate, here are a baker’s dozen memes featuring man’s best friends — dogs. Therefore, my conclusion is that this blog post is worth at least 13,000 words.

Oh, and as usual, permission to use is unconditionally granted. Source citation is appreciated, but not required. ‘Nuff said. Enjoy!

Imprison the Elderly? Sure, Why Not?

I recently spent nearly three months at a physical therapy center after suffering a stroke that affected my left leg. While there, I felt well-cared for by the excellent staff.

Most of the 100 or so patients on the two therapy floors there were my age or older (read “elderly seniors”), so I can identify with both lists that follow.

Since returning home to in-home senior health care, a meme appeared on my Facebook page comparing seniors to criminals, and the treatment both groups would enjoy, if …

If we put the elderly in prison, they will get:

• A shower every day
• Video surveillance in case of problems
• Three meals a day
• Access to a library
• A computer
• A gym
• Doctors on site
• Free medication if needed

What should we do with criminals? Put them in homes, they’ll get:

• Cold meals
• Lights off at 7 p.m.
• Two showers a week
• A smaller room to live in
• A monthly room rent bill of $4,000

Think about it. Sure says a lot about our societal priorities, doesn’t it?

The Hirsute Heads of Baseball

As a decades-old fan of Major League Baseball, I’ve watched the ups and downs of the players’ facial hair.

When professional baseball was in its infancy, mustaches, particularly handle bars, were the norm. Yep, tip-curling handlebars and the like. More than anything other than the game itself, lip hair defined the sport’s image.

Then suddenly, following World War I, they were gone, Speculation is that the nasty monarchs and country leaders who were on the opposite side from the United States all had mustaches. And how could the All-American game endorse something like that?

Most sources I could find cite long-time American League catcher Wally Schang (Philadelphia Athletics, 1914) as the last player to sport facial hair. New rules were set by team owners about grooming; smooth faces were the norm from 1914 into the 1970s.

Then, during the 1971-72 offseason, Oakland Athletics’ all-world outfielder Reggie Jackson decided that he was going to do something different. A’s owner Charlie Finley didn’t like it. He had Athletics manager Dick Williams tell Reggie to shave, but Reggie told Williams where he could shove it.

So Finley engaged in some reverse psychology. He asked A’s pitchers Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Darold Knowles, and Bob Locker to all grow mustaches.

He even offered a cash incentive—$300—to any player who’d successfully grown a mustache by Father’s Day. The whole team joined in. Even manager Dick Williams grew one. The A’s came to be known as the “Mustache Gang.”

Today, well today, 50 years later, there are too many player beards to count. I’ve especially noticed this since the Covid pandemic started and barbershops were forced to close. But it never crossed my mind to write a blog post about it until I saw a Los Angeles Angels-Los Angeles Dodgers game on TV this summer.

Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon have the wildest head, face and neck hair of any MLB player I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen thousands over the years, live and on TV.

I’m thinking of investing in razor blade and electric razor companies, preparing for the day when the trend reverses.