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.