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2000 Years of Christmas

It's the season of fun and it's time for joy
All the children dream about some special toy
It started long ago in a town that was small
Where God gave us his son most precious of all
It's Christmas and winter its snow and no school
Yes of all of the months December's a jewel

There's so much to achieve in this busy season
Sometimes we forget to remember the reason
Enjoy your friends, your gifts, your Christmas tree
It's a time of excitement I think most would agree
Though your schedule's hectic take time to recall
Yes the reason you're happy is for God's gift to us all

The kids say they can't sleep they're far too excited
They are wishing for gifts that will make them delighted
While mom hurries to wrap dad worries about bills
But then he thinks of shepards seeing a star in the hills
Of a baby, born in a manger yet more royal than a king
Of wisemen from afar and the gifts they did bring.

Refrain:

There's toys for the boys, a new phone for Joan
We'll have pies and cakes so don't you be late
It's the time for Christmas so let's celebrate
The gift that God gave us, the best ever known

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Preparations

Now when did that cobweb get spun?! The sudden awareness of an impending arrival made the house look much more decayed than it had just days before. What had been minor clutter was suddenly 'mess!' Has this floor been vacuumed!?

I look longingly out the window to admire the beautiful day. I would rather be outside than inside cleaning. If only I could go out and enjo.... Man! this windows need to be washed! Outside activities are postponed until further notice.

Cleaning takes its toll on my dignity. Now I'm lying on my belly, looking under tables, stoves, couches, dressers. First the yardstick, then the vacuum. So that's where that went! Lost that months ago.

Of course, while our anticipated visitor is very important, they are unlikely to be much of a critic of our housekeeping, at least right away. Still, we find ourselves in a frenzy of cleaning, organizing, rearranging. I'm sure our guest will not say one word of praise or condemnation for the state of our humble abode, but still it will be vital that we finish this great task of preparation.

At least we have a little time, although we know it will pass by very quickly. Our new guest has at least given us about nine months of warning.

I'd love to tell you more, but there are dust bunnies to vanquish!

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Putting Gods House in Order

I have nothing against god; in fact, I think he built us a real nice place to live. It's god's flock that I have issue with, so many appear to have wandered off the path of righteousness and are now on the track of self-righteousness. I understand that there are many good 'Christian' people in the land and in fact, my mother was one, but that does not excuse those who preach of hate.

A good Christian shows respect and love for everyone, not just their kind. A good Christian wouldn't protest at a soldier's funeral just because the army now allows gays to help protect their country. A good Christian wouldn't gang up on a poor scared pregnant girl whose only sin is trying to get her life together rather than bring another unwanted child into the world. How can the churches preach of abstinence as the only form of birth control and then assail the women when it doesn't work. How can a church praise a man who takes a human life just because that human performed abortions, it's just ludicrous.

Instead of protecting its flock from pedophiles and rapists, the Catholic Church has chosen to cover for the guilty. They continually move a priest who is a sexual predator to a new location rather than take away his ability to take advantage of children. To me, the requirement that to be a priest you can never have a wife is an encouragement for men with deviate tendencies to join the ranks of the priesthood.

To the churches of the land I say take heed of my warning, get your houses in order. It has been 2000 years since Gods last visit and when he shows up the first place he will go is to check on his people. He knows we all sin but it is they who sin in his name that will most upset him.

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Shopping

I took my son shopping today
Grocery store.
He got to ride in my truck.
Exciting when you're four.
He sat in wonder and chattered.
Told of his day.
He helped put things in the cart.
Watched me pay.
Forty-one and four together.
We had fun.
I am so thankful to God
for the gift of my son.

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A Team with no I

As a person with one failed marriage and one that is a success, I feel I'm an expert on the subject. Both were started with love and assurances of lifelong commitment, yet the first didn't bear the test of time. In hindsight, I believe we were two separate people trying to fit together while still wanting to keep our own identities. We weren't a team, we were just two people trying to be together, it wasn't that we weren't trying hard enough to make it work; we weren't doing it as a team.

A failed marriage is something I wouldn't ask anyone to go through, it shakes your confidence, it shatters your ego, and it even affects your health. However, mine gave me lesions that I was able to take into my second one. You need to learn how to sacrifice without keeping score; quid quo pro is not how a successful marriage works. Marriage is the ultimate teamwork event and every time you 'take one for the team', you are securing the bonds that keep you together.

If you wish a happy marriage, leave your ego at the door, forget the me and join the we team. It's the merging of the two into one that forms the bond of a strong team. Sure, you'd rather watch football than go to your mother in laws but if it makes your bride happy, it's more than worth it. If she sits there, watching football with you it's not because she wants to, it's because she wants to be with you and this is what you want to do. Being on any team takes sacrifice but when your team is winning, it makes it all worthwhile.

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Thoughts of "Could've"

"We could've had it all" plays behind me as I write (though I should be working). A new song, played often, but at the same time, not often enough. Something about it resonates with me. Not sure what, but I think it's the simple fact that it's true.

The one thing that bothers me is the past tense of "could've". That's where regret lives, like mold, in humid darkness. It seems that so many of us give up at that stage. We "could've" done it, made it better, fixed it, won it, on and on go the possibilities. What's even more depressing is it's true. There's always something I "could've" done better or differently or just tried. I "could've" had more than I do.

But, what if it's not as depressing as I think? What if there's something I'm not seeing? Or more likely, something I'm not hearing? Just because things "could've" been different than they currently are, doesn't mean they should be. Maybe things aren't as bad right now, even though it certainly seems that way. What if I'm wrong?

I'm so tired. All the time. But, that doesn't mean I stop, or even want to. (Though, a rest now and again would be more than welcome.) I make so many mistakes on a daily basis that it blows my mind I'm even still alive. Or still married. Or even married at all. It's times like this, thankfully, that something dawns on me. I do have it all. It doesn't matter right now what I "could've" had. It matters what I do have, and what I do with it today and tomorrow and the days after that.

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Unknown Writer Day

Let us all remember to mark our calendars on February 29 to celebrate our latest holiday, Unknown Writer Day. Finally, a day where the world can pay respect to the people who manage to keep the comment sections functioning. Not only our web pages, but the world's newspapers and assorted periodicals as well, show the tens of thousands of words written anonymously. Where would our media be if not for those who proudly display their vapid views without signing their names at the bottom? I know that as a blogger I am guaranteed my daily dose of vitriol by reading the comments at the end of my blog. One of my hopes is that by recognizing these unsung heroes that one day in the future we can afford to buy them all a spell check feature for their internet implements. So here's to the worlds anonymous writers for without their inane comments we would have no idea if anyone reads us or not.
-Anon

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The Adventure of Books

When the lights have all been dimmed, my friend
And the house is fast asleep.
Upon your pages I will go and sail
To places far and deep.

From the legends of the ages past
To the future yet to come.
I can travel all around the world
Yet never leave my home.
No I may never leave my home.

In the pages of a book I find
A life I've always dreamed.
For in the pages of a book you'll see
The world's not as it seemed.

A soldier or a knight in white
To save a damsel in distress.
A poet with a heart of gold
Or a printer at his press.

A rider on a mighty steed
To win the perfect race.
Ahead of all the others now
I find I'm in first place.
Yes, I finish in first place.

In the pages of a book I find
A life I've always dreamed.
For in the pages of a book you'll see
The world's not as it seemed.

No more spending nights in silence
No more days I cannot bear.
For in the pages of a book I find
A friend is always there.
Yes a friend is always there.

In the pages of a book I find
A life I've always dreamed.
For in the pages of a book you'll see
The world's not as it seemed.
The world's more than it seemed.

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Give It Up!

My weekly shopping moves slowly down the belt toward the gum-chewing checkout chick.

Leanne Grimes had chewed gum throughout the entire two years she had been in my class and, I had no doubt, she had continued to chew it through high school. And now here she was; a dropout who, if I remembered correctly, would be in serious trouble if the power ever went out and she had to add anything up manually. Not that she was stupid; merely unmotivated. And she was still chewing gum.

"Hi, Mr E," she calls cheerfully, jaws working enthusiastically at that gum.
I can't look her in the eye; The sight of those jaw muscles bulging and flexing like a mouse on steroids have got my attention.

"Hello, Leanne," I manage to get out.

The gum appears briefly at her teeth, blue, glistening and rubbery, and is quickly rounded up and whisked away by a galloping tongue.

She begins the arduous task of swiping my groceries over the scanner and placing the heavier items on top of the eggs. I should say something, but I'm hypnotised by the creaking, smacking, popping, squelching noises coming from her half open mouth.

"No beef or stuff this week, Mr E."

I snap out of my stupor and drag my eyes up to hers. "No, Lent starts tomorrow and I decided to give up meat this year."

She stops mid-scan and mid-chew. "No way! Me too! Only not meat."

I'm mildly surprised. "I didn't know you were a church-goer, Leanne."

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Pi Day Celebration

Oh, pi and pie are quite homophonous -
Delightful and delicious happenstance!
For after pie, with pi we'll calculate
The increase to my vast circumference!

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