Merry Christmas

[Jacqueline]

BOC-

If you were closeby I'd have to kiss you for that one, too funny    

I thought all of you might enjoy this, it came in my email and ever since Kat McPhee sang with Andrea Bocelli I've followed her music. Great Christmas song, Oh Come All ye Faithful  

http://katharinemcphee.com/xmas_song/index.html

May many bells ring from the angels for each of you this holiday !

Special Merry Christmas to my Sweet None and her family and friends...

[BIGORANGECRUSH]

I can not wait to stuff Mrs BOC;s stocking!!!      


Merry Christmas Monks!!!!      

[Sam]

It is probably to late and Carnut will probably not read here after Christmas but going to post it anyway. It is a Christmas story.

Please read it all....

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been    
anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to
him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He
was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last
hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless
man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers
told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I
don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll  just go
"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It
ain't much, but it's hot and tasty, "Stew ... Made it myself. When you're
done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be
right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam
was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help
me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and
My car is broken."

George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold,
the car was dead. "You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned
away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as
he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck
and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage,
started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here
take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but
she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the
night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the
truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George
thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos
was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he
got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked
slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had
been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve
meant no customers. He discovered that the block hadn't cracked, it was just
the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to
himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the
snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't
going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a
police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left
shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had
received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention.
Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been
there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct
tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said,
trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain, " George thought. All he had was the pills he used for
his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the
policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."


The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk
box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into
the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer
"You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army
and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for
bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya.
Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your
gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.
None for me," said the officer. "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city
Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same
time

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun.
Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was
shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this
before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon
away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now
give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the
cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you
need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that
pee shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man,
reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released
his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good
at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he
went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week
..."

George handed the gun to the cop. Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now
and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we
can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from
the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup
of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in
here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort
this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot
you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee." the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an
ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn.
Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the
other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just
dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?," the wounded cop continued. "Yep," George said, "just
hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man
leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks
for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve
some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring
box. "Here you go, something for the little woman I don't think Martha would
mind. She said it would come in handy someday."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I
can't take this," said the young man "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories.
That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared
next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's
something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man
had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too,"
George said, "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in
the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas Day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you
come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you
don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother
was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin'
cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and
besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the
holiday, George.
You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry.
The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.
The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people fro m being killed by
terrorists.
The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any
for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as
any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know
all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when
your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door "If you will excuse me, George, I have to
go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the
stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill
the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord."

[GreatOwl]

I hope you all are having a wonderful day.

[justinsmama]

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannaka, and Wonderful Kwanza to everyone!
Whatever and whether any individual believes, I wish peace within and among all of us! XXOO

[Jacqueline]

I hope you all are having a wonderful day.

Same to you and yours...my Movie Trivia Guru!

[Jacqueline]

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannaka, and Wonderful Kwanza to everyone!
Whatever and whether any individual believes, I wish peace within and among all of us! XXOO

Wishing you a very Merry !  

[BIGORANGECRUSH]

I hope you all are having a wonderful day.

Those Badgers had a great year!    So we get to see a match  up of Hogs and Badgers!! I bet that us going to be messy!! Red against Red, so the whole stadum will be Red! How can you tell which fans are whose! I KNOW! One group will be yelling SOOHEE PIG!!!!      

[BIGORANGECRUSH]

Has NO ONE fiquired out who is in the Red suit! It is everyones favorite coach Phil Fulmer wearing his Red Bama Santa suit to honor his Bama  friends at Christmas time!!    

Merry Christmas Monks!!!    

[Jacqueline]

Has NO ONE fiquired out who is in the Red suit! It is everyones favorite coach Phil Fulmer wearing his Red Bama Santa suit to honor his Bama  friends at Christmas time!!    

Merry Christmas Monks!!!    

MERRY CHRISTMAS BOC...

TO YOU AND YOURS...

[LouiseVargas]

Merry Christmas to everyone!  

I just adore Christmas. My Jewish mother married an Eastern Orthodox army officer. Neither was religious. The first six years of my life were spent on the move with the US Army. My dad always put up a Christmas tree. I still have some ornaments from the 1950 tree he put up in Salzburg, Austria, where he was stationed. When my mother left my father, we came back to SoCal to live with my orthodox Jewish grandparents. I was unhappy that we could no longer have a tree.

In school, the music teacher taught us all the Christmas carols for a school holiday event. I cannot carry a tune but I can name any tune in two notes. She would say, "Someone is out of tune here." I knew it was me so when she came around to listen to each person, I mouthed the words. But she figured it out anyway that it was me who was off key. Anyway, I learned the lyrics of the Christmas songs and sang them around the house. My grandma told me to stop singing those songs, which made me want to sing them even more.

I followed in my mother's footsteps and married a gentile at 19. Boy oh boy, he sure could decorate a splendid tree. After we separated in 1967, he would still come over and help me buy a tree and decorate it. I put up a tree for about 10 years while my daughter grew up and then stopped. I gathered up cats and it was impossible to have a tree after that. One cat actually got inside the tree and tipped it over, ate tinsel and had to go to the Vet.

Tonight, I made the rounds of the 11 neighbors in my apartment building to view their trees. All were different and all were so beautiful. My heart feels all soft and fuzzy now ... I treasure memories of all past Christmas trees.

When I was a little girl living in Salzburg, we learned this song in school. I went to an American Army school in Salzburg. I love this song. It is my favorite.

Deutsch
Tannenbaum
TEXT: Ernst Anschütz, 1824
MELODIE: Volksweise (traditional)

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur
  zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich
  was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft
  zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Das soll dein Kleid
  mich lehren.

English
O Christmas Tree
Literal English translation - HF
Traditional melody

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!
You're green not only
  in the summertime,
No, also in winter when it snows.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You can please me very much!
How often has not at Christmastime
A tree like you given me such joy!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
You can please me very much!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Your dress wants to
  teach me something:
Your hope and durability
Provide comfort and strength
  at any time.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
That's what your dress should
  teach me.

[A's Fever]

Louise,

You always have such interesting stories. I always eagerly read about your interesting experiences and and I appreciate and enjoy the unique perspective you bring to the forum.  Thanks for sharing today, and of course previously.  Best wishes in the New Year, and hope to hear from you a lot!!

[pdh3]

Louise,

You always have such interesting stories. I always eagerly read about your interesting experiences and and I appreciate and enjoy the unique perspective you bring to the forum.  Thanks for sharing today, and of course previously.  Best wishes in the New Year, and hope to hear from you a lot!!

I agree A's! I think Louise is just a fascinating poster!
Louise...please keep telling us more stories!  We love to read them. You are such a treasure.

[BIGORANGECRUSH]

Louise! Thanks for sharing your Christmas tree story with us!!!

My tree has mostly Hallmark ornaments one for each year about 48, grandchildren made picture ornaments, and numerous  eggshell ornaments made  by my daughter and wife!

Many of the early hallmark ornaments are collectables!
HHappy Holidays to you and all Monks!

[A's Fever]

BOC -

Eggshell ornaments sound really neat!  Do you have a photo you could post?  Thanks!

[BIGORANGECRUSH]

BOC -

Eggshell ornaments sound really neat!  Do you have a photo you could post?  Thanks!

She takes a pin and drains the egg. Cuts and oval on one side with fingernail scissors. Lets the inside dry and coats the inside  and edges with Elmers glue and lets it harden. Then place cotton and a small angel inside and gold ribbon trim around the edge of the oval!!

[LouiseVargas]

Oh you monkeys - A's Fever, pdh3 and BOC - God bless your kind hearts and many thanks for your compliments on my stories. I have many more but do you want to awaken a sleeping dragon?

[A's Fever]

Oh you monkeys - A's Fever, pdh3 and BOC - God bless your kind hearts and many thanks for your compliments on my stories. I have many more but do you want to awaken a sleeping dragon?

Absolutely!  No question there, Louise!

[Bobo2]

Oh you monkeys - A's Fever, pdh3 and BOC - God bless your kind hearts and many thanks for your compliments on my stories. I have many more but do you want to awaken a sleeping dragon?

Absolutely!  No question there, Louise!

Agreed, Louise.  I love to read your stories.  The one about visiting the photo shoot at the Black Dahlia house was so fascinating - I really felt like I was there.

Keep 'em coming.

[tcumom]

Oh you monkeys - A's Fever, pdh3 and BOC - God bless your kind hearts and many thanks for your compliments on my stories. I have many more but do you want to awaken a sleeping dragon?

Louise ~ I always screech to a halt when I see you've posted ~ what an interesting life you lead....... I just love reading your stories......please keep 'em coming!  Hugs to you.