The Weekly Notes 2007
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Back to the Weekly Notes 2007 Archives I have been looking for some good things to put in these notes for Christmas. I am sick to death of posting negative stuff. I want to end the year on a positive note. I have only found one thing so far and it is not in the news. It is just a little anecdote a friend told to Mrs. Gaffer. Kathy’s Story: Early in their marriage, these friend had children to care for. It was not enough for the husband to just tell the kids that Santa had come. He wanted to present them with evidence. So, each Christmas eve while she was putting the kids to bed he bundled up and went out with the dog. He would take their sled from the garage and make sets of tracks in the snow as though a sleigh had come up on the porch. The dog went along with him and made his own tracks. These were convincing enough to make the kids believe they were left by reindeer. Nice! Help: We notice around this time of year, a lot of people ad organizations helping people who are in tough times. There are coats for kids and food banks. There are toys for tots, etcetera. These are good things going on. Of course, I am a bit disappointed with a culture that has evolved such that a kid must have a toy to be okay. They showed us some homeless kids on the news. They got to say what they would like for Christmas. Not one of them mentioned toys or anything like that. When I give, I make sure it’s for food, shelter, or clothing. It is good that many others are doing that. Finally, in case
you forget it, here is the poem that ignited A Visit From Saint Nicholas: by Clement Clarke Moore 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy
Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.” Back to the Weekly Notes 2007 Archives |