CHRISTMAS
ISLAND MAN
Crystal diamond sun-tipped waves
- Perfect Me
Swaying palms shadow pure white
sands - Island be
In all my youthful glory win the
world - sky so blue
With every answer to questions
wrong - contemplate, I do
Seldom in His tracks are mine -
footprints on the beach
Alone in wonder of a reasoned
mind - learned I, they teach
Clouds or storms so insignificant
now - live time as host
Sun-warmed isle sweet breeze
refresh - love Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Into my life sails billowed ship
- helpful crew along the way
Each angel I love more dearly now
- closer than on previous day
Through time and space I’ve been
given - quicker than an eye can blink
In His wondrous way I travel -
savor life and love, I think
Clear blue eyes embrace the
sights - seven loves are pure delight
Add His blessings pierce
supernatural - heaven real eternal sight
From paradise isle to rustic
stable - depart the known, become a stranger
All glitter, gold, man’s own
placebo - to lay with Him in humble manger
Stand straight and strong, say
only truth - live holy life he can
Serene in heart in graceful
solitude - be I, Christmas Island Man
Merry Christmas!
Cap’n Eddie’s Christmas Catamaran
Sapphire crystal ocean liquid entertaining
white-capped waves gently caressing snow-white powdery sand at beach’s edge
hardly evoked thoughts of Christmas…at least, not at first blush.
Cap’n Eddie adroitly sailed his tiny
twenty “sailor”-member catamaran expertly between swaying palm tree sentinels
as the calm breakwater quickly dissolved under two foot hostile Caribbean seas
with angry waves lashing the stone dikes of the receding harbor as seeming
hurricane-force howling winds tore foam from tortured waves. White teeth
flashed in a perpetual smile of genuine warmth as the miniscule craft bobbed
like a kid’s fishing cork, climbing impossible crests only to out-of-control
careen down slippery mortal troughs. At least, such was the perverted view from
the would-be teak floor of the devil-craft to a tried and true land-lubber!
Two miles out, seemingly, a full month,
I fully expected to see Normandy, Cap’n Eddie dropped anchor. Half, for sure,
of his would-be snorkelers already suffered seasick nausea, hanging over the
side of the mini-clone of the infamous “Titanic”, for absolute sure, each
“sailor” ex-pertly, freely and copiously feeding the tropical fish
population---as long as the food held out! Oh! Boy! Did I hear somebody even
think the word: FOOD! Gang way! Gang way!
That sadistic “Captain Bligh” laughed as
he gleefully handed out goggles, breathing tubes and fins and deftly issued
diving instructions to a wretched mass of humanity too sick to any longer
reason up from down. What did he say? Mate! That guy talked fast, and, with a
voodoo accent.
Finally, somehow, at long last, slipping
through the silvery surface on the lee side of the vessel into neck-deep
coolness offered a hoped for, though short-lived, slight relief from the
queasiness brought on by life aboard ship, as it were. Face plate clean, after
three tries, success! Flippers treading water, breathing tube in place, and,
clear, for now, both eyes keenly searching the choppy water for any unfriendly,
hungry, lurking sharks, praying fervently not to spy a dorsal fin, all seemed
finally ready for that first view of the obfuscated underwater waiting world.
Brilliant! Spectacular! Awesome!
Beautiful! Amazing!
Perfect silence enveloped reality and
swept away any remnant of the outer world as the diver was abundantly rewarded
for his courage with a delightful greeting from Neptune as a plethora of
infinitely-colored rainbow hues visually exploded in the undersea panorama.
Unending arrays of incongruous coral designs decorated the sea’s sand-bottom
landscape in an eerily quiet world as countless tropical fish species
effortlessly negotiated the unseen forceful ebb and flow of the undulating sea.
Rhythmic reflections and shadows of surface waves traversed the soft sand
bottom, offering a touch of comforting solace to the unexpected surreal
experience.
Viewed from above, tethered to the
earth, preferably to terra firma, denied ascension into the cerulean heavens
and normally barred from the ocean depths, only a reflective veil could be
discerned while just beneath the masked surface, a bit of heaven, itself,
existed on its very own--- just awaiting adventurous souls with spirit enough
and boundless courage to take the plunge.
At Christmas, Christians celebrate the
birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through constant and practiced
faith, our sacred beliefs focus until the veil that shields heaven from our
view is penetrated. When spiritual eyes are clear, souls become pure as the
curtain parts and before us stretches eternal happiness. Take hold of the
sacred tools offered and discover heaven.
Jesus’ holy word challenges: Fear
not! Follow me!
Miss not any adventure which is
life---go forth and seek! Amen!
Merry Christmas!
Christmas Snow Premonition
“Bapa, tell us true, will it snow
tonight?
Queried trio-girls, loving
angel-faced sight
Anticipation shared by adorable uninhibited
three
“Pray to Jesus, believe it will,
then we all shall see”
Then, on he prattled reminiscing
Christmas past
Forever savored, each one better
than the last
Gazed he softly upon innocent
faces gathered ’round the tree
Blessed by God, he adored this
spiritual Christian family
Eyes intent upon him now,
attention total, unabated
A life fulfilled, his delivered
soul completely satiated
Words did soar on white wings
bringing love
From a tender heart inspired by
heaven above
“Sweet children, babies and my
perfect wife
He allowed me time to enjoy a
most blissful life
“When I am called, someone will
come to take my place”
Blue eyes fell upon his handsome
young man’s face
“For this celebration stems from
Babe in yonder manger
Emulate Jesus! No one to Him
shall ever be a stranger.”
Gleeful joy erupted when they
sighted snow
God’s truth falls soft upon
creation earth below
“Find Him there within thyself,
sweet children
Share His word exemplar with your
worthy friends.”
Amen!
Merry Christmas!
Plus:
Book III
Christmas
Perpetual
Christmas
Eve Miracle!
In a peaceful valley meadow
Watched a vigilant shepherd boy
Came celestial angel vision
“Follow yonder heaven star”
As God bestows eternal Joy
Through ebony soft velvet
On rustic stable country town
Father Joseph looking on
Blessed Virgin Mary mother
Soft white snowflakes drifting silent down
Lay Infant sweet in rough manger hay
Adoring man and creatures knew
Innocent born to this world
Almighty Gift to one and all
Savior King swaddled in soft blanket blue
One sacred more redemption Chance
God’s Love refreshed again
Live free in righteous dignity
Peace on His beloved earth
Good heaven-Will to men
Millennia doubled later
In a country barn lot staging
On a snowy Christmas Eve
Children actors dressed in costume
Played out His holy hallowed paging
Joseph-Zachariah Tyler
Anna Marie-Blessed Virgin Mary mother
Newborn Jesus-Zachariah Farrell
Lauren Victoria-one celestial angel
Alexandria Elizabeth-another
Re-enact the Innocent birthing
Present a holy Silent Night!
Celebrate the Revelation
Redeem each generation
On this cold calm sacred site
There, in a peaceful little valley
Came the human delegation
Communion worship at the table
Upon the land of milk and honey
Bless this faithful congregation
Infinite universe continuum
Eternal heaven there above
At a beginning circle ending
Of expanding heart emotion
Holy Trinity-filled Love
Promise Me to truly try
Weak I be shall surely falter
Temptation all around
Caught again in evil snare
Savior birth, my Spiritual altar
In presence of His Awesome Wonder
On bended knee, please forgive trespass
Soul is human-nature stained
Spirit in His Deity-image made
In hopeful-mercy justice I confess
Christian years keep on a-mounting
My “Book of Life” empirical
Many come and been and gone
I require His holy salvation
Infant-born, His Christmas Miracle!
Christmas Perpetual! Amen!
1 A Promise of Snow!
Pleasing aromas permeated the cozy-warm
farmhouse as the women-folk on-hand made ready delectable breakfast table fare.
Christmas break brought the children for an extended holiday visit; Christmas
was nigh! Pure excitement, punctuated with delightful expectant anticipation,
crackled in the air like jagged yellow-white piercing shards of lightning in
one spectacular mid-summer evening thunderstorm. Profound and absolutely: Electric!
Such unabated pure animation of loving family
bliss gave the old house a joyful newfound life; an anachronistic display of youthful
enthusiasm personified!
The granddaughters scurried about the
kitchen in helpful achievement preparing the early meal like house mice raiding
sundry pantry stores while the cat is away. Glorious!
“Girls,” Nanny said, as the three urchins
swarmed around the kitchen, like busy bees tending their queen, helping prepare
breakfast, “Rye-Rye will be here at ten thirty this morning. He and Bapa are
going to take Ole Sam some winter supplies. Sort of Sam’s Christmas present
from us.”
The trio halted at the mention of the “leprechaun”-man;
he was dear to each of them.
“And,” the matriarch continued, “I think
they are riding the horses up through the valley; they’ll lead a pack animal to
carry all the goodies.”
That announcement brought all the expected
interruptions as squeals of delight erupted.
“Can we go, too?” came excited Anna
Marie’s plea, her bright, crystal blue orbs sparkling.
“Yeah! Can we go?” parroted Lexi, Annie’s
curly-headed blonde cousin, spiral locks dancing.
Before Nanny attempted to answer, she
politely waited for Lauren’s impromptu incantation; the “Little Professor” did
not disappoint.
The eldest was considerate of and attentive
to her wards every whim and fancy; patience was her virtue. Bapa said that she
was just like a “Little Mommy!” Always watching and aware, attentive, yet
unobtrusive. She would one day make a good mother, like her own, her Nanny and
Aunt Beth. The women in this family had a class of natural femininity; each was
a perfect lady.
“Sure, Nanny. We’d be a big help,” Lauren
offered, expectantly. Anna and Lexi nodded in hopeful agreement; these three
politico-types were awesome negotiators. Obviously, not always completely
successful, but, they did try; more important, they stuck together like the
Three Musketeers; as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly. Focused intensity!
Delightful!
“Now! girls! We go through this every time
Bapa goes up the mountain to Ole Sam’s place. You know he’ll be in a hurry to
get there and back because Christmas is only two days away. There won‘t be time
to dawdle on this trip.”
“Aw!” Sounded a syncopated chorus of
resolved acceptance; yet, in the eternal spirit of exuberant hopefulness
indicative of youth, it was still spiced with just a hint of confident hope.
“And,” Nanny added with a sprinkle of
cheerfulness, “Bapa says he believes we’re in for a big snow storm, so he’ll
really want to make this one a quick trip.”
“Yea!” yelped the threesome, jumping up
and down while high-fiving with the announcement of a promised white Christmas;
Nanny was all smiles as soft brown eyes enveloped the dancers.
Bapa came into the kitchen just as the
exuberance exploded in a cacophonous crescendo..
“Hey!” he began, extending his hands palm
forward toward the exuberant celebrants. “What’s all the celebration about?”
He kissed Nanny’s cheek and hugged each of
the girls.
“Not that this family ever needed an
excuse to party,” he added, laughing approvingly.
“Snow!” echoed the trio in unison. Like an
exclamation point, twinkling eyes and gleaming white teeth smiles punctuated
the delight of every child’s fantasy at the mention of the word.
“Nanny just told us you said that it’s
going to snow for Christmas!” said Lauren.
“Yeah!” added Anna Marie. “Snow for Santa
Claus!”
“A white Christmas!” Intoned Lexi. “I can’t wait!”
“Well,” said Bapa, “we’ll all just have to
wait and see, at least for two days.”
That put a slight damper on the
festivities.
Bapa quickly added, “That is, two days
until Christmas. If my smeller is on track this year, I predict a snow storm no
later than tomorrow morning, probably overnight.”
The celebration re-erupted, less inhibited
than the first venture, if such was possible; dancing and smiles abounded.
Sisters Lauren and Anna dosey-doed as Lexi joined the fun, clapping her hands
in a rhythmic beat to her surrogate sisters unabashed sashaying.
In the doorway between the living room and
the kitchen sat Goldie, one of the family’s two dogs. He had been lying near
the fireplace with Ella when Bapa had come down for breakfast. The old beagle
was getting on in years and found quiet contentment in sleeping by the fire.
Nearly two decades of playing chase with the local bunny rabbit population on
myriad hunts with those short legs was beginning to take its toll; Ella just
simply wasn’t as young as she once had been. But, retirement had its benefits
and to old hound took full advantage.
She liked to lay on her back near Bapa’s
rocker and spread eagle her legs while she slept. The old man would rub her
ample belly with his feet, encased in woolen socks; Ella was especially fond of
the soft, warm fabric tenderly caressing her stomach. Her floppy ears flared
like the giant wings of a jumbo jet as she snored doggy dreams of just one more
frantic cottontail pursuit.
The youngster, Goldie, once only barely
tolerated by the elder, Ella, now had become Bapa’s shadow; the Golden
Retriever ignored, more than tolerated, Ella. He sat dutifully at the kitchen
doorway as the dogs were not allowed in that room of the house where the people
ate. The dogs were not only well-behaved but, were also, well-mannered.
Patiently, he waited for his master to signal his intent. Shortly, he
anticipated, they would go outside to visit the horses, cattle and all the
other farm animals where Goldie would treat himself to a fine roll in the snow.
Dogs, like kids, and those still young at heart, easily found the magical joy
which snow held in wait.
Bapa took a seat at the kitchen table; the
girls had plates and utensils in place and then helped Nanny present the
breakfast fare for serving.
When the food was in place and all had
taken seats, Bapa asked the three girls to return “Thanks”, which they did in
unison, heads reverently bowed, hands properly folded.
“Thank you, girls.” Nanny said, when they
had finished, “That was very nice.”
“Mm! Mm! Sure looks good,” Bapa offered by
way of a compliment to Nanny’s culinary skills. “And,” he took a deep breath,
“it smells just great!”
He filled his plate with scrambled eggs
topped with melted cheese laced with chopped Vidalia onion bits and tiny pieces
of green, red and yellow bell peppers. He took a hand sized slab of fried ham coated
in brown sugar and honey, two rashers of bacon, crisp to perfection, fried
potatoes with more of the onion and pepper combination to which he added a
generous helping of thick white gravy, two huge homemade biscuits slathered
with fresh butter and topped with a dollop of Nanny’s strawberry preserves,
canned from her summer vegetable garden. In a bowl next to each setting was a
heaping helping of various fruits topped with Laruen’s and Bapa’s favorite
sweet condiment, whipped cream. Hot tea, orange juice and ice water rounded out
the feast. Country fare fit for a king! No royal monarch ever dined in the
presence of a bevy of such beauties; Bapa took pause to admire his lovely wife
and their beautiful progeny. Perfection!
As soon as Bapa had put the first
sumptuous bite into his mouth, the tirade began.
“Can we go to see the ‘leprechaun’ man?”
Asked Annie Rie, pleading in her voice.
“We could help carry supplies,” peppered
Lexli Lu, not missing a beat.
“I could ride double with Rye-Rye,” Came a
hopeful offer from Lauren.
Bapa swallowed around a smile and took a
taste of orange juice.
“Whoa! Now, ladies,” he said slowly, his
hands extended, palms out, pleading peace.
“I certainly appreciate the kind offers,
but Z. Tyler and I will have to move fast, if we’re going to beat that
blizzard.” Three pair of downcast eyes caused him to add a hopeful note. “We might
just have to wait for our summer trip for you all to go along.”
“Aw!” came a unified disappointed
acknowledgement, enhanced with practiced petulance.
Bapa glanced at Nanny; she knew he’d save
the day. She smiled, knowingly.
“Tell you what,” he began, their eyes
coming up to meet his own in expectant wonder, “we’ll plan right now to all go
up the mountain on a trail ride as soon as school is out in May. We’ll have a
real cowboy-type bar-b-que picnic and swimming party at the old ‘Tall Pine’
beach on Silver Falls River, on the sand bar, just like we do every summer.”
Wide eyes watched him; authentic smiles
had replaced the sulky frowns.
“Can we get our moms and dads to go, too?”
queried Lauren.
“Yeah! And sleep out in tents overnight?”
added Lexi.
“And, toast marshmallows and roast hot
dogs?” Annie wanted to know, licking her lips.
Bapa gave the trio a collective wink and
an approving smile; he loved their enthusiasm.
“You bet, my beauties. We’ll even try to
get Rye-Rye and Mary Theresa to come along. What do you think of that idea?”
“Oh! Yea!” Their excitement as great to
this impromptu plan as to the snow announcement.
They chattered like magpies gorging
themselves in a fresh cornfield through the rest of breakfast, making big plans
for the promised event, undaunted by the fact and uninterested in the reality that
it was nearly six months away.
Bapa and Nanny smiled at one another. An
unspoken “What a great family” passed between them, each enjoying the precious
moment.
Day 365
Bapa & his
“Golden”-crown!?
Well! So it comes
down to this! Reckon the random daily-draw of 1 each of 365 story-sparkers from
the fabulous cookie jar bestowed on us for our 50th anniversary last
November 25 sure enough created a plethora of delightful, loving memories from
a lifetime of adventures.
But,
what might the “value” of this fantastic earth be without benefit of “human”
emotion to enjoy and appreciate the very effort? “Man”, his actions and
interactions make “life” interesting.
I
am, and, always have been, exceedingly blessed with myriad saints and angels
around me.
I
have the very best “Guardian”-angel; poor guy must wonder what he ever did to
deserve me.
And,
even though I am both “simple”-of-attitude and “humble”-by-spirit, I proudly don
my “metaphoric” golden-crown; it is adorned with “7” precious-stones: Lovely Lady Candice Leah,
Catherine Elizabeth “Beth”, Rachel Rebecca “Becky”-“Bobi”, Z. Tyler “Z. T.”,
Lauren “Luvy”, Alexandria Elizabeth “Lexi”-“Lexli-Lu” and Anna Marie “Our ‘pistola’”!
I love you each!
In
my time through this space I have known both Truth! and Love! I am
:”satiated”!
I’ll
never be proclaimed a “saint” of my own accord; I’m no angel by any stretch.
Yet,
I have known both saints and angels----and…I am Thankful! Grateful1 Appreciative!
I
have: Lived! Laughed! Loved! With an
attitude toward: Faith! Family! Freedom! Amen!
What a distinct
pleasure and privilege my fantastic life has been! Thank you! All!
Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Oh! So Thankful1”
Memories!
Author’s
Note
Day
365 concludes Book IV in a series of four and the tales of a life well-lived.
“Thank
you!” Our family! For this Cookie Jar
Sweet Memories delight! A “Great” gift!
We
love each of you more than life. I pray this little tribute to you glows that perfect-love!
Thank you!
Love,
Nanny &
Bapa---always, and…forever!
About the Author
Carl E. Schuler was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on
January 2, 1947. At age nineteen he married his life-love, his soul mate, the
beautiful, Lady Candice Leah, his Angel. Two daughters bless their lives:
Catherine Elizabeth (Evans) and Rachel Rebecca (Baur). Beth is an attorney;
Becky holds a Civil Engineering degree and is CEO of an internet company
(padilly,com). Four perfect grandchildren have added infinite love to their
family: “Handsome” Z. Tyler, 29; Lauren Victoria, the “Little Professor”, 15;
Alexandria Elizabeth, “Lexli-Lu”, 13; and, Anna Marie, our blondie “Annie Rie”,
also, 13. Zachariah and Lexi are siblings; Lauren and Anna are sisters. Each is
saintly, following in their Nanny’s exemplar demeanor, emulating her elegant
class.
Our “girls” are beautiful, talented, angelic,
loving, as is our Z. Tyler-man. The young ladies are into horses displaying
aptitude for equestrian events: dressage, stadium jumping, cross-country and
fox hunting. Z. Tyler excels in sporting endeavors; each is an exemplar person.
I am proud of them, blessed to know them, love each more than life. Thank You
for them! Lord!
A quote from the author: “On a 1990 blizzard day
west Kit Carson-way, I offered a hungry pilgrim all my spare change, about ten
dollars. He was skeptical at my approach, reluctant to accept my charity. Upon
reflection, I should have done better by giving him the new coat I had recently
purchased; the old ragged blanket he carried was tattered and torn and terribly
thin.”
All we have to offer is Good!
toward one another
The very best we bestow is Love!
to each other
Honest! Humble! Humor! All worthy intent sought
Offer miles of smiles with pointed-purpose thought
Live! Love! Laugh! Focus contemplate!
Vigilant be! Not one future be ever late!
Faith! Family! Freedom! Might just be all there really…is
In one eternal instant the only mercy judgment will be…His!
Amen!
Blessed are the meek! Indeed!
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