Christmas Alive
Absent benefit shelter the
wretched old woman did live
By wit, guile and keen eye, her
very best she did give
Serendipity struck as she
searched on cold bleak day
Found a discarded billfold
stuffed with green money-pay
Blessed-“Good Luck!” Safely
secreted in her old canvas bag
None paid attention to such an
outcast and useless old hag
Unkempt and unclean, surviving on
crusts of stale bread
Ragged clothes did she don with a
colored scarf on her head
An acquaintance grimy beggar who
had once done her wrong
Spied the hidden treasure for
which he most assuredly longed
“Could I have your wallet?” He
brazenly asked
Without hesitation she handed it
over, quite unabashed
The next day being Christmas, the
vagabond sought her out
Gave back the money, frowning
eyes showed pure doubt
“There’s something more valuable
from you I should need
That goodness within you to share
without hinted greed”
Majestic Mountain Commandments
foretold
Emulate Jesus! Dare live quite so
bold!
One snowy Colorado day, I gave a
vagrant all the change that I had
Christmas Joy warmed me as a
“Thank you!”-smile creased his face sad
’Tis better give than receive,
sagacious senior folks say
’Tis true! Make it just a fun
game that you play today
Amen!
Merry Christmas!
The Ring
(a “cloned” Christmas gift)
Spiritual perfection! A symbol
representing a continuous circle of perpetual love represented by two
interlocking hearts set ablaze with stunning blue-white diamond clarity. The
quintessence of God! No beginning, no end. Always present. Pure! In its very essence:
Perfect! In its simple concept: God! Symbolized!
Rotate a ring on any axis and generate a
perfect sphere. Contained in that globe is the nature of concentrated
love---which is…God! The goodness in each of us is ever-expanding. It is the
capacity to transcend all that is not good in its various manifestations which
tempt man into transgression; a victory over the impure in life with the
cleansing of the soul through the Grace of the Holy Spirit. To give “love’ is
to bestow the gift of God. The ring is a circle illustrating the continuum
which is God, Who is Love.
May the days in your “ring” all be
diamonds as you treasure Christmas Perfect!
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You for the
gift of life bestowed through Your everlasting love for me. Faith! Family! Freedom!
Will be my spoken credo. Through the Authority of the Father, The Blessing of
Christ Jesus and the Grace of the Holy Spirit I shall triumph in the Kingdom’s
eternity. Amen!
Merry Christmas!
Christmas
Perfect!
(an excerpt)
Bapa watched intently, not seeing the
little boy whom he had loved even before his birth, but a flash of his lifetime
from a beautiful infant whom he had nurtured, to a young boy whom he had
befriended, to the ball player he had instructed, to the child he had both
mentored and learned from, but, rather, viewing a fine young man of
independence, a strong individual with conviction of values and faith, one who
was about to make one of the most profound choices of his young life. He had
often wondered how he would pass the mantle of head of the family and who would
don the cloak. He need not think of it any longer, the succession was happening
right before his very eyes. Bapa took Nanny’s hand in his own.
“The king is dead!” he thought in
silence; “Long live the king!” he whispered, aloud.
Nanny heard him and gave him an
inquisitive glance; he was smiling, a tear in his eye.
It had not been a royal coronation
filled with pageantry nor pomp and circumstance, but the regal transformation
of power had been deftly accomplished. Bapa was well-pleased; plain and simple
was always the best way of truly important issues and momentous occasions.
Z. Tyler took the pillow as he stood
next to Mary Theresa and before the little girls and the entire assemblage. He
peered at his grandfather and wondered how he had known; he winked at the wise
old man whom he so dearly loved.
Bapa saluted his grandson, acknowledging
his acquiescence, and, unknown to the boy at this time, his abdication of the
throne. It would soon enough dawn on Z. Tyler. He stood as a natural leader of
unequaled ability and was the obvious choice for such an important family position.
Z. Tyler laid the red satin pillow at
his feet and bent his right knee to it. He looked into the eyes of the woman he
loved, raised his left hand between their faces. On his little finger was
Nanny’s diamond studded double-heart platinum ring which Bapa had just given
her!
Mary Theresa gasped; Nanny’s mouth fell
open as she quickly felt her hand wondering how the boy had gotten her ring.
But, no! Her “clone”-gift was still on her finger where Bapa had placed it! She
glanced at her husband who was smiling; he squeezed her hand.
As Z. Tyler knelt on his right knee, he
gently took M-T’s left hand, placed the special ring on her finger and said,
“Mary Theresa, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her excited “Yes!” came with a rush of
jubilant laughter, a smothering embrace and one long, passionate kiss.
The three little girls danced and
laughed and hugged the engaged couple. Z. Tyler and Mary Theresa gathered the
three girls as the five embraced and kissed.
Beth and Becky joined the melee with
“Congratulations!” and even more displays of affection. Dad Graig and Uncle
Alex shook Z. Tyler’s hand and hugged the future bride, Mary Theresa, each
kissing a blushing cheek at the same time.
Mary Theresa said, bubbling with
excitement, “Of course, we’ll want you girls to be in our wedding. And, Mom
Beth and Aunt Becky, please say you’ll help with the planning.” Both were
beaming as they nodded, tears of joy flowing down their cheeks.
Nanny hugged her boy and kissed his
cheek, shedding an emotional tear of pride and joy, too.
Embracing the girl, she said, earnestly,
“Welcome to our family, Mary Theresa!”
Bapa hugged the newly engaged girl; he
shook Z. Tyler’s hand and the two embraced; the boy patted the old man’s
shoulder.
“You knew.” he offered. It was as much a
question as a statement.
His grandfather only smiled.
BaPa’s Treasures
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Dear Z. Tyler, Luvy, Lexli Lu and My
Annie:
Some years ago we had the pleasure of
taking a cruise in the Caribbean.
We had an inside cabin without
portholes; with the interior lights off, it was totally dark.
At 6:30AM I awakened; I immediately
dressed and went on deck. Somehow, I knew we were passing white sand islands,
the blue water caressing the beach. I was right.
A bright sunrise glinted sparkles off
the waves; small, uninhabited, palm-studded sands passed by our vessel. I had
no way of knowing these jewels were there, but something pulled me on deck so
that I should not miss this event.
When I find myself in the darkness of
loneliness I experience when I=m not with you,
I know you are there and all I have to do is picture you in my mind.
Instant happiness---four smiling angels that are the treasures of my journey in
life. Each of you is like the other and the four of you are the pleasurable
remembrances of Beth and Becky---an extension of the great times of their
childhood which we experienced.
Each of you is unique---special,
beautiful, intelligent, spiritual, humble, blessed and... good...good to the
point of being saintly; more correctly, angelic! Like your Nanny.
Z. Tyler---my young man who, I confess,
I sometimes still think of as my little boy. Handsome,
strong of body, sterling of character, his own man, Yes, when I grow up: AI wanna be just
like you!
Lauren Victoria---L.V., Luvy-my elegant
little princess, beautiful. So mature for your tender age. Kind, considerate,
intelligent, sophisticated. And the best sister ever to Annie and Lexi and
Rye-Rye. I should learn to love so innocently as you.
Alexandria Elizabeth--- Lexi-my angel-curly
top-so independent, smart, beautiful, grown up. Your deep voice so pure, your
personality perfect. I am so glad to see
you love your brother Rye-Rye and your sisters, Lauren and Annie.
Anna Marie-my Annie---Colorado-girl,
for sure. Sweet, kind, intelligent and most---most... independent. You
are your mother through and through---I thank God for that!
Each of you, so different, yet so alike.
The seven treasures of my life---priceless!
We thank God for each of you; we thank
each of you for loving us!
Merry Christmas!
Plus:
Bapa and Nanny helped with the
decorations and wrapping of gifts. By eleven-thirty most was completed, save a
few presents and some final touches to the tree. The old couple left for
midnight mass at the little country church just down the lane. Their daughters
were concerned because of the weather and their husbands offered to drive the
couple, but Bapa assured them that they would be alright. To the absolute
“secret” delight of his Bapa and the complete, and, expressed, relief of his
Nanny, in the end, Z. Tyler proudly provided safe chauffeuring.
The trip was only a few miles, but the
weather was fierce and Bapa was glad to have Z. Tyler convey them to the little
country church. As they approached the building, yellow light spilled from the
arched windows; huge, dancing snowflakes swirled wildly while delightfully
chasing one another in a nature game of tag in the bright illuminations.
Only a handful of cars were present in
the parking lot; that was unusual for Christmas Eve services. By the time mass
started, a meager thirty, or so, parishioners had shown up; the weather had
most certainly been a factor. Bapa had always loved evening services, from the
traditional Christmas Eve mass to the several-times-a-year evening novenas to
the special occasion masses occasionally held at night. The church interior
literally glowed in pastel blue light reflected off the leaded stained glass windows.
Beyond the glass was blackness, but the reflected light from the interior off
the multi-colored windows radiated a soft, almost misty, blue-white ambiance.
As a boy, he thought it must be like
heaven itself, the pleasant light adoring God. The temperature in the old,
drafty building chilled the body, but the feeling of love and perfect comfort,
indeed, warmed the soul. No one could possibly leave the environs of this holy
place without a dancing spirit set on fire by the most evident presence of an
almighty, redeeming, saving, grace-filled Deity.
By the time they returned home, soft
light glowed in the foyer and through the living room windows from the
fireplace; Nanny’s antique lamp was brightly illuminated; the Christmas card
scene evoked warm memories of the church they had just left. All was quiet in
the secure comfort as the children had retired for what was left of the night.
All is calm!
Bapa made a last minute check to be sure
everything was ready; all was in order and met with his approval. He slipped
his arm around Nanny.
“Thanks for taking me to church,” Z.
Tyler said, yawning. “I think I’m ready for bed…past ready, in fact.”
Nanny kissed his cheek. “Thank you,
Rye-Rye. See you early in the morning.”
Bapa shook his hand and the boy hugged
him and then kissed the old man’s cheek. He always hugged Nanny, but to embrace
Bapa, well, that was a special event, indeed.
“Not too early,” the boy laughed,
looking into the old man’s eyes.
“Merry Christmas! Bapa!” he offered.
“Merry Christmas! Nanny!” he added.
“Merry Christmas! Son!” Bapa replied,
shaking his hand firmly.
“Merry Christmas!” Nanny said, enjoying
the moment.
The boy kissed her cheek and went up the
stairs; they watched him go.
“He’s a fine young man,” Bapa began.
“You know he wasn’t even going to midnight mass. He just did it to make sure we
were safe.”
“Yes, I know, Bapa,” his wife replied
with a satisfied sigh. “We have a wonderful family.
“Best to bed,” she added, gently pushing
him toward the stairs. “Tomorrow comes early,” she added with the merest hint
of urgency.
“Yes, you can bet on that,” he laughed,
“very early. Especially tomorrow.”
“You go ahead,” Nanny said. “I’ll get
Santa’s milk and cookies ready. Be up in a minute.”
Warm and snug under the covers at last,
she kissed his cheek.
“Merry Christmas! Bapa!”
“Merry Christmas!” He was asleep before
he could manage even one more breath.
The blizzard played out in the night;
Christmas Day dawned clear, cold and brilliant bright.
Sunshine pierced the frigid morning,
then streaked through the heavily frosted window pane flirting with the fine
lace filigree of a bedroom curtain as it played along the polished antique
walnut, marble-topped dresser, with a vacant promise of coming warmth on a
frozen Christmas Day beginning. Bapa had been awake for half an hour or so,
nudged from slumber by the pale dawn pushing back the night. He listened to the
rhythmic breathing of his sleeping wife, enjoying her presence, wanting to
disturb neither her rest nor his own respite as he absorbed the solitude. All
was quiet in the house---well…almost, all!
From the bedroom down the hallway, he
heard the unmistakable patter of tiny feet across the hardwood floor near the
window; the area carpet left a three foot border around the perimeter of the
room and while the thick textile hushed the footfalls, the cold pine board
flooring amplified the sounds. That urchin, he knew, would be none other than,
Anna Marie.
First one up to peer through the frosty
glass, checking the snow covered yard below, searching for telltale foot prints
evidencing Santa’s arrival, eager to start the day; especially, this particular
exciting day. Shortly, the padded hustle retraced its path to once again cross
the carpet, then bed springs squeaked and he heard hushed whispers as the
youngest of the three loudly, and obviously getting progressively louder,
jabber-jawed awake the remaining two sleeping beauties. Soon, giggling and a
rustling of bed covers was quickly followed by a cavalcade of cacophonous
thundering hooves as three scouts flew to the window to observe firsthand what
Annie “Kit Carson” Rie had just reported. Bapa could hear muffled, excited
“oohs!” and “aahs!”.
“I hear the munchkins,” Nanny yawned.
Her natural smile warmed his heart as his eyes caressed her pretty face in the
piercing early morning sunlight.
“You smile beautifully,” he stated.
Then, added, “And, all the time,” as he tenderly laid the back of his fingers
against her tender cheek.
“You’re a hopeless romantic, Bapa,” she
cooed, “and, I love you for it.”
She stretched to kiss the lobe of his near
ear.
“But,” she quickly sobered, “we’d better
get a move on. Those children will be downstairs to see what Santa brought
before we even get out of bed.”
She squeezed his hand as she rolled to a
sitting position on the side of the bed, her feet gingerly testing the coldness
of the floor.
“Burr!” she shivered. Then, “I love
winter!” She giggled as childishly as a young girl caught in her own flight of
fancy, enjoying every delicious minute of it.
“But,” she added, philosophically, “it is
Christmas; and, Christmas comes in winter.” She smiled, impishly, casting a
sidelong glance his way to gauge his reaction to her playfulness.
His response came as a loving caress
from soft blue eyes with a satisfied grin which said a silent, yet, fully and
immediately, understood, “I love you”.
“Anyway,” she went on, “I love
Christmas!”
“And, I love you!” he softly announced; this
time, verbally, while gently touching her arm.
Sitting upright next to her, he gently
tested the chillness of the floor for himself. He grabbed his robe, donned
fleecy house slippers and stood.
“Yep,” he agreed, “it’s winter; that’s
for sure.”
Crossing to the door, he turned. “You
get ready. When you’re dressed, come rescue me. I’ll be with the girls, in
their room.”
“You got it, big boy,” she teased as he
slipped out the door, pulling it closed behind him.
Three angels sat in a circle,
cross-legged, Indian-style, on the large bed amid crumpled covers as Bapa entered,
knocking softly as he pushed open the door.
“Come in, Bapa,” called Miss Lauren in
welcome; accurately ascertaining who was there.
Excited faces, grinning ear to ear,
greeted him; eyes full of expectant wonder sparkled. It was obvious that they
had seen the reindeer and Santa Claus tracks left in the snow in the front yard.
“Good morning, girls,” Bapa said,
grinning. “And, Merry Christmas!” he added. He was as excited as they were and
totally unashamed of his unbridled youthful enthusiasm.
“Merry Christmas! Bapa!” The eager chorus
exclaimed in unison.
“Did Santa Claus come?” Queried Lexi,
getting right to the point.
“Yeah! And did he bring us lots of
presents?” Came Annie’s exuberance.
The girls giggled; Bapa laughed and
hugged them, climbing onto the bed among them.
He put a puzzled expression on his face,
serious, with a show of concern mixed in for good measure; he shook his head,
displaying uncertainty.
“I don’t know”, he said with some trepidation.
“Lauren, did you hear anything last night?” He asked, peering at each of the
three of them in random order.
“No! Bapa. I fell asleep by the
fireplace. That hot chocolate really warmed me and with that huge cookie, all
of a sudden, I got real tired. I don’t even remember coming up to bed.” She
blinked her eyes trying to recall the previous night’s events.
“And you, Lexi? What did you hear?”
“Nothing! I slept ’til morning.”
“Annie Rie?” he inquired.
Her blonde hair swayed as she shook her
head, blue eyes wide in bewilderment.
“Well,” Bapa began, “I just don’t know.
When we got home from midnight mass everything was in order, just as we had
left it. Santa’s cookies and milk were still on the dining room table.” He
looked troubled.
Anna Marie brightened. “The hay we put
in the front yard for the reindeer is gone,” she offered in confident protest,
a hint of hope rising in her tiny voice.
“I saw out the window this morning,
Bapa. It’s gone!”
“Yeah!” added Lexi, excitedly, perpetuating
the hope. “And, I saw hoof prints in the snow, too. They sure looked like deer
tracks, to me.
“And,” she quickly added, “I saw Santa
Claus’ foot prints, too!
Lauren smiled. “Have you been
downstairs, yet, Bapa?” The “little professor” tested.
Just then, the bedroom door opened and
in bounced Nanny.
“Merry Christmas! Girls!” She bubbled.
“Merry Christmas! Nanny!” They all
replied, smiling brightly.
“Well, Bapa? Did you peek downstairs
this morning?” Lauren persisted.
Nanny’s eyes widened. “Bapa!” She
scolded, teasingly, drawing out his name in mock disbelief. Pretending to
objurgate, she added, purposely playful, “Did you peek?”
“Well, you know how it is. It’s
Christmas!” Bapa replied, sheepishly, as if apologizing for some unintended and
unavoidable transgression.
Four pair of staring eyes held him; he
had that look of a little boy caught, once again, with his hand in the tempting
cookie jar.
“Okay! Okay!” he relented. “I did peek!
But, only briefly. I will admit what I saw for certain. The Santa Claus treat we
left on the table was---GONE!”
Cheers erupted from the threesome; Nanny
smiled at his theatrics.
“But,” he continued, “that’s all I saw.
I promise!”
Stares of skepticism questioned his
honesty.
“Really!” He offered in weak rebuttal,
offering more reason for doubt than for trust.
“Can we go down, now?” Queried Lexli Lu,
urgently, already clamoring off the big bed, immediately shadowed by her
cousins.
“Put on your robes and house shoes,”
Nanny said. “Then wake up Rye-Rye and your moms and dads and we’ll all go down
to do an inspection, together.”
“Yea!” Thundered the unanimous cry as
the three scrambled into robes and warm house shoes. They flew out the door in
unison, first to Rye-Rye’s room to wake him with hugs and kisses, then, quickly
continuing their mission to awaken their parents, bursting into the rooms with
all semblance of any required protocol long since forgotten and eagerly abandoned.
Within minutes, the entire assemblage
gathered at the head of the stairs. Pine scent wafted to their senses from
garland draped on the bannister and hung on the stair rails. Nanny’s tasteful
decorations were impeccable; at Christmas she outdid even herself. Her home
sparkled like love personified; her refined, classy taste always obvious in her
special offerings.
Peering through the spindles to the open
foyer below, Lexi proudly announced, “Yep! Santa’s milk and cookies are gone,
alright.”
Quickly, Lauren and Annie crowded beside
their cousin, looking into the opening which afforded just enough view of the
dining room, adjacent to the foyer, to reveal the corner of the highly polished
tabletop where the treats had been left for Santa Claus; the glass was empty
and only a few cookie crumbs remained on the plate. The evidence told the
story.
“Yeah! He was here!” concluded Lauren,
excitedly.
“He sure was!” shrieked Anna Marie.
The fourth kid among them, and the
biggest, could restrain himself no longer.
“Okay!” commanded Bapa. “Let’s go!” He
ushered the others ahead.
The adults laughed at his unembarrassed childish
enthusiasm as they followed the scampering little threesome down the stairs.
Nanny grabbed his hand, holding him
back, and lightly kissed his cheek as she admonished him sternly, whispering,
“You’re worse than the kids!”
She was not sure if the shadow which
crossed his face was real or if he was merely playing, but it passed in an
instant and he pulled her along, saying, “Come on! We don’t want to miss all the
fun. Do we?”
She shook her head and laughed that
little girl giggle he loved so much. Now, he was unsure whether she was only
teasing him or if she was truly exasperated at his little boy behavior. It
didn’t matter, of course. So, he took it as a bit of each. Hurriedly, he pulled
her along as he strove to catch up, descending the steps two at a time. She
thought he’d surely kill them both!
In the living room, the girls were
already perched in front of the lighted tree. Piles of festive gifts in vibrant
Christmas wrapping paper towered around the decoration. Larger, unwrapped gifts
left by Santa Claus included tack for the girls’ horses, three shiny new
bicycles, various items of clothing.
The moms were busy picture-taking from
various angles so as to miss chronicling none of the action; the dads being as
unobtrusive as possible on the periphery of animated activity. Rye-Rye sat in
the large recliner near the fireplace; he had strategically repositioned the
chair to afford him an unobstructed view of the front yard and the parking area
beyond the fence. He had invited his girlfriend to join them this early
Christmas morning. Bapa and Nanny appropriately occupied the love seat nearest
the Christmas tree, holding hands, smiling like satiated Cheshire cats.
The girls were told which piles of
presents were for each of them. Candy canes and Santa Claus and Bethlehem’s
Star and manger scenes and angels which adorned scads of red, gold, and silver
wrapping paper exploded as shiny ribbon flew like long confetti at a grand
parade while they opened and examined every item, taking notice of the other’s
gifts as well as their own. Showing their appreciation, they said “Thank you!”
as each package’s contents was discovered and appraised. The adults, especially
Bapa, were having as much fun as the excited children.
Z. Tyler enjoyed the show, too, though
keeping a wary eye toward the window. Suddenly, he quickly rose and went to the
front door; his Mary Theresa had arrived.
He opened the door before she had a chance
to knock. A plethora of brightly colored gifts tumbled from her arms as she
entered the house. Quickly, he caught her as she regained her balance. Pulling
her close, he said, “Merry Christmas!” Looking into her eyes and gently kissing
her red, full lips.
“Oohs!” and “Aahs!” intermingled with
giggles, escaped the little girls.
Nanny came to his rescue, as usual.
“Merry Christmas! Mary Theresa!” she
said, hugging the young woman and then quickly lending a hand to gather the
disarrayed presents spilled onto the floor.
“Merry Christmas! Everybody!” the young girl
acknowledged.
Z. Tyler helped with the packages she
had brought, then escorted her to the recliner where they shared the seat; he
held her hand and kept looking at her as though he might just burst if he had
to keep his secret much longer. Everyone took notice of their young man’s
uncharacteristic apprehension; only one among them had correctly guessed the
cause of his excitement.
The girls had opened and examined the
wrapped gifts under the tree and were now giving close examination to the
larger items. Z. Tyler wasn’t the only one suffering from a lack of patience;
Bapa could wait no longer.
“Okay! Rye-Rye! Would you do the honors,
son? Hand out the rest of the presents to the adults; maybe Mary Theresa would
help you.”
To the young woman, he offered, “Merry
Christmas! Mary Theresa. We’re so happy you could join us so early, today.”
“Thank you, Sir,” she replied, politely.
He went to her and gave her a gentle
hug.
“Welcome to our family,” he said, almost
dramatically.
“Thank you, again,” she said, somewhat
surprised at his formal demeanor.
Z. Tyler gave him a quizzical glance;
Bapa winked in reply, a sparkle in his eye.
The boy suspected that the old man knew.
But, how could he have possibly figured it out?
Plus:
Day 362
The parakeet
that dodged Dad’s flying pens
My
Dad died very unexpectedly right before Christmas of my 24th year. Devastation!
We
managed to get through the archaic-funeral travesty---then…”tried” to get on
with life.
I
had a job which allowed me to work on my own time; I did a lot of work from
home.
Reports
had to be dictated on my assignments, then transcribed by a secretary at the
office.
I
did my dictation at our kitchen table so as to have ample room to lay out the
elements of the particular file I was working on; our pet parakeet was in a
cage in that room. For some reason, when I un-limbered my recording machine and
spoke into the microphone---the bird…Sang!
With
patience, Hmm!, not my strong suit, I
tried waiting for the feathered-friend to finish his serenade. Each time I
paused in my verbal-report into the machine, he quit singing. As soon as I
talked just one word into the microphone----he “tuned-up”! Irritating!
After
several tries, my “patience” wore thin (not a very long journey). I yelled at
the bird; he grew silent. Hmm! Pick up the mike---speak one word…Chirping! Incessant chirping!
Finally,
forging ahead, I threw a ball-point pen at the crooner; it bounced off the
cage. Quiet!
We
managed to get the dictation finished; the bird avoided Death! The secretary got a laugh!
My
family thought the incident was hilarious; I still do not find much humor in
the adventure.
Ah! Cookie
Jar Sweet “Birds-of-a-feather!?” Memories!
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