My daughter gave me an assignment - write down for her what Christmases were like for me growing up. What were our traditions/ Stockings? Trees? Presents? Etc. My first reaction was, "You can't be serious." Yes, indeed she was. How hard could that be?
I woke up the next morning around 5 AM and spent an hour and a half wide awake trying to come up with something to send her. To be honest, it was a struggle. A lot of fog can cloud your memory bank over 70 plus years, but I was able to come up with a few, very few memories. Other than remembering that it took my mother a week to decorate the huge tree we had each year and a train set I got one year, there was very little else.
What do you remember about Christmas the year you were six or seven? The special present you couldn't live without that was under the tree. Exchanging a knowing glance with Dad when Mom opened the gift you got her and said, "How did you know that's just what I wanted?" Leaving a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer with a note telling Santa of a few items you forgot to mention when you were sitting on his lap...and Christmas morning finding the carrots were gone, the empty plate and glass, a "Thank you" from Santa and an apology for not being able to get the drum set. What was Christmas dinner like? Were all the relatives there? Even the ones you didn't like? Did Uncle Harry put too much bourbon in the eggnog and fall asleep curled up in your manger tableau?
So I guess my point is, what will your children remember 10, 20 or 50 years from now about this Christmas? Take pictures, lots of pictures and pull them out from your IPad once in awhile and look at them. Save them for future generations of your family to cherish. I have no pictures of my Christmases growing up, and the first one of you who says it's because cameras hadn't been invented yet will find a present from Casey in your stocking.
Merry Christmas to one and all, and make it a memorable one.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Sunday, September 23, 2012
If I Come Back
If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I've decided I want to come back as a Golden Retriever. I think it would be wonderful to know nothing but love, unconditional love, for everyone I come in contact with. I would have a roof over my head, nice people taking care of me, two good meals a day, free health care...hmmm...would that put me in the infamous 47% ?
I wouldn't care if my tax rate was higher than some of the richest people in America. I wouldn't feel anger when I learned the names of more young men and women who died for some unknown cause halfway around the world or when our embassies are attacked by people we send billions to.
I'd nap on the couch and ignore the constant stream of negative campaign ads on TV. Maybe some of those people in Washington should sniff each other's butt and learn to play nice. They say that if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. No thanks. I'd stay in Florida and chase chameleons while those folks chased their tails, went in circles, and accomplished zero.
I think it would be a pretty nice life.
I wouldn't care if my tax rate was higher than some of the richest people in America. I wouldn't feel anger when I learned the names of more young men and women who died for some unknown cause halfway around the world or when our embassies are attacked by people we send billions to.
I'd nap on the couch and ignore the constant stream of negative campaign ads on TV. Maybe some of those people in Washington should sniff each other's butt and learn to play nice. They say that if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. No thanks. I'd stay in Florida and chase chameleons while those folks chased their tails, went in circles, and accomplished zero.
I think it would be a pretty nice life.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
The Olympics
I'm wondering...
...why do volleyball players have a group hug after every point?
...why am I looking forward to rhythmic gymnastics? Maybe because my ears hurt from all the whistle blowing during water polo. Worse than field hockey. Those are two sports I don't understand.
...why are softball and baseball no longer Olympic sports but trampoline is? Seriously?
...who is taller Ryan Seacrest or Bob Costas?
...if the Irish claim to have created the triple jump, the Iraqis boxing (cave pictures from a zillion years ago) and the Mongolians field hockey, how come they have never won a medal in their sport?
...why does Rafalca, Ann Romney's dressage horse, net the family a $77,000 tax credit when the tax credit for a child is only $1,000. Rafalca also outpaces the average American family in housing, transportation and clothing. You certainly can't expect a dancing horse to live in poverty and dress shabbily. Really?
...why do volleyball players have a group hug after every point?
...why am I looking forward to rhythmic gymnastics? Maybe because my ears hurt from all the whistle blowing during water polo. Worse than field hockey. Those are two sports I don't understand.
...why are softball and baseball no longer Olympic sports but trampoline is? Seriously?
...who is taller Ryan Seacrest or Bob Costas?
...if the Irish claim to have created the triple jump, the Iraqis boxing (cave pictures from a zillion years ago) and the Mongolians field hockey, how come they have never won a medal in their sport?
...why does Rafalca, Ann Romney's dressage horse, net the family a $77,000 tax credit when the tax credit for a child is only $1,000. Rafalca also outpaces the average American family in housing, transportation and clothing. You certainly can't expect a dancing horse to live in poverty and dress shabbily. Really?
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The Week in Review
Presumptive candidate Romney wants to cut back on fire fighters and police. How about we cut back on incompetent people in Congress? I sure hope one of his homes doesn't catch on fire.
I grew up in an era when a certain movie was banned in Boston because it contained the words "virgin", "pregnant" and "seductress". Have you seen the Pearle Vision commercial touting "The Naughty Librarian"? It's a book that makes "50 Shades of Gray" read like Cinderella. (Don't ask how I know.) They must be marketing new steam-free shades.
And how about the new Cadillac XTS with the vibrating seat to warn you of impending rear end danger? I'm going to let you come up with your own tag line for that one.
Sergio Garcia wiped out a microphone on a tee box at the Open yesterday with a backhand slap shot that might get him a tryout with the LA Kings. David Feherty remarked that it was Sergio's best swing of the day.
How about these teenagers, 14 and 17, that are playing so well? When I was that age, I was trying to sneak into that movie with the bad words.
China's first woman is now in orbit. That'll teach her to have a second kid!
Romney's on a bus tour. I wonder if he has ever been on a bus before. His dog should have a wonderful view from the top of a bus.
And finally, congratulations to my grandson Michael Paisley whose baseball team made it to the finals of the Indiana High School Division 3A tournament. Though they didn't win, they played hard, they played well and they should be very proud.
I grew up in an era when a certain movie was banned in Boston because it contained the words "virgin", "pregnant" and "seductress". Have you seen the Pearle Vision commercial touting "The Naughty Librarian"? It's a book that makes "50 Shades of Gray" read like Cinderella. (Don't ask how I know.) They must be marketing new steam-free shades.
And how about the new Cadillac XTS with the vibrating seat to warn you of impending rear end danger? I'm going to let you come up with your own tag line for that one.
Sergio Garcia wiped out a microphone on a tee box at the Open yesterday with a backhand slap shot that might get him a tryout with the LA Kings. David Feherty remarked that it was Sergio's best swing of the day.
How about these teenagers, 14 and 17, that are playing so well? When I was that age, I was trying to sneak into that movie with the bad words.
China's first woman is now in orbit. That'll teach her to have a second kid!
Romney's on a bus tour. I wonder if he has ever been on a bus before. His dog should have a wonderful view from the top of a bus.
And finally, congratulations to my grandson Michael Paisley whose baseball team made it to the finals of the Indiana High School Division 3A tournament. Though they didn't win, they played hard, they played well and they should be very proud.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contraception
Two things strike me as a result of all this talk about birth control and contraception. First, it is obvious that there is a strong condom lobby working for the Republicans. "Let's put the burden on the men for birth control." Great idea. What are the odds on the birth rate tripling? Perhaps we can get Obamacare to pay for chastity belts. How many centuries do we want to regress?
Second, the Commonwealth of Virginia has proposed vaginal ultra sounds. For those of you who don't watch Grey's Anatomy, that involves the insertion of a probe. As a fan of everything sci-fi, I am reminded of the stories told by people abducted by aliens in flying saucers. They told of being probed by the aliens. I am not insinuating that Republicans are aliens. Well, certainly not all of them.
They are among us.
Second, the Commonwealth of Virginia has proposed vaginal ultra sounds. For those of you who don't watch Grey's Anatomy, that involves the insertion of a probe. As a fan of everything sci-fi, I am reminded of the stories told by people abducted by aliens in flying saucers. They told of being probed by the aliens. I am not insinuating that Republicans are aliens. Well, certainly not all of them.
They are among us.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Rush Limbaugh
We live in an extraordinary country. We have many freedoms. The freedom of speech being one of them. But when someone goes on national radio and says the things Rush Limbaugh has said about the Georgetown University law student who wanted to testify in front of the Republican hearing on contraception, you have to wonder where the line is drawn. I hope this young woman hires the best slander attorney available and sues him for everything he has. And if whoever is his employer doesn't take him off the air immediately, every sponsor they have should have the guts to cancel.
I know I have a lot of conservative Republican friends and family. I respect your allegiance, but please don't try to justify Limbaugh's rant to me. I'd rather you removed me from your address book.
I know I have a lot of conservative Republican friends and family. I respect your allegiance, but please don't try to justify Limbaugh's rant to me. I'd rather you removed me from your address book.
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