'TIS THE HOLIDAY SEASON

There is a made for television movie seen during the holidays called Crazy for Christmas. One can label the movie as one of those ‘happy ending’ stories, which I consider it to be. I may be able to label myself as crazy for Christmas, but people say I am more of a wacko when it comes to the holiday. Well perhaps that statement is true, but there is a legitimate reason. For over thirty years I did not care about Christmas. In fact they could have made another Scrooge or Grinch type character out of how I really felt deep inside. No one knew my true feelings as each year I acted in the manner one should during the holidays. Outside I smiled, said the right words and went through the motions of doing all those things a person would do. Inside I loathed it all and let my true feelings eat at me.

It took over thirty years for me to just ‘’let go’ of the past and look at Christmas as a time to rejoice and realize that Christmas is not about what you get as gifts, what you have on the table to eat, but the people surround you that matters.  Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child and show kindness to and goodwill to all.

It was a simple situation that changed me from being a Ms. Grinch to the Ms. Santa I am today.  Over the next few weeks, I plan to give blog about the Christmas holiday and the holiday season.  Black Friday always begins the start of the shopping season; people hustle and bustle to the malls, discount stores and electronic stores looking for the perfect gift.  But WHAT IS THE PERFECT GIFT?  The answer depends on you and what you think.  Of course there is always that one person who is hard to please; nothing seems just right.  Cash is too easy to give or writing a check; instead I venture out to the stores and purchase gift cards.  I am still out there in the masses, standing in line waiting to be checked out.  With a gift card, the receiver can buy what they want or what they feel they need.  Do I miss anything in not taking the time to actually purchase a gift?  Yes, perhaps I do.  Of course I do realize this; if the receiver does not like the gift, they will either return it, re-gift it, donate it to a second hand store or sell it at a yard sale.  Gift cards, yes the way for me to go.

Until next time……enjoy shopping and remember it does not matter how much or how little you spend, but the thought that counts.

Thanksgiving

Last week Veteran’s Day celebrated; thank you given to those who served our country with honor and pride.  Next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  Stores advertise turkeys by various sizes, cranberry sauce, yams, stuffing mix and pie; customers look for the best bargains. 

While the grocery stores are selling items for the Thanksgiving feast, all other stores are decking the halls for the upcoming Christmas season.

Before we begin to trim the tree, bake the cookies, rush to the mall shopping, we need to celebrate Thanksgiving.  A day we give thanks and gratitude for all we have; a day to spend with family, watch the Macy’s parade, gather around the table for the feast and then sit back to watch football.  The decorations of  pilgrims, Indians, cornucopias, turkeys and pumpkins adorn the home.  The scent of roasting turkey and baking pies filter through the home with a wonderful aroma that whets the appetite of young and old. 

As we bow our heads in prayer giving ‘thanks’ for what we have we should remember this: ‘it is not what you have that matters but who you have to share it with’.  

Take time to enjoy the day of Thanksgiving with those who matter in your life.  Start a new tradition, as you sit around the table, ask each person to tell everyone at least one thing for which they are thankful. 

Until next time…..HAPPY THANKSVIGING.  Enjoy the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, marshmallow yams, cranberry sauce, stuffing and of course the apple pie and pumpkin pie.  Make sure you have enough left turkey for sandwiches on Friday as you won’t have time to cook after all the Black Friday shopping.


                    MURPHY FAMILY TRADITIONS…THANKSGIVING DAY
                       ©Scottie-ann Murphy  For Thanksgiving Day 2008

 Boughs are bare
   Their brilliant leaves
      Scattered upon the ground

Stripped cornstalks waiting
  Their fate in the fields

Silos stored corn
  Become winter feed for livestock

Apples gathered from orchards
   Pumpkins snatched from their patch

Harvesting of grain and wheat
   Turn fields of yellow to brown
Another season….
   Come and gone

Days become short
  Chilly north winds blow

Halloween celebrated
  Honor paid on Veteran’s Day

Pies cool, cranberry sauce is made
   Macy’s parade entertains us

Gathered with family and friends
   We sit at the table
     Bow our heads in prayer
       To give thanks for our many blessings

Enjoying the feast before us
  We laugh,
      Talk,
         And reminisce

Until……
  It is time for kick off of the first
    Football game of the day

VETERAN'S DAY

Very often we tend to forget those deployed.  Every Friday many will wear a red shirt to remember; this day is known as “Red Shirt Friday”. 
R…REMEMBERING    E…EVERYONE    D…DEPLOYED
It is the least we can do to honor the men and women who are proudly serving our nation.  But, while we remember by wearing our red shirts, we need to remember those who SERVED.  Men and women in the community, a family member, friend, neighbor, acquaintance or co-worker.  They no longer are labeled marine, air man, coast guard, solider and sailor.  A new title is bestowed upon them, VETERAN.  November 11th we set aside a day to pay them homage and say “Thank You”.  Ceremonies and parades will be held in their honor.  Many eateries will give veterans free meals and other businesses will offer discounts for the day.

There is a cartoon that is making the rounds on social media.  It is of a small boy bowing his head in prayer.  The caption reads “THANKSGIVING IS THE DAY WE PAUSE TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE THINGS WE HAVE”.  There is a set of dog tags and next to them are these words, “VETERAN’S DAY IS THE DAY WE PAUSE TO GIVE THANKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR THE THINGS WE HAVE”.

A cute cartoon, but thinking about the words, it rings so true.  While we remember and say thank you to those we may see on Veteran’s Day, we all should not forget those veterans in the VA Hospital and Homes and nursing facilities.  
Veteran’s Day….twenty-four short hours to tell those who served with pride.  ‘Thank you’ is two words to tell them how you fell but we need to remember them not just one day a year but each and every day.  

Until next time to all who veteran’s HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY.