Sending Greetings for the Holidays

Christmas is ten days from today (as I sit here typing).  One Christmas tradition I enjoy is sending and receiving Christmas cards.  In the years past I created my own cards for family, friends and acquaintances but the past year as well as this year I have not done so.  Last year I found some cute cards in a catalog.  One set of twelve cards had a little magnet that accompanied the card and the other set had a little recipe book of holiday treats.  After purchasing them, I found I had more than enough left over to use again for this year.  Being a veteran, I belong to veteran’s organizations.  One of the organizations sends out Christmas cards as a fund raiser.  This year I received some very lovely cards with matching envelopes.  They became my back-up set in case I did not have enough left from the previous year to send.  

I recall years ago, by this time in the season, I’d have a nice stack of cards received.  Some even with a letter detailing the sender’s year in review.  Yes, I too had done the year end letter, but like the creating my own cards, the year end letter has gone by the wayside.  The other day I had to pick up a few boxes of cards for a project for one of the veteran’s organizations which I belong.  These cards were to be signed ‘Santa & Mrs. Claus’ or Santa & Mrs. Santa’.  They are to be given out to nursing home veterans at a luncheon this week.  As I walked through the store, I found the cards with a sale sign to buy one box get the other box fifty percent off. 

 I wondered about this sale so early in the month.  Pondering this reason for such a sale before the fifteenth of December, I have come to a conclusion.  It seems people are sending less and less Christmas cards or not sending any at all.  Social media is how many send holiday greetings to family, friends and acquaintances.  E-cards sent via email, text messages, Twitter and Facebook has become the way of keeping in touch during the holiday season.  With the hustle and bustle of our lives, creating one text, one email, one posting to Facebook we now can wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings via cyber space. 

I too have wished many a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations and words of condolence through social media; I still like to sit down, pen in hand, address book opened, Christmas music playing in the background and a cup of hot chocolate near and write out my cards.  Not only do I sign my name and my husband’s but I include a personal message to the receiver.

Until next time…..stores are having a sale on cards, why not pick up a box and return to the old fashion tradition of sending out to family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances.  Who knows, you may be bringing back an old tradition.  A card sent could mean a card received.  

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season to one and all
May you have a Merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year. 

Thoughts for the Season

Since after Halloween movies about Christmas and the holidays have been on television.  To date, I have probably seen everyone twice, some maybe three times.  Each movie has the happy ending that leaves the viewer with a feeling of  joy inside.  A few of the movies makes one reach for a hankie to wipe away the tears; a few had the viewer laughing and yet some movies makes one ponder and think about the magic of the season.

Since after Thanksgiving, I have been reading Christmas and holiday themed stories.  Like the movies, they leave the reader with a feeling of happiness inside.

We all know these movies and stories are a work of fiction.  Everyday life is REAL; there are ups and downs; peaks and valleys; highs and lows; sunny skies and stormy weather.  Well you get the drift.  

The holidays can be a time of stress for everyone.  There are many facing hardships; many illness; many are alone; many estranged from family members.  Many will just by-pass the holiday season all together.  They will see it as just another day and not think about what this season means.  Christmas time is the season of hope, goodwill, peace and forgiveness.  We need to think long and hard about the true meaning of Christmas.  It is not the fancy bows and shiny ribbons, the colorful wrapping paper, the gifts under a beautiful evergreen tree.  It is more than greeting cards sent and received; more than the rush to the stores for the perfect gift.  Christmas is a time to reflect upon, as it is said, ’the reason for the season’.  

Christmas is a season with a message, meaning and spirit.

The message of the season……LOVE
The meaning of the season….PEACE
And the spirit of the season…..JOY

Until next time…..best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.  Merry Christmas to one and all.

Memories of Christmas Past

Everyone has a favorite Christmas story or perhaps two.  One I recall was from my earliest childhood memories.  At the time I was three years old.  All I wanted for Christmas was a Betsy Westy Doll.   The doll was unique at the time as when you put a bottle in her mouth, the liquid would go right through her body and out as if she peed her pants.  My doll had brown hair and I think a red color dress.  I was so excited that Santa brought me such a doll.  At the time, I was living with my maternal grandparents.  On Christmas morning, I saw Betsy under the tree with other toys Santa brought, but all I could think about was this special doll.  I hurried to feed her and low and behold she had wet her underpants.  Santa brought extra pairs for Betsy so I had no fear of her going without panties.  That morning, I was headed to church with my aunt and uncle.  My Sunday school class was to sing “Away in a Manger” at the church service.  Like all the other girls, I had brought my new doll to church with me.  It was time for our class to head up to sing, I handed my uncle Betsy and the bottle informing him it was time for her to be fed.  Being such the great guy he was, my uncle put the bottle of liquid into Betsy’s mouth; true to form, she peed out the liquid all over the new blue suit he wore.  My uncle let out a soft chuckle and others sitting around him seeing the scene, also chuckled. 

My class sang their song; I returned to my seat in the pew only to see the wet spot on my uncle’s suit coat.  All he said to me was “Betsy is full but she needs an underpants change when we get back home.”  

When you think about fond memories of the holidays, it is not the gifts that are under the tree, what is left in your stocking or how much food you consume or egg nog you drink, it is an unexpected act of goodwill.  My uncle’s act of feeding my doll because I asked, was such a sweet gesture.  In years to come, I came to realize this one little thing made that Christmas a wonderful memory.

During this time of year, we all should try to do an act or two of kindness for another.  Calling an elderly relative who lives out of town, just to say hello and how are you; asking a single parent friend or co-worker if you can do something such as watch their child or children so they can do some Christmas shopping; volunteering at a local soup kitchen; donating toys to a local toy drive; donating to a homeless shelter.  It is not how much you spend, the amount of time spent doing it, but the fact you are doing an act of goodwill and kindness.

Until next time….take a few moments from your busy holiday schedule with a cup of  hot chocolate, a glass of egg nog or some hot cider and remember a wonderful memory of a Christmas past.   

'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.

Time Change, Halloween and Costumes

Two days to Candy Corn Day
 Three days to Halloween

This weekend we will turn the clocks back an hour.  The old saying goes ‘spring ahead, fall back’.  My husband kidded me and said he will be getting up at 4:00 a.m. instead of 5:00 a.m.  until he gets use to the change.  Sure this was just a joke on his part or so I hope.  I have no problem with the fall time change, but in the spring it takes me at least a week to adjust.  

With this being Halloween week, I have come to the conclusion, that like when a full moon approaches, people seem to be going a tad crazy.  The past few days, the drivers on the road just are a bit more reckless.  Is there something in the air that is making them this way?  It not only were those driving motor vehicles but those on bikes were just as bad; yesterday I almost got run over by a man in a golf cart when I was walking to my car from the post office.

Halloween falling on a weekend may be a problem.  Trick-or-treaters will be out in full force all day long into the night.  I recall as a kid going out Saturday in the afternoon, returning home for supper then going back out till at least 8:00 pm.  This means one thing, make sure you have a supply of treats on hand.

As I look forward to the day of dressing up in a costume, I have yet decided what to wear.  Looks like tomorrow I will be searching my closet to pull something together that can pass for going out to a party and wear to the store at the same time.  Not like I have not gone into stores dressed at Christmas time in my Ms. Santa outfit; and no I do not plan to be Ms. Santa for Halloween.  My husband already has his outfit planned, in fact he planned his attire in June.  

A few web sites have been helpful in providing insight to costumes from items from the closet.  All one needs is a good imagination and there you have it a costume to wear on October 31st.  I remember a few years ago, I pulled together a costume in a matter of a few hours, a fifties female outfit.  I now use that outfit for when there is a Fifties Night at one of the veterans clubs.  

Whatever you decide, costume or no costume, Halloween is not just for kids anymore.  More and more adults get into the fun of dressing up, if only to pass out treats at home.  

Until next time…..remember to have fun….have lots of treats and if there are left over the next day…I am sure someone will gladly take them off your hands.




                   WITCHY NIGHT OUT
                      ©Scottie-ann Murphy

Witches fly overhead in the starry moonlit sky 
Driving brooms that are sturdy and thick
Many don’t like automatic models
They prefer to drive a stick

Crackling loudly as they land on the street 
Park their ride at the curb near the meter 
The enchantresses hurry inside to the candle lit club
Where they will encounter night boogie fever

Drinking a cauldron brew colored deep blood red 
Made with cranberries, frogs and eyes from newts
The band will play a slow haunting melody
As the sorceresses dance with monstrous brutes

The patrons are having a wonderful evening
At the place called “The Frank-n-Stein Dive”
Witches always celebrate quite responsibly
And they never drink and then drive