Countdown To Christmas!!

[flat-top]

Growing up, my dad and mom set the first Saturday in December as the day for going out and getting the tree. I tried to follow that tradition and was successful for a few years into marriage. Then Mrs. Hood kept surreptitiously moving it up a day or two until this year we put the (artificial) tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I intend to exercise restraint and not listen to Christmas music or Christmas old time radio shows until December 1st. Then, I load up the mp3 player with about forty-plus hours of music and radio.

Wally, do you have any links to these radio shows or are they mp3s that you have?

 

[Formeruser012523]

I'm a little nervous about our new kitty this year with the tree, too. He LOVES to climb things and play with anything and everything. Unfortunately, I don't think the water is going to work - he LOVES water. He'll get in the shower with you, lay in the sink, knock over any glasses that have water, and actually play in it.

That's SO rare!! Wish my cat had been so loving of water. All these years would have proved much cleaner.

 

[AmateisGal]

That's SO rare!! Wish my cat had been so loving of water. All these years would have proved much cleaner.

What's really scary is that he enjoys baths! lol

 

[AmateisGal]

Wally, do you have any links to these radio shows or are they mp3s that you have?

flat-top - check out this link. He has lots and lots of Christmas shows, music, etc. from the Golden Era of radio. There are a bunch on the home page today.

http://www.otrcat.com/

 

[flat-top]

flat-top - check out this link. He has lots and lots of Christmas shows, music, etc. from the Golden Era of radio. There are a bunch on the home page today.

http://www.otrcat.com/

Thanks!!!....but anything for free....?

 

[AmateisGal]

Try this one (though fair warning - the bright green background on the web page may temporarily blind you!).

http://www.otr.com/christmas_radio.html

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

Hey Flat-top, try these two links:

http://tunein.com/radio/Old-Time-Radio-Christmas-s134458/
http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/christmas-old-time-radio-shows.php

 

[flat-top]

GREAT links ladies!!! THANK YOU!!

 

[Miss Golightly]

Our first Christmas decoration went up today - a Hello Kitty Advent Calendar:

My daughter loves "Kitty" and anything with "Kitty" on it - I think so far I have provided the Sanrio Corporation with their Christmas bonuses.....

 

[Miss sofia]

Are you sure it's just the little Miss who likes Hello Kitty?

We have a wooden advent calendar, which i have had for years and i have yet to buy my son his own one, which takes pride of place in his bedroom. Thanks for reminding me Miss G!

 

[amador]

Interesting thing about Christmas. We celebrate the possibility of spiritual salvation by going shopping. Life by cuting down a young tree and fixing it up to make it look more alive. And family by having gatherings where old hurts are aired.
In the end it is about the children isn't it. I try to supress my cynical side for the kids, my hidden gift of optimism so that they will at least be nastolgic about the dead of winter when they are adluts.

I need another drink, things are starting to clear up.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Uh..not for me. I celebrate the possibility of the gift of salvation...by giving my gifts also out of love. I either must go shopping for them..or make them. I do both. We always have an artificial tree made up to give a soft glow, sparkle and warmth of special celebration. A family gathering to laugh,kid,love and join each other in the joy of all being together from near and far. For me it is not only about the excitement of the children...but also pleasant surprises for the grown up children as well.
Anyone can sit around like sourpusses with disdain...but why not turn a frown upside down. A smile,and making the best of how the holiday is celebrated,can be contagious. Christmas spirit comes from the same place as those cynical doldrums. One choice is hard and cold..the other is really heartwarming and truely loving. Life is short...even Family is fleeting...no matter what kind or quality it may be.
HD

 

[Formeruser012523]

:clap:

 

[amador]

Don't get me wrong HD, its just my online persona. Christmas Spirit is vital to sustain us with peace and joy. So I enjoy Peace and Love at this time. My cynical side only serves to remind me of the alternative. Thank you.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I realised a long time ago that no family...or relationship,for that matter,is ever perfect. Probably never will be. So I chose(yes..chose)to accept what I do have. Rather than dwell on past hurts..disappointments...or grudges..I would rather forgive. Out of the blue. Make anew on my part. The only way things were settled was by ME finally letting them go. By doing this..some of my family and I have developed special new relationships since MY hurt and bitterness was tossed away. My family is my family..warts and all. They grow older as I grow older. Sadly some are now only memories. On Christmas I am not only acknowledging the great gift of the main reason for the season....but the personal gifts that I have been given along the way. Many things in life have caused them(and me) to never reach near perfection..but a Family is what it is. I can and will offer a spirit of a smile..arm around shoulders..and honest forgiveness in my eyes. Of course the word for all that is 'love'. We do all need it..and deserve it. That is especially Christmas.

 

[PoohBang]

boy this thread is a downer. I thought it was about what you were going to do and traditions. Sounds more like last call on a Thursday night.

 

[rue]

lol

Tell us what you do then

 

[HoosierDaddy]

..Well this will probably make you feel more 'down'...but just maybe it will make others feel a sense of appreciation. If not...forgive me.

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.' The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.' They kissed .........and the daughter left.

The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?' 'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.. 'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?' He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone...' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them..'

Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting. I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye. He then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE....

To all my friends and loved ones- I WISH YOU ENOUGH

 

[PoohBang]

lol

Tell us what you do then

well I dwell about my losses and pains, things said, things not said, things almost said...

or...

I spend the day with my family. We have a real tree. Decorate it with new and vintage ornaments from all over. We have a home cooked meal. Exchange presents. Call family that's now with us. Usually go for a walk and take the dogs. Maybe watch a christmas themed film. Perhaps a home cooked cake or pie. A few cups of eggnog with dark rum.

Thanks pretty much what I do.

 

[amador]

Most Excellent HD. Life without great passion and desire is not a life. We need sentiment and emotion, for good or bad, bonds between us that endure all. Those around us that elicit this are to be cherished. That is why we are sharing this thread, thank you rue.