My folks ALWAYS-and STILL do to this day:
make their home look like something
even the most heart-sick Cristmas
romantic could not begin, to imagine.

There is not one spot in the home that did not
have lights or candles or holly or ribbon or angels
or Santa's or Nativity or...well, if it
can be made warm and beautiful for Christmas
they have it out.

They started that when I was born in 1959,
and in 2005, they have NEVER changed that.

But the world has changed, and
so have people...there is no 'spirit'
to make the warmth go beyond what eyes only see.

You can be sued for having a Santa up,
and "God Help You" if it's a Cross.

Yes folks, it IS the celebration of
Christ's coming into the world for our
salvation....but he wants us to
enjoy the whole warm stuff that leads up
to that too!

And now we have to put up with fundamentalist
denominations that want to take their
terminal underwear weddgies out on the rest
of us, and wail to the fact that we are
enjoying the fullness of what remains still
left to us of all the tinsel and glitter
of the season. Somewhere they forgot
that Christ loves to see us happy and cheerful,
for it's own sake and ours!

So, to all those who want to BURN
and tear down the holiday fluff, let me say this:

We DO know what Christmas is about,
you morons!

Before the super-malls destroyed the downtowns,
they looked like this. All the store owners
did frost flakes and fake snow and
full Christmas type window displays, and the
stores were decorated, inside and out, with care!
I was fortunate enough to have the years
of my childhood like this, and to young
eyes, it was really something...lovely.

I'm still fortunate in that, the
town I live in still has a
"Christmas Stroll" night in December.

All the downtown shops open
they block off the whole Main street
and the street looks MUCH like this!

And the shops set up hot cider and coffee spots,
free snacks and treats and cookies,
Music is played all up and down the looooong
Main street, Horse trolly and buggy rides,
live nativity, and period costume folks
to sing carols!

Out door (and often in door)
lights were General Electric brand
or similar and were about this size.
The soft illuminated glow they gave
off in the home, and even *more outside
with a snow covered yard was unreal.
Beautiful, like you never see anymore.
The whole block 'glowed' with this
almost dream-like effect :)

If you are very lucky, you may still
be able to find the old bubble
ligts in some stores.

Look around this next Christmas
when you visit Wal-Mart......
is there not an element of charm here
that you don't see anymore?

The albums below are ones I grew
up listening to, and would you believe
I still have the LP's :)

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,

From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,

If the Fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

God Bless us all~

- all done -