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Merry Christmas to all of us
2008-12-25
All the baking is done. The tree is up and it's decorated. The train garden is up and running. The house is clean. Santa Claus has been and gone.

Gloria and I had dinner on Christmas Eve with Faye and Kenny, my inlaws, their son Ken, Jr., and his wife Nikki, and her father Nick and Nick's significant other, Jane. Faye made her traditional Christmas lasagna, and I ate with my traditional Christmas gusto, to vow when it was over that I'd never eat again -- that I'd consumed enough to last me for the rest of my life.

Today will be my 61st Christmas day. I can remember lots of them, if not most of them, though the Christmases of my youth are somehow the most vivid.

Tomorrow we'll visit the kids and we'll play with the grandkids: Daniel and Aiden and Lily, Sporky if the visitation schedule's right, and maybe even Molly if her Mom's not in her usual snit.

We'll see our son David and his wife Erica in their new house and I'll try not to stare too intently at Erica's belly, from whence little Sophia will join us in a couple weeks.

Some time this week I'll try and visit my sister in Pennsylvania, where I'll eat too much ravioli. We'll talk about people we knew when we were young, many of whom I haven't thought about in years, some of whom I've totally forgotten. My wife, who shared none of that, will be bored to tears but she'll try to make polite conversation.

I have a lovely family, a family with its share of simultaneous affection, contention and strife, a family with its own triumphs and failures and some few tragedies. We're not interchangable with any other family, but at the same time we're not all that different.

That similarity is what forms our common bond. It expresses itself most of the time as a mere awareness of our neighbors, but at this special time of year our commonalty ripens into active good will, and the good will manifests itself as something akin to, probably a distinct form of, love for our fellow man (and woman, naturally).

I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, and I hope that for each of us this season will be satisfying and fulfilling, bringing joy and contentment. I hope this Christmas is one that we'll remember fondly for many years to come.
Posted by:Fred

#46  Merry Christmas, Rantburg.
Posted by: Pappy   2008-12-25 22:52  

#45  Angleton9, your day was well spent and your missive very touching. Thank you for both. May all your Christmases be merry and may your message go forth to many more.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800   2008-12-25 22:51  

#44  A merry christmas to all!

However, this year, I was strangely moved by the core narrative of Chanukah.

I wonder why.
Posted by: ptah   2008-12-25 22:10  

#43  Thank you, Fred, for your great site, and a very Merry Christmas to all Rantburgers across the world, and some in several worlds, like .5mt, LOL!

We enjoyed a quiet Christmas Eve dinner with family, and some migrant King Crab legs that happened to wander by. A toast to all those who serve, and especially those in foreign climes, with danger, while we celebrate this day in safety.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-12-25 21:37  

#42  Merry Christmas to all here at the Burg, especially Fred and all the mods, Old Patriot, Alaska Paul, JFM, and all the rest. I lurk but I learn from all of you. Merry Christmas and God Bless all of you!
Posted by: djh_usmc   2008-12-25 19:59  

#41   Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a wonderful Diwala to one and all here on the 'burg, most of all to our gracious host, Fred and the tireless work of the mods.
Jack and Mary Ann Bross
Posted by: Jack Bross   2008-12-25 18:12  

#40  Merry Christmas to all!
Posted by: 49 Pan   2008-12-25 16:23  

#39  Merry Christmas Fred and all Rantburgers.
Posted by: Plastic Snoopy   2008-12-25 16:06  

#38  Another year passes and my Christmas was a great reminder of how we should take time to be with family and friends more often.
Cheers from down under,
Classer
Posted by: Classer   2008-12-25 15:57  

#37  Merry Christmas, Rantburgers and lurkers.

Probably won't read much Rantburg today but will go outside, do something physical, then go to Christmas dinner with the in-laws. Reading all of these greetings is heartwarming. But I have this malicious desire to print out greeting #35 and read it to the in-laws.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2008-12-25 14:03  

#36  Merry Christmas from California!
Angleton9 - I felt that, thanks. As for the rest of us, hold on tight and take your pleasures where you can. The new year may be bumpy, but stick to your loved ones and all will be well.

Happy New Year
Posted by: Rob06   2008-12-25 13:38  

#35  To my Democrat friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of other, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.


To my Republican friends:
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOD BLESS , AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Posted by: Abu do you love   2008-12-25 13:22  

#34  Happy holidays to all, and peace to men of good will!
Posted by: Darrell   2008-12-25 12:51  

#33  Happy Festivus!
Posted by: Mike N.   2008-12-25 12:43  

#32  Hej, OP, as a moderately regular lurker, I guess all my boxes are ticked. To you and yours, and all R'burgers everywhere, a Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2008-12-25 12:41  

#31  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and felicitous winter festival and feast to all those not fitting in the first two categories!
Posted by: Jonathan   2008-12-25 12:21  

#30  Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a wonderful Diwala to one and all here on the 'burg, most of all to our gracious host, Fred.

(Would love to stay, but gotta keep the mutt from eating the popcorn offa the tree and can't turn my back on the Tsarevich for a minute...)
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2008-12-25 12:06  

#29  Merry Christmas to All..
Posted by: 3dc   2008-12-25 11:32  

#28  Merry Christmas to you Fred, your personal family, and your wider Rantburg family. Pray that we all survive 2009 with the challenging economy and most especially the newly abundant gifts of global warming.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700   2008-12-25 10:53  

#27  Just got word yesterday that a high school classmate and very good friend of mine is now cancer-free, after a year-long bout with the disease. This is, indeed, a very Merry Christmas!

It's still very early on Christmas Morning for us sluggards here in Colorado. The tree is decorated, the packages piled underneath, and a little 3-year-old is just waiting to tear into them. The other three of our children will be here in an hour or so, and things will get lively. Until then, here's wishing all Rantburgers, whether moderators, regulars, or lurkers, a very Merry Christmas, joyous Hannakuh, or your holiday of preference.

Mike, Jean, & Timothy Weatherford
Posted by: Old Patriot   2008-12-25 10:47  

#26  Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah, my fellow Rantburgundians!

Peace be upon you all, at least for this day.

Then back to the real world. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2008-12-25 10:47  

#25  They tell me it's even Christmas in Kentucky today.
Guess I'll go with the flow.
Merry Christmas, ALL!
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-12-25 10:23  

#24  Is way too early... but Ima killed a loptop this moring.. so Ima called down MOAB, Napalm and Q-ships on all of us.

Thank you ABeee in advancer...

Off to work on deh cookie
Posted by: Thomas Woof   2008-12-25 10:07  

#23  Merry Christmas and Happy Chanuka to all our RBers!
Posted by: Frank G   2008-12-25 09:53  

#22  Merry Christmas from Texas, y'all. I've been working a lot in meatspace, too - marketing the Adelsverein Trilogy, and plotting all sorts of local signing events. Taking a break from it today though - opening presents, eating brunch of egg-nog french toast and sausages glazed with spicy apricot mustard sauce... and mimosas... oh where was I?

Merry Christmas, and a happy new year to all of Rantburg and to all Rantburgundians!
Posted by: Sgt. Mom   2008-12-25 09:52  

#21  Merry Christmas, All. We woke up to clear, albeit somewhat cold, skies he at the Deacon Blues Pork Palace, Potables Parlour, and Home for Wayward Animals and Women. It's nice to see the sun. Youngest Daughter and Future Son-inLaw will be here around noon and Oldest and her herd will be here a bit later. Grandkids is fun.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2008-12-25 09:35  

#20  Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to all!

My Gawd, another year past. How the time flies ...
Posted by: Steve White   2008-12-25 09:29  

#19  I am home alone for two weeks and I am touched by the affection and generosity of my friends and neighbors in our building here- yet more evidence of
the warm hearts and sweet natures of the American people, at least the New York variety.
Merry Christmas to all at the 'Burg, still the best place on the Web.
Posted by: Grunter   2008-12-25 09:28  

#18  A Very Merry Christmas! And to everyone else, may your spring rolls be extra crispy today.
Posted by: DMFD   2008-12-25 08:58  

#17  22 Santa Clauses brought Notre Dame its first bowl victory in something like 9 tries, proving, despite all the crappy news this is the most special Christmas in many, many years.

Merry Christmas, ya'll from Oklahoma,and Happy Hannukah to our Jewish friends and allies.
Posted by: badanov   2008-12-25 08:43  

#16  Christmas blessings and a long cheery life to Fred and all the Burgers.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-12-25 08:29  

#15  Merry Christmas everyone and thank you, Fred.
Posted by: Parabellum   2008-12-25 08:26  

#14  Merry Christmas everyone!
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-12-25 08:21  

#13  Family. We all have one. And whether its yours and mine can be forgotten in that, since like laughter and hope and being human they belong to us all. Just to really see another human face is all it takes.

The details vary, but the hearts do not.

I have a long very white beard and I have several custom made red suits carefully assembled and crafted over time ( there is nothing cheesey about how I look ). I cant do the whole world, but I did eleven families last night in a big circle across several counties partly in the rain. I started at sundown and finished about ten at night which was bedtime for the the last two families of children,I read some bedtime stories and gave out a lot of gifts, to adults and children. My signal ( and last photo op) was to ask, "Can Santa have a glass of milk ?" And the grandparents or parents could take a picture of the children pouring me a glass in front of the fridge...and then I was gone.

People see what they want to see, but this man they can see with their eyes and (for a time) they believe.And for that boy of ten who thinks to embarrass Santa and break the illusion with a question which he has...I tell him," When you were this high ( a hand on my knee ) you believed, but when you were this high ( a hand on his head)you doubted, now when you are this high (a hand on my own old head) you BECOME. Someone has to step forward, boy, someone has to serve for all the others...do you UNDERSTAND?"

And most boys have the light go on in their eyes and mind and they do understand.The Father is hidden in every man, even in ten year old boys and waiting to come forward

And the littler brothers and sisters ( who have no hesitant doubts) fly into your arms sometimes..and that's a different understanding. The parents see their friend, the man they know..or think they know.

The love is the same no matter what they see.
Posted by: Angleton9   2008-12-25 08:13  

#12  Merry Christmas to all Rantburgers!
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800   2008-12-25 07:59  

#11  Merry Christmas to all
Posted by: john frum   2008-12-25 07:33  

#10  Merry Christmas to our Christian Rantburgers!

And Happy Chanukah to TW and Seafarious, gr(0)mgoru and our other Jewish Rantburgers and a light-filled Diwala to our Hindu friends.
Posted by: lotp   2008-12-25 07:05  

#9  Merry Christmas and a super Saturnalia!
Posted by: Dr. Bright Pebbles   2008-12-25 06:22  

#8  Leaving now to do a quick but fun early morning duck hunt, followed by a great day with family - venison breakfast sausage and eggs and oatmeal at home, then to other family's house where there will be oysters, shrimp and other tasties as appetizers, followed by delectable tenderloin of beef, and the best food group, pies.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and God bless.
Posted by: no mo uro   2008-12-25 05:40  

#7  And a Happy Hannukah, however much you celebrate it or spell it, to you and your brethren.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-12-25 05:28  

#6  This mod just returned for a wonderful x-mas evening of food, drink, and friendship. As an American (non-practicing) Jew, I'd like to wish all my Christian friends a very Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2008-12-25 04:20  

#5  Merry Christmas to all.
Posted by: Adriane   2008-12-25 04:16  

#4  [On this spot at 04:12, Arotroria had a vowel movement. Rantburg software has cleaned and disinfected the site of the accident. Have a nice day.]
Posted by: Arotroria   2008-12-25 04:12  

#3  I had fresh Brownies and cookies, shrimp, pasta, sausage, chicken soup, and Bing Crosby.

Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Grolush Darling of the Hatfields3195   2008-12-25 03:12  

#2  Dear Fred and fellow netizens of Rantburg,

Gloria is more than welcome to come shopping with me if the ravioli and reminiscing get too tedious. She can even bring up to two grandkiddies, the exception being Aiden (I've heard the stories).

Thanks for reminding us that we all still have our bricks-and-mortar lives to live, with real friends, real relatives waiting to annoy, appall, and astound us.

I was thinking the other day about the Peoples' Republic of China, where the logical extrapolation of the One Child policy is a "nation" of individuals with no sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, or cousins. How is a cohesive society even remotely possible under those circumstances?

Society, and verily, even Civilization itself requires constant work, constant vigilance, and constant nourishment. I hope the whole Rantburg community makes the time to connect/reconnect with the people important to them, and strengthen the bonds that bind us together as a People and as a Nation.

Merry Christmas and wishing you a super New Year,

Emily

And PS - I know I've not been around much lately and I miss you all, but my work life has taken an interesting turn and so has my personal life. Lets just say I've been working on strengthening some of those those meatspace bonds. :)
Posted by: Seafarious   2008-12-25 02:39  

#1  Reading your affecting essay will be one of the things that I'll remember fondly from this Christmas.

Thanks, Fred - for everything.
Posted by: ryuge   2008-12-25 01:46  

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