Christmas

ItchieBitchie says--When it gets close to Christmas, I can always tell it on SusieQ; she gets twitchy!  SusieQ says--You are pretty harsh but probably pretty accurate!  Christmas rattles noisily around in my brain throughout the season.  SusieQ hears a lot of noises let me tell ya!  She will have to decide which noise she is going to listen toooooo!  You can hear what every you want folks.  Saturday question--What do you want to hear?  What do you hear?

MissPerfect says--In my later years (i.e. retirement years in AZ) I came to embrace the exciting freedom of being who I really am. I no longer have any need to stand out, achieve or be better than anyone else. Now is the time to take off my masks, be vulnerable, and be who I am.  Just be an ordinary Joe (i.e. common Joe).  Not toooo many self-righteous folks down here in the Valley (i.e. look how good I am)!  Folks down here in the Valley go swimming, lay by the pool, play golf, bike, play pickle ball, hike, walk, play all sorts of  games etc.  They don't care what they look like, or how good they are.  They just don't care anymore. That is how maybe we should celebrate Christmas.  Don't let others intimidate us.  What do you think?  But yagottakeepmovin'movin'movin-- Physical INACTIVITY is now the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. We gotta move it, move it.  Soooo throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch!  

Joesixpack says--To be honest with you, I feel like a new born baby down here in AZ.  Haven't felt this way for a long time.  I have no hair, no teeth and I wet my pants.

ItchieBitchie says--This Christmas devote plenty of time to those who sincerely need your help, but again, keep things in priority, see about your family first.  When was the last time you thanked your parents or your children?  Be careful that we don't spend tooooo much time on the grouches and tooooo little on the blessings.  Maybe it's time to reevaluate our mission and what is important to us.  Maybe!

Suggestion for a gift!  Give someone who maybe you consider to be in the margins of society, your full attention, your listening ear, an unglazed eye, a willingness to hear the uncomfortable stories of those who live uncomfortable lives.  Just give them some attention soooooo they can share to someone who will listen.  Don't trump their stories, don't talk but just listen.  Give them your time.  It might be your "surprise of Christmas" and it might be somebody's "surprise of Christmas".  Soooo what do you think?  Now that is a gift folks.

LuckieEddie has a nose for Christmas (i.e. dreams in full color).  He would like it to be Christmas all year.  Well isn't it?  DuaneTheWorm thinks Christmas makes him a big shot alright!  Do folks like folks who think they are big shots?  I had a new gal as a pickle ball partner the other morning.  She was telling me that she works out. Soooo do you work out every morning?  Depends on how much wine I drink the night before.  Soooo it is with Christmas--Our spirit depends on our attitude affected by a lot of stuff!  Such is life.

LuckieEddie says--Do you like to give gifts to folks who you like better than the folks you don't care for as much?  SusieQ says--I think everyone does LuckieEddie. 

Joesixpack asks--If you genuinely believe something deep down in your soul without question or hesitation does that make it true?  Like there is a Santa Claus!  I think most folks would say no.  When we were in Israel, our guide told us that every year folks come to Jerusalem and say they were "the returning Messiah"--they weren't but just thought sooooo!  Hindus sincerely believe that both human and animal spirits will reincarnate and return to earth many times in various life forms.  A friend when traveling on business in India saw a guy holding an umbrella over a cow's head while he stood without one in the blazing sun.  Buddhists sincerely believe that a desire for existence perpetuates a cycle of successive reincarnations.  Certain Muslim males sincerely believe that by sacrificing themselves to kill others, they'll gain possession of seventy-two sexually anxious, virgin females in paradise.  Sooooo who is right?  They all believe those things with sincerity (i.e. with all their heart).  They don't think they are wrong.  Are they right or is it just human imagination?  Webster defines truth as "that which accords with reality."  erv believes--God places a high premium on truth and reality.  Jesus identifies Himself as the personification of truth.  "I am the way, the truth and the life," He affirms.  "No one comes to the Father except through Me".  Merry Christmas folks.

Wisdom!  I have discovered that a meaningful life comes not in rushing from one place to another but in committing to life where we find ourselves. Stability denotes perseverance with patience. A high school friend from good old Danube, MN who was visiting his 93 year old mother here in Mesa contacted me and we got together.  He is a professional counselor.  He told me that there is a difference between being lonely and being alone.  Folks who can't be alone, probably have a deficiency.  Being alone is ok.  He also said that change (i.e. good and bad) can cause depression in folks.  He also said--Attitude is very important.  He also said--Humility is the key to a victorious life.  SeniorWildPeteFromMN who lives down the street here in AZ says--Part of me would love to go back to work.  The rest of me is shouting "idiot", enjoy retirement in the Valley! SeniorCrazyDaveFromTheValley says--"I'm so depressed and I can't get any dates," the 300-pound senior man told his minister. "I've tried everything to lose weight.""I think I can help," said the minister. "Be dressed and ready to go tomorrow at 8 a.m." Next morning, a beautiful woman in a skintight exercise suit knocked on the man's door. "If you can catch me, you can have me," she said, as she took off. He huffed and puffed after her. This routine went on every day for the next five months. The man lost 115 pounds and felt confident that he would catch the woman the next day. That morning he whipped open his front door and found a 300-pound seniorWomanFromTheValley in a jogging suit waiting for him. "The minister said to tell you," she began, "that if I can catch you, I can have you."

Jesus isn't part of the story, He is the story folks!  I read this while eating my oatmeal with a dried cherries on it (i.e. a suggestion of my friend Stewart).  We should think of Christmas like the people in Mark 2 who "were amazed and glorified God, saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'"  Maybe, just maybe some of you have never felt the presence of God and don't think you will ever.  Now that could be.  Sooooo Christmas has no hope.  It's just another holiday to get off work.  Tooo eat and be merry. My musings about Christmas are just musings in the dark.  You are just on autopilot.  Your soul is just frozen tundra.  If that is you, I say--God, sic 'em!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Find little ways to make part of your day, like a day off!