I think I've written Merry Christmas and said it more times this season than I have ever in my whole life. I always took that little phrase somewhat for granted, until it was obvious this year that most retailers were down playing the Christmas decorations and instructing employees to say Happy Holidays, or, in some cases, dictating that they not say anything at all!
"Then peal the bells more loud and clear, God is not dead, nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with Peace on Earth, Good Will toward men.""
So, to you and your family I wish you all a Christ filled Christmas!!!Labels: Christ, Christmas, Christmas decorations
Today is December 7th. I wonder to how many people that means anything?? In case you're one of the ones who doesn't know what it represents, it's the day of the Pearl Harbor bombing during World War II. We've only had a few such dates that have rung out across the ages - Remember the Maine - Remember the Alamo - 9/11... Do YOU know what all of them mean? Do YOU commemorate them??
Personally, I'm old enough to commemorate December 7th, and obviously 9/11. I don't have any trouble knowing the history of the Alamo, because I grew up to the Davy Crockett movies and TV shows. I remember the situation with the Maine during the Spanish American war, because historians suggest that the whole thing was "blown" out of proportion to drum up a war, so two rival newspapers could increase their circulation!
It's so sad to think that such defining moments in history lose their importance to most people over time. I pray that the citizens of the United States will remember fallen heroes from past battles and value their history. If we don't learn from the past, we are destined to repeat it!!Labels: citizenship, Dec. 7th, history, Pearl Harbor, The Alamo, The Maine
Here's a great big THANK YOU to all those who have chosen to serve their country in the military. And I'd also like to thank all those family members, who are left behind to deal with everyday life while they are missing their loved ones, for your sacrifice. There's no possible way that I can imagine what you go through each day.
But my prayers and thoughts on this Veteran's Day go out most emphatically to those of you whose family members paid the ultimate measure of devotion to their country, their lives. We are free because of them, and no amount of thank you's can be enough.
Since they sacrificed so much, I pray that their blood will not have been spilled in vain. I pray that our President will give our troops the support they need ... or bring them home.
AmenLabels: military, Veteran's Day
OK, I know I'm old, and I realize things change over time. But I'm so sorry to see that one of the old ways that has been ignored by with new generations is plain good manners.
I watched a young man push his way through an exit door at a store the other day and slap the closing door in the face of an older woman coming behind him. Obviously, it never occurred to him to hold the door for the split second it would have taken to glance and see if anyone was behind him, old or young.
It's certainly evident every time you walk down a busy street. People used to automatically flow around oncoming "traffic". Now they barrel ahead and expect you to get out of their way.
And speaking of traffic ... well, the lack of manners behind the wheel is so rampant that we have invented a new phrase - road rage.
I could go on and on, but I do want to relate something I saw yesterday that leaves a glimmer of hope for this lost art yet. I watched a young mother with her 8 or 10 year old son going into a service station. When she reached the door the mom did not do what most would have done. She did not reach for the door. Rather, there was a barely perceptible pause at the door, and then her son opened the door for her. I wanted to get out of the car and go running to her to thank her for teaching her son how to be a gentleman!!
I know my own sweet hubby still goes around to my side of the car to help me get in and out. He helps me put on or take off my jacket. He walks on the street side of us on the sidewalk. He opens doors for me. And I could go on and on. He makes me feel special!! And how much time does it take him?? None, really. But it speaks volumes about the man that he is.
So I applaud this mom for teaching her son to use good manners in this day and time.Labels: manners, nostalgia, traditions
FOUND - INFORMATION about POSSIBLE JEWEL TEA COMPANY Premium TEA POT
A collector named Dottie was nice enough to let us know that Joan's tea pot was probably made around 1900 and would be worth about $150, if it's in good condition.
Joan writes:I have a brown ceramic tea pot with , I think, pewter trim. I thought my grandmother got it as a premium from the Jewel Tea Co.
The tea pot stands about 6 1/2 inches tall. It has a rather ornate pewter spout, with attached lid and handle. It is chocolate brown with speckles in it. On the bottom it is stamped "Manning Quality Bowman, Meriden,Conn.08273".
I had another one, which was slightly large, probably about 7 1/2 inches tall. I took it to an antique shop on consignment, and it went out of business, and I never saw it again.
Any info would be appreciated.
If you can help Joan with more information about her teapot, please Contact Us or Comment below, using POST CODE #020209-1 in your comment.Labels: childhood memories, Family Memories, identifying antiques, Jewel Tea Co., Premiums, vintage
It seems like everywhere I turn I read or hear that so and so is racist, because of something they said or did. It's been leveled against so many that it reminds me of the Senator Joseph McCarthy's hearings in the 50's, which I remember very well. We were in the middle of the Cold War, and calling someone a Communist was a much bigger deal then than it probably is today. Hundreds (maybe thousands - I couldn't find an actual number) of people were being labeled as Communists and being threatened into naming their friends as Communists. Lists existed of people in politics, in government, and in the entertainment industry.
This quote is from the Wikipedia article about McCarthy.
Ultimately, McCarthy's tactics and his inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the United States Senate. The term "McCarthyism," coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was soon applied to similar anti-communist pursuits. Today the term is used more generally to describe demagogic, reckless, and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents.
It seems to me that this word "racist" is being used in exactly the way that McCarthy used the word "communist". Of course some of those people many years ago probably really were Communists, just as some of the people who are being labeled as Racist today probably really are. But the Senate eventually condemned his witch hunt, and I'm hoping that the current ready accusation of Racism will also be condemned with enough force and power behind it to actually stop this constant labeling.
I guess it's from having lived through the McCarthy era, as well as the Civil Rights Movement, that gives me a different perspective on the use of this word than many younger people have today.Labels: Communist, McCarthy, McCarthyism, Racist
This is mostly a repost of my attempt to remember one of those who died on September 11th. I have chosen to repost it each September 11th.
I intentionally did not name her 13 year old son in the original memorial, because I am particularly cautious about children and the internet. But he's 21 years old now, and I wanted to see if I could find out how he's doing. So far I have not found anything specific, but I did find this 2001 article:
As reported in The News last week, Norma Khan, manager of member services for the Plumb-ing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association (PHCC), was on board American Airlines Flight 77, which was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on September 11.
She left behind a 13-year-old son, Imran. At its annual conference, PHCC decided to establish a scholarship fund for Imran Khan.
We have no doubt of our industry’s continuing generosity.
# To contribute to the Imran Khan Fund, send checks to the PHCC Educational Foundation, 180 S. Washington St., Falls Church, VA 22046. Please make checks out to the PHCC Educational Foundation Scholar-ship Fund, with a notation that the donation is for the Imran Khan Fund.
So I'm hoping that means this young man has either graduated from college or is very close to it by now. His mom has made the whole 9-11 tragedy very close to home for me, and I wish him the very best life.
Norma Khan was on American Airlines, flight 77, on her way home to Reston, Virginia, on September 11, 2001, when that plane was hijacked and aimed at the Pentagon. She was 45 years old. She had worked as an organizer for fundraiser programs for non-profit organizations, and had been heavily involved in the Reston Multicultural Festival, held each September in Reston. She was a single parent with a 13 year old son, Imran.
Several people have left memorial comments on various 9/11 sites, praising Norma as a warm, loving woman who cared about people. She was a good mother to her son. There is no way that I can properly pay tribute to this lady that I did not know, but the many lives she touched during her lifetime are a living tribute to her that will last forever.
If you'd like to read more tributes written by bloggers to honor the 2,996 people who died tragically on 9/11, you'll find the whole list here. It's a shame, but not all the links are any good any more, including mine.Labels: Imran Khan, Norma Khan, September 11th
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