Happy Birthday, to my brother…
Page 10 of 21
Took down the Christmas tree this afternoon. We’d had our tree up since we cut it down (again this year at Rosemont) back on November 28th and it was still in terrific shape; it was taking water regularly, and had dropped hardly any needles at all. It felt a shame to have to undecorate it already, but with today being the final day of a long Winter break before back to work tomorrow, time will soon be consumed with other things so today was the day. Taking down the tree is always a sad event for Edith, and this year, I think more than most, she really would have liked the tree to stay up just a little bit longer.
I don’t know if there is an official name to today – the day one takes down their Christmas tree – but it is always time consuming. First, I have Edith and the kids leave the house so I can work without interruption. Second, I’m a bit obsessive compulsive by nature, and I have a need to carefully hand-wrap in tissue each and every glass ornament I remove from the tree before I place them into the styrofoam peanut ad bubble wrap lined plastic bin labeled “Glass Ornaments” that serves as the ornaments home in our attic for 11 months of the year. The less-fragile ornaments (yes, the plastic bin actually is labeled “Less Fragile Ornaments”) takes considerably less time, but the 17 piece ceramic Nativity set, hand made many years ago by Edith’s Aunt, also gets the tissue-bubble wrap treatment.
My job each year is to of course cut our tree (and to teach Will how to eventually take over the task,) tie it onto the roof of the car, bring it into the house and get it setup in the stand, and then proceed to string it with lights. For years, Edith and I disagreed on our tree lights: I like the simplicity of white lights, whereas she likes multi-colored lights, until one year, I came up with the idea to take a strand of white lights and a strand of colored lights and to string the tree with them intertwined. The effect is quite beautiful, and a keeps us both happy. Once the lights are strung and the star is placed on the top, however, I leave the ornaments to Edith and the children, only to return once the tree-decorating is complete. Our trees are among the most beautiful, each and every year.
We’ve accumulated a mix of ornaments over the years, and we’ve even got a “Retired Ornaments” bin for those ornaments that no longer find their way to the tree. I’ve got a couple of ceramic ornaments from my very first Christmas at Mellon back in ’85, hand made by Asst. Manager Sue Biddle in her home kiln; ornaments given to me by my UCTC/CoreStates tellers: Johanna Szillery, 20 delicate snowflake ornaments, hand-crocheted by her Hungarian college-professor mother; a little Fimo clay star from Lisa Erikson; a stained glass rose window ornament from Larissa Marone.
Edith and I both have inherited ornaments from our families – ornaments that hung on our childhood trees, or the trees of our grandparents; ornaments from our youth, ornaments we collected while we were dating (two favorites, a pickle and a red heart, we purchased at one of our trips to Winterthur’s Christmas House tour) and after we were married and started a family. This un-decorating time for me is my opportunity to take pause with each ornament and remember my brother who gave us those clip-on kitten and pinecone ornaments, or Edith’s friend who gifted us on our wedding with an enormous collection of glass ornaments to start out on our first tree, or William’s cinnamon and apple sauce ornaments he made in Precious Pandas now 7 years ago, or my sister and neice who gave us the TandyTake ornament, or the cowboy jalepeno ornament I bought on our vacation in the Outer Banks, or the 1996 WS Champion Yankees ornament I bought for Edith way back when (the one she says that when she received it, she knew that I really loved her) and of all of the many other special ornaments that remind me of the people and places and events that get lost in the routine of daily life. I think I agree with Edith – this year, I would have liked to hold onto the special memories held in the branches of our Christmas tree just a little bit longer.
I was thinking earlier today of what songs would be on my list of twelve Christmas songs, i.e. a dozen of the top Christmas songs that, for one reason or another, are my favorites. A few popped into my head immediately, others came to me a little later, but here they are, in no particular order:
- Light Of The Stable, Emmylou Harris, from Light Of The Stable. I first heard this beautiful song in the early 80’s, when I was taping some songs off the radio (WIOQ in Philadelphia) one evening. Simply a beautiful song.
- Christmas Morning, Lyle Lovett, from The Road to Ensenada. The penultimate song on one of my favorite of Lyle’s albums. Written during the breakup of his marriage with Julia Roberts, with the lyrics
We stood at the altar and you held my hand
And everyone watched as the preacher he asked
Will you take him and love him for bad and for good
You looked at me then you told him you would
But hey what did you mean by that
Perhaps I’m the fool you take me for
Not anything more
Now each Christmas morning I sit in my chair
And I look up at the angels that float through the air
Some look down upon me, some come to my side
And they tell me that Jesus he said to say hi - Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto, James Brown, from The Singles, Volume 5: 1967-1969. I first heard this on a Christmas mix tape given to me by my brother 20 years ago. A tight number by Soul Brother #1.
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Roy Wood and Wizzard, from Singles. Also thanks to my brother, probably closer to 36 years ago, this gem speaks volumes of the talented Roy Wood. This song more than holds up today.
- Christmas Wrapping, The Waitresses, from Christmas Wrapping EP. I’ve loved this song from the first time I heard it c. 1982. A fun Christmas story and a fun tune.
- Medley: Alfie, The Christmas Tree/Carol For A Christmas Tree/It’s In Everyone Of Us, John Denver and The Muppets, from A Christmas Together. This is from a television special that John Denver did with the Muppets back in the late 70’s. I remember watching it with my neice and sisters, and later bought the soundtrack on vinyl. We used to listen to it every year at Christmas, and it was always special – I’d love to see it released on DVD. Many years later, It’s In Everyone Of Us was used in the Tom Hanks movie, Big.
- Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming, Traditional. Another simply beautiful song, with extra special meaning for me. My then very pregnant wife and I attended evening Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception back on December 8, 2000 at St, Joseph’s. At that time, the music program at St. Joe’s was outstanding, and after communion two women sang this song a capella, the beauty of which brought us both to tears. It would be a few short hours later that we would receive the shock of our lives when my wife’s water broke – 7 weeks early – and later the next morning we we Blessed with the birth of our son.
- Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella/When Blossoms Flowered ‘Mid The Snows, Liz Story, from The Gift. One of my wife’s favorites, she plays this on her flute. I like the treatment that Liz Story gives on this, the opening track of the very first Christmas album I play every year.
- River, Joni Mitchell, from Blue. Again, first heard this while taping off Q102. Loved the song for years, and finally bought the CD sometime last year.
- Scrooge, Lord Buckley, from Jet Ride. Not really a song, but a hip recitation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Again, thanks to my brother, I can recite sections of this word-for-word because it too is played every year to kick-off the Christmas season.
“God bless Mr. Scrooge. He done did the turn about. He’s the Lord’s boy today.”
- Op. 71 – Divertissement: Coffee (Arab Dance), Tchaikovsky, from The Nutcracker. Actually, I would select the entire Nutcracker, but of course it is so much more than just one song. I used to take in the Pennsylvania Ballet’s Nucracker at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music every year – the employee association at Mellon used to offer great orchestra seats – and I was enticed every year by the solo performance of this Arab Dance, as I sat just a few rows off center stage. I would swear that the dancer was making eye contact, and dancing for me alone. I still find this particular piece, shall we say, arousing…
- The Hallelujah Chorus, The Roches, from Keep On Doing. Thanks again to WIOQ. Sure, there are many versions of the Hallelujah Chorus, most of them with full choir, but this a capella version by The Roches never ceases to amaze me in its simplicity.
There are many more songs that could appear on this list, and by no means do I attest that these are the best Christmas songs of all time, but if I had to listen to only these 12 Christmas songs, I’d be more than happy for a very long time.
I welcome your comments and your own lists!
Merry Christmas, from Our House to Yours, and Best Wishes for a very Happy New Year in 2010.
I received an email today, which is nothing unusual, I regularly receive plenty of email every day, and this time of the year I’m receiving many thought-provoking types of email, with well wishes for Christmas and the New Year, and thoughts of thankfulness for all with which we have been blessed. Often, I read through these types of emails rather quickly, if at all, as sentimental hogwash, and would never think of sending, let alone forwarding, such an email. The email I received today, however, caught my attention, and I felt it was worth sharing. It is reprinted below.
Today…I wish you a day of ordinary miracles…
A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t have to make yourself,
An unexpected phone call from an old friend,
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in…
The fastest line at the grocery store,
A good sing along song on the radio,
Your keys right where you look.I wish you a day of happiness and perfection… little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.
I wish you a day of peace, happiness and joy.
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. Send this phrase to the people you’ll never forget. It’s a short message to let them know that you’ll never forget them.
Take the time!
Wishing you the very best for 2010
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
Thanks to Roger S., took in my very first Philadelphia Eagles game, and watched as the Eagles squeaked out a 27-24 victory over the Redskins.
The weather was awesome, a warm (upper 50’s is not too bad for the end of November) and sunny 1:00 PM afternoon game, and Roger’s season tickets in the end zone are pretty darn good. The picture over there was taken on an Eagles scoring drive with my BlackBerry Storm – click on the picture to see it full size, the resolution is not too bad.) I’ve attended my share of Penn State games in Happy Valley, Rutgers games in Piscataway, Temple games at the Vet, and even some old Philadelphia Stars games out at U of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field, but have always enjoyed college football more than pro games. I love watching Big Ten schools like PSU, Ohio State and Michigan, and the excitement of the college game atmosphere, and always thought of pro ball as too much of a big machine, but I have to admit I had a great time at the Eagles game. The fans in our section were all well behaved, and even getting in and out of the Linc was pretty easy. I would definitely go again if given the opportunity.
In a weird turn of events, Jay’s 8 year old daughter was competing in the NFL Pass, Punt and Kick competition team Championship, and was announced on-field before the start of the game. She did not advance to the National Final round of competition, but it was still pretty cool for us old friends to still be hanging out together after over 35 years, as our friend’s daughter is now old enough to play football drills at an Eagles game.
Whew. This game was much closer than it should have been, due to some runs scored in the late innings, but the Phils held on to win their second game of this 2009 World Series and send it all back to New York for Game 6.
Unlike last night’s game, where the Phils clawed their way back into a 4-4 tie in the 9th, only to see the Yanks score three runs in the top of the inning to win 7-4, the Phillies offense scored enough runs for the bullpen to hold onto the win.
OK, so I wrote that I saw the Phillies being up 2-0 heading to Citizens Bank Park, and clearly I was wrong. Last night’s game should have been a win, and the Phils at this point should be up 3-2 instead of the other way around. That being said, I’ve also seen a certain team from Boston come back from a 3-0 deficit to win the ALCS by taking each and every game one at a time, and a certain pitcher from that 2004 Red Sox team is now taking the mound for the Phillies. I like Pedro picking up the ball at Yankee Stadium one more time, on regular rest, but the Phillies bats need to produce or this thing will be all done on Wednesday night. No predictions here, but I do believe that the Phils can win against Pettitte on short rest, and send this to a winner-take-all Game 7.
Go Phils !! Go Phils !! Go Phils !!
W. ran cross country for SVdP 3rd and 4th graders, and his final meet was this afternoon on a very muddy course at Loantaka Brook Reservation in Morris County. His team, as a whole, did not do terribly well, but they’ve got plenty of time to really understand what cross country is really all about, and only get better. When we first learned that W. could join the squad back in late September, we weren’t sure if he would want to, but he was very excited to take part and truly enjoyed the practices and the meets, even if he placed in the middle to the end of the pack. In the Spring, he’s now looking forward to joining the track and field team! Go W.!!
What a tough night for the trick-or-treaters tonight… a drizzly rain, followed by heavier rains, and pretty much a Halloween wash-out. I can’t recall the last time the weather put such a damper on the door-to-door activities, but the kids were able to collect a decent amount of goodies just from the houses on our street and around the corner.
Phillies take Game 1, with a completely dominating performance from Cliff Lee. Complete game, near shut-out, 10 strikeouts (9 swinging) and no walks. Chase Utley put the Phils up 2-0 with two solo home runs off C C Sabathia, and the Yankees were never in the game.
Pedro Martinez starts for the Phils tomorrow night, to throw his first post-season pitches at Yankee Stadium since game 7 of the 2004 ALCS when the Sox trounced the Yanks on my birthday. I can hear the “Who’s Your Daddy” chants already, but I have to believe that Pedro will be pumped and ready to go. I like the Phillies chances against A. J. Burnett, and can see them heading back to Philadelphia up 2-0.
Let’s go Phils !
Geez, this is something I had only ever imagined would ever occur, but 59 years after the Yankees swept the Whiz Kids in the 1950 World Series, the Phillies and the Yankees will meet again in the 2009 World Series.
I expect this time, the Phillies will prevail, to defend their 2008 World Series title. The frustrating part is that living here in the metro-New York area, the local media is heralding the Yanks as the team-to-beat, the natural choice as the best team in baseball, due to a lack of appreciation and awareness of the Phillies and their abilities.
Too bad Harry Kalas isn’t here to call the Series games, and to knock John Sterling on his ass.
Let’s go Phils!
OK, I must admit, when I read the sub-headline, my first thought was that my Florida brother-in-law had finally gone off the deep end, especially the part about the pocketknife hidden in his shorts…
Man accused of flinging jellyfish on beachgoers
41-year-old swimmer in Florida charged with disorderly intoxication
AP
Keith Edward Marriott of Madeira Beach, Fla. Marriott allegedly threw jellyfish at people on the beach and pretended to drown.
updated 5:55 p.m. ET, Wed., Sept . 9, 2009
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – A 41-year-old man faces charges after witness said he pretended to drown and then allegedly began to throw jellyfish at beachgoers.
According to a sheriff’s office report, Keith Edward Marriott caused “concern for his safety” when he repeatedly submerged himself and floated back to the top of the water and he was also “loud and disruptive.”
He then started throwing the sea creatures.
Marriott was arrested Monday and charged with disorderly intoxication and carrying a concealed weapon. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Marriott was carrying a pocketknife in his shorts.
Jail records indicate that Marriott was being held on $250 bond. A message left after-hours at the public defender’s office was not immediately returned late Tuesday night.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In pursuit of my goal to be more prolific with this blog, I’ve targeted to have 100 posts by the end of this year. With this, the 62nd post, I’m only slightly behind where I should be at 67% of goal. Even at 62, I’ve already smashed my prior year pathetic post high counts.
Woo Hoo!
It’s just a shame that nobody ever actually bothers to read these…
I’m not sure that I really know too much about Ted Kennedy. Sure, he was the youngest brother of John and Bobby, but he was different. He drove his car off a bridge at Chappaquiddick, failed to report the fatal accident for 10 hours. He divorced his first wife (the marriage was later annulled.) He supported a woman’s right to abortion. I remember when he ran for President in my Senior year at a Catholic high school, the priests and brothers and even a few of my classmates derided him for his stance on issues that ran against those of the Church. I remember my mother calling him a drunk. Yet, in many ways those flaws made him all the more real to me. Sure, he was from Massachusetts, and of course a Red Sox fan (coincidentally, it was 10 years ago back in July 1999 when I was attending an inter-league game between the Phillies and the Sox at Fenway Park that Teddy’s nephew, the late JFK, Jr. was memorialized in a moment of silence, as the airplane he had been piloting was missing off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.) He wasn’t really ever Presidential material, and he surely did his best work in the Senate, which is where he belonged. In many ways, thanks to his longevity, he left a more enduring legacy than his older brothers, and while many Americans look at John and Bobby and ask “what might have been.” we look to Teddy’s achievements and we find the answer.
The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.
The view from the deck this past weekend at Long Beach Island; the in-laws have rented a house on 18th Street, in the block on the beach, for the week in Surf City, while my brothers-in-law have rented a house on the beach around the corner from the in-laws. We dropped in on Sunday morning, and spent the night before returning home late on Monday. These photos were taken while relaxing and sipping mojitos, late Sunday afternoon…
The house the in-laws are staying in is one that they’ve rented on many previous summer vacations; I distinctly remember being at the house some 16 years ago back in the early 90’s while the Missus and I were still dating, hanging out her then school-aged brothers and sisters, who are now grown, some married, with multiple kids of their own.
W. and K. both had a great, albeit too short, time. The shore was experiencing the effects of Hurricane Bill, and the surf was pretty rough with a wicked rip-tide, so there wasn’t much swimming going on. W.’s swimming had really progressed this past summer, thanks to his twice-weekly swimming lessons at the Princeton YWCA, but he settled for the chance to try out his new boogie board along the shoreline. W., his Grandfather and I spent a few hours fishing off the bulkhead at Barnegat lighthouse, but again Bill’s effects were too much to allow us even a nibble before we decided to pack it in. Later, he and Grandpa played mini-golf while K. played with her half-dozen or so girl cousins at her Uncles’ house on the beach. On Monday morning, we sipped coffee on the beach as the sun rose over the Atlantic, before we took the kids to see Old Barney, where W. and I climbed up all 217 steps to enjoy the view from the top of the lighthouse. The rest of the family established a compound on the beach, which we joined a little after lunch until late in the afternoon, spending time alternating between reading and collecting shells and starfish in the surf near the jetty.
All in all, it was a nice time, and as much as I’m not truly a beach-person, it was great for the kids to spend time with their cousins at the same beach where my wife spent endless summers with her brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends. I like the idea of our kids growing up and building some of those same sacred memories of summers with family at LBI, and we’re already looking at renting a place with the rest of the family for next summer’s vacation.
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