Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Celtic Radio Community > Celtic Radio > Win A CD: Sian James Or Bonnie Rideout


Posted by: Macfive 23-Dec-2006, 12:27 PM
Its been a fun month with a CD giveaway practically every day as part of our 12 Days of Christmas. All and all, by the end of the month we would have given away close to 30 CDs! It's just our way of saying Merry Christmas to everyone here on CelticRadio.net.

We now have the last 2 contests before Christmas and we have decided to combine today and Christmas Eve's contest into one contest. We have chosen two excellent CDs for the contest. Sian James brand new CD n Ferch o Bedlam and Bonnie Rideout's - A Scottish Fiddle Collection. Two world class musicians that thought enough of the listeners here to donate these CDs for our contests.

Now here is how the contest will work. Post your most unusual, memoriable or touching Christmas that you experienced. Post it here and probably around Midnight Christmas Eve Killian and myself will choose 2 of the stories as winners of the CD. For this contest, we are opening up to everyone, so if you have already won a CD this month you can participate in this last and final Christmas contest for 2006!

user posted image
Sian James - n Ferch o Bedlam
http://www.sianjames.co.uk/

TRACKLIST:
1. Paham Mae Dei Mor Hir Yn Dod?
2. Dod Dy Law
3. Ar Lan Y Mor
4. Adar Man y Mynydd
5. Y Ferch o Bedlam
6. Ambell i Gan
7. Beth yw'r Haf i Mi?
8. Can Crwtyn y Gwartheg
9. Ow! Merch Wyf i
10. Y Mab Afradlon
11. Lisa Lan
12. Angau


user posted image
Bonnie Ride Out - A Scottish Fiddle Collection
http://www.bonnierideout.com/

TRACKLIST
1. Mrs. Gunn's Strathspey / Sweet Molly / The Wise Maid
2. Grace Hay's Delight / Dunkeld House / Mrs. McGee's Reel
3. Pipe Major William Wilson
4. Brose And Butter / Cuzle Together / Elsie Marly
5. Seagulls Of Scarba / How I Passed The Winter / Fair John's Sister / St. Kilda Dance
6. Ghillie Callum / Highland Rant / Ryan's Rant
7. Corn Riggs / The Old Grey Cat / Ships Are A' Sailing
8. Amazing Grace
9. Yell Yell
10. Soft May Morn / Slay And Kintyre / Early On A May Morning
11. The Champion Of The Seas / Over The Isles To America / Pop Goes The Weasel / Rossie Castle
12. North Highland Tunes
13. Bonny Jean O' Aberdeen
14. Miss Gordon Of Park / Craigellachie Lassies / The Honourable Mrs. Drummond Of Perth's Delight
15. Old Reels: Grant's Rant / Nighean Doon / The Brown-Haired Daughter / Innes Of Sandsides' / Mo Chu

Posted by: davidm 23-Dec-2006, 07:21 PM
There was a Christmas Eve many years ago, when my wife was the director of our church's children's choir. We had 3 services scheduled on Christmas Eve that year. I assisted by singing in the children's choir and also sang at the other choir. The children were to sing at the late afternoon service, then at a service in the early evening where the children and adults sang together. A third service was to start at around 11 PM with just the adults in the choir. As it would have it, I caught a cold, as so many of us do during the holidays, and I went from singing tenor to being a bass. Needless to say, by the time I was done with the last service, I was exhausted, as there wasn't enough lung intake to really make things work. Interestingly enough, when the adult choir got together, I was joined in the bass section by a lady. After the service was over, I introduced myself to her, and she responded in kind. I found out to my amazement I had been singing alongside Dale Rosington, the backup singer and wife of Gary Rosington, leader of the country rock group Lynard Skynard! Small world indeed.

“Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath úr!”
(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)


Posted by: Cat_Woman269 23-Dec-2006, 09:35 PM
Hello all,
I have not been able to get here for quite some time, all fixed now biggrin.gif

I remember one christmas eve that was just rotten for me. I had been working all summer and most of the fall to save money to buy a horse that i helped bring into this world. (I was picking rocks out of a field, hot, dry and only had a metal wheel barrow! I was 8) I was given $5.00 for christmas from grandma, wich was just enough to buy the horse and 2 ton of hay for her (I had $195.). I rode my bycycle to the mans house to hand over the money and get my mare, when I got there I was told "sorry she is sold!". I was just devistated, it felt as if someone had ripped out my heart and squished it. I went home crying and in a mood most foul! I sulked all night, would not come out for the Christmas eve treats or anything. I finally fell asleep and woke to the weirdest dream, I could have sworn that there was a horse licking my face, in bed, in the house! Well nedless to say I woke in a hurry! As I slept mom moved my bed to just below the window and in the morning she had opened the window, removed the screen and tied that mare to my bedpost so she could wake me up! I was never so excited in my life! I rode all christmas day and part of the night, and everyday thereafter. Magic, my mare, was my best friend for many many years untill I was 19 and she was hit and killed by a drunk driver. I thank god every day for her, I would not have made it thru a lot of problems in my teen years without her! As for the money, I put half in the collection plate at church....
That by far has been the best Christmas gift I have ever gotten...Thank you God !
still miss her every day though!

Posted by: ka3kcj 23-Dec-2006, 10:07 PM
My most memorable Christmas was 26 years ago. I was 9 months pregnant, due January 21st, and had the flu. I had crack three ribs three weeks previous and was not in good shape at all. My husband had taken the boys over to his mother's for Christmas dinner while I crawled under the covers and slept. Around 10:00 he brought the boys home and brought me some of my mother-in-law's delicious Italian chicken soup. Shortly after finishing the soup contractions started, and an hour later were getting worse. We called my mother-in-law to come over to be with the boys, who were sleeping and we arrived at the hospital around midnight. Forty-five minutes after Christmas my Heather was born. My best Christmas present ever!

I still think she's my best present 26 years later!

Anne

Posted by: ladydi 23-Dec-2006, 10:46 PM
Mine may not be the most "touching" but the odds against this happening are phenomenal. On December 1st we decided at work to buy each other ornaments for our Christmas party on December 18th...and all 4 of us bought our ornaments within the next few days.

On December 16th I went to a family Christmas party & participated in random Christmas ornament exchange. My table was the first called & I was the 2nd person of about 50-60 to pick an ornament. I went back to the table & opened a rather ornate glass ornament in a plastic case with multi colored flowers & red/blue stripes. I remember thinking it was too bad I'd already bought my ornaments for work because the ornament didn't match anything else on my tree.

The following Monday we exchanged ornaments at work & I could not believe it!!! I was opening ANOTHER ornament EXACTLY like the one I opened at the family party. It must be kharma or fate or something....but as my hubby says "now I have a matching set of balls" biggrin.gifi

ps. I also have a son born on Christmas day, 1988. yepppp my son Nicholas will be 18 this year!

Posted by: sladeb 23-Dec-2006, 11:17 PM
I am a volunteer firefighter in the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (Australia). As we sat down to Christmas lunch, my pager went off and at the same time the siren on the local fireshed sounded an alarm. It was the beginning of several very long days fighting a major fire. So Christmas dinner at home went cold, and instead I drank water and staminade, and ate steak sandwiches made by the local Salvation Army. A memorable year indeed.

Posted by: sindawg 23-Dec-2006, 11:50 PM
I think we all feel that as we get older, it gets harder and harder to shop for our parents for Christmas. Anything they want, they tend to go out and buy.

Last year, both of my grandmothers passed away. They both lived very long and productive live and had a very loving and caring family around them. Both of them began to lose their memories towards the end and even though my parents never said anything about how it effected THEM personally, I knew it must have.

So, before Thanksgiving of last year when all of kids and their families would be together for the first time in about 5 years, I contacted both my brothers (I live in Seattle, one brother and his family in Austin and the other in Florida) and I told them that I wanted all the kids, daughter-in-laws and grandkids of my parents to get together and have a portrait taken. Then, I had each of us write on index cards what our parents meant to each of us (all of us siblings, the daughters-in-laws and the grandkids). We had the one big group photo framed and mounted with the index cards on either side of the picture.

The idea was that if my parents ever got to the age where they could not remember very well, I wanted something they could look at everyday and see all of us and read the words of how they inspired us, loved us and raised us right there in front of them so they could never forget.

My parents spent Christmas in Texas with my brothers family that year. We had everything sent there to open with instructions that they call me before opening it. When they opened it, I heard both of their reactions and both of them cried. YAY! I made my parents cry on Christmas! haha! But in a good way. It was only the 3rd time in my life I had seen/heard my dad cry and of course my mom was overwhelmed.

Afterwards, they commented that it was the best Christmas present they ever received. It wasn't something they asked for or needed. It was something that had emotional significance. Something that wont wear out or become obsolete. I think now a days, people forget Christmas shouldn't be about completing some sort of "want" list. It should be giving gifts that MEAN something.

Anyways, that is MY most memorable Christmas because I was happy to finally be able to give something back to my parents to show them how I feel about them and let them know just what all their hard work and devotion to their family and meant to all of us.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday as well.

Scott Ference

Posted by: UrchinGirl 24-Dec-2006, 12:08 AM
Alright so my MOST memorable Christmas was only two years ago and it will hopefully stand out in my memory for a good long while. I met my biological father.

To flesh out the story a bit, let me explain that I am adopted and have known such for as long as I can remember. My parents were very good about not keeping that from me. They had promised to help me find my biological parents and managed to find my biological mother when I was twelve. That summer they took me to visit her. Still, though, I wanted to meet my biological father. To know that second half of my genes and where I got certain quirks. [This is where the whole nature vs nurture thing comes in, but that's another topic for another time.]

It took ten years after finding my biological mother to find my father. Ten years of renewed wondering and a reinforced desire. Then two years ago for Christmas instead of a shopping spree with my biological mother, which had become a wonderful tradition between the two of us, I get a phone call on Christmas Eve night. "Merry Christmas sweetie, we've found your father." Those words will forever run a chill down my spine backed with delight.

I met my father a few days later and am quite happy to say that he very much wanted to be a part of my life. I'm looking forward to driving out to see him Christmas day this year and just spending time with him and planning our golfing trip for the coming summer.

Posted by: Antonio 24-Dec-2006, 12:21 AM
My most memorable or perhaps unusual Christmas, was Christmas 1970. I was a young Marine away from home! station at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. feeling sorry for myself for allot of different reasons. When I think back non of them very good reasons, it was just how I felt.
I could not go home on leave I didn't have the money for the air fare which I believe was about $126.00 round trip on Military standby. If I'm not mistaken I think I made about $123.00 every 2 weeks. And now all these years later, at Christmas time and every Christmas since I think about it. The thing about that Christmas was I was alone could not go home and most of my friends were in Viet Nam. It was about 9 PM Christmas night when I thought I'd call home, I knew all my family would be there at that time. So I went to a phone booth, I remember it was snowing and bitter cold the kind of cold that takes your breath away. I dialed the operator to make a collect call when she came on it sounded like she was crying, I told her that I wanted to make a collect phone call to California and gave her the number and I could hear she was crying!! but I didn't say anything to her. I didn't know what to say, the number was busy and she said hold on I'll try again in a minute. While waiting she ask if I was having a good Christmas and I said not really, she ask why and I told her what I was felling about what was going on in my life. She said I can tell by your voice, that your young probably still a teenager. Then she said you will have a good life just live for today don't worry about tomorrow or yesterday you can not change the past or predict the future. And of course so young, I thought to my self ya ya ya what do you really know. But thats when I said to her when you picked up the line I could hear you were crying. I told you my troubles now may I ask what it was you were crying about and she said 2 weeks ago today my house caught on fire my Husband and 7 year old son both died. I think thats about the time I started to cry, I felt really petty with my problems. But here was this lady I don't even know listening to me on Christmas night 2 weeks after losing everything in her life. I do think about her on the odd occasion when that memory is sparked but I always remember her on Christmas night at about 9 PM and no matter what I may be doing I stop and say a little Prayer for a telephone operator I only know as Barbara.

Posted by: gcw57 24-Dec-2006, 03:06 AM
I have two Christmas's that will always be in my mind. One a very bad Christmas when I was 7 and the other a very good one with the birth of my nephew Corbin, who will be 13 Christmas Day!

I think rather than entering this contest, I would like to vote for Antonio's story. It's touching, memorable and reminds us that no matter how bad things seem for us at any one time - there is someone that is going through worse, sometimes alone! Thanks for sharing that inspiring story Antonio!

Posted by: CelticAngus 24-Dec-2006, 07:26 AM
Good Morning All and Happy Yule and Merry Christmas,
My most memorable christmas ever was when my Best friend came to dinner , as we sat after several hours of preperation and cooking, she showed up to sit and eat. As she started to eat the many foods her stomach started to hurt and ran to the bathroom. We come to find that the medication that she was given for pnemonia was filled with codine... which she was allergic to. From that point on I trullly think I should have set a tree up in the bathroom for her to see. lol Between, hurling and passing out on several occasions and 2 days of crashing on my fouton she finally managed to raise her head and wish us a merry christmas. At least she was in good company so that she wouldnt have to deal with this reaction on her own. This day we were trully thankful that God and All my Angels watched over her and kept her safe. I think it was hte most interesting xmas in years. I dont expect to win anything but what I did want to say, is thatnk you for allowing me to be part of your joyous famaily. I wish each and everyone of you a Joyous Holiday season. And may God smile upon each and everyone of you. And heal the Great mother earth and all its peoples.
Merry Christmas All.
Healing Blessings & Love,
CelticAngus
angel_not.gif

Posted by: bodhronii 24-Dec-2006, 07:35 AM
Unfortunataly, My Christmas's are memorable but not in a good way. This is all in a period of 10 years.

A few years back my family from NY was supposed to come to Connecticut but tragady struck.
My cousin was driving his company truck and got cut off by another driver. His truck caught fire and so did he. He was identified by the cross necklace he was wearing.

My mother and father got divorced. My father was diagnosed with schizophrenia
and unable to take care of himself and my mother has fibormyalgia and going through her second divorce. Needless to say my already falling apart family was falling apart even more.

Two years ago my brother decided he wanted nothing to do with the family any more. So now I spend Christmas by myself. I volenteer at my Church to help cook for needy families and those less fortunate. When life hands you lemons make lemonade.





thumbs_up.gif

Posted by: utkurly 24-Dec-2006, 09:42 AM
We have prepared for christmas a long time this year , I am part of a local naturist group . It was our choice to do the groups gift of the clothes off our back . We had gathered many boxes of clothes from the group and went to deliver them to a group called The Road Home . This group distributes the clothes & food to the needy
we had a good time delivering the clothes & as luck would have it the local television station was there. as we prepared to depart , we gave the final gifts the coats that covered our bare bodys and received the last thanks from the smiling folks at The Road Home . local tv crews filmed as guys & gals alike walked back to the cars in the 30 deg F. weather . fortunately the folks at the station fuzzed our butts & jiggly parts . we had so much fun , and gave for such a good cause . we went home & had a party drank some spiced cider and later watched as we were blessed by the folks on tv & the road home for giving the clothes off our back for the needy ... utkurly in utah usa biggrin.gif angel_not.gif

Posted by: pwpaton 24-Dec-2006, 11:38 AM
I remember one Christmas many years ago, before I was married. I had moved out of my parents house and was living by myself some distance away. My parents lived in Michigan, in the USA, and my grandfather, who I hadn't seen in a long time, lived in Florida. I decided this particular year that I was going to surprise everyone on Christmas morning by driving to my parent's in the middle of the night after everyone had gone to bed so I would be there when they all woke up in the morning. I arrived sometime in the early morning hours and sneaked into the house with my presents like some kind of Santa Claus. I quietly turned the lights on the Christmas tree on and placed my presents amongst the others that were already there. It was very peaceful and I just sat there for a while looking at the beautiful sight before me and imaging what it would be like in the morning. I was the oldest child and everyone else was still living at home so, with 8 children altogether, there would be much excitement. All of a sudden I heard someone else sneaking in through the back door. As far as I knew everyone else was already asleep, so I didn't know who this could be. I thought someone might be breaking into the house to steal our Christmas, so I hid around the corner in the living room ready to pounce on the intruder and save the day. Much to my surprise who should come around the corner but my grandfather. He had also decided to surprise everyone this Christmas and caught a late flight to Michigan, and then a cab the last 100 or so miles in the middle of the night to my parents house. It was such a wonderful surprise and he and I spent the rest of the night sitting in the darkness with just the Christmas tree lights on reminiscing about all of the past Christmases and life in general. Watching everyone's reaction in the morning as they were even more surprised to see him than me was almost too much to take in. It was one of the best Christmases I can remember. My grandfather and my father both passed away not long after that special Christmas so it's something I'll never be able to experience again. Every year I think back on that special day and can still picture every part of it in my head as if it had just happened yesterday.
Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Joyous Holiday Season

Posted by: JaneyMae 24-Dec-2006, 12:04 PM
Hmmm - This is indeed an interesting topic. I have many memories of happy Christmases and some of sad Christmases. Unfortunately my most memorable are the saddest. Christmas night about 20 years ago, my nephew called, refused to speak to me saying he'd only speak to his Uncle. He didn't want to have to tell me that his father, my oldest brother, had shot himself. Apparently my biggest brother (Maisky is still my big brother) couldn't take the world anymore. He was terribly drunk and some idiot doctor in California had given Dave antidepressants. I don't remember all that happened other than I knew my heart would break. I left my children with the in-laws and flew to California with money we didn't have. Mom and dad were devasted as was the rest of the family. We all moved forward and learned a valuable lesson. Don't take the control of your life away from Christ -- he is a darn good driver and has a destination in mind.

Then there was the Christmas 17 years ago when I let my 15 year old daughter go on an un-date with one of my oldest friend's son. This was actually her first date. They were visiting her parents (my daughter's Godparents) for Christmas. When the police called to say the kids had been in an accident our truck grew wings and it seemed that we flew to the hospital. I sat in the emergency room stroking my daughter's beautiful long hair, gently removing the hair that had been ripped from her scalp, and praying she would wake up very soon. I was reminded of the lesson I learned from my brother's death, that Christ is in control and a darn good driver with a destination in mind. My little girl opened her eyes then and called me mommy. The doctors sewed her face back together and patched her up. The head trauma changed her life completely but her destination thus far is with 4 beautiful children.

I remember these things; not how many ribbons and bows or how expensive the gifts have been. The lessons learned along the way and the gift of my daughter, the strength I gained from my brother's heartache, helped me to help my daughter heal. Now I spend Christmas day with my grandbabies and their laughter and the sweet smile on my beautiful daughter's face. That's a blessing!

We all go through hardships. Many people take rather than give. However, it is the giving that is the best. That, and remembering the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!! beer_mug.gif

Posted by: Garden Fairy 24-Dec-2006, 12:05 PM
I'm a Retired USAF Master Sergeant. Sooner or later you get to spend a year on a "remote" tour. I was the Professional Military Education Instructor for the USAF troops at NAS Keflavik, Iceland in 1987. My Husband was stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver CO.
It's REALLY dark in Iceland in December, and the American troops have a tough time of it without actually seeing the sun for months on end (cloud cover, dark).
The USO had a Christmas Lights Tour. You took a van and drove around the towns of Keflavik, and Reykjavik.
Besides decorating the houses with lights--they use headstones in the Cemeteries that have light sockets. That was a seriously different sight for a group of GIs.
Seeing the Cemetery Christmas lights made it one of my most memorable Holiday Seasons. i couldn't tell you what the houses looked like, but I can still see the little cemeteries with color Christmas lights in the headstones.

Merry Christmas to all & Best Wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Vina

Posted by: Tourmaline 24-Dec-2006, 12:19 PM
Merry Christmas everyone!

Well, my story isn't nearly as heartwarming or exciting as some of the ones already posted, but it certainly was the most memorable and unusual Christmas my family has ever had.

We live in a fairly affluent area, and for years my sister and I heard our classmates comparing stories of their vacations to France, Australia, England, etc. Not us. Both Mom and Dad work full-time, Dad's job in particular makes it difficult for him to get big chunks of vacation time, and all spare money was being invested in practical things like health care, remodeling our old house, and paying for college. (We do have health insurance, but when multiple family members develop major health problems, insurance doesn't cover it all.) My sister Meg and I understood this, but we still wistfully longed for a Vacation of our own. In particular we wanted to see Hawaii, as Mom and Dad had been there several times B.C. (Before Children) and had lots of stories about the islands.

Last year was a good one financially, and for once Dad's latest construction project was winding down before the holidays. Meg's long-time boyfriend Adam, an Air Force man, would actually be getting some time off for Christmas. So Mom and Dad sat down together around June and decided that we needed a Real Family Vacation before both of the kids finished college and moved away to start lives of our own. Where to? Hawaii, the Big Island to be exact. I've always wanted to see the famous volcano Kilauea, and the Big Island is Mom and Dad's favorite. Plus it has Kona coffee. When? Well, the only time everyone would be able to get off of school, work and military duty would be over Christmas.

I don't think Meg and I really believed that we were going to Hawaii until we started packing. Then it started to sink in. Omigoodness we're going on a real live family vacation! Los Angeles Intl. Airport and the cramped flight were small prices to pay. God was smiling on Hawaii for those two weeks, because we had lovely clear sunny weather (unusual for winter in the tropics) to see the sights. Kona coffee, postcard-perfect beaches, lots of green sea turtles, friendly locals, the sight of orchids blooming outdoors in splendid profusion at the Hilo airport, truly fresh pineapple, seeing Kilauea lazily erupting her long streams of red-black lava, steam vents, weird and occasionally squishy sea life, lots and lots of lava rock... it was wonderful. We didn't have a Christmas tree, and had to wrap the presents we brought along in tinfoil and tissue paper because all the stores were sold out, but that was all part of the experience. (Meg actually got quite artistic with the tinfoil.) Christmas dinner was at a luau with a traditional pit-roasted pig and excellent Polynesian dancers. By the way, 'everyone' is right about poi. It's nasty. I guess you have to grow up eating the stuff in order to like it.

This Christmas, we have several Hawaiian ornaments on our tree. Like most of the ornaments, they hold special Christmas memories and will for many years.

Posted by: Bjam16 24-Dec-2006, 01:03 PM
[B]One Christmas, we took a Christmas basket of food, clothes, and toys to this single parent mother. She appreciated this very much, but I got to thinking about what does this mother do the rest of the year.
Our church was going out for a one day giving program, and it made them feel good, but what happened the rest of the year.
I decided to "adopt" this family, and followed up at least weekly to see that they had food, clothing, toys, etc.
The mom had knarled fingers and couldn't word. So I bought her a typewriter that she could type on with one finger, and paid her to type my business notes that I wrote down on a yellow pad.
My wife and I would go by and visit with her regarding her needs, and letting her share about surgeries that were coming up.
The reason I picked this Christmas story is, the Christmas should be year around and not just on one day.
Bill Jamison

Here is a website that I have on the Random Acts of Kindness site sharing the same concept of sharing year around, and not just at Christmas.
http://www.actsofkindness.org/member_sites/bjam16/

Posted by: Owen 24-Dec-2006, 01:14 PM
A Cross Country Christmas, 1965
Owen Christianson
Floodwood Minnesota USA

Forty one Christmases ago, in 1965, I made an unforgettable, roundabout trip from Monterey California home to La Crosse Wisconsin. With the thrifty way I set about doing it, it isn’t for nothing that my grandmother’s name was Katie MacLaren. In those days, if you served in the military, you could catch a free flight on a Military Air Transport System (MATS) plane to wherever it was headed. So if I flew MATS, I’d have more money left for buying gifts for my family. Early on the morning of December 22, from Monterey up through a foggy and drizzly San Francisco, I hitched a ride with a friend to the Travis AFB—outside of Sacramento. I thought that my chances of a flight that would take me within a day’s journey of La Crosse Wisconsin were great. Well, I was resolved to wait for a flight—any flight—even one as far away as Michigan or Missouri—that would take me as close to Wisconsin as possible. From the terminal window, I’d watch fresh troops mounting the huge 747 troop planes to Nam—as caskets were simultaneously being unloaded from the cargo hold. On the tinny muzak that dunned away without let-up, Perry Como sang about being Home for Christmas—if only in his dreams. Bing Crosby dreamed about a White Christmas. And Elvis Presley about a ‘Blue’ one. I dreamed about catching a flight—any flight. Short on sleep, sweaty, subsisting on junk food, for three days I waited. And I waited. No flights were heading eastwards.

Finally, on Christmas Eve night, half in despair, I caught the nearest flight to the Upper Midwest. On a windowless MATS transport, I crossed the whole continental United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic—all the way to Fort Dix New Jersey. I still wonder whether the Greyhound ticket agent at Fort Dix, in spite of his tough manner, gave me a Christmas-Day-Send-the GI-Home deal on the greyhound ticket from Philly to La Crosse. How come? Well, he asked me, “So woddya got in yuh wallet, troop?” And he just happened to charge me five dollars less. I had it all figured out. Back in 1965, five dollars was a lot of money. I had a big enough breakfast in Philly. Christmas morning, we passed through the picture-postcard-pretty Pennsylvania Dutch country, over the snowy Alleghenies, and just as the sun was setting, we pulled into Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Greyhound Bus Terminal—that’s where I was going to have my Christmas Dinner. I can still see the red and green tinsel wreathing the cafeteria mirror. ‘Season’s Greetings!’ had been plastered over it in glittering script. Pittsburgh Bus Depot Cafeteria Christmas Dinner Special: Turkey-with-all-the-trimmings and pumpkin pie à la mode: Only $3.65. Hungry, expectant, I got in line with everybody else, thinking that Pittsburgh Greyhound Bus Depot Christmas turkey would be better than no turkey at all. But just as I was ready to place my order, I heard a gruff voice from behind me growling out, “Hey, buddy!” There stood a rather disheveled looking older man. He went on to say that he hadn’t eaten for a couple days, and could I maybe spare some change. I looked up at the sign: Christmas Dinner: $3.65, looked down at the four one dollar bills—crumpled in my hand—enough to spare for a modest tip. And I heard my voice saying, “Why don’t you have this one on me!” The four dollars disappeared into the cashier’s hand. And my Christmas Dinner went to my buddy at the bus depot. From Pittsburgh—through Cleveland—Toledo—Chicago—Milwaukee—all the way across Wisconsin to La Crosse—as everyone around me was tucking into fried chicken or munching on Christmas cookies, I didn’t have one bite to eat. When I finally arrived home on the afternoon of December 26, I wasn’t hungry for long. Surrounded by my wondering family, I ate my way through the first of many home-cooked holiday meals. After all these years, I remember these two strangers I met on that Christmas long ago: the clerk outside of Fort Dix, who, I am convinced, gave me a deal—and the hungry stranger in Pittsburgh whose Christmas dinner that good-hearted clerk made possible.

Nollaig Chridheil Huibh to one and all, Owen (MacLaren) Christianson


Posted by: Dogshirt 24-Dec-2006, 01:23 PM
When I was about 4 or 5 we left home to go to my Grandparents as we always did on Christmas day. It wasn't a long trip, about 30 miles by our usual route, but it was a road that didn't always get plowed.
The night before we had had a storm with about 8" of snow and high winds. When we started out the road was okay, but as we got further up the ridge the snow drifts started to get deeper and longer. Finally we got stuck in a very big drift, I remember that the snow was as deep as the hood of the car.
My Dad manged to get his door open and had started to dig us out, so we could turn around and take the long route to our destination, when we heard sleigh bells.
In a few minutes a Bobsled (a farm sled, not the downhill type) pulled by 2 of the biggest horses (To me anyway) in the world came into sight. The rancher had been hauling hay to his cattle and had seen us from the pasture. Pulling up to the car, he asked if we needed a pull. Dad said yes, if he would pull us out of the drift we could turn around a get back down the ridge. The rancher said that the drifting only lasted about anothe 1/2 mile, and the the road dropped down into the trees and the road was fairly clear from there on. So he pulled the sled off the road and un hitched the team, hitched them to the front of our car and those big, grand horses pulled us that half mile until the road was clear and we could get on our way. The rancher wouldn't take any money for his help, so we went on our way.
But we always honked and waved as we drove by his place after that.
And so Christmas was saved that year.


beer_mug.gif

Posted by: Ceciliastar1 24-Dec-2006, 02:38 PM
This is a fun story. I actually haven't thought about it in a long time!

When I was 12, which was 12 years ago, everyone in my family had the flu except me and my dad. My mom, and my 5 sisters and my 3 brothers (Gwen, Tom, Steph, Becket, Anna, Andrew, Brady, and Maddy) all had the flu very very badly. My dad and I spent all Christmas Eve and Day taking care of the sickies. There was vomit a plenty! It wasn't bad though. My dad and I spent all the time taking care of them but they were very grateful for it. While my dad did all the cooking for those who could stomach some food and the cooking for me and him, I did all the pillow fluffing and puke cleaning. The best part of that christmas though was that since all the kids didn't have any energy to open their presents I got to open all of the presents for everyone!!! Each kid had three presents so I got to open a total of 27 presents! I've never opened so many presents in my life. And since my siblings were also too sick to play with any of the toys they let me open all of the toys and play with all of them. It was so much fun! I got to open all the presents, eat all the cookies, play music, it was crazy! After being able to do that, cleaning up a ton of puke all week long didn't seem so much like a chore anymore!

Merry Christmas!

Posted by: rpdahlstrom 24-Dec-2006, 05:08 PM
I finished speaking at a conference one Christmas Eve morning, and while driving my family down the mountain from the ski-area where the conference was held, I hit some black ice, which resulted in a head on collision. Thanksfully nobody was hurt, but this began a long day of getting the car towed down the mountain, finding a different car at the base of the mountain and then trying to drive home (back up in a different section of the mountains) as it began to turn dark.

We were hosting guests from both Sweden and Australia that Christmas, and the plan was to eat supper in the late afternoon. We called them to let them know what had happened and encouraged them to eat for us rather than waiting for our return.

It was a good thing we did, for the alternator on our 2nd car died on the way home, creating huge problems. When we finally pulled in at 11PM I was feeling sorry for our guests and our failure to be good hosts to them. Yet, when I opened the door the room was filled with the smells of supper, the table set, the candles lit. Our guests had waited for us, and prepared the meal so that it would be ready upon our arrival.

We ate together as the clock struck twelve and Christmas Eve became Christmas morning. As the candles burned low, everyone gathered by the tree to read about the Christ child and sing "Silent Night" together. Hosptiality. Generosity. Serving Others. Good friendships. These elements will make this Christmas memorable for the rest of my days.

Posted by: parkers1 24-Dec-2006, 08:18 PM
I, being an Ex Marine know what it is like to spend time away from home on the holidays. I would also like to vote for Antonio Semper Fi. I even got the opportunity to spend my Christmas in Viet Nam. Happy Holidays to one and all! Good Luck making a choice for I know it will be hard, this is another reason for voting for Antonio. This way he starts off with two votes minimum thumbs_up.gif

Posted by: Roberto Phoenix 24-Dec-2006, 09:00 PM
I think Our most memorable Christmas will have been last year. It really started the Sunday before thanksgiving. My wife went to work (about an hour away) as usually feeling a bit sick. Sometime during the night her appendix burst. She was brought to the hospital and they operated right away. I couldn't get down there as my car had really bad tires and I couldn't get a ride down to fetch the good car. I wasn't too worried because people are usually out of the hospital and back to work within a week after having their appendix removed. However complications set in and the doctor would not let her go to work for another month. I finally got down to her and she came home but there was no improvement at all in her condition. Two weeks later her incision broke open in the middle of the night and I had to rush her to the hospital. More surgury and another month off. She had disability but it wouldn't be coming in untill the middle of Jan. We survived on my paycheck and tips from my paper routes. Meanwhile bill collectors were calling daily and needless to say they had no sympathy.
We lost our internet, our cable, and all the bills were a month to two months behind. Our church was the one who helped us out. One lady agreed to pay for the ornaments we get for our kids for Christmas every year so the kids each got something. Some anonymous doner sent us $100 for bills. My poor wife was miserable and crying cuz we couldn't afford a $20 tree.
Gathering up as many pop cans as I could from work, I scaped enough money to buy a small tree from the dollar store. My youngest decided that this was a good tme to take a trip with friends to Florida. What he didn't know was that the car was stolen. I had to bargin with our car repair guy for four new tires and then make a 12 trip to southern Illinois to pick him up at the police station. He got 6 months probation on a tether that followuing Feb. He is behaving now-slightly.
So our worst Christmas had its little blessing scatterd here and there to make it into one that showed us that there really are people who care out there. We made it through and are just now beginning to put our lives back together but I hate to think how much worst it could have been without the help of others. And that is what Christmas has become for us-a season to help others.

Posted by: merle 24-Dec-2006, 11:05 PM
My best Christmas memory is from 50 years ago when I was but a lad of 8. My parents had dressed me, my 7 year old brother and my 14 year old sister in our best duds as this was the tradition for Christmas Eve. Before heading off to church we all got some wrapped candy and let me tell you that wrapped candy in those days is nothing like the stuff you get nowadays. You would have to be there to believe it.

In our church we heard many beautiful Chirstmas tunes and I will never forget the organist who was crying the entire time. When I asked my mother why she was crying she said, "It's not because she is sad. She has bad allergies." Who knows why I still remember this but I still remember the organist the cried during her wonderful Christmas tunes.

Posted by: Macfive 24-Dec-2006, 11:15 PM
Wow, there are some great an heart touching stories here. I am afraid our selection for the CDs will have to wait until later today so we can read these all in detail. We wish we had a CD for each of you!

Well, its Christmas Day now on the east coast. Merry Christmas everyone.

A little story to share of our own tonight. The Mac Children all played in the Christmas Pagent tonight. They put on a singing and acting show each year. An annual even for the past 15 years! We have never ever been late and somehow we mixed up the time.

We thought the show started at 6:00, but it started at 5:00. Needless to say we started getting frantic calls at about 4:58. We threw the kids in the car and by the time we got there is was 5:20. Well, the whole church was awaiting for our arrival as the show was suppose to start on the dot at 5:00. I dropped Killian and the kids off at the door and I drove to find a parking space.

So, I get out of my car and notice a lady with a small child confused about where the pagent was as there were a few buildings around the area and from where she parked you could not see the church. I told her to follow me as we had held up the whole show with our lateness.

Well, as it turns out this lady was the teacher of one of the children in the play and had promised not to miss her play. She had run into traffic and was late. Suddenly I was not upset that I had held up a couple of hundred people. I held the door open for her and wondered if this was the reason we were late. She did not miss her student's show and I am sure her student was delighted she made it!

smile.gif

Posted by: Celticwanderer39 24-Dec-2006, 11:40 PM
My most memorable Christmas was probably last year's Christmas. Christmas happened to be on a Sunday last year. My church services that I go to are usually 3 hours long but on Christmas Day we only go to our sacrament meeting. There was spiritual singing and it was just a great experience. When Christmas is on a Sunday, we don't open presents until after church is over. Everyone was just so filled with peace, joy, faith, and love. It helped that our family had decided to tone down Christmas and not buy so many gifts. It was just such a more enjoyable time than at other Christmases when everyone is yelling and screaming and fighting with each other. I guess just everything that happened that day, when put together, made a great and joyous day for me and my family. I was filled with the spirit of the season and I gained an even greater love for the real reason that we celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas to all of you! Sláinte!!!

Posted by: cwa92464 25-Dec-2006, 06:04 AM
When I was in the military in Warner Robins, GA, we would have to pack up the car for the annual pilgrimmage to my hometown. After receiving one of those Sears camper tops to add all of the fun and joy that couldn't be crammed in to the already bulging Nissan Sentra that included myself, my wife, and a small hole the size of my son in the back seat, I diligently packed all of the gifts into the shell.

It was perfect. All fit neatly in. I got the family in the car. We were actually going to leave before my scheduled departure time...for once. I had just pulled out on to the road to head for the highway...yep...I see a big, white blur behind me. It seems that my tightening efforts had actually ripped the tiedowns and 40 mph is the exact speed for a tear away. Shell & gifts flew everywhere...as the rain started to come down.

Luckily my son was young & didn't understand some of the phrases that I used as I packed wet presents back into the shell & re-tied the shell.

Posted by: Infamous 25-Dec-2006, 02:23 PM
My most memorable Christmas was this one.

My family hailing from grand Irish nobility (including in-laws) all got together with our spouses and siblings for a wonderful Christmas Eve gathering. We all agreed to defer from distilled spirits out of those recovering from alcoholism. A wonderful time was had by all. Three generations of our family under one roof and not one fight. Not only wonderful but amazing.

In reality, its times like these that are remember when those go before us. Yes, this one was memorable for me.

'Big Tom'
Infamous.

Posted by: Macfive 26-Dec-2006, 07:23 PM
There are so many touching stories here and I really wish I could give a CD for each one of you. To be honest with you, we didn't expect such as great response - so our sincere thanks on sharing these memorible moments with us and the rest of the community.

We usually announce the winners of the CD contest, but I think in this case we are going to privately notifiy the winners. It just does not seem right to single out one story over the next as these are all great. Killian is reading through the posts today and we should contact the receiptants of the CDs in the next day.

Thanks again for these posts. We really enjoyed reading them!

Powered by Invision Power Board (https://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (https://www.invisionpower.com)