I'm not much for giving advice- no one would listen anyway!- but if there is one thing I would suggest and advise it would be: do not take anything- opportunities, events, health (duh,) and most importantly people- for granted. I remember back in high school during football practice Coach Mitchell often said something along the lines of: enjoy it, because you never know when it's going to end. Maybe it was his Vietnam stuff rearing up, but there was/is truth in that. None of us know when we may lose, miss- or have taken away- any of those. We may not be able to control external events but we can control how we choose to respond to, enjoy, and embrace the opportunities, events, health, and people that are a part of each of our lives.
People talk about a War on Christmas. I don't know if I'd go that far. But there are cranks and killjoys out there (and I'd wager ten to get twenty that many of these folks are often the same ones to bleat about values such as "inclusiveness," "tolerance," and "embracing diversity" in almost any other sphere.) I question those who become irked over acknowledgment and recognition of Christmas. Does it really offend them that much? I'm not offended by expressions of Happy Hanukkah, a Delightful Diwali, Kwanzaa if that's your thing, Festivus, or anything else. I know no one who is. (I feel like I should be posting one of those Coexist stickers.) Yet there is a certain element that seems so offended by the words "Merry Christmas" and seems to go out of it's way to ensure that their fellow citizens do not impose such offensive items as a manger, angels, Saint Nick, etc... upon their sensitive secular souls (nice alliteration, Vito!) As they say, Christmas comes but once a year. The words of Sgt. Hulka (of Stripes fame) always appropriate, are especially so here: "Lighten up, Francis".
A few musical ones: 1- I've mentioned it before, but it's still hard to get used to hearing songs from our youth on the oldies stations. 2- Aerosmith was better before they got clean. 3- For Christmas music, I've never been a big fan of Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but I always liked this one: The Ventures: Christmas Joy... I have all the fashion sense of Bill Belichick on game day... I'd like to see more bars carry more stouts than only Guinness. Guinness is good, but there are many other good- and American made- stouts out there as well... The Gresh & Zo Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub is pretty good... Still surprised Pacquaio got KO'd Sat. night... Wayne linked to this on Facebook: Guys Making Pies. Nice to see kids helping those less-fortunate...
Feeling great!
From the Buster collection- Christmas at Phi Mu Delta:
