Here's the thing about Christmas 2005 (A rant of sorts)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

First off, in whatever way you celebrate the season, all the love in the world to you and all those you hold dear. Mine will be a Merry Christmas. For the first time in 6 years, I'll know that an aging parent will be home this year. Not on a gurney or a hospital bed or in a rehab center, as has been the case for way too many years, but Home. With us. Where she belongs.

Note to Bill O'Loofah here. No amount of your hollering and utter nonsense about who is doing what to Christmas is going to make this one be less than joyful for me. I will shop where I please son, and you having any effect on that, is in a word, laughable. And to any other member of the human race that feels I am over the line in any way possible by having This Christmas, at This Time, to celebrate a tunnel leaving and nothing but light existing, I will ask you to quote VP Crashcart into a mirror.

I am going to Ooh and Ahh at every light I see, and I will giggle at children going to see Santa, and remember When. I will listen to music, BOTH sacred and secular and love every note. And I will smile. Smile as I am smiling right now through tears of happiness for a season lost for many years to sadness and uncertainty. This Christmas truly for me Tis The Season To Be Jolly. I have those I love around me, or at most a phone call, an email, or a walk or short drive away. I have DU to read and learn from, and I have friends here who I simply ADORE beyond words for all the smiles they have shared with me, and those they have let me share with them.

So if for only this small reason, when someone greets you in the spirit of the season, do me one small favor. The only favor I have asked or ever will ask of my fellow DUers.

Smile. For me. Please.

A long, long season of confusion and pain is over, and a new season of purpose and normalcy has begun to take root and it's come around the season of Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or what ever form you choose to embrace, or not embrace at all. It Is Now.

Smile. For Me. My Love to you all.

And to all who embrace it, A very Merry Christmas.

SCE :D

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. Merry Christmas Salmon

:)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

2. Merry Christmas OPERATIONMINDCRIME

:hug:

[Rowdyboy]

3. Merry Christmas Salmon....This is a special year for me too....

Just the second time in my 17 year relationship that I've been able to spend Christmas with my better half. My mom passed away in 1999, and his died just last week after a miserable lengthy illness. While we adored and valued both women, they unintentionally kept us apart. This year we can be together. Yes, there will be sadness, but we will share it.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

5. All the best to the both of you Rowdyboy.

:D :hi:

[Texasgal]

4. Beautiful!

Merry CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

6. Thank you Texasgal

Merry Christmas to all those you love as well. :loveya: :hug:

[Perky]

7. Well said and Merry Christmas (n/t)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

8. Thank you Perky, and a Merry Christmas to you as well n/t

[Swamp Rat]

9. Merry Christmas!

:hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. Merci mon ami :)

Joyeux Noel :hug:

[ralps]

10. Merry Christmas SalmonChantedEvening & Thanks

:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo: :hug: :hug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :hug: :hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

13. You are very welcome ralps!

Merry Christmas to you too :D

[dweller]

11. Let it Snow!

:D


dp

[SalmonChantedEvening]

14. Ho ho ho dweller :)

:hi: