Hello Sean!

** On Wednesday 29.11.23 - 19:38, you wrote to Zip:

 SD> I have a foot-tall tree I might set up in my bedroom.  I
 SD> try to keep the Christmas spirit and remind myself that I
 SD> am lucky to be alive.

Perhaps the "lucky to be alive" sentiment is worth rememberance  
*every* day and not just around Christmas.   


 SD> Besides, I am a sucker for the holiday season here in the
 SD> US.  I seem to be more so as I grow older.  I guess I miss
 SD> simpler days in my life.

I decorate my shop very sparsely (just a couple of wreaths  
hanging up at the front windows, and the odd Christmas figurine  
or stuffed toy eslewhere in the shop), but that's it.  No  
nuisance lights to deal with at home either.

Here's a funny song that I learned about several years ago.   
Look it up. It's a fine performance..


Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."

And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with Red Dye No. 3.

He told his niece, "Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style, "
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,

And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a witch?"

His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning, " and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian,
"

"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere, "

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,

And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.

He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas, and your daughter's here."

He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve,
saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,

Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.


The Christians and the Pagans
Song by Dar Williams

-- 
  ../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.57
 * Origin: The LOOK of MicroNET https://kolico.ca/ftn/micronet (618:250/1.9)