Audio Tidbits

It seems fitting to initiate (compliments of www.QuoteGarden.com – edited for audio format) the conclusion of our Christmas wisdom with the thoughts of an anonymous philosopher who said, The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world.

Robert Lynd, who is admittedly not a philosopher said, Were I a philosopher, I should write a philosophy of toys, showing that nothing else in life need be taken seriously, and that Christmas Day in the company of children is one of the few occasions on which men become entirely alive.

Pope John 23rd added, Mankind is a great, an immense family. This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.

Carolyn Wells is a little more down to Earth with her perspective on gifts, I love the Christmas-tide, and yet, I notice this, each year I live; I always like the gifts I get, But how I love the gifts I give!

She followed up on her wisdom with, ‘Tis blessed to bestow, and yet, Could we bestow the gifts we get, And keep the ones we give away, How happy were our Christmas day!

P J O’Rourke lightens the discourse when he points out, There is a remarkable breakdown of taste and intelligence at Christmastime.  Mature, responsible grown men wear neck ties made of holly leaves and drink alcoholic beverages with raw egg yolks and cottage cheese in them.

Our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge was again a bit more philosophical, Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

Robert Kirby is a little more practical, No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas.

Let’s start down the Christmas trail (again compliments of www.QuoteGarden.com – formatting omitted) with a tradition from Betsy Cañas Garmon’s family. She sits with her husband in a room lit only by tree lights and wants us to remember that our blessings outnumber the lights. Happy Christmas to all.

Thomas Tusser also has advice for the season. At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.

Lenora Mattingly Weber is here as well to focus our perspective. Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.

Sing hey! Sing hey! For Christmas Day; Twine mistletoe and holly. For a friendship glows In winter snows, And so let’s all be jolly! No one is quite sure who first said it but there’s little doubt that we can all give it a hey! hey! of our own.

Gertrude Tooley Buckingham is joining in, Christmas is coming; it is almost here! With Santa and presents, good will and cheer! Now that may be even better than one of those Hey! heys!

In steps the realist to keep us from getting too carried away. Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. It’s not surprising that no one takes credit for that one.

Fortunately, May Sarton is here to keep us on the Christmas rails, I can understand people simply fleeing the mountainous effort Christmas has become but there are always a few saving graces and finally they make up for all the bother and distress.

Let’s get started (Compliments of www.QuoteGarden.com) with Louisa May Alcott who said, Very gay they were with snow and sleigh-bells, holly-boughs, and garlands below, and Christmas sunshine in the winter sky above. All faces shone, all

voices had a cheery ring, and everybody stepped briskly on errands of good-will.

Norman Vincent Peale joined in, Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Carol Nelson added, Christmas is a time when you get homesick — even when you’re home.

Roy L Smith was there too, He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

Of course, Charles Dickens brought his unique perspective, I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

W J Cameron was also along with a thought for careful consideration, Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year — and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.

Burton Hillis makes us smile, The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree, the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

And along came Andy Rooney to remind us not to get in too much of a rush to clear the happy evidence, One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.

Sometimes it’s nice just to sit back, relax and spend a few minutes thinking of Christmas. Please press play and join me.

Imagine that you are relaxing with a friend, perhaps sipping a bit of holiday cheer, and your friend says, “May you live all the days of your life. May God grant you many years to live, for sure He must be knowing the earth has angels all too few and Heaven is overflowing. May the devil chase you every day of your life and never catch you; and may you get to Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you’re dead.”

You savor the kind words as your friend continues, “May the sun shine, all day long, everything go right, and nothing wrong. May those you love bring love back to you and may all the wishes you wish come true! May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door. May brooks and trees and singing hills join in the chorus too, and every gentle breeze that blows send happiness to you, a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.”

Our intrepid hunters are back on the search for the Great Mouse. She was unexpectedly spotted hiding in a strange place, far away and previously unknown to our hunters. The Great Mouse was suddenly a threat to the yearly journey of the jolly old man himself. Will the intrepid hunters Chace her away in time? Will the path be cleared for the man in red and white? With our fingers crossed, press play and let’s see how the latest quest for the Great Mouse turns out.

Christmas is a magical time. WOW! A tree in the house, excitement everywhere and Santa is coming. Yes indeed, the jolly old elf himself.

When did we start to doubt? For most of us, it was about the time we got to kindergarten. A question here, an overheard comment there and our confidence began to crack. Even then, we might still believe were it not for the playground expert on everything. Know-it-all types always show up when we least need them. Perhaps you have noticed that yourself.

Few of us remember exactly when the crack in our faith became an empty place in our childhood where elves and reindeer used to play. Halloween’s ghosts and goblins, imaginary friends and The Easter Bunny were there too. The Tooth Fairy came in the night with nickels and, if we were very good, maybe a shiny quarter. We remember, like to recall the magic, if only for a little while.

How often do you find yourself close to others who are having an emotional meltdown? They may be uncomfortably anxious. They may be irrationally angry. They may be alarmingly depressed. More likely, they are just far enough into their meltdown to cause you discomfort and concern. What to do? Please listen and consider a tip that will help you get past the episode and will certainly help the meltdowner.

The title tells the tale. Our broadcast license agreement with the Aliens Amongst Us does not authorize any comment by us beyond what has been said. You will need to listen for yourself.

Are you a never go back person or do you like to revisit places you’ve been before? Well, we’ve been here before but it’s a place worth another listen. Of course, if you don’t mind being driven up the wall, it’s ok to take a pass on this revisit.