While there are many disturbing memories of Vietnam, there is one surprisingly excellent memory - Christmas morning. The confusion, laughter, and joy that I created for eleven very homesick young men remains to this day my most memorable Christmas. In December, 1967, I was stationed at DaNang Air Base, South Vietnam. I was 22. Since I had been in the Air Force for over three years, I was both older and of higher rank than...

this is a new one (12/22/12) It was Christmas eve and last minute Shoppers were running frantically. As I walked out my front door What to my astonishment and surprise A little boy sitting with a puppy in his lap Looking up to the sky. I asked : "Are you o.k.?" He replied : "No! Not really!" Every year I find a spot to sit down and look around Of how free will can be put to the ground. Why does man thrive on pain, sufferi...

this is one of my favs that i've written Christmas spirit (11/4/12) I hear the birds up in the tree tops sing I hear the bells in the church steeples ring I see the squirrels run around with delight OH MY GOD ! What a beautiful sight. I see the first snow starting to cover the ground I hear the old familiar sounds I see the clouds a silver grey I see the sun trying to shine its rays. The rabbits , the chipmunks , the poss...

Rainy days are not any fun. Sam and his little brother Jim knew this all too well. The constant rain for the past week forced the two boys to resort to other means of entertainment. Both of the boys would have loved to play in the snow, like they saw on the TV shows about Christmas. But the TV and Christmas Cards were the only places they saw snow. It had been raining for several days, and the constant rain killed any tho...

How do we not know what Christmas is all aboutWhen we create so many excuses and doubts.God had given us his only begotten son... Given to Mary , for she was the chosen one.He came to this earth with one objective in mindAnd that was to save all of mankind.Over two thousand years and Christianity still livesHow much more could he give?The word Christmas is self explanatory Christ- Mas more of Christ.So let us not take Chr...

“Daddy, he is soooooooo beautiful!” my eight-year-old daughter Susie cooed. He was. The magnificent white unicorn was on his hind legs. His long mane was flowing, embedded diamonds in his horn twinkled in the moonlight, and his whinnying was reverberating throughout our family room. Susie was in my lap. Her gorgeous blue eyes were open wide and she was smiling from ear to ear.“I think there’s more coming, Hon,” I said to...

Have you ever seen a "Snowy White Christmas”? I did one time and I did not like it at all. It was so very cold, my nose and ears almost froze! I honestly do not care, about the Christmas season. No one seems to remember, the original most magical reason All has been focused, on shopping and spending. When in fact they really should be sharing and praying The world is not a cruel, or self-centered place. It is those that a...

PART ONENaomi sat, staring out of the city bus window. She held two large, brown shopping bags on her lap. The bus was not really crowded, but she did not feel at ease. Looking out the window was her way of avoiding eye contact with the other passengers. An undercurrent of fear caused her to wrap her arms around the crumpled shopping bags. Clutching the bags close to her, she sat silent as she peered out the window. It wa...

Scurrying crowds beat down on the pavementsAnd screaming children bicker with their frustrated adults,Strangers to each other in this season of enforced cheer.Blue-white light strings buzz above the precinct,A harsh, cruel sneer to the ancient blazeOf my Christmas starAnd the drifting kisses of earthbound snow.No longer do shepherds hurry to a manger,Nor do the wise offer prophetic gifts;But teenagers gather around window...

He gave me quite a whack after I grabbed his bulging sack! (Santa left his toy bag on the floor.) IF THESE OPENING LINES EVOKE A SMILE (or better a guffaw) PLEASE CONSIDER READING THE REST OF THIS POEM. It might tickle your fancy (wherever that is)! BUT IF THEY OFFEND YOU PLEASE SKIP THIS PIECE. (You’ll think that what follows is worse!) …………..…………..….…………Depraved Christmas Misunderstandings (in its entirety) by Rantingse...

Christmas Far from Home PART ONE A cold wind swept the dirt street sending clouds of dust into the air. A few pedestrians scurried along the worn paths between the ruined buildings. Anxiety mixed with despair was the most common emotion that seemed to be etched deep into their weathered faces. Quickly they dashed across the dusty, rubble-filled street, eager to duck into the protective shadows to avoid being in the open f...

Sam trudged along the now familiar path around the storage area. Two hundred paces along the fence line, one hundred paces to the corner of the first building, two hundred fifty paces along the back of the building, and seventy-five paces back to the fence line, and then another round was complete. Forty laps, maybe even a few more, would be completed before his shift was over. Such was the life of a military security gua...

PART ONEIt’s that time again, that time again--that time between mid-November and the end of December. Yes, it is that time again, when everywhere you look, everywhere you go, you are reminded that you need to buy something for someone. That time again, when kids, momentarily, are on their best behavior in an attempt to parley or negotiate a bigger bonus of toys and other gifts. Yes, it is that time again; as the temperat...

They had the kind of love everybody wished to have. It was the kind where words unspoken between them told on their faces. One look and they knew what each other was thinking.Acelynn met Jagger when she was twenty-one. Jagger was twenty-eight. They dated for two years before getting married. During those two years, they fell madly in love. It was a time when they grew close and learned each other’s ways. All their friends...

Becky Patterson arrived at the coffee shop short of breath after hurrying from the only parking spot she'd been able to find, five blocks away. Her hair disheveled and face rosy from the brisk walk, she slid into a seat opposite her sister and gratefully accepted the mug of steaming liquid pushed toward her."Sorry I'm late. I thought I'd allowed enough time to get here, but I wasn't counting on the rush of Christmas shopp...