PULLING OFF THE BAND-AID OF 2008

It's funny how long it takes us to pull all the decorations out, hang the lights, and set up all our little Christmas lawn ornaments. Taking them down though is so fast. Why is that? I went into my house last night and when I came out today, every semblance of Christmas glitter was gone from all the neighboring lawns, except my own. I was still busy in the house tinkering with my new Christmas toys. I told my friends it was like the last scene in a Santa movie where he shows up in town, everyone believes he's real, and when you go back the next day...he's gone. "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" is a good example of that, but just when she is ready to give up on her Christmas dream...it shows up. The cane being left behind is such a poignant touch. My lawn was like that cane today, all that was left of Christmas was the lawn ornaments I still had up. My little Angel and my Santa Sign were the only visions left behind, and probably tomorrow they will be gone also.

It takes a few days to let the let-down sink in and bring us back to our old selves. To some it's like pulling off a band-aid...really quick. For me, I like to savor the last few days of the year and reflect on what has come into my life, and what new things I expect for the New Year. This is going to be a big year for me...I've made my goals and prayed my prayers, set my plans in motion, and can't wait to see them evolve from the dreams they came in. It took some time, but I never lost hope, and I know that this is the year I reap the rewards of my work.

What kind of plans have you made? Have you set a mission statement for your business or even for your personal life? You can get a little help with it on one of my other blogs MASTER BOOKS Nightingale Conant has one where you can just fill in the blanks and it helps to put all the pieces together. Make it a commitment this year to write one, let it be your New Year's Resolution. It will give you a much better idea of what to expect from yourself by this time next Year. Give it a try.





GOOGLE

SANTA IS IN TOWN

GOOGLE
Good thing we got the snow plowed away for Santa to arrive in our neck of the woods today. Here in Norton, Santa is making a stop over at Joe Carlino's house, where he will be handing out presents and finding out what all the children want for Christmas this year. Joe and Santa are great friends, and I'm sure the kids will all enjoy a moment to catch his ear about their holiday wishes.

CHRISTMAS IN NORTON

GOOGLE
The lights are up and last week the planets were aligned. Here in the East we were able to see the crescent moon and the two planets (Jupiter and Neptune), looking like a frown face, while Australia got to see a smiley face in their neck of the woods. Thank God the neighbors have all hung their lights and put out their decorations, because I won’t settle for a frowning face in our neck of the woods. My good neighbor Joe has his Christmas Village aligned, so no one at this end of town is looking at the frown face any longer. The week before Christmas, Santa Claus will be visiting Joe’s Christmas Village and the children in this little neck of the woods will be getting some little goodies from Santa. Nothing so significant, as a new video game or game system, but a token to put a simple smile on their faces,. To remind them of the joy of Christmas, and the birth of Jesus. There is a twinkle in Joe’s eye…wonder what he’s up to. It seems he and Santa have a lot in common…I guess we’ll see. The one thing I know for sure, there will be some smiling faces around him this year. And as soon as I can get my computer to release the photos I have taken of his village, I’ll post them here for you.

CHRISTMAS BANNED IN BOSTON

Image by Stéfan via FlickrGOOGLE
I was at a friends house a little while ago and they had Channel 524 on Comcast, Traditional Holiday Music. It's actually nice to hear the music in the background, but they have different, dated, memories, and facts about Christmas all over the world from different centuries. I was shocked to learn that Christmas was banned in Boston in 1659-1681. It stood as a law for 22 years. I can't imagine no Christmas, and being a resident of Boston, really hits home. No Christmas when I was growing up would have been unbelievable. Those are the most precious holiday memories to me. I was very young and believed in Santa Claus, and I lived to go to (Jordan Marsh) Macy's in Boston every year to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what I wanted for Christmas. We always got a gift, and I remember how hard it was not to open it on the train ride home.
In my neighborhood this year, we are reviving that tradition. We have all ordered extra special Christmas lighting and gifts for all the kids, and we have the perfect Santa. Our Friend Joe is the man for the job. His lights are already up and his village is booming with Santa, snowmen, reindeer, and every other traditional lawn ornament to get the children in the spirit. Nothing will be turned on until Thanksgiving evening but we will all be ready. A neighborhood of lights and Christmas Spirit. I can't imagine the mind set that came up with the idea to ban Christmas, or anything else that gives our children so much joy and fills the hearts of all with peace and goodwill. But, according to this blog I found, it is true...
Well, not in my neighborhood, this year, because we won't let that happen. The lights are up and we are just waiting to cue the music for the magic to happen.
We should all make this a year to remember. We have a new Presidency and a new new mind set across the country, and possibly the world, so our hearts should render that feeling to whatever extreme makes our children laugh and our neighbors smile. It has been a long time since this country was happy. But I think that my neighbor Joe will be changing that around here this year.