The Decline of Christmas

Has anyone ever thought of the fact that most of our Christmas songs and traditions are only about 75 or so years old? Doesn’t it seem like this array has just always been there, always been that way? Well, it hasn’t always been so joyous and celebrated as it came to be after World War II. Why is that? Prior to the victory of the Allies and their return to home and family, Christmas was more reserved and localized. Songs such as The Messiah and other religious hymns were in place, but jolly and more secular songs came along with popular movies, such as White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, among others were the result of a desire to make the Christmas holiday a very special time for families and friends. Dad, brother, uncle, son and military women etc. had faced the horror of war, with its death and destruction. There were sights that they could never unsee. Those who were able to return home, to their wives, husbands, sweethearts and families, wanted to erase those thoughts to the best of their ability. They had fought pure, unadulterated evil and had won. It seemed their intention to eradicate such influences in the years to come. Many of our Greatest Generation put a great deal of time and effort into making the world as right as possible, to bring as much joy as possible to those they loved. Not only did they save the world, they saved the best part of themselves and shared that desire for happiness and perfection with the making of happy stories, happy songs and familiar bliss. No one can argue that the generation of the 40s and 50’s worked very hard to create as much perfection in society as they could. It was a halcyon time that, unfortunately, will never be repeated. Television and movies had their morality department and strived to show family life as a network of love, discipline and happy endings. Father always knew best and the Donna Reed show lauded the middle-class family life. What has happened to society that it has come from the pure entertainment of those shows to today’s reality television, moral corruption and disdain of most things that relate to God and religion? In 1965, a wonderful radio announcer named Paul Harvey made an amazing prophecy on his weekly show. The title was, If I was the devil. https://lamplighter.net/c/moments/if-i-were-the-devil/ Anyone who hasn’t heard or read this far reaching piece that has come to pass in ways that no one would have guessed. One of his lines quoted from the transcript is “If I were the devil, I would make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.” How close is that? He had it nailed and 54 years later, it is true. Christmas was still reverent in the 70s, and the 80s. People dressed up, had parties, visited with family and it was a happy time. God was still the Man in Charge in the White House (mostly) and it reflected on the nation. The 90s brought us the Clintons and their version of “morality” and the great decline began for America. Now in 2019, there are fewer parties, fewer gathering of family and friends than ever. Christmas cards are not a thing anymore, just send a generic online greeting. People are well engrossed in their electronic devices. Social life and the moral pressure of society is long gone. Stores decorate for Christmas in August and begin the big sale that lasts until well after the New Year. Retailers completely pass over Thanksgiving, a uniquely American holiday from the Pilgrim days when living through the winter to harvest was an occasion for thanking Almighty God. Even Charlie Brown and his gang in Peanuts, when it aired in 1965, complained of the commercialization of Christmas, lamenting the lack of meaning for monetary gain. When Christmas songs from the 70s and 80s are played, it is depressing almost to the point of tears when a comparison is made of the warm, loving, wonderful time of those decades to today’s commercial apathy. Maybe, this is an “old folks’ rant about the good old days, but what can be gleaned from today’s lukewarm electronic holiday? America has best go back to Ronald Reagan and remember his line: “If we ever forget we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” If Christians don’t stand up and fight for our basic joys of the Lord, His sacrifice for us and the right to celebrate such, these rights will be taken away by the Liberal Left with their Atheistic and destructive ways. There are no more free countries to find with such liberties as we enjoy. They must not be lost, as they will never be found again.

The Black Horseman Part I

I am happy to announce The Black Horseman Part I by Pat Hardin. I had the opportunity to edit this great family saga and it was quite an eye opener. I happen to know that Ms. Hardin is working on the second part of this great American story about the Jones family of Paulding County Georgia. It is a story of laughter and tears as it relates to the years of 1856 to 1865. In reading this novel, I can see that the issues of these years have never fully been resolved in our country and the same viewpoints and misconceptions are still in play today. It is an excellently crafted book. The cost is $ 16.95 plus shipping and handling. It can be ordered at: theblackhorsemanv1@gmail.com

GoFundMe

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Bohemian Rhapsody - reprised - original post

I like to listen to music when I am critiquing my writing, or if I am writing. No matter if I am happy or sad, it would be safe to say that music gets me centered and in a creative mindset. It keeps sane as well. I was at my favorite coffee shop last Friday, going over a manuscript. I had my headphones on and I was in the zone. I put on the Queen channel. For you young folks, Queen was an innovative group from England that came out in the 1970’s. Their first hit was “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It featured Freddie Mercury as the lead singer. He was a powerful vocalist and could play piano with a light touch that would melt your heart. He was a dynamic entertainer, a sexually attractive man with the worst teeth that you have ever seen. Somehow, that overbite seemed to contribute to his overall charm. To say that Freddie Mercury and Queen were trailblazers in alternative music and dress etc. would be rather an understatement. In fact, some of what they did and said, I did not even understand until I was well into my thirties. (We were totally naïve growing up in the mountains of WNC.) All I knew was that I liked it. Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45 from bronchial pneumonia as a complication of AIDS. He had remained silent on his condition until the day before his death to protect those close to him. However, he went public at the last to throw the disease into the light in hopes protecting others and searching for a cure. Now, when I play the videos, I feel a vacuum has been created in the entertainment atmosphere. The award list of his professional career is too long to name, but it can be summed up in one word, talent. I miss Freddie.

Bohemian Rhapsody - reprised

I recently viewed the movie Bohemian Rhapsody about Freddie Mercury and Queen. While it was a wonderfully made movie with a very talented young actor, it is the cautionary tale of insight into those who view the world differently than the average workaday person. Their reality is on a different plane and they perceive the world with an eye for some of the visionary, beautiful things that escape most understanding. It is often incredibly sad and their existence can be lonely as they live in their own dimensions. Even with a crowd of people around them, they are alone. If you look at the genius of Freddie Mercury, Robin Williams, Hand Williams Sr. and so many more, they are beyond the pale of talent, but isolated within this scope. It is as if they are speaking a language only they understand and while they are talking, the world is enjoying their show, but no one listens to them. This is why some self medicate, to dull the pain and loneliness. In this, we should all give them a little bit of extra slack for their idiosyncrasies and habits and just try to appreciate them. When stars fall from the sky, one cannot hold it in one's hands for very long for it burns when touched and cannot be contained for long.

Screw Me Twice for a Hamburger

Gather around kids, I am going to tell you a story of a frustrating Friday night in Hiawassee Georgia. Please be aware, I am almost naming names. Sorry, it is what it is, I cannot help either of these restaurants at this time. I wanted to get my husband and me a burger and fries to go. It was Friday, I was tired, he was tired and we just wanted something to eat without too much trouble. I went to D’s. I knew it was a buffet, but they have a menu. I ordered two hamburgers with everything and fries. They were busy, so I didn’t mind waiting. However, an hour later, I had nothing. I got up to ask a waitress. She immediately brought the order out. I opened the boxes. It was obvious that the order had sat for a good while. The fries were cold and congealed. The burgers were black and they were plain, just meat and bun. I handed these back to the waitress, apologized and left her with the order. I went to the S G, where I should have gone in the first place. I ordered two bacon cheeseburgers with everything and fries. About 15 minutes later, my order appeared, hot and fresh. Great, I thought, and I headed home. My husband and I sat down at the table and opened the boxes. I picked up the lettuce and tomato, assuming that the other half of the hamburger bun would be under the vegetables. No bun top. I checked the other box. No bun top. So, in the town of Hiawassee, I was screwed over twice for something as simple as a cheeseburger! It is really a sorry state in this town when it comes to dining out. Most of the restaurants want to work banker’s hours. Some only serve dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Many are closed on Sunday and some only open Thursday, Friday Saturday. I can’t count the times I have wanted to get dinner out and could think of nowhere to go, as it was past 7, or Monday or just plain poor choices for food. Like the new steakhouse in town whose menu says that the Porterhouse for $29.00 is “Porterhouse cut of filet mignon and the Kansas City Strip.” The Kansas City Strip is the tail end on the Porterhouse. It is the best part and I love it. It had been cut off and what was left was a plain T-Bone for $ 29.00. Most of the tale I have told here is why I have to cook most every night!

RIP Sue Grafton - S is now for Sadness, but V is for Victory

Friday, December 29th, 2017, one of my favorite authors passed away. Sue Grafton, author of the “Alphabet Series” of mystery novels featuring Kinsey Millhone went from A to Y to entertain her readers. Her novels were set back in the eighties. There was no easy way to the truth. Kinsey had to go to the library or beat the streets to get all of her information. Despite the times, she always nabbed the culprit in the end while taking a beating or attempt on her life as a matter of course to get the job done. She always came out the winner. It is a sad thing to know that Y is for Yesterday will be the last submission of the adventures of Kinsey as told by Sue. A writer’s voice may be silenced by the debt that all men pay, but the legacy of their works and words will live on forever. Rest in peace dear Sue. I hope you and Kinsey are one on the other side, kicking butt and stopping the bad guys in an effort to make the world a better place.