tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28505049806976490712024-02-07T15:53:14.896-08:00Mind Over MattersThe periodic musings of George Gagliardi — songwriter, musician, poet and pilgrim.Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-81899098916485713062020-12-11T12:19:00.003-08:002020-12-11T12:19:35.979-08:00<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Algerian, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas
Letter 2020</span></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #009900;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas
Greetings, Friends,</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">To
call this year a difficult one would be not only an understatement but
certainly pointing out the obvious as well. There's not a lot of
events to relate under the heading of “things I did this year”.
What did transpire was a streak of productivity that is nothing short
of remarkable – and I'm the first to recognize that I dare not take
total credit for it. As I'm fond of saying regarding this outpouring
– the Spirit has been busy. Since April 1<sup>st</sup>, as of
December 9<sup>th</sup>, I've written, and posted on Facebook, 44
brand new songs. It is without a doubt the most prolific streak I've
ever had. It also has been a saving grace for me. Being able to write
songs as a response to the current craziness of the world has made a
huge difference in how I've survived. As a result of my songwriting
I've been able to maintain some sense of purpose, to view my songs as
my way of trying to add something positive to the mix. And in some
cases, maybe even minister to people through them. In addition, it's
been a bonus, having an immediate audience for them which has fed the
desire to write more and so the writing has fed the posting and the
posting has fed the writing, etc.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">I
thought I'd share a piece this year that I posted as a recitation on
Facebook a few weeks ago. It is my way of sharing a longing to see
the best of the season taking center stage, as opposed to the chaos
and darkness that is trying to usurp all the goodness of what
Christmas represents. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">Speaking
of such, I actually had a kind of “aha” moment the other night
when I was out with some friends – quite a rarity these days – at
a pizza place. While I was waiting for them show up the piped in
music played the Andy Williams hit, “Most Wonderful Time of the
Year”. In a knee jerk sort of fashion my thoughts went to thinking
“what joke” that is this year. Then … I stopped and
reconsidered my reaction. True, this Christmas doesn't feel that
wonderful but the season itself still is. All that's good about
Christmas is still just as good even if it's kind of buried this
year. A baby's birth, a birth that changed the world is still worth
celebrating, isn't it? I would say yes it is.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">So
in the spirit of all that, here is this year's contribution.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Algerian, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I Could be Santa Claus</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I could be Santa Claus</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now
I don't mean dress up like Him</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Put
on the suit, the beard, the cap</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
just pretend to be </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No
I mean if I could somehow</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bridge
the make believe gap </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Between
dreams and reality</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not
question how such things can happen</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just
simply let myself get caught up</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
a world where </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
could live the fantasy</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I could be </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Santa
Claus</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
know toys can't always</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fix
a broken heart</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
it's a start</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
I promise you </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
would do my very best </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To
do my part</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So
every single child </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who
had a Christmas wish</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who,
believing filled out</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their
very own Christmas list</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Would
discover beneath their tree</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A
present straight from me</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No
one would be forgotten</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No
one would be forsaken</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Come
Christmas morn</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
the new day dawned</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every
hopeful child would awaken</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To
know that I'd been there</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
Santa loved them</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Santa
cared</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No
tears but only smiles </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For
every child </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
this troubled world</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Plenty
to eat on Christmas day</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For
every boy and every girl</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There
would be so much joy and laughter</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
angels would be singing </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Harking
all their heralds</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">'Till
the Heavens would be ringing</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
of course, I'd pay attention</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
wouldn't dare forget</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd
be quick to mention</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whose
birthday it really is</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not
my holiday, but His</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I could be Santa Claus</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
promise you this</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
I delivered every present</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd
remember the greatest gift</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Came
from up above</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A
tiny baby in a manger</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wrapped
up </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like
a Christmas surprise </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because
of Our Father's boundless love</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I could be Santa Claus</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Though
I am just a man</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd
try and understand</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
it means to give of yourself</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So
that each and every little one </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Would
know they are loved</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
I'd smile as watched </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Their
hearts filling up</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For
on this day</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas
day</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every
child would </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Have
more than enough</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
a miraculous blessing</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
would be for me</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
I really and truly</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Could
be </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Santa
Claus</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Algerian, fantasy;"><span style="font-size: medium;">George
Gagliardi, December, 2020</span></span></span></p>Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-76285016975944355772020-07-29T13:55:00.001-07:002020-07-29T13:55:31.102-07:00<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Untitled .. For Now</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm not an “ism”, or an “ist”
or an “ite”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sometimes I might be in the middle
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the left or on the right</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Some may on occasion extol me</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Others try to pigeon-hole me</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And tell me that “the Bible
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Told me so”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They've figured out</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What I'm about</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What they don't know</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They assume somehow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well, I'm not a category or cause</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Or a commodity</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm a man</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As simple and as confounding as any
other</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If you must insist on labels</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Put 'em on cans</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Don't put 'em on me</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Don't put 'em on people</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For when you do
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Before too long you'll discover</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You took the easy way out</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not takin' time to listen or pay
attention</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Or understand or go walkin' in their
shoes</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Let me ask you, friend ...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Have you been where I have been?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Seen what I have seen?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Learned what I have learned</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Spent the time I spent</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Playin' pick and choose</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By findin' what to keep</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And what to lose?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No, you haven't but neither have I</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Been there to wipe away the tears that
you cry</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When you sat there lonely
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When you had to say good-bye</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Or been there to answer you</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When you wondered how long or why</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Nobody that walks this earth is either
a this or a that</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><u><b>Just</b></u></i><b> </b>a
Republican, <i><u><b>Just</b></u></i><b> </b>a Democrat</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The sooner we all get a hold of</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And learn to respect
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Thatwe're all walking contradictions</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Much more than charts and diagrams</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
No indeed, we're much more complex</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So let be me and I'll let you be you</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Like Paul said, “Let It Be”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
That's the least that we can do</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Love your neighbor as themselves</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Don't say they've got to be</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Somebody else</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Allow them to be</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As free as you as wanna be</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For Christ's sake</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(And I mean it in the truest sense )</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Then and only then</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Can we begin to celebrate His love
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For all humanity</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
George Gagliardi, July 2020</div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-29748921178042288782020-07-19T20:37:00.000-07:002020-07-19T20:37:21.891-07:00<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
From a Prodigal --- Forty
Years Later</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By George Gagliardi</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Hi, I’m Benjamin but my pals call
me Benny. You probably know me better by a nickname I acquired
several years ago -- the Prodigal Son. Jesus even told a story about
me. That was about twenty years ago now. I thought maybe I might take
a few moments to give you my perspective on the story, not trying to
change it at all but maybe “flesh” it out a bit more. And I most
certainly am not wanting to put a spin on it – truth is truth, my
Dad taught me that, one of the few lessons I learned early on that
actually stuck.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So there I am, 20 years old,
bursting at the seams. Dying to see what the rest of the world is
like. Because I know what my world here is like, in two words –
boring and dull. And I start thinking about how I can leave, that
maybe there’s a way to talk Dad into letting me have my share of my
inheritance now. Who knows how long I’ll live but I’m alive now
and chomping at the bit to get out of this place so why not ask him.
As for my brother, Zack, he seems to be content living here, working
the farm, doing the chores, living a simple country life. For him
that’s fine, but not for me, I want more out of life than that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One day I decide I’ve had it and
“come hell or high water” I’m going to escape this farm and
everything about it. I’m nervous when it comes to talking to Dad
about my inheritance but I figure it’s not a big deal, after all
I’m entitled to it. Didn’t he say I would be getting it when he
died? So why not let me have it now.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
(Now let me interrupt my own
narrative to point out my first bad move long before I’d even
packed my suitcase – Being entitled. I was a spoiled kid who didn’t
have a clue about how well I had it. I felt I deserved to have what I
wanted now. This was a huge mistake on my part.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well, if you remember the story,
Dad gave me what I asked for – not because I deserved it but
because he realized how unhappy I was. To his credit he wasn’t
angry with me but I could readily see the disappointment in his eyes
as he gave me my share. Me, I wasn’t unaware of his feelings but I
was so excited to finally have a way to get away that I shoved those
feelings out of the way in favor of leaving for new adventures.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next stop – the far country. – or
in this case, LA.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I won’t give you all the gory
details of the rise and fall of a virginal, young, naïve farm boy
with money living in the Big City – but the key word here is naive.
At first I experienced the freedom I had been yearning for. I did
almost anything I wanted to do – you name it and I did it. No one
said I couldn’t or shouldn’t. As for the voice of Dad in my head
saying no – I just ignored that. Then the money ran out, along with
my so-called friends. Then it got ugly and I got desperate. I was
about a step away from being homeless, cleaning out the toilets at a
seedy bar for a free meal a day, when I began to think that maybe I
should swallow what was left of my pride and go back home. Guys that
worked for my Dad had it a hell of a lot better than I did. The more
I thought about it the more sense it made. Then one night the bar got
held up and I had gun pointed at me. Luckily I didn’t get shot. The
guy just took the money and left.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Man, that did it. I knew I wanted to
get out of LA as quickly as possible. The next morning I got a lift
as far out of LA as I could get and started to hitchhike back home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On the way back I had plenty of
time to think about what I would say to my Dad when I saw him. It was
short but sincere. “I’m sorry Dad, I messed up big time, I don’t
blame you if you’re still upset with me. I’m not asking for the
privileges of a son but maybe if you could let me work for you, I’d
do my best to be a really good worker.”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I must have said that to myself
over a hundred times while I was out there on the road waiting for a
ride. Eventually I found myself on the rural road a mile and a half
from the homestead. It was the longest road I had ever walked. I was
so full of dread and fear that I almost turned around. But I didn’t
and I’m so glad I didn’t.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I had my head down staring at the
gravel road that led up to our farm when I heard my name being
shouted “Benjamin, Benjamin. Is that you son?” I looked up and
here came dad running full tilt right at me. I stopped but he kept on
running and almost knocked me over. Gave me a great big bear hug –
and my dad is a big, strapping guy so when he hugs you know you’ve
been hugged – and was crying. So I started to say my speech “I’m
so sorry Dad, I messed up …”
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
He wouldn’t let me finish. “Not
now. We don’t need to talk about that now. You’re home, you’re
alright. That’s all that matters.” And I wept, felt his strong
arms around me and hugged him back. I can promise you I have never
felt more loved in my entire life than I did in that moment.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Some of the farm hands came running
out to say hello and Dad told them to spread the word that we were
going to have a party that night in honor of my return. I was
speechless, to say the least.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Had a great time that night –
laughing, seeing old friends, chowing down on Grandma’s fried
chicken, recounting tales about my time in LA, (only the rated PG
parts, of course) and generally basking in the joy of being home
again. Home.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sorry to say Zack didn’t want to
come to the party. I suspect he was pretty upset about Dad making
such a big fuss over my being back. I figured he would have just
shown up to smirk and say “I told you so.” – Zack’s like
that. Too bad, really. I would have liked to told him how much I had
learned. Mostly, how foolish I had been to think I knew more than our
Dad when it came to what the world is really like.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here I am now, wiser I would hope,
but honest enough to admit a few things.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
First off --when things were good
in LA I was having great time and thought no more about going home
than going to the Moon. It was only when the money ran out that I
finally had to face the choices I had made and consequences of those
choices.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Second thing would be this, I
learned things about myself, about people and relating to others –
what really matters and what doesn’t. And honestly, I’m not sure
I would have learned them if I’d stayed home – maybe so, maybe
not. So do I advocate everyone should be as hair-brained and as
reckless as I was? Nope. But I do say this, some people have to
wander away to the “far country” in order to truly appreciate
what it means to be at “home’ with who they are and who they’re
meant to be. Hard lessons to be sure but valuable lessons all the
same. Thank the Lord there’s Grace for those of us who do get lost
in the “far country” and need to come home and that includes all
of us.</div>
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<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-25228795049070839642020-07-16T18:38:00.002-07:002020-07-16T18:38:44.511-07:00What's in a Name?<br />
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<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">What's in a
Name?</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">By George
Gagliardi</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Hey, Stan
ole boy, ready to go? Time to expose all your dirty thoughts.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Stanbrick
Bumble, chief researcher for The Project, looked up, looked annoyed
and went back to peering through the scanscopium. Damn, the luck,
leave it to his loud mouth pal to interrupt him. And just when he was
so close to being closer than he'd been all week to discovering …</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Stan, you
can't put it off, you know. Best go and get it over with.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bumble
heaved a disgusted sigh. “Brunswick, I do wish you …</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Not
Brunswick. I've changed it again.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Again?”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, his
friend replied, a satisfied smirk on his cherubic face. “I'm now to
be called Horseshoe Muck.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Very
well, I shall call you Horseshoe Muck.” He paused. “And just how
long will you keep this one?”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, I
don't know. Until I get tired of it, I guess.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bumble
removed his regulation Magna-Carbohyde work gloves, placed them
carefully on the table, got up from his chair and donned his lime
green, company issued lab coat. He hated to wear it while he was
actually working, it was two sizes too big.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Fine, he
thought. If his dim-witted pal wants to change his name every hour,
why should I care? What did it matter? He'd been taught years ago
that names were unimportant. That was Lesson #5 in the Great Book of
10 Lessons – the first of many required readings from The
Corporation. Lesson #4 was never forget your designated registry code
(his was HA!2QBniptu?) and Lesson #5 was names are unimportant. If
you had any questions about any of the Lessons you only had to refer
to Lesson #1 – “The Corporation makes the rules and the rules
are always right.” Very simple, easy to follow. Nothing to get
perterbed about or to become unsatisfied with. Bumble liked things
simple. Life flowed much better when things were simple – although
he did think this weekly trip to the Brain Unit Testing Oxytron,
BUTOX for short, seemed to come at the most inconvenient times. Oh,
bother, best go and get it over with.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He and
Horseshoe walked down the drab, narrow hallway and waited in line.
One by one, each man and woman climbed into the skylifter and was
transported up to the cold, impersonal room where BUTOX was waiting.
At last it was Bumble's turn. He rode up to the top level, entered
the room and after stating his name, sat down in front of the mammoth
machine. He knew the routine by heart. First you removed your
glasses, then you pressed your face into a soft, spongy kind of
substance which helped cradle your head. As you did this BUTOX read
your thoughts for the past week and examined them to determine if
your brain was operating at an appropriate level. In other words,
were your thoughts productive or did you spend too much time thinking
about those things that The Corporation deemed wasteful.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Different
colors indicated different levels, with blue being the lowest and
orange being the highest. If you were at level orange you were
considered a credit to the system and given what The Corporation
insisted on calling “Brown Nose” points – Bumble assumed that
was because the spongy substance from the BOTOX left just a tiny
smudge on the tip of one's nose, if you pressed too hard.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He was proud
to say that he generally tested on the orange level. Moreover he
couldn't understand why his pal insisted on bringing up the fact that
he earned way too many “brown nose points” – as if it were
something he should be ashamed of. No matter. He was pleased that The
Corporation was pleased with his record</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">He was
mulling this over, feeling very proud of himself as he and Horseshoe
walked back to their respective labs. Horseshoe spoke up.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I
guess you tested in orange again, didn't you mister “Brown Nose”
king.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bumble
smiled. “Yes, I did. And you?” Knowing well his pal would have
tested much lower.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Just
barely made the blue level – as if you're surprised.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bumble
stopped and turned toward his errant pal, a stern look on his face.
“I keep telling you not to spend so much time in the
Holio-Archives. They are there to be used striclty for research and
not entertainment.” They continued walking.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, but
Stan, you should see what I've found out about the Old World. It
would curl your hair, that is if you had any. For instance there's a
section on how females ...”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Bumble
raised his hand. “I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear
it”. He arrived at his lab door.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">If you
want to waste your time and continue to stay at the level you are,
that's your decision. After all The Corporation made it clear in
Lesson #7, 'You are only responsible to yourself and The Corporation,
no one else.' I was merely pointing out that I believe your wasting
your life – I only say this because we're friends and would like to
see you excel while you're here.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Besides, my
name changing under achiever, I would think you would want to give
due consideration to the fact that The Coporation has been known to
make adjustments if needed – people do get sent to other sectors.
True, you may be Zero Minus and, yes, I'm well aware that's the
highest rating you can have. Even so you'd be wise to watch your
extravagant behavior. That's all I'm going to say. He paused before
opening the lab door.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">One other
thing … if you persist in these mindless explorations – I would
advise you not to do anything stupid or reckless”. He cautiously
looked both ways and then spoke softly. “Remember what happened to
Mackelbait?” </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Then he went
inside and closed the door, took off his lab and sat down. Now why on
earth did I say that.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Outside his
friend smiled a small smile, remarking to no one in particular,
“Stan, old buddy, if you only knew. If you only knew.” Then he
sauntered down the hall whistling some ancient children's song –
one he'd discovered while prowling through the Holio-Archives. It had
something to do with the Big Bad Wolf. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-12317797470371130692020-07-16T18:35:00.001-07:002020-07-16T18:35:30.063-07:00Theo Love<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Theo
Love and the Frightened Canary</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">By
George Gagliardi</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">It
was Monday, late afternoon, about twilight. The sun was like a big
orange ball, lazily but deliberately performing his daily
disappearing act. There was a kind of nice, warm, amber blanket
covering the city as the shadows made dark, jigsaw-puzzle patterns on
the grey, stone faces of the skyscrapers.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Looking
out my third-story window I could see the bright red blinkin’ neon
“Repent or Die” sign high atop the Temple of Perpetual Guilt (and
24-hour bookstore).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Quite
an operation, that place. I could tell you stories … and every one
of them true.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">You’d
be surprised how many people wind up there. Why?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Because
it gives them a chance to feel bad so they can feel good about
feelin’ bad so they can feel good again … at least until their
next visit.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">You
figure it out – but then again I’m not surprised by much in this
crazy world, especially when it comes to religion. I’ve seen ’em
come and I’ve seen ’em go, and let me tell you, people will do
just about anything to discover the answer – whatever that means.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">How
do I know so much? It’s my business to know – I’m Theo Love,
spiritual troubleshooter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Like
I said, nothing shakes me for very long, so when this lovely, lean
blonde glided into my office, I took it in stride.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
took it in about two or three strides, but then I have a small
office.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Let
me describe her to you. She had a set of physical blueprints that
would prompt Solomon to rewrite his song or at least add a sequel.
One look at her up close and my brain was playin’ hopscotch with my
libido. My sex drive was in fourth gear, and …</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Well,
you get the idea, don’t you?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">After
I stopped salivating and managed to slow my heartbeat down to normal,
we talked a while. The more we talked, the more it became clear what
was wrong. The girl was in trouble, “Big” trouble.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Seems
someone was slowly but surely tryin’ to pull the plug on her
self-image and he was usin’ the oldest trick in the book – The
Put Up and Shut Up Scam.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Pretty
simple, really. Some guy with a pickled set of presuppositions and a
misguided mission convinces his victim that she’s bound by God to
put up with his particular brand of spiritual mumbo-jumbo. Then
gradually he gets her to begin believin’ that her place in matters
of leadership is to simply shut up.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Poor
kid, my heart went out to her, and I promised I’d do whatever I
could to help her out. I meant it too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
gave me a name, Rev. Billy Bob Coldheart. It wasn’t much of a lead,
but at least it was a place to start.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">As
she got up to leave, I took her hand, looked deep into those
beautiful “baby blues” and in my best Sir Galahad manner told her
not to worry, that I’d take care of everything.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">She
was walkin’ out the door when I said it. Nothin’ planned, just a
crazy kind of phrase that came to mind in that moment –</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-size: medium;">He’s
lookin’ at you, kid.” I’m not sure, but I think maybe she
smiled … and so did I.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
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</div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-40624291248637903042019-12-25T07:16:00.001-08:002019-12-25T07:16:38.141-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If
Only We Had Known<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaac -- It was tax time in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
were busy as we had ever been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Naomi --Folks came from miles
around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Descended on our quiet town<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--
Not a single place, not a single room<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Could
be found<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not even at our little
crowded inn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
--They showed up at our door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ragged, cold and poor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N --I could see the girl, barely past her
teens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Was
with child and just about due<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I -- I felt bad for them, we both did<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But what were we to do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There was no place to put
them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There simply was no room<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both --And we stood there, not quite willing
to shut the door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Bewildered and confused<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I --Then mama said to me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">N --“What about the stable?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I --“The stable? That dirty,
smelly place”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">N --“Well, it’s better than
leaving them on the street”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I --I thought for a moment,
“I guess you’re right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I have to agree, though it’s
just a step above the street<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If you ask me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">N
--“You kids wait here<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ll go fetch a blanket so at
least you’ll have a bed”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I --And I’ll put down some hay to soften the
ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s the least I can do so at
least you can lay down<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N --And while you’re at it, clean out that
trough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This
mother may need it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I --Clean out the trough, where the animal
feed, it …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
she gave me that look (Kathy give him that look)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Okay, okay, I’ll do what you
ask<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Together we got busy to see
to our tasks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Both
--Now let’s pause for a moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">For those who would judge us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I --“You should have saved a
room for them” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N --Assuming that we knew <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Both --But we truly did know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We didn’t have a clue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So let us ask you friend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What would you have done,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If it was up to you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">(Sung)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If
only we had known<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">They’d be coming to our inn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We would have done our very
best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">To
treat them as our welcomed guest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The royal treatment, nothing
less<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We would have saved a room
for them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">If
only we had seen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What the shepherds saw that
night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Choirs of angels, dazzling
lights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A glorious, breath taking
sight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Just like some kind of
wonderful heavenly dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But
we didn’t know, we could not see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
did not realize<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">This birth would be a Holy
birth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Blessed One, The promised King, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Lord of life, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God’s tiny precious Son <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Still
we did what we could<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We offered them a place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s wasn’t much at all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We’re both ashamed to say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But deep within our hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We believe, we pray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God understands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We were willing to care<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And though a stable was no
place for him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">He truly honored us and
blessed us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On that starry, magical,
mid-winter night <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In a manger there<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">O Holy Night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi, December,
2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-22968835635999476772019-04-18T12:53:00.001-07:002019-04-18T12:56:55.007-07:00<br />
<div class="Section1">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #6600ff; font-family: "broadway"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Easter</span><span style="color: #6600ff; font-family: "berlin sans fb";"> </span><span style="color: #6600ff; font-family: "berlin sans fb"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is something a
bit different for this Easter. I guess you could say it’s unapologetically
religious because … well it is. I decided to go the route of creating a lyric
that resembles some of the old gospel songs – hence the title. The reason – I
felt led to write it that way. Now it’s true, for those of you who know me,
that usually I’ll bend over backwards to avoid anything that sounds too
churchy, lest it be dismissed as being just that. But you know, even some
non-believers enjoy Hank Williams “I Saw the Light” so I figured I was on safe
ground with this one. Now the music is not written yet but imagine the up beat
sound of something like “I’ll Fly Away”. Anyway, hope you like it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "estrangelo edessa"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A New “Ole Time” Gospel Song—“I Believe It”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="Section2">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We talk about resurrection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Bout comin’ back to life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Bout greetin’ a grand
and glorious mornin’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a long and lonely,
bitter night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talk about resurrection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Bout a man who was
crucified<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how God just raised
him up again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Savior, Jesus Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And I believe it, man I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ask me why, I won’t hesitate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe it ‘cause of faith <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe it, yes I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d try and prove if I could<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But even then wouldn’t do no good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Unless you truly understood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some things are too true not to be good news<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For those who need it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And we all need it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And I believe it, yes, I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bridge<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m the first to say that to some this seems like a fairy tale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">An act of wishful thinking, more or less<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But I’ve seen God take a life that was dead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And turn that life around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">‘Cause resurrection is what He does the best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Chorus<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And I believe it, man I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ask me why, I won’t hesitate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe it ‘cause of faith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe it, yes I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d try and prove if I could<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But even then wouldn’t do no good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Unless you truly understood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some things are too true not to be good news<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For those who need it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And we all need it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And I believe it, yes, I believe it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Happy Easter, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-10816042920423748942019-02-13T18:46:00.001-08:002019-02-13T18:49:30.090-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2jqS_x7GjiR2v4YL91E-0mOdYj6Upi3bx0yxHYWIVZDaiA0urrv_sYyrYQ5k7XOU0WnPe5u_2rx2uqOMg9wOfzV8Yn_FuIjpq4cg94Hd7_fRllPVkLcvy8bmesAWNEDc8F2Wd-rn/s1600/VDnote1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2jqS_x7GjiR2v4YL91E-0mOdYj6Upi3bx0yxHYWIVZDaiA0urrv_sYyrYQ5k7XOU0WnPe5u_2rx2uqOMg9wOfzV8Yn_FuIjpq4cg94Hd7_fRllPVkLcvy8bmesAWNEDc8F2Wd-rn/s1600/VDnote1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-39297744636354657062018-12-13T22:02:00.001-08:002018-12-13T22:02:44.042-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ye</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="color: red;">Olde </span><span style="color: green;">Annual </span><span style="color: red;">Christ</span><span style="color: green;">mas </span><span style="color: red;">Epistle</span> … <span style="color: #003300;">From Me<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d have to say that this year has been far from uneventful –
maybe one event too many when it comes to health and such but two stints in my
heart later and I’m still functioning. doing my musical routines, etc. Now I’m
not back to 100% but thanks to 36 weeks of rehab, I’m on the mend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still writing songs, playing piano, guitar,
banjo (and a little bit of tenor sax – very little), working with some great
Dallas musicians and volunteering three times a week at Presby Hospital (now
known as Texas Health Resources Hospital). I liked Presby better, it was
shorter to say. Wonder-filled times in that place -- happy to be able to play
piano for the folks there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for as Big News, let’s see … apart from
health issues, I mean. Did a lot of traveling in the Fall – Grand Rapids to see
Art Prize then in November a trip to Indianapolis to see my long time pal,
Ashli Cartwright-Peak; later than month I was in Denver to have my annual
Thanksgiving visit with Janice’ Moore and this month I’m off to New England to
celebrate Christmas with The Duckett clan. And of course there’s my work with
Kiddz on Stage I did in Winnsboro back in July and my work with Spotlight
Players (formerly Jesters) here in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>.
So I have plenty to keep me out of trouble – not that it does – but I have a truly
rich, full life with tons of blessings to be thankful for – including you my
dear friends. Now let’s move onward to this year’s musing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339933; font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 18.0pt;">Merry
Christmas, World<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.0pt;">All right everybody who wants to
emphasize death and destruction, heartache and heartbreak plus misery and
general unhappiness at Christmas time raise your hand. … Me neither. Oh there
might be some out there but not too many of you, those who read my meanderings
year after year, would qualify for that group. Fact is most of us don’t want to
“go there”--<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>people are inclined to say these days. Of
course we don’t have to “go there”, mainly because that sort of news is<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u> here</u></i>, it’s all around us,
everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had our fair share of Bad
News for the year. Enough already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I’ve got Good News for you – it’s
called Christmas. And it’s all about Good News. Now I will hasten to add that I
intentionally look forward to being reminded of the promise and possibility of
the season. Hence the following bit of rhythm and rhyme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Where did <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:city></st1:place> get the idea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">That Christmas time is a perfect time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">For celebrating goodness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">What made them decide that happy endings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Would be prime ingredients for a hit flick?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">That people getting together and loving
each other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like an idealized family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Would sell tickets and melt hearts and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Make us warm and fuzzy down deep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">They’ve learned to package magic and
miracles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Whether in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bedford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Falls</st1:placetype></st1:place>
or on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">34<sup>th</sup> Street</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">While some can’t abide such so called
treacle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Indeed there’s a whole lot of people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like me, who think peddling hope<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">And the idea that dreams <u>can</u> come
true<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Is one of the nicer notions to present to
the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">But where on earth did they get that idea?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Where on earth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Isn’t there something touching, you might
even say “feel good” about that story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">When you truly stop and ignore all the
nay-sayers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">All the folks who say,”Man, that sort of make
believe is way out of style”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">When you get past all that, doesn’t the
story still bring an almost childlike smile to our face …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">A baby, a manger, Angels singing Gloria<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Shepherds in the fields, Wise men with
treasures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Even <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place></st1:city>
can’t top that for an epic event<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">And don’t forget the bright shining star
overhead<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">The one that led the seekers to find the
Christ child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s the stuff of miracles and if I may
permitted so say so<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Magical moments to hold close on a cold
winter night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">When darkness is far too real<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">And there seems to be very little light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">But at least enough to light our way<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">To take a step and then another<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Believing as best we can<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Trying to understand who we are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Remembering once more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">That once upon time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was a birth and it was no fairy tale<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">It was a night of magic and miracles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">So big, so fantastic even Cecil B.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Couldn’t have captured it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yet so unassuming, so fraught with
something as simple and tender<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">As a young couple’s love for their newborn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">And the most miraculous of all <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here was God’s way of saying to all of us
--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: green; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in;">“I Give you the most precious gift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: green; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in;">Anyone has ever given<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: green; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in;">Here is my beloved son, Jesus …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; color: green; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in;">Merry Christmas, World”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merry Christmas and all the best to you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi, December, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-43107254616317525522018-03-30T16:42:00.001-07:002018-03-30T16:42:25.310-07:00Easter 2018<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 20.0pt;">Easter 2018</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure I’m not the
only who noticed that Easter and April Fool’s day fall on the same day this
year. So in the spirit of the two days coming together, as it were, I’ve
concocted something a bit different for this year’s contribution. It’s part
whimsy, part nonsense and maybe a part … worth pondering. I’ve entitled this
bit of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“word – processing” “Interview
with The Easter Bunny” or “Session at Pete’s Hutch”. (With a nod to Henry
Mancini)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scene – A well appointed study, with all the
accoutrements that befits a successful individual -- Nothing shabby about these
surroundings, to be sure. My interview subject is seated behind the large,
impressive solid mahogany desk. Well dressed in his casual best, smoking a
pipe, very much at home in this setting – almost reminding one of a kind of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… (wait for it) “Playboy” bunny, if you will.
(Or maybe not.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.Gee
– So, Mister Cottontail or would you rather I address you as the Easter Bunny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – You can just call me Pete – no need
for formalities when I’m not out on a gig.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.Gee – Okay, Pete. Tell me, what’s it
like to be the Easter Bunny. To have kids all excited about seeing you come
around every year – maybe even leave an Easter egg or two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – I’ll tell you, the kids are the best
part of the job. (Pause) Well that and all the benefits I get from folks like
Hallmark, Whitman candies, Hershey – you know the ones that I endorse year
after year. I didn’t buy this hutch with a bushel full of carrots, I’ll tell
you that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.Gee – Yes, I can see you’ve done quite well
for yourself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – Yes, but not nearly as well as my
cousin, Eric. Man, he struck it rich when they decided to use him as the mascot
for a certain magazine. But let’s not talk about that. (Leans down to whisper)
After all I’m sure some of your readers might care to “go there”. Know I mean?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.Gee – Yes, Pete, I do. And I
appreciate your sensitivity to such things. Speaking of sensitivity, I need to
bring up something that hope is not a sore spot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – A sore spot?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me --<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well I’m talking about the rivalry between you and you know who?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – You mean Bugs?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me – No, I’m not talking about Bugs Bunny. I
was referring to … um, Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter (Reacts) Jesus Christ? You think we’re
rivals, do you? Well, pal let me set you straight on that right now. WE ARE NOT
RIVALS.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me – Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you though
I did warn you it might be a sore spot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – Oh, I’m not sore. I’m just dumbfounded
how anyone could consider us, would consider us rivals. I’m at best a fun
distraction for kids mostly – playful, entertaining and some might say I’m
cute. But Jesus … (long pause) Jesus is much more than that. (Leans back in his
chair) Listen most of the guys that know me would say I’m not much of religious
type but come on, you’ve got to give credit where credit is due. Jesus did
something no else had ever done before, will ever do or can ever do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me – You’re talking about coming back from the
dead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – Exactly. No one but no one has every
done that before – because no one else can.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me – Well, Mr. Cotton … I mean, Pete, how is
it that you’re as prominent in some people’s mind as Jesus is when it comes to
Easter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pete Okay, I’ll try and answer that as
briefly as I can since I don’t want to bore you with history – I don’t have
time for that anyway but here’s a crash course in the origins <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of how I came to be associated with Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
started back in ancient times with a pagan holiday and folks paying tribute to
the goddess of spring. They felt led to set aside a season to celebrate this
time when new growth happened- in other words a time to celebrate fertility.
Well we rabbits have been identified with that sort of thing for while now and
so it was only natural later on that they chose to use my tribe as a symbol.
Later after church decided to use that same pagan day to recognize the resurrection
of Jesus my ancestors sort came along as part of the package. And we’ve been a
part of that particular season ever since.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Gee – Yes, I know that the same
sort of scenario has been played out when it comes to Christmas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – Same thing. Pagan holiday,
that’s a big deal, the church comes along and says let’s choose that day to
celebrate the birth of Jesus. Saint Nicholas becomes identified with the season
and the birth of Jesus winds up getting lost in all the hoopla. Mr. C and I
have spent many evening talking about this. But hey, it’s a money maker (shrugs
his shoulders) whatcaha gonna do. Folks seem to have a way of making the
significant insignificant and vice versa. Of course I can’t complain, I’ve done
alright by it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Gee – Indeed you have. Anything else you’d like to add?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – Only this – I’m all about
pretending. All about imagination and fantasy – about wishful thinking, as it
were. Jesus is not about any of that. To get the two of us mixed up is …
Hare-brained (winks) if you know what I mean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Gee – I do. Thanks for your time,
Pete.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter – You’re welcome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon it will be Easter Sunday –
Resurrection or Foolishness? You get a very clearly defined opportunity to
emphasize one or the other this Sunday—which may well be like a kind of living
parable, I think. This kind of dividing line puts me in mind of an old quote I
remember, which seems appropo’ this year and it goes something like this “I’m a
fool for Christ, who’s fool are you?” I’d say that sort of goes along with
Dylan’s song “You Gotta Serve Somebody”. Indeed we do. Resurrection – faith or
fairytale. It’s always up to us to decide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Harrington; font-size: 18.0pt;">Happy Easter</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Brush Script MT"; font-size: 18.0pt;">George
Gagliardi</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -30.0pt;">
<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-55178119453538928182017-12-12T11:05:00.002-08:002017-12-12T11:05:41.141-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Christmas 2017</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">This past year has been good, overall, but
there’s been one too many trips to the ER for my taste. But thank God,
literally, I’m still here and those issues apparently are resolved – stay tuned
for further developments. (Like I could do something about it!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s been a lot of music, merriment and
adventures with plenty of travel opportunities in the mix for me since the last
Christmas epistle. The players in this saga I call my life are much the same as
last year but of course there are some who are no longer here to visit with – I
miss them, I miss being able to call them up for a “chat and chew” and I miss
them being here in my life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not inclined to go into a lot of specifics
about the who and where, etc of these past twelve months<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but suffice it to say my life continues to be
a journey of blessings and challenges – of joys and sorrows – in other words
being fully alive to all that there is to this business of living. I hope you
can say the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s this year’s contribution …</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "ravie"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are You Missing
Christmas?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The setting – Christmas Eve, Somewhere USA, a busy shopping mall, and
there just outside the revolving doors of a department store a young man strums
his guitar. He’s in his mid to late 30’s, bearded, long hair but far from
scruffy – a kind of throwback to the hippies of the late 60’s. He starts to
sing …</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let me
ask you a question</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now take
your time with your reply</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are you
missing Christmas?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Have you
let it pass you by?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">About that time a middle aged man,
carrying two bulging shopping bags comes out of the store. He’s almost to the
curb when one of the bags splits open, spilling all the wrapped gifts on the
sidewalk. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">Those</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">expletive, expletive, expletive</span></i></b> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">(fill in the curse words of your choice)
bags aren’t worth</span> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">a flying</span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">expletive.</span></i></b> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">If they’re gonna sell you all this crap
then they should make bags sturdy enough to hold it”. Stooping to pick up the
gifts he continues to grimace and mutter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having put down his guitar, the young man
walks over to the disgruntled shopper, “Can I help you with those?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man looks up with a scowl but upon
seeing the sincere smile simply says, “Yeah, why not. I can’t quite manage this
by myself. Guess I’ll have to go back into the</span> <span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">exple</span> …” <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">Something
stops him from continuing his tirade. Later on he would wonder what it was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, you don’t have to do that, unless you
want to. I can help you carry these to your car.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suspicion starts to creep into the
shopper’s eyes. And he thinks “Uh, oh, better watch out this could be some kind
of con or a set up or a … Then upon looking harder at this young hippie he
reconsiders his objections. “Hell, he says to himself, I’m an ex-Marine I could
take this kid down if I had to. Might as well take help where I can get it”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, I can use an extra pair of hands. I
have to warn you though the car is miles away. It was the only parking place I
could find”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young man grins , “Not to worry, I’ve
been standing in this one place so long, I can use the exercise.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they start out across the crowded parking
lot, dodging holiday drivers, frantically trying to get some last minute
shopping done. There’s not much conversation on the way. Finally they approach
the shopper’s SUV.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, here we are. I warned you it was a
long way over here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s okay.” As he hands the last of the
gifts to the shopper, he speaks “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper looks at him and thinks --
“Oh, no, here it comes he’s going to ask for money. Well, he did help me with
my stuff so I guess a couple of bucks won’t hurt. After all it is Christmas”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go ahead, ask away”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you missing Christmas?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What?” He paused. “If you mean would I
miss Christmas if it went away then the answer is no. I’ve had it with all the
hustle and bustle – trying to find a parking place, spending money I don’t have
on gifts people don’t appreciate or need. And for what – just because it’s what
we’re supposed to do every year? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same
stupid sappy Christmas songs, same craze to have a sale on everything to get
people to come out. Worse than all that is that it now starts the day after
Hallowe’en, or so it seems to me. Me, miss Christmas? – not much I wouldn’t”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young man looked at the shopper with
sadness in his eyes. “I guess I have my answer though I’m always hoping to hear
something different but I rarely do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper walked around to get into the
driver’s seat. “Now let me ask you a question. Why did you want to know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lowered his eyes and shook his head. “I
keep hoping people will remember whose birthday it is and what the holiday is
supposed to be about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper, paused before he spoke …
“Well, I’m not really a very religious man but then again neither are many of
my friends. I think that part of Christmas disappeared a long time ago. It’s
all about shopping and Santa Claus and all that.” He took a long look into the
face of the young man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Why should you
care whose birthday it is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked over to the where the shopper stood
and without ceremony simply held his face in his hands and said “Because it’s
mine.” And with that brief declaration he vanished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stunned, this foul-mouthed, middle-aged
ex-Marine got into his car and in a kind of almost drunken stupor drove home.
What had just happened? What did it mean? Who was that young man, was he …? He
let the thought trail off because the answer was too preposterous to consider.
And yet … </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This encounter really happened and from now
on, at least at Christmas time, he would remember it – and maybe even remember
whose birthday it is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fanciful tale, to be sure, but the
question is real for all of us “Are We Missing Christmas?” Only your heart and
mine, know the answer to that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "ravie"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Happy
Birthday Jesus (or if you prefer, Merry Christmas)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-size: 16.0pt;">George Gagliardi, December,
2017</span></i></b></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-35239136736317770912017-12-12T11:04:00.001-08:002017-12-12T11:04:01.577-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Christmas 2017</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;">This past year has been good, overall, but
there’s been one too many trips to the ER for my taste. But thank God,
literally, I’m still here and those issues apparently are resolved – stay tuned
for further developments. (Like I could do something about it!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s been a lot of music, merriment and
adventures with plenty of travel opportunities in the mix for me since the last
Christmas epistle. The players in this saga I call my life are much the same as
last year but of course there are some who are no longer here to visit with – I
miss them, I miss being able to call them up for a “chat and chew” and I miss
them being here in my life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not inclined to go into a lot of specifics
about the who and where, etc of these past twelve months<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but suffice it to say my life continues to be
a journey of blessings and challenges – of joys and sorrows – in other words
being fully alive to all that there is to this business of living. I hope you
can say the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s this year’s contribution …</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Ravie; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are You Missing
Christmas?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The setting – Christmas Eve, Somewhere USA, a busy shopping mall, and
there just outside the revolving doors of a department store a young man strums
his guitar. He’s in his mid to late 30’s, bearded, long hair but far from
scruffy – a kind of throwback to the hippies of the late 60’s. He starts to
sing …</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let me
ask you a question</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now take
your time with your reply</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are you
missing Christmas?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Have you
let it pass you by?</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">About that time a middle aged man,
carrying two bulging shopping bags comes out of the store. He’s almost to the
curb when one of the bags splits open, spilling all the wrapped gifts on the
sidewalk. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">Those</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">expletive, expletive, expletive</span></i></b> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">(fill in the curse words of your choice)
bags aren’t worth</span> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">a flying</span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">expletive.</span></i></b> <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">If they’re gonna sell you all this crap
then they should make bags sturdy enough to hold it”. Stooping to pick up the
gifts he continues to grimace and mutter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having put down his guitar, the young man
walks over to the disgruntled shopper, “Can I help you with those?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man looks up with a scowl but upon
seeing the sincere smile simply says, “Yeah, why not. I can’t quite manage this
by myself. Guess I’ll have to go back into the</span> <span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 14.0pt;">exple</span> …” <span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">Something
stops him from continuing his tirade. Later on he would wonder what it was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, you don’t have to do that, unless you
want to. I can help you carry these to your car.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suspicion starts to creep into the
shopper’s eyes. And he thinks “Uh, oh, better watch out this could be some kind
of con or a set up or a … Then upon looking harder at this young hippie he
reconsiders his objections. “Hell, he says to himself, I’m an ex-Marine I could
take this kid down if I had to. Might as well take help where I can get it”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay, I can use an extra pair of hands. I
have to warn you though the car is miles away. It was the only parking place I
could find”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young man grins , “Not to worry, I’ve
been standing in this one place so long, I can use the exercise.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they start out across the crowded parking
lot, dodging holiday drivers, frantically trying to get some last minute
shopping done. There’s not much conversation on the way. Finally they approach
the shopper’s SUV.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, here we are. I warned you it was a
long way over here.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s okay.” As he hands the last of the
gifts to the shopper, he speaks “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper looks at him and thinks --
“Oh, no, here it comes he’s going to ask for money. Well, he did help me with
my stuff so I guess a couple of bucks won’t hurt. After all it is Christmas”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go ahead, ask away”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you missing Christmas?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What?” He paused. “If you mean would I
miss Christmas if it went away then the answer is no. I’ve had it with all the
hustle and bustle – trying to find a parking place, spending money I don’t have
on gifts people don’t appreciate or need. And for what – just because it’s what
we’re supposed to do every year? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same
stupid sappy Christmas songs, same craze to have a sale on everything to get
people to come out. Worse than all that is that it now starts the day after
Hallowe’en, or so it seems to me. Me, miss Christmas? – not much I wouldn’t”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young man looked at the shopper with
sadness in his eyes. “I guess I have my answer though I’m always hoping to hear
something different but I rarely do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper walked around to get into the
driver’s seat. “Now let me ask you a question. Why did you want to know?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lowered his eyes and shook his head. “I
keep hoping people will remember whose birthday it is and what the holiday is
supposed to be about.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shopper, paused before he spoke …
“Well, I’m not really a very religious man but then again neither are many of
my friends. I think that part of Christmas disappeared a long time ago. It’s
all about shopping and Santa Claus and all that.” He took a long look into the
face of the young man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Why should you
care whose birthday it is?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked over to the where the shopper stood
and without ceremony simply held his face in his hands and said “Because it’s
mine.” And with that brief declaration he vanished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stunned, this foul-mouthed, middle-aged
ex-Marine got into his car and in a kind of almost drunken stupor drove home.
What had just happened? What did it mean? Who was that young man, was he …? He
let the thought trail off because the answer was too preposterous to consider.
And yet … </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This encounter really happened and from now
on, at least at Christmas time, he would remember it – and maybe even remember
whose birthday it is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fanciful tale, to be sure, but the
question is real for all of us “Are We Missing Christmas?” Only your heart and
mine, know the answer to that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #003300; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Ravie; font-size: 14.0pt;">Happy
Birthday Jesus (or if you prefer, Merry Christmas)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-size: 16.0pt;">George Gagliardi, December,
2017</span></i></b></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-53956164639150429932016-12-14T20:20:00.000-08:002016-12-14T20:20:00.394-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Christmas --- What a
Difference a Year Makes?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Borrowing from the
Dinah Washington hit from the 50’s (“What a Difference a Day Made”) I decided I
would write about how every Christmas is different and then a peculiar thing
happened – rather than write it I started to experience it. What I mean by that
is all of a sudden I didn’t want to write a Christmas letter this year. And
that for me is a first. Now what that does is point out for me, for a variety
of reasons, this isn’t like any other Christmas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me mention some
reasons – I’m in a different space, a different place (both in terms of
location and in terms of attitude). I now reside at Juliet
Fowler Christian
Home. The official address is 5810
East Side Avenue, Apartment #F310, Dallas, Texas
75214. For those who pay
attention to such things, that’s my new “snail” mail address. It’s a great
place and I couldn’t be happier with it. More room, very neighborly neighbors,
not that far from my old place and even the Laundromat is located on my floor, a
few doors down and an extra bonus – it’s cheaper to use than my old place. Plus
the rent here is $3.00 less than my old place and here instead of paying for an
efficiency apartment I’ve got a single bedroom. So in way, as far gifts go, God
gave me my Christmas present early.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been on the
waiting list to get in here since this past Spring so I was elated to be able
to get in at last. My church, Wilshire
Baptist Church,
came through like “gangbusters” when it came time to move. Glad they did
because I couldn’t do much of anything besides pack some boxes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which brings me to the “different place” part
of my earlier statement -- I’m currently dealing with some heart issues,
brought on by an incident that took place in October while I was visiting my pals,
The Duckett family, who live in Townsend, MA. This event resulted in my
spending five (count ‘em, five) days in Mass. General
Hospital in Boston.
A fine hospital to be sure, world renown but frankly I would have preferred to
skip my visit there altogether. What they discovered is that my heart is not
getting enough blood flow and hence not enough oxygen. No surgery possible and
so I got loaded up on medication. (Now that’s the “Reader’s Digest” version).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m currently
undergoing treatments that require I go spend an hour a day, 5 days a week
undergoing a procedure. It’s for 7 weeks and I’m half way through it. Once
again Wilshire is helping in a big way. Now all of that aside, I find that this
Christmas the reality of one’s mortality, the challenges of dealing with
possibly an on going problem and the frustration of not being able to do things
for myself that I could normally do most certainly puts me in a different
“place”, say from last Christmas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so a question
springs to mind and it’s one well worth asking, methinks. Every Christmas is
different but is it really? Is it more a question of our perspective on how we
feel about Christmas in any given year or does really change from year to year?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s tackle the
basics – throwing out the gifts, the gatherings, the great parties and going to
be with family what do we have left. Well, first off it’s about somebody’s
birthday, ostensibly. This somebody was reputed to be the Savior of the world
and his name was Jesus. His coming was such a big deal that a whole multitude
of angels were hired for the occasion and the lowliest (the shepherds) and most
noble (Wise men) were let in on the celebration. It wasn’t much of a place to
be born, if you’re supposed to be a King – a stable with smelly, dirty animals.
However there was a star in the sky that was so bright it could be seen for
miles and miles and miles. That’s the basics right – if you’re one who
considers himself a believer in Jesus Christ. If not, then your version of
Christmas is your version of Christmas and I wouldn’t presume to change your
mind about such things in a single letter – not that I could. But if you’re a
Christ-follower then what I’ve stated is more or less the basics when it comes
to what Christmas is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, what about
that story has changed? … that’s right, nothing. It’s timeless, it’s
God-blessed, it’s forever and it’s what makes Christmas, Christmas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for me, I’m
going to do my darnedest to hang to on to that, to let the Spirit of that
envelope me, even while I may bemoan the fact that this is not way I would have
preferred to feel at Christmas. And believe me, I don’t begrudge anyone who
honestly is disappointed in the way they’re feeling at Christmas as compared to
past Yuletide celebrations. But let’s all try and not lose sight of the fact
that Christmas will always be Christmas as long we remember the story and what
the story means and why it’s still worth singing about and sharing. In the
meantime … cry if you need to, wish hard if you need to and even moan a bit
even if you need to. It’s okay – at least to my mind – but let’s each and all
of us hold on fast to the hope – a hope for peace and joy rooted in the forever
truth that on that first Christmas “A Savior was born – Christ the Lord.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Merry Christmas</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Gagliardi, 2016</div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-3922608341946138462016-03-26T09:14:00.001-07:002016-05-09T17:06:52.118-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Question?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does Easter
Mean to … you? (or me, for that matter). An interesting question, is it not? Of
course how you answer it depends entirely on your belief, or lack of. And I
believe that the source of the answer can be broken down into three categories.
A – Jesus was raised from the dead. B—Jesus was not raised from the dead. C—Not
sure if he was raised from the dead or not, maybe so but then again …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I skipped apathy
because that sort of speaks for itself. If you don’t care one way or the other,
then you don’t. Not a lot you can do with that. So I don’t care about that –
and please note the intentional irony there.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we’ll start with C
– Not too much to say about that because with that sort of perspective Easter
is kind of nice but not all that essential. It’s pleasant but not all that
significant. Although folks who feel that way may secretly wish they could
believe in the resurrection, they just can’t bring themselves to accept that as
a reality. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However don’t
imagine for a moment that many of us who consider ourselves believers are
completely free from doubt when it comes to the resurrection. There are still
times when we have difficulty with how fantastic the whole notion is – somebody
rose from the dead, really? And we’re not talking about Jesus as a zombie.
Nope, he wasn’t merely undead, he was as alive as you and I are. (Depending on
how alive you feel, I suppose.) So doubters take heart – I’m prone to believe
that honest doubt may well be the path to discovering real faith. Or perhaps to
put it another way – out of searching, wondering, wandering and questioning
sometimes one can catch a glimmer of light. Remember that old spiritual – “This
little light of mine” … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, on to B –
Resurrection didn’t happen, it’s a trick, a myth, a scam, a … you may fill in
the blank with whatever negative response you see fit. And whereas not all who
espouse these thoughts are cynical, angry skeptics, some are. And you know if I
believed what they believe I can see how they could get ticked off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To think someone is trying to insult my
intelligence, to con me, to take me for a simpleton, to “sell me a bill of
goods” and expect me to swallow the whole thing just because they say it’s so –
well, I’m not going to do it. Moreover they condemn me because I won’t go along
with the deception. They behave in a very hateful way and won’t even bother to
hear my side of things. Well, count me out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got no use for that sort of attitude.”
(By the way, neither did Jesus.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the B folks
Easter is, at best, Peter Rabbit, Easter egg hunts, Spring awakening (though
not necessarily in Texas), maybe
some pastels, pretty flowers and Irving Berlin’s hit song, “Easter Parade”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nothing much more than that. Sadly, it
can’t be, really.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is where I
want to point out that this bit of scribbling has not been created to convince
you that I’m right and you’re wrong. Nope, that’s not my job and not my purpose
in laying out these particular paragraphs. If I truly am to treat you in a
Christ like manner then that means allowing you to choose whether to believe or
not – not brow beat you into thinking the way I want you to think. Here again –
that’s not the way Jesus dealt with folks in His ministry – brow beating was
not on His list of how to do things. And since he set the standard, well then …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we come to the A
people, people who do believe that Jesus was in fact raised from the dead on
Easter morn. For us the event was real. It happened and it was/is life
changing. Now I’ll pause a minute or so as to avoid going into “church speak”,
lest this part sound like the “pitch” for a bargain I’m trying to get you to
buy into.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, let me
digress for a moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I thought
about writing down the preceding paragraphs it was obvious to me that at some
point I needed to answer the question for myself “What does Easter mean to me,
today?” Remarkable as it may seem, this was not as easy to answer as I thought
it would be – short of just giving a kind “knee jerk” reaction. And so here’s
my answer to the question I started out with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter means nothing
stops God from doing what He decides to do and that includes death. God has a
way of bringing new life out of destruction, despite what it may look like to
begin with. Anyone who saw what happened on the Cross when Jesus died would not
have stood up and sung “Victory in Jesus”. Not then – but later, after the
resurrection they could and would. Easter means the same God who raised Jesus
from the dead can raise my spirits when their low, give me hope when it’s hard
to find hope, give me a peace that really makes no sense in light of the
circumstances, make me believe in the impossible because with Him impossible is
just a word and most importantly help me believe that’s God’s big enough to …
(fill in the blank.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ll leave you with this to ponder –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus being raised from the dead was either
the greatest event in human history or it was the greatest hoax ever
perpetrated on the human race. You get to decide. We all do. What <u>does </u>Easter
mean to you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Resurrection Day</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Gagliardi, March 2016</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-5972663416688468162016-03-26T09:13:00.001-07:002016-03-26T09:13:16.737-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Question?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does Easter
Mean to … you? (or me, for that matter). An interesting question, is it not? Of
course how you answer it depends entirely on your belief, or lack of. And I
believe that the source of the answer can be broken down into three categories.
A – Jesus was raised from the dead. B—Jesus was not raised from the dead. C—Not
sure if he was raised from the dead or not, maybe so but then again …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I skipped apathy
because that sort of speaks for itself. If you don’t care one way or the other,
then you don’t. Not a lot you can do with that. So I don’t care about that –
and please note the intentional irony there.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we’ll start with C
– Not too much to say about that because with that sort of perspective Easter
is kind of nice but not all that essential. It’s pleasant but not all that
significant. Although folks who feel that way may secretly wish they could
believe in the resurrection, they just can’t bring themselves to accept that as
a reality. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However don’t
imagine for a moment that many of us who consider ourselves believers are
completely free from doubt when it comes to the resurrection. There are still
times when we have difficulty with how fantastic the whole notion is – somebody
rose from the dead, really? And we’re not talking about Jesus as a zombie.
Nope, he wasn’t merely undead, he was as alive as you and I are. (Depending on
how alive you feel, I suppose.) So doubters take heart – I’m prone to believe
that honest doubt may well be the path to discovering real faith. Or perhaps to
put it another way – out of searching, wondering, wandering and questioning
sometimes one can catch a glimmer of light. Remember that old spiritual – “This
little light of mine” … </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, on to B –
Resurrection didn’t happen, it’s a trick, a myth, a scam, a … you may fill in
the blank with whatever negative response you see fit. And whereas not all who
espouse these thoughts are cynical, angry skeptics, some are. And you know if I
believed what they believe I can see how they could get ticked off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To think someone is trying to insult my
intelligence, to con me, to take me for a simpleton, to “sell me a bill of
goods” and expect me to swallow the whole thing just because they say it’s so –
well, I’m not going to do it. Moreover they condemn me because I won’t go along
with the deception. They behave in a very hateful way and won’t even bother to
hear my side of things. Well, count me out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got no use for that sort of attitude.”
(By the way, neither did Jesus.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the B folks
Easter is, at best, Peter Rabbit, Easter egg hunts, Spring awakening (though
not necessarily in Texas), maybe
some pastels, pretty flowers and Irving Berlin’s hit song, “Easter Parade”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nothing much more than that. Sadly, it
can’t be, really.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is where I
want to point out that this bit of scribbling has not been created to convince
you that I’m right and you’re wrong. Nope, that’s not my job and not my purpose
in laying out these particular paragraphs. If I truly am to treat you in a
Christ like manner then that means allowing you to choose whether to believe or
not – not brow beat you into thinking the way I want you to think. Here again –
that’s not the way Jesus dealt with folks in His ministry – brow beating was
not on His list of how to do things. And since he set the standard, well then …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we come to the A
people, people who do believe that Jesus was in fact raised from the dead on
Easter morn. For us the event was real. It happened and it was/is life
changing. Now I’ll pause a minute or so as to avoid going into “church speak”,
lest this part sound like the “pitch” for a bargain I’m trying to get you to
buy into.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, let me
digress for a moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I thought
about writing down the preceding paragraphs it was obvious to me that at some
point I needed to answer the question for myself “What does Easter mean to me,
today?” Remarkable as it may seem, this was not as easy to answer as I thought
it would be – short of just giving a kind “knee jerk” reaction. And so here’s
my answer to the question I started out with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter means nothing
stops God from doing what He decides to do and that includes death. God has a
way of bringing new life out of destruction, despite what it may look like to
begin with. Anyone who saw what happened on the Cross when Jesus died would not
have stood up and sung “Victory in Jesus”. Not then – but later, after the
resurrection they could and would. Easter means the same God who raised Jesus
from the dead can raise my spirits when their low, give me hope when it’s hard
to find hope, give me a peace that really makes no sense in light of the
circumstances, make me believe in the impossible because with Him impossible is
just a word and most importantly help me believe that’s God’s big enough to …
(fill in the blank.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ll leave you with this to ponder –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus being raised from the dead was either
the greatest event in human history or it was the greatest hoax ever
perpetrated on the human race. You get to decide. We all do. What <u>does </u>Easter
mean to you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy Resurrection Day</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Gagliardi, March 2016</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-47823102434368593652016-01-01T20:34:00.001-08:002016-01-01T20:34:32.927-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As Long as We’re Still Here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Christmas season has come and gone</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s time to sing a different song</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A song I wrote, a song of hope </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That I hope will bring a cup of cheer</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the coming year</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long as we’re still here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why not live out our own dreams</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those lovely, fragile, precious things</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hold within our heart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as we’re still here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why not take a leap of faith </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For endless possibilities</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That just might be the key</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To making a brand new start</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure I know sometimes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past is like a shadow</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An unwelcome guest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s hard for us to shake</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Delighting in reminding us</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How often we mess things up</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And especially that big mistake</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the past is just that</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I say, if it’s a burden</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why carry it</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Go ahead and bury it</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then move on</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long as we’re still here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although I know it sounds cliché</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow’s still a brand new day</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let this be a time of
hope</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We can live life like life really matters</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as we’re willing to be free enough</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To believe we can change through the power of love </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn’t it worth a try this year</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as we’re still here</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Gagliardi, December,
29, 2015</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-17309192896584371982015-12-14T11:18:00.001-08:002015-12-14T11:18:44.922-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">Friends,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.0pt; margin-right: -.75in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s been one fine year and I could easily
take up the bulk of this Christmas greeting with that sort of info but I’m
going to keep it short – if not sweet (Though it was <u>very</u> “sweet” for
me.) There was a lot of music made and lot of trips taken. There were new songs
written, new friends and old friends and yours truly experienced a lot of love
from both. There was good health, good food and good times all around. I hope
your past year was one of wonderful memories and lots of hugs – in short I hope
you were blessed. As I’ve been fond of saying the whole year – my cup has been
beyond overflowing. It’s been so full as to have spilled out into the street
and I hope, maybe some of those blessings I’ve been able to pass to the world
at large. I have quoted this phrase more than once from “It’s a Wonderful Life”
but I never tire of feeling the truth of it year after year, Christmas after
Christmas – “Here’s to George, the Richest Man in Town”. I feel just like that
too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here’s a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>great big thanks to all of you who make
feeling a genuine reality. And now to this year’s contribution, it is my latest
foray into a comment on the commercialism of Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 9.0pt; margin-right: -.75in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 18.0pt;">When Mr.
Greed Almost Stole Christmas</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mr. Greed was the sort
of man</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who could never get
enough</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Of Food, Clothing,
Money</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Of Anything at All</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not content with what
he had</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">He constantly craved
more stuff</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Until one day he got
in his greedy head</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">(For at heart he was a
thief)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">To make a play, to
steal away</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">A sure money-making
holiday</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Which was already well
on its way</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">To being in his pocket
(as they say)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some sleight of hand</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some bait and switch</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Create tempting
illusions</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And just like that</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Christmas would be his</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">He’d extol the rewards
of big bucks</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Over beliefs</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And once beliefs were
dead and gone</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">It wouldn’t take too
much effort to get</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">The sheep-like masses,
with no regret, </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">To join together and
forget</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">The simple story,
truly quite passe’</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Far out of place in
these SMART PHONE days</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">When heads bow not for
grace or prayer</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">But robotic heads are
bowed to be </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Servants to technology</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">So Mr. Greed surmised</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">The child-like fairy
tale wouldn’t stand a chance</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">In a world where God
is no more than a word</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And for quite a few a
word that’s often heard</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">As a word absurd and
not The Word</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now with a world like
that how could he ever fail</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">“I’ll simply steal
Christmas, it will be a snap</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ve got plenty of
disciples who will help me spring the trap</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">One day when they’re
least expecting it</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’ll snatch that
holiday</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">It will be a great,
cash cow and nothing more</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Except a feather in my
cap”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">So Mr. Greed, indeed
was so very sure he would succeed</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And he might have done
just that</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">If none had dared to
intercede</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Or dared to heed the
warning signs</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">But you see Mr. Greed
made a fatal error</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And flaw he failed to
see</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">It was his failure to
perceive a certain truth</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Of course with dollar
signs for eyes</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">He couldn’t realize
that those who are truly wise</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Knew deep in their
hearts what mattered</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">They were not fooled,
they dared to believe</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">They said --- “God is
not just a word</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Jesus, the one born on
Christmas day</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Was The Word</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And if you think you
can take such a life changing event</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">And stuff it in your
wallet or turn it into some outlandish “whatchamacallit”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well, that’s what we’d
call absurd</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">So you can “take this
to the bank” </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">(So to speak) Mr.
Greed,</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">You’ll never steal
Christmas</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">You’ll never succeed </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Though God knows (I
mean that literally too!)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">That won’t stop you
from trying</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">With your selling,
seducing</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Scheming and denying</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Exalting, like some
merchandising monarch, </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">The supreme sacrament
of accumulating more and more</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well, we say, give it
up, man</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because as it says in
this quote</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">These three short
lines from Mr. Longfellow”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">“God is not dead nor
does he sleep</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">The wrong shall fail,
the right prevail</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">With peace on earth,
good will to men”</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">So Mr. Greed, you see
you’re bound to fail</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because of a basic
fact you’ll never understand</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">For people of Faith --</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Some things are not
for sale</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merry Christmas</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi,
December, 2015</span></b></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-53968723559258441852015-04-04T09:56:00.002-07:002015-04-04T09:56:18.968-07:00Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #9933ff; font-family: "Kristen ITC";">Bewitched,
Bothered and Bewildered</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off, the title is certainly an apt one
for the wordage that follows. I could have entitled it – “Conflicted,
Confounded and Confused” but Lorenz Hart (of Rodgers and Hart) did a much
better job with his alliteration plus his title is much more sing-able.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of you who have been kind enough to
read my semi-annual meanderings are well aware that I write an Easter “letter”
every year and have done so for several years. And I had planned to do it again
this year but I’ve been experiencing the very challenges indicated by the
title. No focus, no ideas, no inspiration, no time – in other words I’ve really
and truly been someone in the “no”, these recent days. This, of course, is not
the best state of mind to create something positive and uplifting.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I started toying around with a notion.
It was a notion that began to evolve piece by piece in my feeble, underused
brain. And piece is the correct word. What I’ve come up with is very much like
a patchwork quilt with oddly shaped, peculiar designed, multi-colored pieces
that may or may not be that lovely to look at – so make of it what you
will.(Pun very much intended.)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have four distinct “patches” to offer and
here they are – Bed bugs, Hosanna, Bad men and a Mother’s love.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bed bugs – I’ve had them recently and they
are a scourge, an abomination, a nuisance, a plague, an annoyance and that’s
being kind. (Great Gagliardi, sorry to hear about your woes but let’s get back
to Easter, shall we, hm?) Yes, oh voice that scolds, you’re right in bringing
that up. So here’s my take on it.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My apartment is like a world, in a way,
because it’s my world. It’s where I live a good deal of the time. And bed bugs were
truly an invasion, a kind of evil that was not invited or welcomed or
encouraged and yet there they were. (Happily it appears I can, for now, use the
past tense.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here we have a real,
active curse of evil in my “world”. And suddenly I need some help, big help –
the kind of assistance and rescue I cannot do for my self because I’m not
equipped to handle it. (By the way, does this begin to sound familiar regarding
God’s involvement in individual lives?) Is it that far a stretch to say that
just maybe this was a kind of living parable in action? (Albeit an unpleasant
one.) I don’t think I’m that far off the beam on this. You decide for yourself
if it is. I will say this -- when I hear that old children’s couplet, “Sleep
tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”, I now have a very different take on what
that means.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of children, my heart was nicely
warmed hearing our Wilshire children on Palm Sunday sing Hosanna at the
beginning of the service. And what struck me was how simple it was, how basic,
how cheerful. There’s something about a child singing “save us”(which is the
definition of hosanna) that is moving. They don’t wonder, necessarily, if God
will or can or might they just assume he will because He’s God. And maybe they
don’t understand the full impact of those words but then again, do we?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad Men – Okay, does it bother anybody else
out there or has it ever bothered anybody else that Jesus went through all he
went through – suffering, agony, shame, abuse, death --- for the “bad guys”
too? I mean the guys that you just wish would evaporate or get “taken out”, ala
the Mob. I mean, there some horrible things being done to people by people I
can see no good in whatsoever. (Can you say </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">ISIS</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">?) And I’m supposed to
believe that Jesus died for them too – and rose again for them too, not just
folks who are nice and good and kind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I have to say that really is not an
easy pill to swallow. But much like medicine that tastes like a mixture of
turpentine and liquid chalk, when we take it, it eventually helps us get
better. Now I sure don’t like to take medicine even when I have to. If it was
up to me, the “bad guys” would certainly not be eligible for God’s love. Does
that sound harsh? It should because it is. Then again sometimes it’s very hard
for some of us to say we’re sick and need to be healed. Thank God, He’s the
Great Physician.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Mother’s Love – I was in our local IHOP,
eating a late breakfast, not thinking about much of anything when I glanced up
and saw a mother and her little boy leaving the restaurant. The child was
holding tightly to his Mom’s hand and I noticed, with some sadness, the child’s
left hand was deformed, it hadn’t grown to the right size. Then I saw the young
boy smiling as he and his Mom left. And I felt the Spirit speak to me.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young boy was smiling because his mother
was holding his hand -- he was safe, he was okay, he was loved. If that wasn’t
a picture of our Father’s love to us then I don’t know what is. How many times
have you and I felt ugly, ashamed, fearful, disheartened until we realized who
was holding our hand. And in that moment we somehow knew we’d be okay. He
wasn’t going to abandon us and maybe even when we thought we’d let go of His
hand, it was only an illusion because He never had let go of ours.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does the preceding have to do with
Easter? Maybe nothing then again, maybe everything. For if Easter doesn’t
belong in the seemingly ordinary stuff of every day life then maybe it doesn’t
belong anywhere. Easter has got to be more than a one day purple and gold,
happy hallelujah, wear my “Sunday best”, trumpet blaring, organ triumphant,
chorale of joy and celebration that happens once a year. Yes, it needs to be
all that and more but we need to work at allowing it to flavor our lives every
day so that Jesus gets raised up all over again every day that we live.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess if any of this introspection has any
value this Easter for me it’s this -- may be it’s this simple. Go on and let
Jesus jump out of the grave, surprise me, fill me with wonder and get me all
excited about it today, tomorrow, and the day after. Maybe every day is
supposed to be Easter… You think?</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">George
Gagliardi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy Easter, Ever After</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-21112884957617255132014-12-09T06:24:00.000-08:002014-12-09T06:24:11.582-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Shrewsbury-Titling; font-size: 14.0pt;">Christmas
2014</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
Christmas letter will be a kind of “take off” on the old “good news--bad news”
shtick. In light of my hospital visit and what I went through during the
Thanksgiving season, it’s a concept that’s fresh on my mind. (For the gory details
you can e-mail me or call me but I’m weary of rehashing it by now.) Suffice to
say that December 5<sup>th</sup> was a banner day for me – it was the day I
realized I could play the guitar again. Up until then I didn’t know if I’d have
the strength and I’m not ashamed to admit I wept out of sheer joy and relief. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can truthfully say that next to my heart
surgery a few years back this has been one of the most difficult things I’ve
ever had to deal with. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">But as I write this,
I’m on the mend, on the way back to being myself again.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So … are you thoroughly fed up with hearing
about my woes? Well, if you’re not, I am.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my version of “good news/bad news” –
more good than bad, happily. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">This year I’ve had
moments of both – Highlights on the good side – Going to see Tony Bennett with
Ms. Hackett, Jazz Vespers at Wilshire BC, Jesters Show, Charlotte trip, “His
Story … My Songs”( Soon to be a CD, I hope), Birthday celebrations both local
and in Vegas, “Phineas Peabody’s Magical, Musical, Circus”(My return to do a
drama/music workshop in Winnsboro, TX),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recording session in Cisco, TX with Dave Washburn’s group, Steve Martin
concert, Reunion with St. Augustine group in Birmingham, Trip to New England
and NYC and of course all the various gigs with the groups I play with – AChord
Trio, DW ¾ Fast Jazz Band, Mark McKenzie Quartet, Singapore Slingers, Pocket
Sandwich Theater, Nobles of Note, Dallas Banjo Band, Wilshire Winds. And in
addition there’s been some new songs.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the bad news --- this recent medical
bout was an unwelcome intrusion. I planned to go to visit Wes and Heidi Turner
in </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Columbus</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">, </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">OH</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">, for Thanksgiving but that didn’t happen. However, that
particular occurrence is a nice segue into the whole “good news/bad news”
balancing act.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad news --- I didn’t get to go to </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Columbus</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">. Good News – I caught the problem before I left on the
trip. Had I been on the train and this stuff would have happened then that
would have been a disaster of huge proportions. God’s timing was much better
than mine, as per usual.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And throughout that ordeal I had numerous
people to be thankful for – I was well cared for. That’s some darn good news.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, Gagliardi, thanks for the update on
your medical journey but what does this have to do with Christmas.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s try this on for size, shall we. Think
back to the first Christmas and imagine what was going on in the lives of those
involved in the now familiar story.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Bad News -- Here’s
King Herod who marshals all the might and power of his kingdom to find a couple
of teenagers (More than likely the right age for Joseph and Mary) and kill
their baby son, Jesus. Good News – God sees to it he doesn’t succeed.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or let’s imagine one of the shepherds, we’ll
call him Sam, was hoping to be at home asleep on that fateful night but he got
“night duty” and had to be there. For him that probably seemed like bad news
but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>look at what he would have missed
--- A massive display of heavenly pyrotechnics with light, sound and more than
likely one heck of an orchestra announcing the best news the world had ever
heard or will ever hear.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And let’s not forget Joseph who is told by
his soon-to-be wife that she’s pregnant and guess who the Father is? For a
young man to hear this would have been “bad news” indeed but the good news is
he believed her, he trusted her, he trusted God. You know he didn’t have to. He
could have been well within his rights to denounce her and abandon her but he
didn’t.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this Christmas as you move through the
season and you have your share of “good news/bad news” moments just remember
it’s always been that way. Even so God has been and is faithful – at least
that’s my belief.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you have more “good news” events than
bad during this season of really “good news” and may God grant you the ability
to cope with those bad news moments.</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Peace,</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi</span></i></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-15100775048082862812014-04-15T13:27:00.003-07:002014-04-15T13:27:49.849-07:00Merry ... Easter?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 18.0pt;">M</span><span style="color: green; font-size: 18.0pt;">e</span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">r<span style="color: red;">r</span><span style="color: green;">y</span> … <span style="color: #9966ff;">Easter?</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: teal; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Okay, raise your hands if you prefer
Christmas to Easter when it comes to choosing your favorite holiday? Right. I’m
betting quite a few of us may have well raised our hands in favor of Christmas.
Because … well, that’s what the next bit of creative license is about. Read on,
if you dare.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">Let’s imagine, if
you will, that Jesus has agreed to take a meeting with an ad/marketing type guy
regarding the popular appeal, or rather lack of such, when it comes to Easter
as a holiday.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">( For the sake of
brevity the Ad Guy will be referred to as AG and Jesus as “J”)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We join the two already well under way with
their “meeting”)</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">AG: Let’s face it
Jesus, your people have not done a very good job on promoting Easter. Compared
to Christmas, it’s a wash. I mean look at the differences –</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">Christmas – you got
your Santa Claus, your Christmas songs, your red and green displays, your
children all wide-eyed and expectant – and let me add here you can never go
wrong when you bring kids into the picture. People just respond well to “kid
appeal”, they just do.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now take Easter – you’ve got several days
when you’re supposed to give up stuff and if that’s not enough of a downer
you’re giving it up to remember how much a certain someone had to give up – no
offense – and well, that’s just not appealing, what can I say. Sure you’ve got
the cuddly Easter bunny, but that’s pretty weak when compared to Santa Claus,
his reindeer and a sleigh full of toys for the little ones. You gotta admit
between Santa and Peter Cottontail, Santa wins hands down.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And … I mean no disrespect, but I think your
people need to tone down the blood and beatings and ridicule. Mention it, but
keep it short and get on to the good part.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me give you a better idea of what I’m
thinking here (goes to the chart at the front of the room). Okay, here you’ve
got the number of people who always celebrate Christmas, whether they believe
in you or not – what’s not to like about Christmas. I’m betting even some die
hard atheists have fun during that holiday. (Flips the chart – we’re in a
pre-digital universe here) Now look at this – A much smaller of percentage of
folks who actually celebrate Easter. It doesn’t even come anywhere close to the
other numbers. So I’m suggesting …</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">(Jesus stands up and
walks over to AG, puts His hand on his shoulder, looks him in the eye, smiles
and says …)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">J: Using your
vernacular – You just don’t get it, do you. First off, did you realize that
holiday is short for “Holy day?” Did you further realize that when something is
holy it’s set apart, different, not something you can buy or sell or even
readily understand?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The business of making a holy day a holiday
is not something me or my Father came up with. You did. Knowing how you guys
operate we weren’t surprised. Even when you brought the Easter bunny into the
picture we didn’t stomp our feet and rain down fire and brimstone because of
it. I’ll admit I was disappointed but then again if you recall I’ve seen all of
you at your very worst. Now think about that for a moment.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen all of you at your very worst, not
your best, your very worst. But I didn’t let that keep me from going through
what I went through. I was willing to go to the cross and die to demonstrate
how very much I loved all of you – the best, the worst, the believers, the
non-believers. To take on the absolute ultimate weight of pure evil and shame
and hang there until it was over.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Popularity? I’m not after popularity. I’ve
had that – true it was brief, it was false and in the long run it didn’t matter
too much when it came time for me to be crucified. But I’ve known what it’s
like to be cheered, hailed as a king, put on a pedestal and all the rest that
goes with it.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly, you can have it. It’s worth about
as much as – to borrow an image from your favorite holiday – the tinsel you put
on the tree and later toss in the garbage.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">AG: Well, as I said
earlier, I meant no …</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">J: Let me finish.
Every thing I went through for you and the rest of the world would be at best a
horrific, inhumane, tragic event in history if my Father had not raised me from
the dead. Raised me from the dead.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ponder that a moment, my friend. I died and
I came back. Nobody else has done that since have they? No, they haven’t –
because <u>they</u> can’t. Only my Father can do that.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if my coming back from the dead and not
just coming back but offering the same kind of gift to all who want it – a gift
of life eternal starting here and now is not enough to compete with Santa Claus
and Christmas – well then, I guess there’s not that much I can do about that.
Don’t forget there’s the business of free will. You get to choose what or who
you value the most. And though many a time it grieves me, I wouldn’t have it
any other way. If I have to force you to love me or believe in me – Well, I’m
just going to do it. Love that’s forced isn’t love.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll grant you some things in life are more
appealing than others – Chocolate ice cream versus broccoli, cleaning the
bathroom versus lying on the beach and Advent versus Good Friday. But I’m prompted
to suggest that you ask yourself – “Is only that which is appealing worth
embracing? How does one really grow in life without learning how to handle
suffering? Is there as much to be gained from challenging ones Faith as there
is to simply believe without questioning? If I hadn’t died and risen again
would Christmas mean that much in the long run? Would it really have the power
to change whole world?”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">AG: (A long pause)
That’s a lot to take in. I ... I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer any of
that.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">J: Of course you
are. And how you answer will indicate how and what you think of me. It will
determine just how significant it is that Christmas may have more “pop” appeal
than Easter. More importantly it will determine whether or not that’s even a
question worth fooling with.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would strongly suggest a better question
would be – What do I do with Mary’s little baby boy? -- now that he’s grown up,
had his 3 years of ministry and been crucified for all the good it did?
Moreover, I’ve been told he rose from the dead? What do I do with that? What in
the world … do I do with that?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">AG: (Silence)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #660033; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt;">Indeed, friends.
What in the world … <u>do </u>we do with that?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #993300; font-size: 14.0pt;">George
Gagliardi, April, 2014</span></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-57632379166669015592014-02-10T18:35:00.002-08:002014-02-10T18:35:24.105-08:00<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Alba Super"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: "Alba Super"; font-size: 14.0pt;">To the Gals in My Life – All of You, Young and the Young at Heart</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #003366; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So think of this as my version of
Julio and Willie’s song, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before … sort of. Big
difference, it’s not merely past tense but present as well. It’s meant to be a
special Valentine tribute to “my ladies” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-- a way to say how much you’ve meant to my
life, each in your own way – and still do.</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">You brought real beauty to my life, not the
store bought variety</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Or the kind you get from the gym</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">(Though of course some gals often spend</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">A lot of time thinking about their shape)</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Me Too!</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">But I digress … as I’m known to do</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">For I must confess</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">If that was all you had going for you</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">I could say, “Hey, you look great” or another
phrase that flatters</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Leave it at that, as if that’s all that
really matters</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Of course if I did then I’d hardly be sending
this e-mail</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">To someone who’s simply just another female</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nope, there’s a genuine, wonderful loveliness
inside</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">That makes the outer beauty mean so much more</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">There’s all the laughter, the magic, the
honesty</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">The kindness, compassion, sheer delight and
almost</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">At times, childlike spirit of each of you,</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just being who you are</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">And that of course frees me up</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">To be the man I want to be</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">The insecure one, at times, who lives there
inside of me</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">No need to pretend with you</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">I know I can depend on you</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">To love me anyway</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Despite my flaws and “off-the-wall” style</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">You accept me and support me</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Though you can’t tell it</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">(Since I’m not exactly the Cheshire cat</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">When it comes to expressions like that)</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">My heart is wearing a great big smile</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Indeed, knowing you has made all the
difference</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Made this journey of mine so worthwhile</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">You are the fairer sex, so the cliché
declares</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Truly with you I’ve my fair share of moments</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">When you showed</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">(And not by words alone)</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">How much you cared</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">A gift like that, you can’t mass produce</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">You can’t demand, you can’t buy</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nor can you fully express your thanks</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Though with this bit of verse</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m giving it a “Gagliardi” try</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m just your “not so average, slightly
weird, prone to poetic</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Inclined to speak his mind and gush a bit</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Kind of guy”</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who prefers ten words when it comes to three</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">But you know well enough</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">How much I love words</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Putting them here, putting them there</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Making them fit in creatively</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Yet to break this all down</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s a simple thing</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">(And by the length of things</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Probably overdue)</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Time to pause and say on this Valentine’s Day</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">To each and every gal of mine</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">I LOVE YOU!</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Corbel; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi, February, 2014</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-81668348774708104692013-12-07T13:19:00.001-08:002013-12-07T13:19:23.522-08:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="border: solid green 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid green .5pt; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Shrewsbury-Titling; font-size: 16.0pt;">Christmas,
2013</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green;">Greetings, Friends and Fellow
Seekers,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: green;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been another extraordinary year and I could easily fill up all the
white space on this page with tales of my exploits. Now that’s exploits not
sexpl … well, anyhow you get the idea. However, I’m going to keep it brief and
just touch on some of the biggies for yours truly this past year in order of
their appearance – New Year’s Eve with Singapore Slingers, Captain Fantasm
/Pocket Sandwich Theater (piano), My Wilshire concert featuring a whole bunch
of talented folks doing my music (Yes, Virginia there is a CD of it), Jester’s
annual show, Jim Rivers memorial birthday party, Robin Hood Melodrama (2
songs), Las Vegas, Me and Marilyn on my birthday, Breckenridge Village in
Tyler, Winnsboro Kiddz on Stage, Wilshire Winds concert (Celebration of
Freedom, my piece), New England trip, Tom McWhorter party, Denver trip incl.
Operation Christmas Child stint, Wilshire Winds Christmas concert (If Every Day
Were Like Christmas Day, my song), New England revisited on the 19<sup>th</sup>
of this month. Add to all that this list of even more gigs with AChord, Nobles
of Note, Dave Washburn’s Three-quarter Fast Jazz Band, Singapore Slingers,
Dallas Banjo Band, Mark McKenzie Quartet, throw in at least a dozen new songs
and … well, you can see I’ve had plenty to be thankful for this year – and
believe me I am. </span></div>
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<span style="color: green;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But being thankful has also made me very mindful of friends and
acquaintances who have had a rough year. They’ve had to deal with the pain of
loss – it’s a pain most of us know too well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And for them, and perhaps for all of us even now at Christmas time the
vacant chair at the table is … The following has been written especially for
them. Why? Because I felt they needed a word to be said in their behalf and
elected myself to be a spokesman. Well, let’s be honest – I don’t think <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>I </u></i>was the one who elected myself
spokesman. It was really His idea, I just sort of did my best to put it into
words.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16.0pt;">For After All, It’s Christmas</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Okay, it’s Christmas time</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Time for fun, frolic and fellowship</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And good feelings and laughter</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And being together and …</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And … and for some – memories</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Remembering that someone we loved</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Is no longer here</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">So instead of a smile a tear</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Comes to our eyes for a moment</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Or maybe longer</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s a moment with a feeling</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">A feeling that may grow stronger</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">As the homey, warm-hearted Rockwell scenes we
see</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Remind us in clear detail just how great being
family can be</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And despite the holiday glow everywhere</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">We know a sadness inside</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">That we try not to show</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Might even try to hide</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not all that anxious to share</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s a burden</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">One we’ve learned to bear</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not because we’re martyrs</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But because we care</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Always have, always will</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Best to keep it to ourselves</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">For after all, it is Christmas</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Okay, that’s enough, right!</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Are you trying to bring us all down</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Turn the </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">red </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">and green that colors</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our Christmas Dreams</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Into something so gloomy</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">That it starts to look more</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like our worst </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">nightmare </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">on </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Halloween</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">night?</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Uh, no, I’m not</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But in case you forgot</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Christmas is supposed to be</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Something a whole lot more than</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">What it’s become</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">I believe it started out as</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">A celebration of the arrival of a Son</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Holy, Life giving</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">(and in His case, literally) One</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And pardon me, (which I know He will)</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But if this season doesn’t have something
hopeful,</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Something real</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">To offer those in pain, those whose scars are
deep</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Who sometimes can’t help but weep</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because their world is now shattered</span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">For suddenly it seems nothing much really
matters</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like it did when she, when he was here</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Well then let’s just turn Christmas over to
Hallmark</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Or Wal-mart or whoever and be done with it,
shall we</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because this is God we’re talking about and
let’s be clear</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">He knows hurt, he knows sorrow and I believe
when we cry</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">He knows the weight of our tears</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And He doesn’t expect you “put on a Happy face”
when your heart is broken</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just because the Yuletide gods demand it</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">His grace is unending, his arms always open</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">For all His children</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Though I confess I don’t fully understand it</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But maybe especially at this time of year He
sees those</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wounded, weary and lonely</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And recalls not only a baby’s birth</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Coming to a troubled and unwelcoming earth</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But remembers how it felt to lose His only Son</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">To a world who certainly took their time
remembering Him</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And if God does indeed weep, and I believe He
does</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">He would have then – even though He knew the
rest of the story</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And so do we who are people of faith – know
the rest of the story</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Oh, I don’t mean now that we trust</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">We blithely say, “Hey, everything is just all
right with me”<br />
What I do mean is that we can make it</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">We can, it’s not easy and it sure can be overwhelming
at times</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Even so</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">We can put one foot in front of the other</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Wipe away the tears as we go</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do our very best with His help to grow beyond
where we are</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And look for the Star, like the wise men did</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not exactly sure where it will lead us</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">But believing He would never lead us astray</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And if may, I’ll quote myself</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">“As long as He’s leading the way</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">We can say</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thanks to the Father, we’ve made it this far</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thanks to the Father, we know who we are”</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">And so does He, so does He</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">To those battle worn and beaten down,</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">My prayer would be</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">May you feel Him walking beside you</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Willing to guide you, a never failing Father</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brother, Sister, Mother, Savior</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Compassionate,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Strong, Kind</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Giving you the very best present of all</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">His unconditional, full of “amazing grace”
Love</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">To each one of you at this Christmas time</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merry Christmas,</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">George Gagliardi, December, 2013</span></i></b></div>
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Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-90730554422736514732013-03-29T15:36:00.001-07:002013-03-29T15:36:54.481-07:00It's Too Early For Easter ... Or Is It?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, Easter's a few weeks away</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Me, I'm quick to say I'm not ready for Easter -- not just yet</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Couldn't seem to get into the spirit of the thing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(More than likely I hadn't let the Spirit get into me)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No matter, there it was, Easter would be here soon, too soon</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or so I thought</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I said, "Man, I'm just not ready for Easter" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My pastor, he caught me off guard, taught me a lesson </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A brief but timely response</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It essentially boiled down to this --</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When you're dead, Easter is never too early.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Talk about sobering, man, was he ever on target with that</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was looking for an Easter feeling -- as if there really is just one </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I wasn't quite ready for it to come barging in </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wait a while, a few more weeks, maybe</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Strange thing about timing though, it doesn't much pay attention</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To what you had planned -- Life just steamrolls right over you</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And ready or not, here it comes -- sort of like this Easter</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm speaking with conviction here</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Conviction borne out of a recent experience </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Having been, if not steamrolled, at least put flat on my back -- literally</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Laying in a hospital bed, waiting to find out if .... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No, you don't even have to ask</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I <u>was </u>once again reminded in a very concrete manner </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">About how fragile we are, how mortal we are</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And how precious life is, what a gift life is</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(You bet I caught the "connection -- it was easy to see) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If that's not a big piece of what it means to celebrate Easter </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Once you dig deep inside words like "salvation and redemption") </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it's not about anything at all that matters</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, but it is, it is and Hallelujah I'm here to say</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I believe it all over again</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a good time to stand in awe of the Miracle</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Moving from "being dead as a doornail" to being so full of life </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> That I wouldn't be surprised if several angels</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Were dancing on the head of a pin that morning </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While the Father clapped his hands in sheer delight</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At what He had pulled off </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And brother don't you know when you realize </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You were closer to leaving this planet</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Than you care to think about</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Had you not listened to that inner voice </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Hey, pal, "Something's not right here, better check it out")</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A voice that I'm pretty darned convinced was of Divine origin</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, all of a sudden Easter looks different</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's not a bunny or a brightly colored egg or a delicious brunch</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or a new outfit or even a great musical presentation</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's a whole lot more than that</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It looks like the brightest hope you could ever imagine</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It looks like something so wonderfully impossible </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That it couldn't possibly be true</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet your heart knows it is</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">God did a good thing, the best thing</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone could ever do</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He spit in the "face of death"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And got away with it </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For those of us who believe He did</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We can too</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, for me this year, Easter ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Feels different and yes ...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Right on time </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">George Gagliardi, March, 2013</span></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-57230673234990911112012-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:002013-03-18T20:20:23.816-07:00Christmas Greetings, 2012<br />
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas Greetings, my friends, </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A bit of history — I’ve been sending these “letters” out since 1979. They started out in the typical holiday format, chronicles of what I’d been up to that year, etc. I did this for a couple of years and by the third one I decided I was tired of spending all that verbiage on my exploits, such as they were. So … the next time out I used the Christmas letter as a way to offer some sort of creative writing for the Season — a poem, story, a song — something that seemed more like a gift than a recap, blah, blah. Now a big piece of the shift in this emphasis is that as a bachelor, I have no one to talk about but me — no spouse, kids, not even a pet. (Which is fine by me.) Since you folks seem to like these Yuletide ramblings of mine and have been gracious enough to say so, I’ll continue.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To recap then, the year in brief — This past year I had my 65th birthday and have been celebrating all year long by traveling, playing music and visiting friends. Some places I’ve been — Columbus, OH; Breckenridge Village in Tyler, TX; Pittsburgh, TX; NYC (Prior to Sandy’s devastation); Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; Wilton, CT; Townsend, MA; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO. These visits took place in June, October and November, mostly via Amtrak, of course. Every stop was full of warm welcomes, great times with friends and opportunities to make music of all kinds in all sorts of venues. Of course at home I’ve been very busy doing my local music thing — playing and writing. One of the many highlights of the year was being able to do arranging for and performing in the Wilshire Baptist Church program Hanging of the Green on December 2nd. This year the tone was specifically jazz and man, I loved it. We had the very talented contributions of Garrett and Luke Wingfield, Mark McKenzie, Jon Hock, Russ Allor, Lyndsey Jones and of course all the Wilshire folk from the church music program there. It was a great way to start off the Christmas Season. I actually could go on and on with how much fun it’s been to be 65 this year but I’ll stop so I can get to the “meat” of this epistle — leastways I hope it’s got some substance to it.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To quote a portion of Lee Mendelson’s lyric for the TV special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” — “Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer, fun for all, the children call their favorite time of year”.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet I’m betting that not every one of you reading this epistle are feeling that way at all. For some of you this is a difficult time, a stressful time and perhaps a time of sorrow as well. And so I thought this year I’d try and say something to you, for you. You see if Christmas doesn’t have a message for you too then it’s not much of a message is it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a Small Word, After All …</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A baby was born, long ago on a Christmas morn in a manger, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the aching soul, having borne one too many burdens may well be tempted to say, “That’s nice” or perhaps even more harshly, “ So what?” What indeed?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What does a birth of a Jewish kid some 2000 or more years ago have to say to me now? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a good question and it deserves a good answer. However, I don’t have one — at least not exactly. I don’t have one custom made for you as you try and make sense of that which makes no sense. I don’t have one that makes the pain go away or fills the empty heart. But what I do have is this … hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a small word, easily lost among the clichés of the world and not hard to submerge beneath a sea of cynicism and anger. But let’s think about this word for a moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What if hope were not just a word but a person? A person who knew first hand about heartache and loneliness and being abandoned. A person who’s birth was cause for violence and greed and hatred for some and at the same time, an occasion to bring out the whole angelic choir — (Trumpets included, I’ll betcha) — for others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was the kind of birth that was so remarkably unremarkable in its locale as to be ludicrous. If this is God’s idea of how to introduce eternal hope to the world, well … man, what could you have been thinking. This baby boy is it? This is the hope we’ve been waiting for? And I suspect He was smiling as He was saying, “Yes, just wait and see.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I guess that’s the hardest part of hope sometime, the waiting. But turns out God was right. Jesus did more than “make good”, he “made good” by making miracles and making the lives of people better, people who most folk had given up on. Well, I’d say when hope looks like that then it’s worth putting your faith in or at least investigating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, that’s what people of faith, me included, believe about Jesus. He was/is the embodiment of hope, that God is not “asleep at the switch”, even when it seems He is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish for all of you, who find sadness an unwelcome companion this Christmas, the hope that He brings, that He ushered into this crazy, mixed-up, unfair, unjust world that first Christmas years ago when he was born. It’s a hope as vital and alive as the heart that receives the gift of love and gives the gift of love. And with all my heart I wish that kind of hope for you this Christmas and the whole year through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Merry Christmas (Anyway),</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">George Gagliardi</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">December, 2012</span></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850504980697649071.post-2148259343242514092012-04-02T20:09:00.000-07:002013-03-18T20:24:39.496-07:00Death at Easter?<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Whoa, what’s wrong with this picture?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Death at Easter, indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Aren’t you forgetting something, pal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter is when He arose, not when He died.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Besides who wants to think about something so gloomy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s Spring and, depending on how the weather cooperates,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ve got sunshine, beautiful blossoms, birds singing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And heck, you’ve even got the Easter bunny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s this nonsense about death at Easter, anyway</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Death is so final, so morbid, so … well, real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exactly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see it occurred to me that you can’t really have a resurrection</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without someone or something dying first</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now those of us who profess to have faith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or those wish that they did</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or even those who’d like to be able to believe in something or someone</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will buy in on some level that something happened that first Easter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">People of faith, such as myself, believe that God simply raised Jesus from the dead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Simple for God but far from simple for us)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Death is enemy numero uno and, as has been quoted endlessly --</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Nobody gets out of here alive”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But Jesus did – at least that’s how the story goes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And that’s also my story and I’m sticking to it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My story?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, yes, in a way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, getting back to this death at Easter thing,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dreams can die, hopes can die, faith can die</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And like all things dead, they get buried</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But they don’t have to stay dead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They can be brought back to life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not by wishful thinking or sheer willpower or clever maneuvering</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They can be made alive again by … (or you ready for this?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The grace of God</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The unfailing, unearned, totally free grace of God</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The kind of grace that can restore that which is broken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or heal wounds too deep too imagine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or shine the light of forgiveness on a dark and troubled soul</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or raise a man from the dead</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s been in business of resurrection for a long time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And He’s still at it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Death at Easter – Merely a Prelude</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But one we’d do well not too ignore</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because as Abbie Huff, minister and wise woman, declares</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Look to the Broken Places. If it’s resurrection and new life</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">you’re looking for, the broken places are where we start”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen and amen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Easter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">George Gagliardi</span></div>
Poet and Pilgrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482943236961497426noreply@blogger.com0