Ye Olde Annual Christmas Epistle … From Me

 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.

    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.

 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 Dallas. 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.

Merry Christmas, World

  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”--  as  people are inclined to say these days. Of course we don’t have to “go there”, mainly because that sort of news is here, it’s all around us, everyday.  We have had our fair share of Bad News for the year. Enough already.

   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.

Where did Hollywood get the idea

That Christmas time is a perfect time

For celebrating goodness?

What made them decide that happy endings

Would be prime ingredients for a hit flick?

That people getting together and loving each other

Like an idealized family

Would sell tickets and melt hearts and

Make us warm and fuzzy down deep

They’ve learned to package magic and miracles

Whether in Bedford Falls or on 34^th Street

While some can’t abide such so called treacle

Indeed there’s a whole lot of people

Like me, who think peddling hope

And the idea that dreams can come true

Is one of the nicer notions to present to the world

But where on earth did they get that idea?

Where on earth?  How about Bethlehem?

Isn’t there something touching, you might even say “feel good” about that story

When you truly stop and ignore all the nay-sayers

All the folks who say,”Man, that sort of make believe is way out of style”

When you get past all that, doesn’t the story still bring an almost childlike smile to our face …

A baby, a manger, Angels singing Gloria

Shepherds in the fields, Wise men with treasures

Even Hollywood can’t top that for an epic event

And don’t forget the bright shining star overhead

The one that led the seekers to find the Christ child

That’s the stuff of miracles and if I may permitted so say so

Magical moments to hold close on a cold winter night

When darkness is far too real

And there seems to be very little light

But at least enough to light our way

To take a step and then another

Believing as best we can

Trying to understand who we are

Remembering once more

That once upon time

There was a birth and it was no fairy tale

It was a night of magic and miracles

So big, so fantastic even Cecil B.

Couldn’t have captured it

Yet so unassuming, so fraught with something as simple and tender

As a young couple’s love for their newborn

And the most miraculous of all

Here was God’s way of saying to all of us --

“I Give you the most precious gift

Anyone has ever given

Here is my beloved son, Jesus …

Merry Christmas, World”

Merry Christmas and all the best to you

George Gagliardi, December, 2018