Happy and Blue 2

Today is a special day. This post will mark my 75th post on the blog. Yeehaw and all that rubbish.

So, in honor of this momentous occasion I thought an interview would be in order.

My first thought was that I could interview one of my many readers. But of course I don’t have many readers so that doesn’t work.

And then I thought I could just interview myself. But I didn’t know how to approach me to ask so I gave up on that idea..

So, ultimately I asked one of the deer that wander through my neighborhood for an interview and since it just stood there I took that as a yes…

Me: Hey deer. What is your opinion on the current state of personal blogs?

Deer: …….
I’m guessing deer don’t like silly questions like that. So I moved on.

Me: Well then, have you got your Christmas shopping done yet?

Deer:…………..
Apparently deer don’t like to talk much. About blogs and shopping anyways..

Me: How do you cope with this cold weather we have been having?

Deer:…………shaking……..
So, now we were getting somewhere. No actual conversation but at least I was being acknowledged.

Me: What are your greatest struggles being a deer?

Deer: Well, let me tell you. Humans of course.
First off they are always staring at us. And it makes us uncomfortable. I mean you can’t even take a poop without someone looking at you.
And they act like they want to be your friend but do they ever ask us into their homes for tea and crumpets. No…
Or they shoot guns at us. What’s up with that. It’s not like we are trying to hurt them. They have food. Cows, chickens, pigs…the list goes on. And those animals are always trying to make humans mad. Not us.
Or they drive along in the evening with big lights on their cars and trucks and make us think that they are doing it to help us get safely across the road and then BAM they smash into us..Probably think that’s a big joke..

Me: So you are passionate about disliking humans. What about other predators like coyotes and wolves?
Deer: This interview is over human….

Me: Well thanks for your insights. Is there any way my readers can get in touch with you if they have any other questions?

Deer: They can reach me at my blog http://www.dearyme. com or follow me on Twitter at dearyme. Or they can email me at dearyme@gmail.com.

So, if you have any other questions for the deer please feel free to contact them. For my part I will be going for a drive this evening to see if I can “meet” any more deer..

XUP wrote a Christmas story about a gift that meant a lot to her as a child. It is definitely worth your time to read it especially if your eyes are really dry and need moistening.

One of the nicest things about life is that when you talk to someone and they tell you their story, or as in this case you read someone’s story, it often triggers memories of something in your own life. Sometimes it’s a sad memory. Sometimes it’s a good memory. But either way it’s a feeling. And in a world where remaining numb to what happens around us is the norm most of the time it’s these memories that make us the most human.

I don’t like what Christmas has become. Most times I secretly wish that it didn’t take place every year. My memories of Christmas are mostly sad.

But, I do have one good memory that creeps out every once in a while. Usually after I read a story like the one XUP wrote.

Where I live there is usually snow for Halloween. It makes for a bland time for kids. They dress up in costumes at school and then put on winter coats and toques to collect candy.

By mid November everything is covered in snow. And it stays that way until about May when the last of it has pretty much all melted away.

As a child I never thought about snow for Christmas. It just was always there. I suppose I just assumed that it was everywhere.

But, one year it didn’t snow for Halloween. And it didn’t snow in November. It was winter cold. We just didn’t have the snow to go with it.

And by the time it was almost Christmas we still didn’t have any snow.

As a kid I started to panic. I needed snow. Not sure why now. But that year it seemed necessary that it had to be snowing for us to really have Christmas.

Christmas Eve came and we didn’t have snow. I asked my parents the usual “Why?” question but they didn’t have an answer. And they didn’t really seem to share my concern.

I went to bed feeling really sad.

When I woke up my Dad told me to go outside to get something or other. And I remember him smiling as I went to the door.

And, of course, outside everything was covered in snow. It was a snowfall to end all snowfalls. And it was all for me…Or it seemed that way at the time..

I don’t remember anything else about that Christmas Day. Or many other Christmas Days either for that matter.

But I do remember the snow. I remember how it looked like a blanket on the ground. How it looked as it hung from the trees in the back of the house. How it decorated everything. How the porch light made it sparkle. Just for me..

I remember mentioning this Christmas at family gatherings, and except for my Dad, no one else even remembers that year. But he remembered. And it mattered to me that someone did.

Anyways, of all the Christmas gifts I’ve received this one is the most special to me. When I read the words back to myself it seems silly that anyone would think anything but how stupid this is. But to me it wasn’t. And it still isn’t.

There really isn’t a question to this story. You could write a post about your favorite Christmas gift I suppose. Or not..

Every evening the man would put lettuce and some other vegetables out for the wild rabbits that hopped through his neighborhood.

And every evening the rabbits would see the vegetables and eat them all up.

The man thought he had formed a bond with the rabbits.

“Look pumpkin butt” he would say. “The rabbits are back. I bet they love me for giving them food every day.”

He called his wife pumpkin butt because he thought it was a term of endearment.

She always smiled at him when he said this. And then promptly put a large scoop of pepper in the peanut butter sandwich he ate before going to bed.

And every night the pepper made him wonder why he ate peanut butter when it tasted so bad..

The rabbits laughed at the man every night for being so careless.
“Look, that crazy human dropped his food outside again. What a doofus” they would say as they ate.

A mans life is confusing at times.

“Oh, hi Jimmy.” she said. “I haven’t seen you for a long time. Where have you been hiding?”

“You saw me yesterday when you came into the store. Like you do every day.” replied Jimmy.

But she wasn’t listening of course and she continued on with “How’s your family doing.
Are they all going to be home for Christmas?”

“My family all died in car accident last year” said Jimmy. “I’ll be spending my Christmas alone this year.”

“That’s great” the lady continued. “So nice to see you again.”

“Yeah, you to” said Jimmy.

“Don’t be such as stranger” she continued on as she rushed out the door.

“And don’t be such a !%!!%!#$ %!#!#%!#% !%!#%!!#!#% !#%!#% ” thought Jimmy because saying stuff like that could get him fired. And sadly he needed the job..

Later during his shift another lady came into the store.

“Hi Jimmy” she said. “Long time no see.”

“I saw you yesterday” said Jimmy.

“I know you did. I just like that expression” the lady laughed.

“What are you doing for Christmas” she continued.

“Nothing much” said Jimmy which was his way of avoiding the I’m spending it alone response.

“In that case would you be willing to spend Christmas at my house?” said the woman.
“My husband is to old to carve a turkey properly. Last Christmas I asked for a drumstick and ended up with a wing and some other piece of the bird I couldn’t even recognize” she laughed.
“And our tree…don’t even get me started on the way that looks at the moment..”

“I could help you with your tree” said Jimmy. “And I’d be happy to carve the turkey. Perhaps I could even make sure that you do get a drumstick this year..”

“Thanks,” said the lady. “Come over early so we have time to visit as well..”

And she left the store.

“Sometimes I hate Christmas because it’s so fake.” thought Jimmy.
“And sometimes a simple act of kindness makes Christmas the best time of year..”

So, the question to you is:
1) What does Christmas mean to you?