We cannot forget Dec. 7 when Pearl Harbor was bombed with several ships going down. The area was taken by surprise and many men lost their lives on that day. It was the start of World War II. Many boys never saw high school graduation as they signed up to go to war. These who were in this war kept our country free for their sacrifice (some, their lives). For those unaccounted for, only God knows where they are and may they rest in peace.
It happened again! Thursday night I put my hearing aid on the charger for 3 hours in a container by my bed. Less than one hour later, I looked and saw the container was tipped over and the aid was gone! I panicked as I had just paid $200 to get it back in order. Bethany came in and looked under the bed, but there was nothing there. The bed covers were shook out with no response. I continued to look for another hour in places that the kitten/cat (Teddy) might have taken the aid. I finally gave up and as another hour was nearing, Teddy would jump up on the opposite of the bed and to the floor and back onto the bed. I looked over on the other side and saw the entire hearing aid laying! He hadn’t had time to chew up the $200 part. I took the charger and aid down to the kitchen, moved the Cocoa can in an upper cupboard to another place and replaced it with the charger and aid. I may have to go downstairs twice because of this move, but I’m not going to have this happen again.
I declare that kitten/cat could help sniff out drugs! It is always looking for my black socks so the other day I put them way to the back under three pillows. Teddy came and began sniffing at the beginning of the top pillow and slowly moved down to the middle. Then he put his paws under the spot where the socks were. As soon as he got one sock, he was satisfied. (I retrieved it and the other one and put them up and away!
It is now December, a month with many activities. Thanksgiving is over with and some stores are still having Black Friday sales. Being able to order on-line has had an effect on some businesses.
Some places are staying open longer while other stores are closing earlier due to no help. Some businesses are having their Christmas party with their employees delayed until after Christmas.
The Sunday in the week of Hometown Christmas has people decorating trees in the Marcus Community Center and the night of Dec. 9, the trees were to be taken down. There is a parade on Dec. 9 and supposed to be rides for kids/adults in a horse drawn wagon (weather permitting). There is a soup/chili going on at the fire station. There are places where kids can decorate cookies. Winners of the business places and homes will be named that night on Dec.9. Santa Claus will be at the Marcus Community Center to hear what kids want for Christmas. That leaves 2 weeks before Christmas.
Faith Lutheran has meals to deliver Dec. 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 22. Dec. 22-January 2, 2024, the kids are out of school for Christmas break. You can see where the month of December is a busy one. There are times, when looking at all that goes on in December before Christmas, that makes me wonder if there is any time to really celebrate the reason for the season.
Steve and I did decorate our trees at the Center on Saturday as were several others. I was glad we could do it other than on Sunday. Steve, for the first time in years, did not have a Sioux City Journal tree to decorate. We let Marcus News have it!
Hopefully there is room for the story on Loneliness Unseen. December is a month where it seems that many people become depressed/stressed out. Is it because of a time when their families are too busy to bother with them or could it be a ‘financial’ matter? Using plastic cards also means that they have to be paid off later. The following story deals with these matters.
The story takes place in a busy shopping mall days before Christmas. The older man, Sam, is sitting on one of the benches for people to sit on. His bench is a long one and is back- to- back with another one. Now Irene got a ride down to the mall by her friend Judy. Judy let her know that she was going to do a lot of shopping today and maybe she should sit it out while waiting for her. Judy doesn’t care how much she spends as she has a few plastic cards that help her out.
Irene decides to sit to the back of Sam but before she can sit down he says, “Come and sit on this bench, there is room for both of us.” She thinks to herself, “Oh, now I will have to hear all about his aches and pains.” However, she does sit on his bench.
He says, “My wife died two years ago. She was the one that got all the Christmas presents ready for our grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. I know nothing about how she did it! The first year she was gone, I received some letters from the grt-grandchildren saying what they wanted for Christmas. I couldn’t afford any of their ‘wants’ so I sent some money instead. I never expected a thank you but would have liked to have known if they even got the money. Last year it was the same thing again. I don’t have much money even though we were given a raise in our Social Security. That raise went to pay for the increase in my health insurance.
Last year I sent money again and again, I received no answer. This year I have already received their letters saying what they wanted for Christmas but I am not going to send anything to any of them. I hope this doesn’t seem selfish, but I can only do what I have to do with. Do you have any of these problems?
Irene said, “Oh, yes! Sometimes I think this generation thinks there is a tree in the yard that we can pick money up off of! What you have said is what is happening to me, also. I am not going to send anything to anyone this year because I feel that a phone call or a short message sent by mail rather then expecting me to go to Social Media and get one of their ‘Thanks to all of you that sent me something’. Human conversation is no more. I believe that these people have really forgotten what Christmas is about. To them it is presents and the more expensive, the better.” Just then Judy arrived with all her ‘too’ many packages. Leaving the mall she said to Irene, “I hope you weren’t too bored sitting while I was shopping until I dropped!” Irene commented, “On the contrary. I had a nice conversation with Sam and feel better about what I am not going to do this year.”
(There was a business place that gave one time only to a Scholarship fund. I told him I didn’t see his business on that next year’s fund list. That is when he said that because he never even heard of ‘who’ got it or a brief message from the recipient last year about what was intended to be done with the money, he wasn’t giving anymore. I know some of these graduates receive many scholarship funds but if they are appreciative, then take the time to say so.
The same goes for things the recipient receives that someone has made especially for him/her. Never acknowledging it, could mean no more in the future.)
Remember in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost loved ones to death; have had their lives changed; have health problems, some of which are terminal; are trying to make ends meet even though they have a job; help those who desire that ‘wants’ are more important than ‘needs’ that prestige isn’t everything and be with those who are still struggling to shorten the distance between family/friends to build a bridte instead of a wall. Count your blessings!
I will leave you with this quote; “If you are kicking up a storm, don’t expect clear sailing.”