MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JIM W. COLEMAN
Some say that I can't say "Merry Christmas," much less enjoy Christmas for what it is. Some say that you'll be offended if I don't wish you a "Happy Holiday." Those same people insist that I participate in the latest social revolution, one which steps on no toes, offends no single person and rolls society out into one flat, tasteless blob of politically correct dough - a thin pastry unseasoned by yeast or any other contaminant. But without that yeast, that ball of political correctness has no life, no spice, no inherent value and no interest to anyone. The spice of life is the uniqueness of each individual and culture. And while we should not intentionally seek to harm or offend anyone, we should, nonetheless, enjoy our rights.
I'm not necessarily a religious person but I value your right to worship. I value your right of expression, even if it goes against my own personal beliefs. You see, I am tolerant. And if variety and uniqueness is the spice of life, intolerance is its poison.
To that end, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. And if Christmas is not what you celebrate or does not fit into your lifestyle or beliefs, no matter. By that sentiment, I also wish you the best of life and luck in love.
As I put it on another blog: "Happy Thankshannukwanzmasgivingday!"
And, to put a commercial spin on it (just to keep THAT vocal segment happy): May you find a Jim W. Coleman novel under your Thankshannukwanzmasgiving tree (if you have one.)
Comments
What a wonderful Christmas! The best part was the power outtage. I awoke at 4:50 and crept out into the writing studio to gather up the presents for the kids and put them beneath the tree.
That done, I settled down to watch early morning news and paid programming (I found out more about what I could do with my abs!) and waited for the kids to wake up. One by one, they shuffled into the room, bleary-eyed and hazed.
And then the power went out - and stayed out for five hours. It was very windy and I feared for our safety as I watched the trees leaning over in the wind.
We opened presents by candlelight. It was a marvelous experience! I have a nice truck, a nice travel trailer, a semi-nice home (always have something tore up as I'm always working on something) and a beautiful garden. But the best thing I have are my three daughters.
We had a wonderful morning ... up until the point that I had to take them home to their mom's house. I will miss them (but I also will entertain myself by playing with their new remote-controlled BIG TRUCKS that they got for Christmas!)
And me? I got a new pair of Dockers pants. And six new pairs of Dockers socks. And some John Deere mugs, some new underwear (boxers or briefs? That's classified!), a piece of beef jerky, a sasquatch movie on DVD, and that's about it. But all I wanted in the first place (outside of the Dockers) was quality time spent with my three daughters and with Linda. I got all that ... and more.
Wait, I haven't gotten the "more" yet and I'm anxiously awaiting it. I'm sure it will arrive in the form of a bill from the electric company for all the double-time-and-a-half that they had to pay to restore my power.
I shouldn't pay it. By the time they got the power back on, Christmas was over and we all had great memories of opening presents in the dark.
Posted by: Jim W. Coleman | December 25, 2005 01:33 PM
Merry Christmas to you too Mr. Coleman! You and Linda are very dear friends. Christmas by candlelight! How wonderful! I am sure you received everything you asked Santa for and more, as you have beautiful daughters and a beautiful bride to be. Merry Christmas and we will be seeing you on New Years day...Probably Eve too, as that seems to have become a tradition the last couple of years.
Posted by: Bonnie and Paul | December 25, 2005 08:10 PM