HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’ve been in the process of updating my website, so this blog of mine is part of my learning the new system. Hopefully the learning curve will be a short one. I discovered this photo of me from years ago (please don’t ask me how many). It was taken on New Years Eve and this night turned out to be a memorable one..

Like being in a sudden time warp, I had the opportunity to celebrate this particular New Year’s Eve with a guy I’d had a crush on when I was barely into puberty.. My parents were friends with his parents, and even though he was approximately fourteen years older than me, I yearned to be close to him whenever we had the opportunity to see one another at some kind of family function. I even went to his wedding shower with my parents. I didn’t forget him through the years. Physically attractive with a handsome face, killer smile, and toned muscles from lifting weights,he seemed like the closest I would ever get to knowing a perfect person.

We had a glorious evening together that New Year’s Eve. I was the one who had invited him to my friends’ party. He hadn’t seemed to have changed much even though more than a decade had passed between us. I was the one who had changed - to a grown woman. Except for some wrinkles and a palpable sadness that surrounded him because of his divorce, he appeared at first as the same “perfect” person I’d had my crush on years before.

Of course not one of us is perfect, and most of us are far from it, and I was about to learn a lesson.

We left the party after midnight and went to his suburban house, now void of his wife who had left him, along with their three children.

It was here he felt comfortable enough to take off his mask and I saw him then as a vulnerable man trying his best to get through a difficult situation and start a new life with a new partner.

But I was a young woman out to enjoy my life without a lot of drama, or children (yet) or stepchildren. He was approaching middle age, hoping to somehow get back to enjoying his.

So, what do writers do when they recall instances like these? They write about them. And that’s exactly what I did. I wrote about my experience with Bill, altering it into a fictional short story titled, “Crushing.” It seems to me we took turns at having a crush on one anther when we both knew it wasn’t meant to be.

IN SPITE OF IT ALL, HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

"No presents for the adults," Santa said the other day.

"They've been naughty, naughty, naughty, only toys go in the sleigh!"

The elves all gathered 'round him,

Santa sat in his big chair.

He told them of his Christmas plan brought on by pure despair:

"Each gift is for a child,
the adults go without.

They've been rude and cruel and full of greed, to this there is no doubt."

"They're offended about this.
They're misunderstanding that.

A song is said forbidden,
yet its joy is what they lack."

The elves gasped all together;
with mouths agape they cringed.

So sad about the earth's decay,
each woe and each syringe.

"They can't care for one another, when faults are all they see.

How they come to some conclusions is a far way beyond me."

"So let's batten down the hatches, 
lest they come for the North Pole.

We'll focus on the children,
The world's hope for love filled souls."

WISHING YOU ALL A JOYOUS AND LOVE FILLED CHRISTMAS !

Share

CHRISTMAS SONGS IN THE 1960s

Why yes, Amy. I'm doing just fine even though Christmas is only one week away in 2018.

I mean, Santa's going to be helping me out real soon, right? 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

For people who grew up during the 1960s where you now exist, nostalgia surges to the forefront at Christmastime.

And songs play a major role in reviving these feelings.

Popular stars and singers of the 1960s have special television shows. I'm sure you've noticed that Christmas songs are everywhere and on every channel - I'm sure you've noticed too that there aren't many channels to choose from. Here's a few shows and songs popular in the 1960s:

The Bing Crosby Christmas Show

"White Christmas" 

The Judy Garland Christmas Show 

The Andy Williams Christmas Show

"The Christmas Song"

Glenn Campbell
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"What Child Is This"
"The First Noel"

Reminiscing with music is an important part of Christmas ...
... just as it has been for centuries.

SOME POPULAR CHRISTMAS SONGS AND ARTISTS OF THE 1960S

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Supremes 
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Brenda Lee
Sleigh Bells - Gene Autry
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
If Everyday Was Like Christmas - Elvis Presley
Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin
Frosty the Snowman - Patsy Cline
Merry Christmas - Otis Redding
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Elvis
Twelve Days of Christmas - Perry Como
Away in a Manger - Ed Ames
The Christmas Song - Alvin and the Chipmunks
Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby

Seems to me you're quite fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in the 1960s, Amy.
You're wondering if I'd like to revisit Christmas as a child in the 1960s?

Uh, maybe not. 

Christmas wasn't always merry in my family when I was little.

But if I had the power to go back in time and change a few things?

Yeah, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

I'd try to make every Christmas, 
"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

HITCHHIKING TO JASPER, ALBERTA

Hold on one sec, Amy.
I'm under a dryer at the moment.
Can't hear a word you say. 

Just need to reconfigure the main chronology juncture that connects me with the time machine and we'll be good to go.

Okay ... I'm all ears.

You're starting to really like a guy you met on the road?

No, no, no, the time machine can't zap you both to the 21st century. The  most I can do is show you what you'd look like with him in 2018. Just tell him to close his eyes. He can't know what I'm doing.

Okay, here you go.

Yeah, yeah, you'd make a cute modern couple.

But right now you have to keep existing as best you can in 1960-something, wherever you are.

And just exactly where are you?

You hitchhiked to Jasper?

Ahhh, wonderful Jasper.

Why, yes, now that you ask.

I have definitely been there, but it was a long time ago when I was quite young.

And I, too, knew a guy in Jasper that I liked.

No, I have no idea what happened to him, but we should focus on what's going on with you.

Well, I think he was from the United States ... he was handsome ... and very kind ... he camped out near where my girlfriend and I had our tent ... along the Athabasca River ... there were lots of young hitchhikers camping there back then ...

... and the very first time I ever drank beer was in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Athabasca Hotel, but we called it the Atha-B ... and then my girlfriend and I made it back to our tent by the light of a full moon because we had no flashlight ... and no cell phone, of course, because they didn't exist ...

... ohhhh, I see what you're doing, Amy. You're letting me ramble on about my life in the past. 

Let's say we get back to your life, shall we?

Jasper is a specialized municipality in the province of Alberta with a population in 2018 of approximately 4,600.

It's located in the Canadian Rockies approximately 225 miles, or 362 kilometres west of the city of Edmonton.

Positioned in the valley of the Athabasca River, in 1813 Jasper became an outpost of a trade route, but didn't become accessible by road from Edmonton until 1931.

It was named after Jasper Hawes who operated a trading post for the North West Company.

Jasper's railway was established in 1911 as part of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.

And in 1930 the Jasper Forest Park was officially established as a Jasper National Park.

More than 3 million visitors pass through the park gates each year.

It's a World Heritage Site.

GRIEF IN THE 1960s

Thank you for being concerned about me, Amy.

But before I tell you why I'm feeling down I want to mention that it's quite the groovy outfit you're wearing in 1960-something. Seems like you're fitting into the decade very well.

Shhh. Yes, I heard you loud and clear. You crave a modern life. The 1960s aren't like the 21st century.  I know you're feeling sad about being stuck there this long ... and I also realize that the 1960s isn't a perfect decade to live in. It can be a real bummer, right?

You must be hearing about the war in Viet Nam ...

... you must be hearing about poverty ...

... and lack of civil rights for diverse populations ...

... and the protestors who are young like you, trying to make a positive difference in the world.

Well, of course I'm still trying to fix the time machine to get you back to the 21st century.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that the 21st century is perfect. 

You still want to know why I'm feeling sad?

I missed the deadline for entering my book into an important contest. 

That's all. That's why I'm feeling sad at the moment.

Of course I realize it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

But missing this chance has gotten to me. I feel foolish and sad, just like everyone does now and then. 

True depression can be very serious and not easily resolved, though.

The term "depression" is derived from Latin and means, "to press down". 
In the 14th century, "to depress" meant to "bring down in spirits".
In 1665 English author Richard Bakerot referred to depression as someone having "a great depression of spirit".

In the 1950s, psychologist Albert Ellis's thinking was that depression stemmed from irrational "should" and "musts" - leading to self-blame.

By the 1960s where you currently exist, Amy, researchers are studying grief and depression. They'll soon come up with criteria based on patterns of symptoms, leading to a future of successful mental health treatments for those in need.

Huh. Looks like you didn't hear a word I just said.

Anyway, the truth is that it's good to know  you're enjoying some of the wonderful things living in 1960-something can bring, like love and the hope for peace.

And that's not a bummer at all.