The bustling Christmas Season has arrived.
While columnist and pundits every year at this time choose to write and yammer about the "stress of Christmas" and the over-taxed mentality we "all" have fallen prey to; here abouts, we simple folks certainly have our obligations and deadlines, but there is also a comfortable routine to Advent and the celebration of Emmanuel, God with us and Peace on Earth.
I used some bonus airline miles to buy an eleventh hour ticket to fly Inga out of Oregon and back to Texas on Sunday (December 15) and after some surface travel delays due to frozen weather, Grant departed Missouri and walked in the front door about a half-hour after we had returned with Inga from DFW Airport. After a long absence away from home, when the kids return, Strider the dog provides either a source of gratification or sour feelings upon their entry; depending upon whether Strider, one of the land's least demonstrative dogs, will provide a "squeak" of cheer along with a wag of the tail when recognizing the return of a lost pack member. For the record: Inga is feeling sour, while Grant is gratified. But the entire pack is gathered for the holidays and all rejoice!
In the spirit of the Season and out of innate kindness and good will, Sue volunteers to cook a dinner for a friend and her husband and two boys while she recovers from painful back surgery. The transformed Ebeneezer Scrooge could do no better than this. What day would Elizabeth like to have our pot roast dinner delivered to her family?
Wednesday would be fine is the reply.
For a wrap on the Season of Advent, Sue has two large children and family events at church on Monday and Tuesday nights for which she is in charge. Nothing extra is to be scheduled for those two days, Period. Early on Thursday Mark flies to Indianapolis for his cousin Craig's wedding, returning on the 22nd. That leaves Wednesday as the only day that will work for all of us to go out and cut our traditional Christmas tree in East Texas and eat barbecue. So what about delivering a warm dinner all the way across town to the starving family of the invalid mother and church member during Christmas? Modified Plan: Mark will get up early in the morning on Wednesday to cook a pot roast for three hours, Sue will prepare side dishes and then deliver them around noon. Sue will return and the whole family will then drive 60 miles out to Kadee Tree Farm and select this year's live tree and then we'll drive back to Garland with a tree tied to the top of the car and stop at Big Daddy's Barbecue for the traditional Christmas Tree Cutting BBQ Dinner.
Sue departs with bubbling hot pot roast and other sides to deliver dinner around 12:45. The hour passes and she is still out. The tree farm opens at 1:00 and closes at sunset, so we have a window of about 4 hours to get our Christmas tree, including travel time out. I figure Sue and Elizabeth are chatting about all sorts of things while we're burning daylight. Finally I hear the garage door open and she busts into the house with the statement, "Come look at the front of my car!!" Not words I like to hear.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. While making delivery of this hearty hot meal to an poor churchwoman laid up in bed after surgery to feed her hungry family at Christmas time [this is so sad], a man dashes out in front of her to make a left turn as she is passing through an intersection (with a green light). His BMW scrapes across her grill as she brakes hard. His rear tire is half folded under his chassis while her car is flooded with the rich juice and aroma of a fresh out-of-the-oven roast, veggies, bread, fruit and dessert. Mr. Balkan-sir-name Beamer Driver jumps out to point his finger at Sue and tell her "you are a woman and besides you were going too fast through my intersection."
No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded. Sue's response is interrupted by the blaring sounds of a siren as a cop pulls up to mess. The officer [now really - how often does this happen?] exits his car and says, "I was sitting right over there", as he motions with his thumb over his shoulder, "and I saw the whole thing. I am writing you sir a citation for failure to yield the right of way."
All parties were instructed to clear out of the intersection and pull into a nearby parking lot. The officer took a lot of time to fill out the accident report, but made it abundantly clear who was at fault. Sue inspected the damage to the exterior and interior of the car. It was driveable, but the passenger floor boards were soaked in gooey tomatoey goodness infused with herbs and onions. The meat stayed in its container, so Elizabeth's family did not have to eat anything that tasted like it came from the floor of a bus. The meal was finally delivered after the officer finished his report; it was less succulent than intended, but we think it was appreciated in its re-pieced together presentation. Sue made no mention of the accident to Elizabeth, just dropped it off and excused herself.
Later that afternoon we cut a good looking tree in the fading daylight. Followed that up with a righteous meal of barbecued brisket and ribs. We counted our blessings this Christmas Season and found them to be numerous.
No Good Deed...
Were we punished?
Or were we Rewarded?
The restored Camry is back in the garage a week later, looking like a shiny and new gift from under the tree. Insurance claim for $1,477. Check cashed.
God bless us everyone! And on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.
Glory to God and Merry Christmas.
While columnist and pundits every year at this time choose to write and yammer about the "stress of Christmas" and the over-taxed mentality we "all" have fallen prey to; here abouts, we simple folks certainly have our obligations and deadlines, but there is also a comfortable routine to Advent and the celebration of Emmanuel, God with us and Peace on Earth.
I used some bonus airline miles to buy an eleventh hour ticket to fly Inga out of Oregon and back to Texas on Sunday (December 15) and after some surface travel delays due to frozen weather, Grant departed Missouri and walked in the front door about a half-hour after we had returned with Inga from DFW Airport. After a long absence away from home, when the kids return, Strider the dog provides either a source of gratification or sour feelings upon their entry; depending upon whether Strider, one of the land's least demonstrative dogs, will provide a "squeak" of cheer along with a wag of the tail when recognizing the return of a lost pack member. For the record: Inga is feeling sour, while Grant is gratified. But the entire pack is gathered for the holidays and all rejoice!
 |
| Inga shows affection to Strider, even though his welcoming her home was less than enthusiatstic |
In the spirit of the Season and out of innate kindness and good will, Sue volunteers to cook a dinner for a friend and her husband and two boys while she recovers from painful back surgery. The transformed Ebeneezer Scrooge could do no better than this. What day would Elizabeth like to have our pot roast dinner delivered to her family?
Wednesday would be fine is the reply.
For a wrap on the Season of Advent, Sue has two large children and family events at church on Monday and Tuesday nights for which she is in charge. Nothing extra is to be scheduled for those two days, Period. Early on Thursday Mark flies to Indianapolis for his cousin Craig's wedding, returning on the 22nd. That leaves Wednesday as the only day that will work for all of us to go out and cut our traditional Christmas tree in East Texas and eat barbecue. So what about delivering a warm dinner all the way across town to the starving family of the invalid mother and church member during Christmas? Modified Plan: Mark will get up early in the morning on Wednesday to cook a pot roast for three hours, Sue will prepare side dishes and then deliver them around noon. Sue will return and the whole family will then drive 60 miles out to Kadee Tree Farm and select this year's live tree and then we'll drive back to Garland with a tree tied to the top of the car and stop at Big Daddy's Barbecue for the traditional Christmas Tree Cutting BBQ Dinner.
Sue departs with bubbling hot pot roast and other sides to deliver dinner around 12:45. The hour passes and she is still out. The tree farm opens at 1:00 and closes at sunset, so we have a window of about 4 hours to get our Christmas tree, including travel time out. I figure Sue and Elizabeth are chatting about all sorts of things while we're burning daylight. Finally I hear the garage door open and she busts into the house with the statement, "Come look at the front of my car!!" Not words I like to hear.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. While making delivery of this hearty hot meal to an poor churchwoman laid up in bed after surgery to feed her hungry family at Christmas time [this is so sad], a man dashes out in front of her to make a left turn as she is passing through an intersection (with a green light). His BMW scrapes across her grill as she brakes hard. His rear tire is half folded under his chassis while her car is flooded with the rich juice and aroma of a fresh out-of-the-oven roast, veggies, bread, fruit and dessert. Mr. Balkan-sir-name Beamer Driver jumps out to point his finger at Sue and tell her "you are a woman and besides you were going too fast through my intersection."
No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded. Sue's response is interrupted by the blaring sounds of a siren as a cop pulls up to mess. The officer [now really - how often does this happen?] exits his car and says, "I was sitting right over there", as he motions with his thumb over his shoulder, "and I saw the whole thing. I am writing you sir a citation for failure to yield the right of way."
All parties were instructed to clear out of the intersection and pull into a nearby parking lot. The officer took a lot of time to fill out the accident report, but made it abundantly clear who was at fault. Sue inspected the damage to the exterior and interior of the car. It was driveable, but the passenger floor boards were soaked in gooey tomatoey goodness infused with herbs and onions. The meat stayed in its container, so Elizabeth's family did not have to eat anything that tasted like it came from the floor of a bus. The meal was finally delivered after the officer finished his report; it was less succulent than intended, but we think it was appreciated in its re-pieced together presentation. Sue made no mention of the accident to Elizabeth, just dropped it off and excused herself.
Later that afternoon we cut a good looking tree in the fading daylight. Followed that up with a righteous meal of barbecued brisket and ribs. We counted our blessings this Christmas Season and found them to be numerous.
 |
| Suneson arrive at consensus We select and cut a Christmas Tree as daylight fades at Kadee Christmas Tree Farm |
No Good Deed...
Were we punished?
Or were we Rewarded?
The restored Camry is back in the garage a week later, looking like a shiny and new gift from under the tree. Insurance claim for $1,477. Check cashed.
God bless us everyone! And on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.
Glory to God and Merry Christmas.
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