USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Post a Holiday Message to the Military ~ December 4 2002

68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

"You'll never walk alone.." sniff, sniff...that's such a beautiful song, LaDiva. Now my Christmas cookies are soggy. Take this: (^;

The Star-Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?



On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.



Oh, thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blessed with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

 

[Soaring Feather]

Are you smoking whacky tobacky?

No are you? Why do you ask Silly Rabbit?

[Radix]

Where is my diet Pepsi?


Did you ever feel that you were being taken for granted?

[TEXOKIE]

"If I had some snow, I'd send you some"

Hi Kathy! We got dumped on real good last night, so you have some of ours....

[Radix]

Hello BF!

[Soaring Feather]

Radix Hello!

Why you aren't a Silly Rabbit are you

[LaDivaLoca]

Welcome home, Tonk. I hope you had a good day.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

You're very welcome for the food! (^: I need some new recipes. My sister's the gourmet cook in our family, while I'm the mac and cheese, pot roast and soup & sandwich type. Carlo's busy with his cookbook, but hopefully he'll bring his warmth and yummy recipes back to the Canteen soon so I can do what I do best...."correcting" misguided journalists who still can't figure out why Saddam, serial murderer and mass-torturer is worse than our honorable and Godfearing President. (^:

[TEXOKIE]

"Girlz, a sleigh ride. Redhead and radu know how to drive. We need warm coats and heavy blankets."

Just pushed my beloved off the computer so I'm getting caught up with the thread....hope I'm not too late to go for a ride.

[LaDivaLoca]

Love the graphics!

[Soaring Feather]

so I can do what I do best...."correcting" misguided journalists who still can't figure out why Saddam, serial murderer and mass-torturer is worse than our honorable and Godfearing President.

Full speed ahead there Rags you're doing a great job!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome, Ghost of Richard Nixon, thank you for helping honor our troops.

[Radix]

I have my moments.

You seem to me to be the more serious one.

That is, I take you more seriously than I take me.

[Radix]

hello Kathy

[Soaring Feather]

Would you like a poem?

[Radix]

You know me better than most!


Of course!


Mongo likes Poems!

[LaDivaLoca]

O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

Words are just that - words. But when they are put together the way it's done in our national anthem, it takes on a whole new meaning. Some words may cause pain and hurt,and other times, they can make you smile while some can make you burst in pride. The Star Spangled banner says a lot of what it is to be an American. I thank all our service men and women, past and present, for giving us the opportunity to enjoy our freedom.

[Radix]

loL,

You make me laugh!


Would you like a Poem?

Think about it!


LoL!


The truthful answer is, "yes".

[TEXOKIE]

The "W" in Christmas

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"CHRISTWAS LOVE"

And, I believe, He still is. Author unknown

[Soaring Feather]

A Woven Life

The fabric of my life
woven string by string.
First string of childhood memories,
as cobwebs in an attic.

Making a fanatic for weaving
fabric from shards of glass, bits,
pieces of interrupted maturation.

Interrupted by shocking
hurtful events to the psyche,
crushing the spirit til nearly dead.

Oh, Hallelujah ridges span cross
the depths of despair?
opening to roads of lame' and silver.
Festooned with diamonds and jade.
Purple surrounds the flowering soul.
Life?

bentfeather