A Bridge To The Past

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On Thanksgiving Day, 2014 I will be releasing my 20th publication, the sub-title is "Christmas cards from the old neighborhood"... I have invited others to be a part of it by telling their stories and sharing photos of their best memories of growing up in the old south end of Columbus, Ohio and what Christmas was like for them. I am especially interested in hearing from other so-called baby boomers who can help us remember what it was like at Christmas-time from the 1940s through the 1970s in their homes, at their schools or on their favorite frozen pond or sledding hill; perhaps the best gift they ever asked for and received; family holiday traditions or anything else that allows us to reflect and compare notes to see just how similar we were when it came to the weeks and days leading up to Christmas.

A book like this, although localized in content will still be one that is fun to read for anyone who remembers holiday seasons before TV traditions such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas"  which was first aired in 1965. Were you here before that, and if you were did your family make home-made decorations or did you go Christmas shopping with less than ten dollars to spend...get the idea? I have already completed the author portion of this eBook and in doing so I have shared a ton of my own memories and you can too. I have received a few old black & white photos and short stories from my peers who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s and they make a heart-warming inclusion to the project but the more the merrier; as many as others are willing to share are welcome. There is no compensation for becoming a part of this other than seeing you or your family gathered within pages filled with others you may have known or only had something in common with, but keep in mind, what we are willing to share with one another will be seen and read by persons around the world and this could become a cherished community diary for you and your family to share and reflect on for years to come.

If you think about it, the holidays, especially the Christmas season is a time when many of us boomers really feel nostalgic and long for the past; a time when we can remember and discuss all of those people we have loved and lost and how they made our Christmases special; that era in our lives when everything seemed simpler and when we could block out the stresses we no longer can because we still had all the time and energy we needed to just be happy or excited. It is why we look forward to again scanning the TV logs to see when "A Charlie Brown Christmas"  or "Miracle on 34th Street" will be on. So if you are not shy and if you are willing to become a part of another Christmas story than please, let me hear from you. You can send whatever you are willing to contribute to me at... imjustrick@aol.com  and I will do all I can to make you a part of something special.

After all, this being my 20th book is a milestone for me so what better better way can I celebrate it than to make others a part of it, and what better time of the year could there be to reach it? The deadline to be assured a spot within these stories was originally set for November 1st for editing but I can extend it a few more weeks if needed; but please, the earlier I hear from you the more likely it is that your stories can help us cross that bridge to the past together.