Christmas Cards From Home can do this

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The goal of my latest publication was achieved when I received the first reviews from readers who purchased it and sent me their thoughts about feeling what I hoped they would. Christmas Cards From Home was intended to make them not only feel a sense of nostalgia for the old days, but also one of coming home to a time more friendly and for awhile finding everything as it was then. Those personal recollections that were shared by the many contributors brought me into the book with them and that is a feeling I hoped would be felt by everyone. Some of these pages went back as far as the 1930s and gave us a glimpse of the spirit of Christmas that existed around the old south end of Columbus before many of us were even born. What I found most striking was the similarities in the stories that were shared, regardless of the time frames that were written about. It seems we all did things just about the same way. This truly is a book for anyone who is or was a fan of publications such as Reader's Digest or the nostalgic themed magazine, "Reminisce". Is it too bold to compare a home-spun publication like this one with such giants in the world of print? I don't think it is at all, because like those well known magazines Christmas Cards From Home was built through recollections of regular people sharing regular memories and putting their hearts into their words. They didn't seek fancy, seldom used words to tell their stories and none of them tried to be poets, all of them wrote the way most of us would speak in a normal conversation. It is how I write every story I have ever shared and I believe it is a style that many others appreciate. I write in a style for the casual reader as much as I do in hopes that bookworms and scholars will like it. I believe that writers who look for clever words and clever ways to impart them sometimes lose the feeling of the messages they hope to convey. Personally, I have never been too impressed with sophisticated vocabularies that rely more on proving a writer knows a lot of words or more than the average reader. When I read essays and themes that are more about showing off a style than about good honest content I am prone to put it down without finishing. Good books can be like lessons learned in English class, but sometimes a better book is one that was written by someone who was only content in making readers feel comfortable. To me a wider vocabulary sometime reads like the author looking down on his or her readers and saying, "look at my amazing use of written text!"  None of the stories in Christmas Cards From Home can be accused of any such attempt and if they were I probably wouldn't have used them. This is a book that can be read for personal enjoyment and one that can be read aloud to anyone of any age and everyone gets it. 

A review I received from Alice Holland who lives in Edina, Minnesota states "I am not from Ohio and I have no idea of where the south side of your town is or much about its history, but I am beginning to know and understand its people through this classic collection of personal memories shared in Christmas Cards From Home. I read it cover-to-cover in about two and half hours while resting after a long day and I enjoyed every page. I am 67 years old and even though I know nothing at all about your special park I grew up in an area that was just like it. We also had a special hill and a special lake that made winters very special. My friends and I did the same things your people did and as I read a few of the stories I was nearly overcome with emotions. I hope your book does well and will be read by anyone who misses someone at Christmas."

I only know Alice as someone who follows my blog and my facebook page, and I hope she reads this post and knows how special her note is. Christmas Cards From Home is meant to be just that; seasons greetings to all who miss something special about this time of year, from total strangers-to total strangers and former neighbors who may have lost track of one another. Come back to not just a familiar place but a familiar time as well. There are flurries in the air tonight and the temperature is plummeting but the heart can be warmed for about the price of a magazine. I believe this one can do that. Now that is a bold statement! Thanks to all who helped make it merry!

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cards-Home-South-Columbus-ebook/dp/B00Q7L3R38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417297588&sr=8-1&keywords=christmas+cards+from+home

Pretty sad, but he is right.

America – He’s Your President for Goodness Sake!

By William Thomas

There was a time not so long ago when Americans, regardless of their political stripes, rallied round their president. Once elected, the man who won the White House was no longer viewed as a republican or democrat, but the President of the United States. The oath of office was taken, the wagons were circled around the country’s borders and it was America versus the rest of the world with the president of all the people at the helm.

Suddenly President Barack Obama, with the potential to become an exceptional president has become the glaring exception to that unwritten, patriotic rule.

Four days before President Obama’s inauguration, before he officially took charge of the American government, Rush Limbaugh boasted publicly that he hoped the president would fail. Of course, when the president fails the country flounders. Wishing harm upon your country in order to further your own narrow political views is selfish, sinister and a tad treasonous as well.

Subsequently, during his State of the Union address, which is pretty much a pep rally for America, an unknown congressional representative from South Carolina, later identified as Joe Wilson, stopped the show when he called the President of the United States a liar. The president showed great restraint in ignoring this unprecedented insult and carried on with his speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so stunned by the slur, she forgot to jump to her feet while clapping wildly, 30 or 40 times after that.

Last spring, President Obama took his wife Michelle to see a play in New York City and republicans attacked him over the cost of security for the excursion. The president can’t take his wife out to dinner and a show without being scrutinized by the political opposition? As history has proven, a president in a theatre without adequate security is a tragically bad idea.

Remember: “Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?”

At some point, the treatment of President Obama went from offensive to ugly and then to downright dangerous.

The health-care debate, which looked more like extreme fighting in a mud pit than a national dialogue, revealed a very vulgar side of America. President Obama’s face appeared on protest signs white-faced and blood-mouthed in a satanic clown image. In other tasteless portrayals, people who disagreed with his position distorted his face to look like Hitler complete with mustache and swastika.

Odd, that burning the flag makes Americans crazy, but depicting the president as a clown and a maniacal fascist is accepted as part of the new rude America.

Maligning the image of the leader of the free world is one thing, putting the president’s life in peril is quite another. More than once, men with guns were videotaped at the health-care rallies where the president spoke. Again, history shows that letting men with guns get within range of a president has not served America well in the past.

And still the “birthers” are out there claiming Barack Obama was not born in the United States, although public documentation proves otherwise. Hawaii is definitely part of the United States, but the Panama Canal Zone where his electoral opponent Senator John McCain was born? Nobody’s sure.

Last month, a 44-year-old woman in Buffalo was quite taken by President Obama when she met him in a chicken wing restaurant called Duff’s. Did she say something about a pleasure and an honour to meet the man or utter encouraging words for the difficult job he is doing? No. Quote: “You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body.”

Lady, that was the President of the United States you were addressing, not one of the Jonas Brothers! He’s your president for goodness sakes, not the guy driving the Zamboni at “Monster Trucks On Ice.” Maybe next it’ll be, “Take Your President To A Topless Bar Day.”

In President Barack Obama, Americans have a charismatic leader with a good and honest heart. Unlike his predecessor, he’s a very intelligent leader. And unlike that president’s predecessor, he’s a highly moral man.

In President Obama, Americans have the real deal, the whole package and a leader that citizens of almost every country around the world look to with great envy. Given the opportunity, Canadians would trade our leader, hell, most of our leaders for Obama in a heartbeat.

What America has in Obama is a head of state with vitality and insight and youth. Think about it, Barack Obama is a young Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the face of change and charity for all of Africa but he was too old to make it happen. The great things Obama might do for America and the world could go on for decades after he’s out of office.

America, you know not what you have.

The man is being challenged unfairly, characterized with vulgarity and treated with the kind of deep disrespect to which no previous president was subjected. It’s like the day after electing the first black man to be president, thereby electrifying the world with hope and joy, Americans sobered up and decided the bad old days were better.

President Obama may fail but it will not be a Richard Nixon default fraught with larceny and lies. President Obama, given a fair chance, will surely succeed but his triumph will never come with a Bill Clinton caveat – “if only he’d got control of that zipper.”

Please. Give the man a fair, fighting chance. This incivility toward the leader who won over Americans and gave hope to billions of people around the world that their lives could be enhanced by his example, just naturally has to stop.

Believe me, when Americans drive by the White House and see a sign on the lawn that reads: “No shirt. No shoes. No service,” they’ll realize this new national rudeness has gone way, way too far.

The War On Christmas

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I should set the stage for this battleground by making it clear that I belong to no church, I never have and in all likelihood never will. This is not a knock on churches of any faith and I am not a man without faith, I believe in God but beyond accepting that he exist the details of what he expects becomes very fuzzy, very quickly to me. I want to believe that he expects from me what he does for everyone but I don't see everyone behaving in the manner I think he expects. With that stated I will move on to the holy wars that I want no part of. You see, I am anti-war of any kind unless I feel that I or my family might become a casualty of it. I have been on this rock for a little more than 62 years and none of the wars that have been waged in my lifetime have brought much good to the world as far as I can tell; wars kill people and besides making a statement to warn others of consequences I really don't see any evidence that we are any better off for them because it seems we are always at war with someone, and often the underlying theme is one side who thinks they are holier than the other; furthermore, the need to be at war never seems to end, especially in the region where it all began. 

Remember, I said wars fought in my lifetime. (1952 until now). I study history and current events every day and this is personal with me and before anyone mutters to themselves that old tired and well worn phrase about opinions and assholes, let me address that and snuff it out; only half of that statement is true. Not everyone has an opinion, we know this to be true because we are surrounded by people who constantly keep their opinions to themselves for fear of hurting another's feelings or fear that someone won't either like or accept them. I never concerned myself with any of that because I generally file someone else's opinion about me in a drawer labeled nonsense.

Moving on to the war on Christmas; Happy Holidays everyone. 

Yes, I see the clinched fists and the white knuckles of those who are offended by that greeting and I hear the gnashing of  their teeth and I have heard all of the diatribe about not forgetting whose birthday we celebrate on December 25th.  I would like to share here a response from me on this very subject to my very good friend Eddie Powell who is an ordained minister, author and motivational speaker among other hats he wears. Eddie and I have known one another and have held high regard for the other since the late 1970s when we shared a microphone at radio station WMNI in Columbus, Ohio. We were young DJ's back then and with different objectives in life, he is younger than me and we were in that business because we liked it, in fact because we had a passion for it, mine no stronger than his. Today Eddie is as passionate about his work as I am with my own and I believe that his faith in God is not too unlike mine, he's just way more vocal about it than I ever felt I needed to be and I believe he thinks God expects more from us than any of us are capable of doing or being. Here is a familiar sight you will undoubtedly see all through the holiday season...oops...there I go again calling it a holiday. But I won't apologize for that so dig in and let's move on;

Eddie invited comments by saying Jesus is the reason for the season and then asking what others prefer saying this time of year, and me, never being shy about accepting an opportunity to weigh-in on matters that I find silly...well...I jumped all over this one by telling him that I say both, and sometimes I say Happy Hanuka when in the company of my Jewish friends and family. However, I do say Merry Christmas to everyone I greet on Christmas Day because it is Jesus' birthday. But leading up to that day, and for about a week after it I also celebrate Thanksgiving and the end of the old year with hopes of a better new year; when the time commences from late November until the season ends on January 1. In other words, I celebrate a season. I really don't have a choice with all of the lights and other decorations calling me, some that have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. I find myself being sucked in to something that those who know more about Jesus than I do, or those who claim to might not understand because I thoroughly enjoy it all; yet many of those who believe they understand things better than I do will follow me into it blindly just the same. And then of course there is all of that music on the radio and on TV and piped into stores that I visit. Face it Eddie, we live in a society where millions of people cannot resist becoming a part of all of this every December. Now you know me very well and have probably figured out that I am being a little facetious here but in all honesty I cannot understand this battleground. My question back to you is, why? Certainly you believe that Jesus understands all of us and makes allowances that could allow us to enjoy that month leading up to his birthday without all of this bickering in his name? I have to believe that he understands why I and millions of others like to hear Andy Williams sing Happy Holidays. I look forward every year to not only hearing that song but playing it for others to hear and I never duck, fearing I will be struck down or needing a reason to confess a sin. But now I have another question for you? Have we been going about this all wrong, all of these years? This issue seems new to me, I don't recall people being offended about being wished happy holidays until recent years, or if they were I didn't hear about it from any until recently. I have found that those who say they are offended by that greeting also put up Christmas trees and watch television programs with Christmas themes that have nothing or very little to do with Jesus. Sometimes those programs are more about romance or children too young to care much more than what they will receive as gifts. I watched an episode of a detective show from 1962 last night that was about a store-keep who was shot and killed on Christmas Eve and at no time in the hour did Jesus' name get brought up. In fact, I see Christmas programming year after year when actors and other performers don't do that. One of my favorite programs is the original version of Miracle on 34th Street and I feel sorry for anyone who won't watch it simply because it is more about a little girl more concerned with the existence of Santa Clause than she is about Jesus. Those who are offended by that are missing a very touching story. Like I said, it is tough trying to steer away from being caught up in all of this celebration for as long as it last, from November through the end of the year. Each year someone buys me a gift for Christmas even though December 25th is not my birthday, and then I feel obligated to buy them one too, even though it isn't their birthday. I know, that sounds a little crazy but I swear it is true. As I write this I am wondering if I should hang decorative lights on my porch or if when the Christmas tree goes up I should make sure it can't be seen through the window by someone who might be offended. But I am only wondering, I will still do it anyway for all to see and I will pity anyone who tells me I should be more sensitive to their faith and not do it because it is against what they believe. You know how I can be when someone tells me how I should live or conduct myself, I still cuss up a blue streak when anyone who has no say in it tries to have one. So here it is, the truth is I feel a little strange saying Merry Christmas to someone on December 1st because it is three weeks away from Christmas Day and I never bother to ask anyone about their faith before I greet them. In truth I see no need to ask anyone because I have never judged anyone based on their religious leanings. What if I say Merry Christmas to someone and they are of another faith that doesn't believe exactly as I do? Should I disown them or just avoid them until after December 25th?  If I did that I would feel like a hypocrite every time I hear a song with the lyric Happy Holidays in it and find myself liking it. I would feel like one every time I ask someone what they want for Jesus' birthday and when I see someone else's holiday display depicting a manger scene.

Wait, that last one may have confused some so let me clear that one up. The truth is, if I do see one I won't turn my head in disgust or ask whoever put it up to take it down. I actually enjoy manger scenes and consider them traditional, and I believe we should all be allowed to decorate and sing as we please. By the way, I am also not offended by songs like Jingle Bells or Frosty the Snowman. I don't necessarily like either of them but I accept them as traditional holiday soundtracks that are appropriate for this time of year. I feel the same way about the song Let it Snow, I am as nostalgic for those as I am songs like Oh Come All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World. I enjoy hearing Burl Ives sing Santa Mouse as much as I do Away in a Manger so let's get back to the fuss over manger scenes; now here comes a word that I know you find distasteful, and that is putting it mildly, but you know me Eddie, I am still the guy today that I was in 1979 and you can blame God if you want to for making me and then allowing me to make the choices I did to become that guy, but here goes; to anyone who thinks it is okay to tell anyone else that they cannot put up a manger scene anywhere they choose...screw 'em! How dare anyone be so pompous as to tell anyone else they are offended by their belief and then ask them to not display anything of a religious nature they find offensive. If they don't like what they see no one expects them to stand there and stare, they can walk away and just get over it. Those people are the worst of the worst in my book. Telling me that I am not allowed to say Happy Holidays where and when I choose to say it is like that and that whole Jesus is the reason for the season is something I find almost as offensive as telling another they cannot display a manger scene. When someone says that to me I wonder if they think I am an uneducated man who never learned why Christmas is celebrated. Jesus is the reason for the season, said in an admonishing way, as if to feel a need to remind everyone, or is it said because it rhymes and sounds clever?  Why do some feel it is so important to say it at all? Could it be for another reason that people like to say it? Perhaps to start something maybe, or because they actually believe it stands them in a better place with God? I don't know even one person who doesn't know why the tradition of celebrating Christmas has endured for the thousands of years it has and I wouldn't want to know anyone that ignorant and I hope you don't think of me as an ignorant man, simply because I greet you sometimes without the exact words you are so passionate about and prefer hearing. My relationship with God is a good one, maybe even as good as any one's, I mean who can really know for certain? This could be true even though I don't seek a house of worship, I have to believe that he understands me and that if any changes in my life are made it will be him doing it or at least him that gives me the way to do it. I found this post on your facebook page and I have seen it hundreds of times posted by many others this time of the year, every year. I get it. It won't change me in anyway but I do get it and I do believe it. But I did before this whole issue became such an issue with so many.  Now when I see it I see the first volley being fired in yet another holy war of words that wages each year, especially in America, one that pits Americans against Americans, and probably even God fearing ones, but sadly it is another form of war waged in the name of our savior. I say Happy Holidays as often as I say Season's Greetings before the actual date of birth of Jesus Christ. I don't do that from wanting to be politically correct because as you know I have never given a damn about being what anyone else regards as correct.  To some that makes me a very bad man, perhaps an evil one but I assure you that even though we don't always agree on what is the best grammar, my wishes for every one's happiness at Christmas is as sincere as anyone else's. I won't share that sign you posted anywhere but here and it isn't because I don't agree with it; I won't share it because I have faith in everyone I know that they already get it and because I don't feel deeply compelled to assure anyone that I get it. I have way more confidence in people than that. On Christmas Day I will wish everyone a Merry Christmas but between now and then I hope you can excuse me when I get caught up in the rest of the traditions that come with the "reason". For now I will take my chances by saying Seasons Greetings and hope everyone understands what I mean by it. By the way, I have already seen this sign a half dozen times on facebook and it is only the second week of November; on two different posts the person who displayed it left the following remark; "America is the largest Christian nation in the world but we're not allowed to say Merry Christmas!"  I suspect that is just someone trying to start something but maybe I have missed something here. Could you help me research this? I know our country is getting more and more screwed up but have we reached that point, is this true, have laws been passed that could send you or me to jail for using verbiage in a casual greeting that someone may find offensive? Maybe we should just allow everyone to express how they feel in their own way. It might work. 

Christmas Book

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In a few weeks my final publication for 2014 will be released by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing; can you guess what it is about? In it will be found a collection of short stories, some I wrote and some I didn't but all of them reflections on special memories from Christmases long ago, a few date back to the 1930s and 1940s, all of them written by people who have connections to the old south end of Columbus, Ohio. A few months ago I invited anyone who wanted to become a part of this special project to tell me something about themselves and their family and how they celebrated the holiday season when they were growing up and to include as many old photos as they wished to share. This book is nearing completion and will be released on Thanksgiving day but there is still time (until November 20th) to become a part of it by telling your stories or simply telling Santa what you hope to receive for this Christmas.

The final chapter will be just that, a letter co-written and signed by my facebook pals, my blog readers and anyone who has a special wish they would like to share. Who knows, maybe the person or group of people who can  will see it and make a dream come true!

This has been a fun book to assemble and I want to extend a special appreciation to all of those who have already contributed something to it and to anyone who still might; I believe the release date will make it a fun read during the coming season and for years to come. So if you are not yet able to share photos or cobble together a full story you can still be included by sending a few simple lines about someone you want remembered or a special greeting to someone. Remember, the deadline is November 20th so give it some thought and let's get you or someone you care about in it. It can be as simple as "Dear Mom, missing you at Christmas" or as detailed as you want your message to read. That letter is now being crafted and looks a little like this;

Dear Santa; I am ending this year and closing this book with season's greetings, a few remembrances and some special wishes from a few friends...

I have had a good and prosperous year with Amazon and this is a way to bring together those who have encouraged me and made it possible, and to say thanks!

Write to me at imjustrick@aol.com or send me a message on facebook and join us in this worldwide publication to celebrate special people and times we cherish and hope will be remembered for a long time to come.