Christmas Music -- Thursday, December 8, 2011

Oh my word!  Sometimes projects get out of hand, especially around the holidays.  You can get an idea, a vision, or a desire of something you want to do or get or give or create for the holidays, but it just gets out of hand!  Well, maybe some of you are more wise, strategic, or restrained - but for me; it happens. 

Sometimes things get out of hand.

There are some Christmas season traditions and rituals that are yearly on our calendar.  But each year there is something different, unique, and splendid that makes its way into our routine.

There was the year of crocheting afghans.  I am not sure, but I must have created at least a dozen.  Oh my word, that was a lot of yarn and time and tired fingers!  But once started, I had to finish.

Then there was the year of the 130 handmade Christmas cards.

And many of you might remember 21 years ago my excessive use of hairspray which resulted in a Cass’ hair catching on fire Christmas Eve.

And yes, I confess there are more than 400 ornaments on my Christmas tree.  Some of you might think 2400 lights on the tree is a bit out of hand.  But, graciously Tim participates!

Well, this year - its Christmas music.  I love Christmas music and love listening to it the month of December.  But I confess, the repetition in the play lists of most radio stations leaves me a bit bored by the tenth of the month.  For years, we have played cds on shuffle while at work.  But the accumulation of sawdust in that environment  has really messed with the cd carousel’s ability to recognize, read and play.  Therefore, I am stuck with the radio.

No,  I am not! 

Oh my word - I have a computer, I have iTunes, I have 30 years of accumulated Christmas music, I have a drawer full of cds.  If I import, create a playlist, and connect my computer to the speakers..... we can have our own splendid Christmas music playlist with fewer repetitions than we endure with radio listening.

And so it began with a concept; wrapped in simplicity, with a finite plan.

Do you know how many hours it takes to import a drawer full of cds into iTunes?

Oh my word, I have been at this ALL WEEK!  Ane while waiting for importing, I ponder “What other songs might we enjoy?”  Then I grab another cd....

The playlist is currently  1248 songs, 5.1 gigs, and will play for 72 hours and 3 minutes!

Yes, things can get out of hand!

But, I may finish this project on Tuesday.  Cindy will bring her favorite cds to work (that might not already be in this collection) and I will import them to add to our collection.  And then one last time I will ask myself “what else should I include?”

Please let me know if you have any suggestions to be incuded in my playlist.  I don’t want to forget something.  Yes, I already have imported the Messiah, the Nutcracker, Fred Waring’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, Mannheim Steamroller, TransSiberian Orchestra, Gene Autry,  Elvis,  Il Divo,  Mark Lowry, Carly Simon,  Harry Connick and his dad Ray Conniff,  Etta James,  Nora Jones,  Lori Line.....  the list is obviously long.   Yes, even Sheryl Crow.  Yet, there will be no better time to add one more song than on TUESDAY!

Just A Drop in the Bucket -- Monday, December 5, 2011

A phrase that I imagine most of us have heard and maybe even used a few times......  Just a drop in the bucket.   Sometimes it is used to voice a  comparison that may be reflecting  a tiny bit when held in light beside another.

Walking through the snow, cold wind, and on ice from my car into the grocery store is a drop in the bucket when I think of Jen walking distances in the Macedonian winter for her  groceries and water

The first taste of winter and its snow  here on the plains may well be a drop in the bucket as we move through the winter season making our way to spring.and other we have heard

Sometimes, we can even feel like we are a drop in the bucket....  as one little drop.....  how do I make a difference in this world?  Am I just a drop in the bucket?

Here’s the reality of some drops in the bucket.

Have you hear about the Secret Santa who was in the Philadephia area this past week?  Oh my word!

There is a man... one man.... to some he may seem like a drop in the bucket...  who each year listens to the news and watches the statisitics and chooses an area where he feels the people are living in economic struggles, depression, and a sense of down turn.  Then dressed as Santa Claus and armed with $100 bills he sneaks into the area.  He walks among the people.  He listens in the coffee shops.  He finds those he wants to share with and hands out $100 bills.  After investing up to $20,000 in a neighborhood, he quietly fades away back into his normal  daily life, in his home community.

This man has been living the Christmas season with this same ritual (just in different cities and neighborhoods)  for many years.  He sneaks in, sneaks out....  leaving behind encouragement, hope, and in some cases the money needed to retain utilities, buy groceries, pay rent.

A drop in the bucket who lifts burdens, lighten loads, eases struggles.

Then, there are the drops in the Salvation Army bell ringers’ buckets.  Every coin matters.  Every donation adds to the whole and serves great need.  But there are a few drops in the bucket that make the counters pause and take a deep breath.   Recent reports share that someone has dropped a solid gold coin, its worth in excess of $5000.  One drop in the bucket was a note saying that “others are in greater need than I” wrapped around a piece of jewelry.  Throughout this Christmas season,  the stories of the drops in the bucket will continue to make their way to our awareness.

Yes, we all can take part in being drops in the bucket...  we affect what fills the bucket.

In our neighborhoods, communities, states, nation and to the world, every little step,touch, effort, investment in others makes an impact.

It matters.  Every drop in the bucket matters.

How can we be drops in the bucket?