I am not qualified to give advice, but I do have a suggestion: Be as proud of yourself for writing the above as I am of you for writing it.

Courage is in the words we need to write, RM. You just did.

PM if you need anything.

The trains are LGB. The twins liked the trains for the short time they were here this morning. They were going with their parents to some friends and left their big sis with us for the night.
They wanted to get in there and play with them but were good about not touching. The look in their eyes when I put the sound car on was priceless. The Christmas music cars were a hit too. I'm sure they'll enjoy them more when they're older. Right now their attention span is about two laps around the tracks.

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A different perspective of Christmas from Jethro Tull:

"Christmas Song"

Once in Royal David's City stood a lonely cattle shed, where a mother held her baby.
You'd do well to remember the things He later said.
When you're stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties, you'll just laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You're missing the point I'm sure does not need making that Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh when your own mother's hungry,
and how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I just messed up your thoughtless pleasures, remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.

(Hey! Santa! Pass us that bottle, will you?)

Three things I'm liking about Christmas this year.
First, I built a bird feeder for my 8 yo grand daughter, then disassembled it and wrote directions with illustrations for her to assemble it.
Second, I bought new lights and re-strung the star my wife's dad made for us about 30 years ago. It is not fancy, but hangs in our door every year.
Third, on Christmas day, I will take the FIL's guitar to the care home where my MIL now resides and play holiday music(or whatever folks want to hear)
I wish all my Pelican friends all the best for Christmas and the new year.
Les

I am surprised at the number of houses in my neighborhood that have either no Christmas decoration this year or far fewer than prior years. It tends to reduce the feelings of Christmas cheer.

That, and my elderly mom suffering a severe stroke not long ago and knowing that this may be her last Christmas is quite the downer. Btw, my dad passed some years ago just before Christmas, so that memory puts a damper on things this time of year. And the kids are now adults (but without any kids of their own) so its not the same as when they were younger.

Yes, there is still the house on the next block that goes completely nuts every year with decorations (so much so that he needs a generator to supplement his home electrical service to power them all), but lots of houses in the area cut way back.

I don't know if it's being more environmentally conscious, managing the electric bill, or other things.

I put up our normal array of lights, but then I never did all that many (between the outside lights and the tree a total of approximately 1300, along with window candle fixtures).

To all of the Porschephiles here who have been and continue to be a source of help and inspiration, I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season whatever your traditions, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

GREAT Jethro Tull song quote!!!!

That band also did "Solstice Bells" (from the album Songs from the Woods) a more traditional take on the holiday season. In fact, Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson also put out an entire album The Jethro Tull Christmas Album back in 2003 with 16 tracks of seasonal music.

I think of "Christmas Song" every season, along with:

....Give my daddy a job 'cause he needs one
He's got lots of mouths to feed
But if you've got one, I'll have a machine gun
So I can scare all the kids on the street

[Chorus]
Father Christmas, give us some money
We got no time for your silly toys
We'll beat you up if you don't hand it over
We want your bread so don't make us annoyed
Give all the toys to the little rich boys...

The Kinks, "Father Christmas"

My family used to do Christmas on Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving on Christmas.

Gets around a lot of that commercialization stuff...

I've also known of families that hold Christmas after Christmas so that the little money they had would go farther by buying the leftover wrappings and gifts on sale.

I'll break out into Christmas music any day of the year.

I've had a hard time feeling the spirit this year. I've been staying with my dad since mom passed in October, but came home this weekend to get some things in order, and was heading back.

I had to call him today to let him know my stepson, who lives with us, has covid. Bah Humbug!

I haven't felt the Christmas spirit for years, for me it is a reminder of family that I lost between Thanksgiving and Christmas
My decorationhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1671384188.jpg

I read this to my granddaughter last night with her sitting in my lap.

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I posted when I scored this a while back and it had too many white lights so finally got around to swapping them out. I would like to do more but like I said upstream, not the best year for it, so this helps....

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I’m not one to complain especially during the Christmas season,but this year, man! I came down with Covid twice within 4 months, got my shots and boosters, wore a mask, social distancing, all that good stuff. I’m feeling better today, but staying in the house. My wife has Colon cancer, stage 3. Just had her second chemo treatment today. Surgeon removed about 2” of her colon via robotic surgery in November. She has always been healthy, exercised, does her own cooking, organic fruits and veggies, no junk food, soda, candy. It was a shock for both of us. We have no kids, niece and nephews. Won’t be going to my sisters house for typical Italian dinner on Christmas day either. This holiday is gonna suck big time. I do wish everyone here a Merry Christmas.

Best wishes to you and your wife Bob and a Merry Christmas.

I received this card from a Russian colleague that I worked with back in 1979. “Новый годom” loosely translates “new year” but I guess the Soviets weren’t happy? Bah Humbug.
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Excited but it's been a tough December. A week long fight with pneumonia ended with me in the hospital for 3 nights last week and now wife has it. Then I find out my mother tested pos for the 'rona and she works for me so i'm out my phone/bookkeeping/filing help for a week. She's doing good with it but still can't let her near the office.

Best part this year is my wife actually asked for something nice. Pretty thrilled just to have a chance to get her something. It's usually 'oh i don't need anything'. Bought a couple fun games for family game time till the boy goes back to school next month.

Im struggling not to drive in the river .

What's up Fred?

Fred it's gonna take time for you to recover from your friends choice. Remember that we all here have, by our continued presence, proven ourselves to be survivors and will continue to be. That includes you bud.