Howdy Everyone –
Without really thinking about it, I’ve rather studiously avoided the crowded malls. Don’t really know why – well… lack of $$$ --- and all that. But when I accompanied my wife on an ‘exchange’ visit the other evening… things even looked even more strange to me. Some of the stores I remembered were no longer where I remembered them – or even with the same names… It was a bit like an ‘unfamiliar’ sleep walk. But we managed, uneventfully.
So… it got me to thinking about how we (me, I guess) get snowed under by the commercialism that piles up around us like
Anyway… I welcome the change of seasons… and the Christmas season especially. But with all the globally warmed winter we’ve had so far up north… record breaking ice in New England… BIG snows along the upper tier of America and parts of Canada… I know it’s just anecdotal but if I had written a book and made a movie “Inconvenient Truths” and hung my career on it – I think I’d be looking for a serious way to write about “Plan B” – Well, who am I to give advice to the man who invented the Internet?
Today’s story referred, to by the folks at Playfair, is one of the most famous in American literature. I’m more than a little put out at some remarks that H.L. Mencken – the sour scion of
Some people say ‘great art’ comes out of great suffering. And I suppose in O. Henry’s life there was a lot of that… and he saw a lot of it in his life while living there. He was a very popular writer… but gets rather scant praise from lit teachers today I think. Still…he captured my imagination – a green, wet behind the ears, high school kid – and I used his material as half of my senior university writing, broadcasting and production project back in the winter of 1952-53… so I owe him a great debt.
Maybe at this time of year it would help us all out if we think about those who have blessed us with teaching, or preaching – or just living nearby and say or let them know in some way how much we appreciate their lives. I don’t think those kinds of gifts can be readily matched or duplicated.
Cordially, IN HIM
Jack
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THE GIVING SEASON
MizP: Just a Minute -- everbody… we’s in th serious givin’ season.
Homer: At’s rite Miz Pearl – hit’s hard ta' keep focus.
BB: Oh – So true. Ah can’t figger if’n I want th’ boat or th’ motor.
Jack: One’s not much good without the other is it?
BB: No -- I hadn’t thot of hit that away…
MizP: Member that Christmas story bout the woman who sold her long hair ta' buy a gold
watch chain fer her husband ---
Homer: An he’d done sold his watch ta' buy her some lovely combs fer her hair.
Jack: That story was written by O. Henry – born in North Carolina.
MizP: He’s buried rite up th’ road in Asheville.
Jack: Right Miz Pearl.
MizP: I ‘member readin’ tha-ut in Hi School.
Homer: The story was called… Uh… uh…
BB: The Gift of the Magi – th’ wise men…
MizP: I ‘member tha-ut too. An Mr. O. Henry – tha-ut wasn’t his real name…
Homer: Hit was William Sydney Porter – he wrote hunnerts of short stories In New Yawk.
Jack: It was his short-stories that first attracted me to writing.
MizP: An readin’ too.
Jack: And readin’ too… Mr. Porter lived through some rough times but this story – even aside from it’s
Biblical references, has a special meaning at Christmas when we are likely to get snowed under
with commercialism – and that is that unselfish love for one another – like Jesus gave His life for
us is the most valuable gift of all.
MizP: Makes my eyes get all teary …
Jack: So when shopping for family … remember the less fortunate –
Homer: An those as has given so much for our country.
BB: Rite… Jesus is the reason for the season.
Jack: Thanks Billy – I’m Jack Buttram
(END)
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