Here we are again, dear friends, in touch to share our year...
                         And wishing each and every one the finest Season’s Cheer!!!

      Christmas Holiday time is a time not just for memories, but for remembering. For that reason, and a few important things I feel need to remember in my life this Christmas, I offer the following as our annual holiday missive.

      The first poem is a "for instance" of how we keep our distant families in mind, in this case, through my dad's hobby of coin collecting.


                              It's Just a Dime?!?      

The older I get...the farther away...
This same old "too-far-away" seems,
And I look, ever, forward to that wonderful day
I'll be home...to that home of my dreams!

This home's not a building, but it is a place,
With my folks "stop-for-coffee" near,
And I'm never too far from a warm friendly face,
Or the hug of someone I hold dear!

In the meantime I have my rituals, which range,
From the mundane to the truly sublime,
One of them involves sifting through change,
For that elusive wheat penny or pure silver dime!

And I found one just the other day,
Which brought me to writing this time.
I just had to explain to the person who'd say,
"What's the excitement, it's only a dime?!?"

Just a dime, it may seem, to the average guy,
But it's the way I remember my dad every day!
See, he's too far away, but, in heart, kept nearby,
I "collect" for him all the while I'm kept away!

Then a '44 Mercury...change from a transaction,
Clean...in fine shape...truly a great find!
Assured, when my dad sees it, of his satisfaction...
It's some time since my search involved luck of this kind!

And, always, thinkin' of "Poppa" gets me thinkin' of Mom...
How I wish we were there...close by for a while.
My brother, Dan...all the family that we're away from...
And of whom every thought makes me sigh and then smile!

And, now family's brought up, how could we not mention
The clan in Indiana...they hold our hearts just as much?
Certainly mom, there, and our children deserve their attention,
Especially the more we remain out of touch!

And I don't, of course, mean that we're not in contact,
But no "contact" between us is had, sad to say!
I'd trade everything Santa Claus has in his sack,
For their very special hugs Christmas Day!

Mom, we love you and miss you...have a wonderful day,
Pass our love on along down the line to the rest!
Joe, buddy...Jewels, love...to YOU what can we say?
It's so hard being kept so remote from Da Best!!!

To you all...each and every...enjoy all you can...
It's sad we're apart from each and every one of you!
Yet we know we're all part of each other's "Plan"...
And you're in our hearts...and we know...we're there in yours, too!!!

WE LOVE YOU GUYS...MERRY CHRISTMAS...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ray 'n' Min


                                             

      This last offering is partly (first two verses) from a poem I wrote for Memorial Day 2002...but the message then was "Memorial" in the past...for "those who gave all"! The message I would now share is vitally, significantly, and substantially right now. It's for today and every day, but most poignantly...as YOU ALL sit down to that fat Christmas Turkey...or Ham...or both...with your family nearby...it's for THEN. It's while you enjoy the individual prosperity this nation allows (Yeah...I gripe about not enough money too...but you're not Afghani..."Used to kick about havin' no shoes, 'til I met a man wit' no feet!!!")...the gifts...the surroundings...the warmth and familiarity... almost enough to make ya take it for granted, huh?!?

      Well don't...consider those abroad this very day, in the continuing defense of all of that...of your liberties and all the fruits therefrom...the ones having a mass "Christmas Feast"...in a tent or barracks...going back to one afterwards...say a prayer or whatever you do to offer some special remembrance of the fine men and women in all of our armed services.

      And this isn't intended to spark political agenda...I'm not talking about the guys "playin' chess"...I'm solely concerned with the chess pieces...who do what they must because that's, quite simply, their job!!!

      So keep them in mind and heart this year as you enjoy your holidays... there are numerous ways you can show your support...just a note or card to your APO/FPO address for "Random Soldier/Sailor/Marine/ Airman" sayin' "THANKS...HAPPY HOLIDAYS"!

For God, country, family...
For Freedom...for Honor, too...
Their blood soaks places they never would be...
But in service to me and you!

                     That, my friends...my brothers...
                     My loves...for us...for those as yet unborn...
                     That’s why sons and daughters...fathers and mothers...
                     Are, still, "In Service" to promises valiantly sworn!

And that service is to their country...
But, more pointedly, their countrymen...
You and me...laborer and gentry...
As they take up their standards again!

Their sacrifices are a lot to ask...
The separation...loneliness...threat...
Yet they're always, dependably, up to the task...
And give what's required...with, though gripe, not regret!

                     So I ask that you do something real this year...
                     In recognition...to honor...all that they give...
                     In thanks as we can continue to thrive without fear...
                     Here at home...the best place on earth you can live!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL...
                                 AND A MOST BRIGHT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!



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