Yes Melanie, There Is A Santa Claus

Yes Melanie, There Is A Santa Claus

I originally wrote this as a "Note" over at my Facebook profile on December 24, 2016

Ever since I can remember, going way back to my childhood, there has always been that Christmas tree, a real one. While I would love the presents I would find on Christmas morning, it was that real tree I loved the most, and yes, it would always be a real tree, never an artificial one. I have no idea where my mother would get a tree each and every year, but it did seem to “magically” be there in our apartment near Christmas time.

As years passed, and I became older, I became the official tree getter. I was to continue the “tradition” of getting that real tree, and if you wonder why our family never got an artificial tree was more due to practicality; in our small apartment, there just plain wouldn’t have been any space to store an artificial tree.

For a good long time, I would say for at least twenty years, there was a place within a relatively short walking distance that I would go to and pick out that tree. Then one year, the family that had sold the trees at that same place seemed to have vanished. I was lucky however, in that I found yet another place, a bit further away, but still within walking distance and near a local florist shop that sold trees. Many more years were to pass and I then found the convenience of the various Christmas Tree Farms on-line and one could order a tree and it would be delivered to me.

Well then came 2016 and Christmas was zooming up rather fast and I was quite frankly getting very depressed. Why? It was looking as though this would be the very first time in my entire life I just plain wouldn’t have a tree at all. I just didn’t have the extra money to get one. Yes, I know, it probably does sound silly. Here I am a grown woman, and it shouldn’t have bothered me so much that I wouldn’t have a tree, but I guess it was the kid in me that really wanted one. I had even mentioned to a few of my Facebook friends about my not having that tree this year.

Then someone decided to play “Santa Claus”. On December 13th one of my Facebook friends Bernie Colley messaged me with a link to a place called Christmas Tree Brooklyn. He told me to go ahead and order a tree, once I did, I should tell him what the total cost would be and he would then “paypal” me the money to me. I have to admit, I hesitated a bit. He seemed rather insistent though that I order a tree, and so I did the next day. My tree arrived on Sunday, December 18th. Here’s almost the “funny” part of it. Number one: how the heck he found that Christmas Tree Brooklyn, I’ll never know as I had in the past tried to find Christmas Tree places in the past not so far away; some of those on-line Christmas Tree Farms I found and had used in the past were in places like Michigan. I too had tried to find places closer by to me. He did tell me he did do a google search of places in the NYC area...I’m in Queens, and Christmas Tree Brooklyn delivers trees throughout the NYC area. And here’s the the punchline...the real “funny” part...Bernie is in the UK!

Bernie, who happens to be a gifted poet even wrote one of his great poems about the tree:

Santa paws dropped off a tree

much to the great delight

of a girl called Melanie

who is happy tonight

What she doesn't know is how

her friends all rallied round

to make her smile and really know

how a gift to her was found

Step forward santa paws

aka bernie

who wanted to support this cause

and did so with much glee

So now you know that you were part

of a small conspiracy

and it is with welcome heart

that we give to you this tree

Have great fun in decorating

and watch that dratted cat

who is in the wings and waiting

the ornaments to bat

©Bernie Colley~2016

------------

I’ve since decorated my tree a bit more than in this photo, as I had only put the lights on the day it was delivered to me, and do hope to get another photo of the tree. To be honest, I really don’t decorate the tree all that much, as I prefer basking in the beauty of the tree itself, my “mini’forest”. Oh and yes, my cat Ouija approves of the tree and have caught him snoozing under it; I think he enjoys the mini-forest also and he’s been on his best behavior...no disasters....uh, yet.

So yes, Melanie, there is a Santa Claus

Thank you Bernie :-)

Photo of my Christmas Tree Topper. A Dreamcatcher I made many years ago

This is the website, Christmas Tree Brooklyn where I got the tree thanks to Bernie:

Christmas Tree Brooklyn

https://christmastreebrooklyn.com/

Christmas Tree Brooklyn Facebook Page:

Christmas Tree Brooklyn Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasTreeBrooklyn/

I'm so hoping for a miracle that I'll be able to get a tree again this year and of course from Christmas Tree Brooklyn

ARTICLE: Pets As Christmas Gifts: Good Idea Or Not?

(Originally published on Bubblews~December 22, 2013)

Bubblews Article

With the Christmas season upon us there probably is not a better way to express the idea of giving than to adopt a shelter pet and give the gift of life to that pet; this is especially true when adopting a pet in a high kill shelter. Whether a shelter pet is from a high kill shelter or a no-kill shelter, both types of shelters are overwhelmed and crammed with unwanted pets and by adopting a pet, especially during this time one is giving a chance for a new life, new home to that shelter pet. However! Is it a good idea or not?

The Pros:

I've had cats ever since I was five years old, in fact, my very first cat, a "tuxedo" cat, that is a black and white cat and named Babette, was adopted by my mother and yes, given to me as a Christmas gift. Babette became my animal companion and was to live throughout my elementary school years, junior high, high school and even college. I came from a background of people who were "pet" people and knew responsibility in taking care of pets. Since I was introduced to a pet at such an early age, I too learned the responsibility of having a pet and was to have many pets afterwards. To this day, I have two cats, the most recent is Ouija, a cat I adopted from the Grayson County Humane Society, a no-kill shelter all the way in Kentucky and was transported to me. I adopted him and he came into my life on December 1, 2012, so in effect, he was my Christmas present.

As I've indicated, whether pets are in a no-kill shelter or high kill shelters, both types of shelters are overwhelmed with too many pets and not enough people adopting them. The sad statistics for high kill shelters is that as many as one-hundred pets can be killed weekly in one high-kill shelter alone, multiply that by each and every high-kill shelters nationwide, it's not hard to understand that up to three to four million, yes, million cats and dogs are "euthanized" every year. (1)

Therefore by adopting a pet, especially from a high kill shelter at anytime of the year, one is indeed saving a life, and one can't help thinking what better time of the year to save a shelter pet's life than at the Holiday/Christmas time? So yes, adopting a pet at this time of the year and as a "gift" can be a true miracle, especially for that pet. What better way to celebrate Christmas?

The Cons:

There are of course the cons to the concept of adopting a pet as a gift for Christmas and it all has to do with how responsible the adopter and/or recipient of the pet is. The adopter has to realize, that when adopting a pet from a shelter and as a "gift" we're talking about a living creature with feelings and emotions; the pet isn't a disposable or returnable item or commodity.

I hate to say it, but to my mind, pet shelters can often be at fault as well as far as the concept of giving a pet as a gift during the holiday season. So many shelters, whether high-kill or no-kill, are always overwhelmed with too many pets in their shelters and not enough people interested in adopting a pet. What happens then is that during this time of the year, shelters will lower adoption fees, much in the same sense stores will do to entice people to buy commodities and therefore will have spectacular sales for their electronics, shoes, and so forth.

There's a big difference however; one can return an item that was given as a gift such as clothing if it's not the right size or color, but one shouldn't have the same mind-set with a pet; unfortunately this has become a sad fact, that yes indeed, many shelter pets adopted during the Christmas season are sooner or later often returned for a variety of reasons. Those reasons can be anywhere from that cuddly puppy or kitten is now grown and has lost it's "cute appeal, to perhaps the recipient of the "gift" pet not realizing the responsibilities and costs involved with owning a pet.

Bottom line: If one is thinking of adopting a pet as a gift, one needs to give real serious thought of what's involved. This is a living, breathing animal; a life, an addition to the family, and therefore, should be a member of the family for the remainder of the pet's life and not to be gotten rid of when no longer convenient.

Sources:

Shelter Pet Statistics: (1) http://www.humanesociety.org/animal_community/resources/qa/common_questions_on_shelters.html

Shelter Pet Statistics

IMAGE SOURCE~©DESIGN BY MELANIE NEER VIA PHOTOSHOP

Movie Review: The Juggler of Notre Dame: A Must See Movie for Christmas or Anytime

(Originally Published at Yahoo.Voices formerly Associated Content~12/25/2009)

ABSTRACT: This is probably one of the most heart-warming movies to watch anytime but especially during the holiday season

CONTENT: © Dec 24, 2008--originally published at Ciao under my pen-name of pyewacket

This 1982 movie The Juggler of Notre Dame is one of those movies that should be made a Christmas tradition to watch, just in the same way It's A Wonderful Life or any of the versions of Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Plot
The movie centers around a down and out juggler, Barnaby Stone. He's a bitter man and feels like a complete failure in life. He had once belonged to one of the most famous circus acts, and had fallen in love with one of the women tightrope performers. They were married under the circus' big top and were to enjoy a blissful life together until tragedy struck. During one performance, while Barnaby was doing his famous juggling act, his wife Beatrice was performing on the tightrope, but slipped and fell. Barnaby sees her fall and races over to her hoping to catch her, but he fails, and she falls to her death.

He leaves the circus, to become a homeless man, trying to make a meager living performing his juggling act on the streets. One day, his performance catches the eye of another homeless man, named Sparrow who is totally fascinated by Barnaby and think his juggling skills are a gift from God. Barnaby scorns this attitude as he no longer believes in God due to the death of his wife. A strange bond occurs between Barnaby and Sparrow however, and Barnaby starts teaching Sparrow basic juggling tricks. The two then embark in performing together on the streets making a meager living.
Then, unfortunately another tragedy occurs in Barnaby's life, when one night Sparrow is killed by a band of homeless men who steal the little money Barnaby and Sparrow had earned during one of their juggling acts.

Now two tragedies have occurred in his life, and Barnaby feels more hopeless and bitter toward life than ever before, and walks aimlessly for many miles, with no particular destination in mind. One day, he comes upon a man named Jonas, a sculptor who is absolutely fascinated by Barnaby's face and wants to use him as the subject of one of his sculptures. Barnaby is hesitant as he can't figure out why he should be so fascinating to Jonas as he feels his life is so worthless, nonetheless he agrees. Now while Jonas is enthusiastic over his "luck" in finding Barnaby as a subject for his work, his sister, Dulcy is antagonistic toward Barnaby, thinking what a mockery that Jonas wants to create a sculpture using the face of a homeless man, after having sculptured a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary, which is now housed in the nearby local church, called Notre Dame after the famous one in France.
At the time Barnaby arrives, the whole town is busy restoring the Notre Dame church as most of it had been destroyed during an earthquake. The whole town is getting ready to celebrate in the half restored church, and on Christmas Eve, a service will be performed and all the townspeople are required to leave gifts at the feet of the Virgin Mary statue. Some will make a special quilt, some make homemade jams, wood crafts, and Dulcy herself, famous for her baked pies will leave a gift of one of her apple pies.

Dulcy, antagonistic as ever toward Barnaby, asks him what he plans to give as a gift for the Virgin Mary. The words sting him like a blow to the face, and he decides to leave as in his heart he has nothing to give.
Does Barnaby leave? Does he have a gift for the Virgin Mary? Who makes an appearance to him telling him that he does indeed have a special gift, and when he does give his gift, what miracle happens?
I'm not going to tell the rest of the plot and I did leave a lot out of it as this is a must see movie. I do warn you have tissues at the end.

Opinions/Comments

This really is a must see movie, that really doesn't have to be watched only at Christmas time, but anytime, however perhaps one of the best times to watch it, is on Christmas Eve itself. The theme is similar to It's A Wonderful Life, or even The Drummer Boy in that the main characters feel they have nothing to offer in life, and that they are useless. But then some "miracle" occurs and they then realize their worth in life. This is one of those movies where the waterworks flow like buckets at the end. It really doesn't matter what religion you are even though it has strong Christian themes...anyone can enjoy this movie.

From a few things I read about this movie, it's based on an old medieval French legend, of which I was able to find several versions of it and in English though haven't read it yet. The folktale is called Our Lady's Tumbler an anonymous piece and translated by P.H. Wicksteed, yet there is a much longer version available and just downloaded both copies.

For a rating I would give it a ten out of ten....it's that good.

Cast
Barnaby Stone.........Carl Carlsson
Sparrow.....................Patrick Collins
Jonas Wintergreen...Merlin Olsen
Dulcy Wintergreen.....Melinda Dillon
Father Delaney..........Eugene Roche

Directed by Michael Rhodes
Music: Christopher L. Stone
Running Time: 49 minutes

One can see the entire movie on Youtube

The Juggler Of Notre Dame on Youtube