Monday, December 25, 2017

So, This is Christmas*


Saw this picture on Instapundit and really liked it.  It conveys so many emotions, relief, happiness, wonder and most of all Joy, and that, to me is the meaning of Christmas. She probably has no idea who the guy who's hugging her mother is, but Mom's happy, so she's happy.  Dad's been doing his duty to protect those he loves and get's to see the results of that effort.  I think it's an excellent Christmas photo.
My Dad was always a big fan of Christmas although you had to see through the gruff and bluff.  After Mom passed, he moved here and bought  a house with extra high ceilings.  That Christmas, he went and bought an extra tall Christmas tree and decorated it.  (Which, scared the heck out of me when I came by and saw him on the ladder.  Discourage him from doing that?  Not gonna happen!)  He did that for several years until he fell and hurt his back.  Then....I got to practice climbing that ladder and decorating.  

 When he passed, what to do with his Tree was the subject of discussion.  Unfortunately, nobody had a house where it would fit.  Disposing of it was not an option we would consider.  But that Christmas, I noticed the staff at the Elementary School was setting up a dinky little 4' tree.  Marched into the Principal's office and told her I had something better.

 They've set up Dad's tree in the vestibule every year since. Kinda brings him back a little.

 Yes...I believe Dad had a finger in that set of circumstances.

 I also believe that Christmas has nothing to do with presents and things, it's got everything to do with Family and Friends and it started with a Family of three in Bethlehem.  They didn't have much but they had each other and the greatest gift of all.   So... I'm going to focus on my family.

We hope things continue to progress with My Beautiful Daughter and her Boyfriend.  
So....THIS is Christmas!

Mrs Juvat and My Christmas gift arrived Friday Night.  Little Juvat arrived home Friday night after a 31 hour trip with delays for Fog at one stop, rain at another, and then American lost his bags.  All that having been said, there was Joy on his arrival.

 Merry Christmas to all our Readers, may you have a peaceful, joyous Holiday Season, and a wonderful New Year.

 I'm going to go spend some time with my Family. 
*From the Lyrics of a song by John Lennon
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27 comments:

  1. LLDecember 25, 2017 at 6:52 AM

    Yes, that's Christmas!

    Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:33 AM

      Thanks LL. Merry Christmas to you and yours and looking forward to the next progress report on White Wolf Mountain project.

      Delete
  2. SoCal Pir8December 25, 2017 at 7:08 AM

    Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to all the Juvats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:34 AM

      Thanks SoCal, Merry Christmas to you and yours also.

      Delete
  3. OldAFSargeDecember 25, 2017 at 7:16 AM

    Merry Christmas to all!

    A wonderful tale, well told.

    Nice Juvat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:34 AM

      Thanks Sarge. Merry Christmas to you and yours also.

      Delete
  4. DaveDecember 25, 2017 at 7:24 AM

    I believe that Christmas has special meaning for all who have served. Those of us who have been deployed over Christmas, or have had the duty, understand how special it is to be with family. To all my friends I have yet to meet, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To all of those who are standing watch throughout the globe to protect the rest of us, I wish you a swift return to your families and the thanks of a grateful nation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:36 AM

      I think you're right, Dave. Sitting alert at Osan one Christmas Eve was interesting. Kinda brought a focus to things.

      Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

      Delete
  5. (not necessarily your) Uncle SkipDecember 25, 2017 at 8:18 AM

    Merry Christmas 🎄
    This post brings back a few memories

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 12:31 PM

      Merry Christmas to you and your bride, Skip. Thanks.

      Delete
  6. Mike aka ProofDecember 25, 2017 at 11:05 AM

    Great picture! Great story about your Dad's tree...great Scott, Have a Merry Christmas!

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    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 12:32 PM

      Thanks Proof. Merry Christmas to y'all also.

      Delete
  7. Old NFODecember 25, 2017 at 2:01 PM

    Merry Christmas to y'all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:08 PM


      Thanks, Cajun. Same to you and ours.

      Delete
    2. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:16 PM

      YOURS! Fingers aren't quite going where pointed.

      Delete
  8. FlugelmanDecember 25, 2017 at 2:12 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and yours. Just returned from a wonderful family gathering with much joy. You nailed it with the pictures.

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    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:09 PM

      Yeah, we just finished Christmas dinner with pretty much most of my significant family. Pretty nice.

      Delete
  9. virgil xenophonDecember 25, 2017 at 5:53 PM

    HO HO HO! Hope everyone had a merry Christmas with their loved ones and a Happy New Year to all!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:11 PM

      VX. Good to hear from you Old Son. Thought you might be NORDO or something. All that having been said, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

      Delete
  10. TunaDecember 25, 2017 at 6:48 PM

    I love all the Christmas stuff, but only if it surrounds me and my family. I'm glad that I'm not sucked into the commercialism.

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    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 25, 2017 at 7:15 PM

      Yeah, that's pretty easy to do. But as I get older, (but not as old as one of our contributors) I get a better appreciation for that distinction. That Family thing was important in 00 AD and still is.

      Delete
  11. AnonymousDecember 25, 2017 at 10:45 PM

    I hope everyone had/is having a wonderful Christmas. For those who are traveling, go safely. My best wishes to those who are guarding our country while the rest of us enjoy our Christmas.

    Paul L. Quandt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 26, 2017 at 6:15 AM

      I hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas also. I second your last sentence.

      Delete
  12. SCOTTtheBADGERDecember 25, 2017 at 11:36 PM

    My Father believed a tree should be as wide at the top, as at the bottom. Since our home has 10' cielings, he always wanted the middle 10 feet of a 15 foot tree. The lot knew what he wanted, and would cut one special for him. Our tomcats believed in making a round trip up and down the tree each day it was up. But they never broke so much as one ornament. Lazarus, our Norwegian Forest Cat, a long haired beastie, smelled fantastic each Christmas time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. HMS DefiantDecember 26, 2017 at 1:10 AM

    I liked the same photo and thought it simply said Christmas. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatDecember 26, 2017 at 6:16 AM

      Thanks. I like that photo a LOT. Think it's very well done.

      Delete

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