And a very special wish for you, Bob, and your family of Kith and Kin.
Because my parents lived in Spokane, and most of the rest of the
family lived on the Western side of the Cascades, we moved our big
family gathering from Christmas to Thanksgiving. Even aafter my folks
were both gone, we continued the tradition. Cathy and I seem to have
been "elected" to be the gathering "Inn". Still, we do often have a
fair number around for the Jolly Old Elf to make it worth his while to
drop a load of gifts.
This year, with Cathy's mom in the care center, our nephew and his
family are driving up from Merced, California, and will headquarter at
our house until Sunday the 30th. Cathy's brother, his wife and
daughter and grandson will be here on Thursday. Probably our son and
his new wife will drop around for the day prior to Sam and family
leaving. James and Sam are the same age, and grew up
together...mostly staying out of trouble.
And then there is our extended family, the Jefferson County Council of
the Blind. We're down to only 15 members, but Friday, the 21st will
be our December meeting, and a chance to share some Christmas cheer
together.
I truly believe that most people enjoy, in fact seek out communion
with loved ones.
So to one and all, a most loving and caring and sharing Christmas.
And may it last for the next 365 days.
Carl Jarvis
On 12/20/18, Bob Hachey <bhachey@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Mostafa and all,
For me, an agnostic, Christmas is a time to gather near to family and
friends and to celebrate another year of good health with good food and
maybe some good drink. Despite my religious indifference, I still love much
of the music associated with Christmas.
But, foremost in my heart at this time of year is the hope that we may
someday experience the peace on earth and good will toward all people that
is promised in the Bible. When I was younger and more naïve, I believed that
we were making slow progress toward that lofty goal. But, recently, and
especially after 911, I'm afraid that we are moving in the wrong direction,
and I don't just mean America, I mean the whole world which seems to be
filled these days with fear and ultra-nationalism.
I wish to each and everyone on this list a Merry Christmas, happy holidays
and a happy and prosperous new year.
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mostafa Almahdy
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2018 12:37 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: [blind-democracy] Christmas, what's it for you?
Hello everyone. As we're reaching this upcoming week, Christmas is scheduled
to be next Tuesday. December the twenty fifth is said to be Christmas. We
wholly knew that it absolutely has nothing to do with Jesus's birth.
Traditionally, it has just been affiliated with the nativity tale. In
western culture, this day is a public holiday.
Scholarly, however, Jesus hasn't been born on December the twenty fifth. I
do not destine to be argumentative with this piece of composition. I'd just
like to ask, despite your background, whether you're Christian, Jew, Muslim,
Buddhist, Hindu or even Atheist. As you live in the west, Christmas, what's
it for you? What's it like to experience Christmas in a western country? As
far as I knew, it's all about family gatherings, food and presents. It's a
beautiful season for people to see their families and spend good time with
them.
Typically, people live far from their families and Christmas is an
opportunity for loved ones to warmly gather. As we're nearly in the season,
here are some key vocabulary that is related to Christmas.
First we have, Christmas bells. Christmas bells is any of several plants of
the genus Blandfordia having large orange or crimson flowers. Then, we have
Christmasberry, which is an ornamental evergreen treelike shrub of the
Pacific coast of the United States having large white flowers and red
berrylike fruits, often placed in genus Photinia. Third, we have, Christmas
bush. Christmas bush is an Australian tree or shrub with red flowers, often
used in Christmas decoration. Fourth, we have got, Christmas cactus. It's
epiphytic cactus of Brazilian ancestry widely cultivated as a houseplant
having jointed flat segments and usually rose-purple flowers that bloom in
winter. Fifth, Christmas begonia, which is hybrid winter-blooming begonia
grown for its many large pink flowers. Sixth and ultimately, Christmas fern,
is aNorth American evergreen fern having pinnate leaves and dense clusters
of lance-shaped fronds. That was the first segment which is pertained to
Christmas plants. Now, to the second segment, which is related to Christmas
typical items, dates, activities and medical terms. First, Christmas card.
It's a card expressing a Christmas greeting. Second, Christmas carol, is a
joyful religious song celebrating the birth of Christ. . Third, Christmas
day, is a Christian holiday on 25th December celebrating the birth of
Christ. Fourth, Christmas disease, is a clotting disorder similar to
hemophilia A but caused by a congenital deficiency of factor IX.
Fifth, Christmas Eve, is the day before Christmas. Sixth, Christmas factor,
is coagulation factor whose absence is associated with hemophilia B.
Seventh, Christmas cake is a rich fruitcake, usually covered with icing and
marzipan and eaten at Christmas. Christmas traditional celebration is a
relatively newcomer to the purportedly initial Christmas chronicle.
Dubiously, is Christmas still a Christian holiday? What's the relationship
between December 25th and Mithra?
This is ancient Persian god of light and truth, sun god. What's the
association between this and Christ's allegedly attributed nativity tale? I
think this has to fairly be asked to major clergy. If this season is of
essentially pagan essence, how has it gotten into your religious tradition?
Christ's actual nativity tale is accurately related in the Noble Koran. The
Koran attributes the miraculous birth to Jesus. Our belief in Jesus is of
orthodox origin. I keenly look forward to hearing from you. Merry Christmas
and happy new upcoming year. I wish each and everyone pleasantness and
prosperity in 2019.
Thank you so much for patiently reading, Mustafa
--
(Seeking knowledge is compulsory from cratle to grave because it is a
shoreless ocean.)