Sunday, May 27, 2012
Family
My Family.
I have been given so many wonderful gifts in my life that most of them are too numerous to mention. I always tell people that my husband, Danny, is the best Christmas gift I ever got to keep. There was no wrapping necessary, just a kind, honest soul with beautiful eyes who looked at me with love. I consider him to not only my gift from God, but from his family who so generously share him with me.
After my parents passed away and my sister's left my life I felt a bit lost. Of course, there was my rock, my Danny, standing next to me and often holding me up. I have to admit I was sad that there was no longer anyone I could look in the face and see myself and say, I share blood with that person. I was so wrong. My Father, Jim, has a younger sister Marybelle. Aunt Marybelle has bee married for over 60 years to my Uncle Sam, who is the most handsome man I've ever known! They are both in their 80's. When first Dad and then Mom died they made it very clear to me I was theirs. I always had been theirs, but now it was different. I am known as daughter 2 1/2! This always makes me giggle and I feel so proud that I am 2 1/2.
Aunt Marybelle and Uncle Sam have three wonderful children, Rosemary, Debbie and Sam. Rosemary is just as sweet, gentle and beautiful as my Aunt Marybelle and always makes me feel loved. My cousin Debbie calls me "sis". I think Debbie might fight a physical fight for me if necessary. She would win! Then there is my cousin Sam. Sam is closest to my age. I am 5 months older than he his. I never felt older than Sam and he probably doesn't know it but I always looked up to him. Sam, like his father grew up to be a police officer. He also grew up to be a fine, upstanding man and I'm proud to call him my family. All of my cousins have had children and in Debbie's case grandchildren.
Yesterday we all gathered together for my second cousin, Dylan's graduation party. He is the son of Stacy, who is Debbie's daughter. I can never think of Debbie as "grandma" as she is still one of the coolest, pretties ladies I have ever know. Grandma she is,and such a good one. It was a great party and I left with a warm cozy, safe feeling.
Aunt Marybelle and Uncle Sam have raised some of the finest children and grandchildren and great grandchildren our world could have. My cousins have spouses and partners who are just as loving and amazing. Their children are just dears to me. The best part is, THEY LOVE ME! As for me, I ADORE THEM. I laugh with them, I cry with them and I thank God everyday I belong to them and they belong to me. How much luckier can one woman be. A loving husband and a family there by my side letting me know I will always be theirs.
I wish I could tell you about each of my cousins individually, but we would be here all day. I will tell you there is Tommy and Emily, Stacy and Paul, Ian and Joanne. Bucky, Lisa and Darryl. Dylan, Bryan, Michael, Kyra, Nicole, Mia, Blake and Troy. I hope to the Lord I didn't forget to mention anyone. I wanted to put a name to all of them and tell all of you what an amazing family I have.
All of my cousins love their children ferociously. I love them back the same way. In a few weeks we will all gather again to celebrate the marriage of Michael, Sam and Lisa's son to a beautiful and smart young lady named Kyra. I am honored to be there and be apart of this special occasion. So much to look forward to and I just smile thinking of it.
A special note to my cousin Sammy, we still look alike no matter how old we get to be. That's great cause we are both so darn good looking! With much love and respect. Pammy.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Etan Patz
May 25th NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY
On May 25th 1979 a beautiful 6 year old child by the name of Etan Patz went missing from his SoHo neighborhood in New York City. It was the first time ever his Mom let him walk the block to his school bus stop alone.
Almost 34 years later there maybe a break in this case that is going to give his parents, Stan and Julie Patz some much needed closure. A clerk from a neighborhood convenience store admitted to luring the child into the store with soda pop and then took him to the basement and strangled him. He disposed of this baby's body by placing him in a cardboard box and left it in an alley for the Trash men to dispose of. HE LEFT THIS SWEET BABY OUT FOR TRASH! At least twice during this man's life he admitted to a clergy and a family member that he killed a child in New York City, but never gave details or a name.
This event ushered in the era of never leaving your child unsupervised, and Etan became the first youngster ever to be depicted on a milk carton along with information about him. I'm sure Julie Patz could never envision what a difference this morning would bring to the world or to her life. The carton movement started in to bring attention to the plight of missing children. After all, what child doesn't eat cereal in the morning and their parents pour the milk from a carton. It was reaching a wide spectrum of people. As horrific an event this was, this movement has helped many parents locate their children. We must all admit that the milk carton effort is one of the very positive things to come from this sad, sad event.
In all the horror of the events of that day there are many things that people tried to do to a negative into a positive. Foremost, Stan and Julie Patz. In all of these 34 years they have never moved from the apartment they lived in with Etan, nor did they change the phone number in hopes that Etan was still alive and might someday try to contact them. Mrs. Patz must live every single day of her life with a what if...? She can't change it and it must be a horrible burden to live with. She does know that she never turned the light out on her child. He was somewhere. He was loved.
John Walsh is a force of nature. After his son, Adam was abducted and killed in 1981, John because the voice of every parent who has this happen AND for the true victims, the children. Along with his wife, Reve founded THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. He has brought many a criminal to justice. On 5/25/83 President Ronald Regan declared it NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN DAY, then in 1984, Congress passed THE MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT.New York City District Attorney, Cy Vance reopened this investigation after some of the hundreds of tips that still came in yearly proved to be from credible sources. Collectively, all of these people exhibited the best of humanity at a time that the worst was taking hold.
In 2001 The Patz family had Etan declared dead. Yes, Julie and Stan will have the closure of knowing what happened to their child but will never ever be able to put him physically to rest. I do wonder if that is enough comfort for them. So, today,on this NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY, hug your child, hold them close and thank God for their safety and the kindness of others that are helping to keep them safe. To quote Anne Frank" Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/anne_frank.html#Gphcpt07rt3h4FBB.99.
In memory of Etan Patz and Adam Walsh
Respectfully, Pam Beattie-Shore
Souces include Brainy Quotes, People Finders and The Associated Press.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
America's Oldest Teenager!
"A long long time ago
I can still remember hows
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance"
And maybe they'd be happy for a while.....Don McLean....American Pie
Hello my 6 1/2 followers. I haven't checked in for awhile, but I haven't found the right subject to talk about. I was going to write about the sinking of the Titanic, an event that had such a great impact on the world. Well, everyone was writing about Titanic and I didn't feel I had anything new to offer. Instead, this morning, I decided to write about someone and something that touches us all. Dick Clark and American Bandstand.
Pam, you might say as that is my name! Why are you writing about a person and American Icon that everyone will write about. Let me answer it this way. What is more personal that the music you listen to? Yes, someone else created it and it now touches you, Who doesn't have a "soundtrack" to their lives. Music and songs make us happy and sad, sometimes both at the same time. It's an amazing feeling. Think about how you feel when you hear a song that you haven't heard in ages. Something from you childhood perhaps. I don't care WHO you are, we all mentally, and sometimes verbally exclaim "that's my jam" and turn it up.
In 1956 Dick Clark helped us "pump up the jams" there is another part to that quote, but I kept it clean!!! It is said that Dick Clark legitimized Rock n Roll and helped make it acceptable to a whole new demographic, to the parents of the kids who bought the Rock n Roll records!. On more Saturday's than we can count, Dick Clark brought the music via Philadelphia way into our homes. Well, no only were the kids home dancing and watching it, but so were Mom and Dad. How could you not like that young, handsome, Dick Clark??? How many people learned to dance watching American Bandstand, well that and a bit of Soul Train thrown in there. We had our favorite people we liked to watch dance. The program showed us how we wanted to dress to be "hip". It gave us our first exposure to a word like "groovy". We learned all of this at the knee of Dick Clark. I always wanted to be on the segment that was "rate a record. I wanted to be the person to say,"it's got a great beat and you can dance to it".
An appearance on American Bandstand said to an artist and their audience they had "made it". Dick Clark was instrumental in the desegregation of Television. We saw Chubby Checker and Pat Boone on the same show.. The next program might be Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and Jay and The Americans. You just never new and wasn't that an amazing thing!! Music was music no matter what. It had no color, no rules. What a wonderful thing!
Dick Clark had just about every major musical act from 1956-1987. Think about all the people that passed Dick Clark's way. He brought Little Richard into our homes (bet that scared a few Grandma's). Years later he did the same thing with Kiss. I saw The Osmond Brothers for the first time on Bandstand and The Jackson Five. Dick Clark had John Travolta on when he was just a kid starting out on WELCOME BACK KOTTER when he gave pop music a shot and had a song that went to number one called LET HER IN. He asked John of all things, "was he a good dancer"! Well, John sure showed us after Dick asked the question! In 1984 he asked a very young Madonna what her dreams were and she answered in her modest style "to rule the world". I remember thinking what kind of answer was that to give Dick Clark....well, she sure came close to it! She ruled the music industry. Mr. Clark helped her put her intentions out there and he did it with grace. John Waters spoofed Dick Clark in a very funny and serious way in Corny Collins in Hairspray. I loved John Waters interpretation of the music industry and segregation. There was no doubt Corny Collins was based on Dick Clark!
There have only ever been three other hosts to American Bandstand before Dick Clark. Bob Horn, Lee Stewart and Tony Mammarella. They hosted from 1952-1956. They paved the way for Dick Clark and he created an empire. Not only was it a musical empire but one that encompassed a TV empire as well. Dick Clark Productions gave us ROCKIN NEWS EVE. THE 25,000 PYRAMID, TV'S BLOOPERS AND PRACTICAL JOKES. DICK CLARK'S PRODUCTION CO. produced THE DAYTIME EMMY'S. There are so many many more things he had his hands in that they are too numerous to mention. He was a restaurateur at one point. I think Dick Clark lived the American dream. He worked his way up from DJ in a small radio station to one of the most powerful men in the music industry.
When Guy Lomardo died my Dad said that they should just cancel New Years Eve because there was never going to be anything as great on that night as Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians. Dick Clark started ROCKIN NEW YEARS EVE in 1972 and gave us a whole different perspective. Different, but just as good. He hosted yearly from 1972 .He only missed hosting two shows due to the stroke he suffered, but he still showed up in a special appearance.. I hope Ryan Seacrest appreciates what Mr. Clark did.
I speak as if I knew Mr. Clark personally, but of course I didn't. I just felt like most of America felt. We knew him from him coming into our homes weekly. As my friend Nancy Ball commented on my profiled picture featuring Dick Clark "what a gentle man". I think he was in every sense of the word.
There is not much else I can say except to quote the lyrics written by Barry Manilow to BANDSTAND BOOGIE.
Songwriters: Manilow, Barry; Sussman, Bruce; Albertine, Charles;
"We're goin' hoppin', we're goin' hoppin' today
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
We're gonna drop in on all the music they play
On the bandstand
We're goin' swingin', we're gonna swing in the crowd
And we'll be clingin' and floatin' high as a cloud
The phones are ringin', my mom and dad are so proud
I'm on Bandstand
And I'll jump and hey, I may even show 'em my handstand
Because I'm on, because I'm on the American Bandstand
When we dance real slow I'll show all the guys in the grandstand
What a swinger I am, I am on American Bandstand
We're goin' hoppin', we're goin' hoppin' today
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
We're gonna drop in on all the music they play
On the Bandstand
Bandstand, Bandstand, Bandstand
Bandstand, Bandstand, Bandstand
Hey I'm makin' my mark, gee, this joint is jumpin'
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/barry-manilow-lyrics/bandstand-boogie-lyrics.html)
They made such a fuss just to see us arrive
Hey it's Mr.Dick Clark, what a place you've got here
Swell spot, the music's hot here, best in the east
Give it at least a seventy five
Now for all you Joe's, here goes my American handstand
Because I'm on, because I'm on the American Bandstand
As we dance real slow, I'm showin' the guys on the grandstand
That I like my girl but I love American Bandstand
The singers' croonin', he ain't the greatest but gee
My baby's swoonin' in front of all of TV
So if you tune in, you'll see my baby and me
On the Bandstand
And now we're hoppin' and we'll be hoppin' all day
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
And you can drop in on all the music they play
On the Bandstand
And we'll rock and roll and stroll on American
Lindy hop and slop, it's American
Tune in, I'm on, turn on, I'm in, I'm on
Today, Bandstand"
Rest in peace Mr. Clark and give Elvis and Jim Morrison a hug, I'm sure they will be happy to see your familiar face.
With much respect
Pam Beattie-Shore
I can still remember hows
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance"
And maybe they'd be happy for a while.....Don McLean....American Pie
Hello my 6 1/2 followers. I haven't checked in for awhile, but I haven't found the right subject to talk about. I was going to write about the sinking of the Titanic, an event that had such a great impact on the world. Well, everyone was writing about Titanic and I didn't feel I had anything new to offer. Instead, this morning, I decided to write about someone and something that touches us all. Dick Clark and American Bandstand.
Pam, you might say as that is my name! Why are you writing about a person and American Icon that everyone will write about. Let me answer it this way. What is more personal that the music you listen to? Yes, someone else created it and it now touches you, Who doesn't have a "soundtrack" to their lives. Music and songs make us happy and sad, sometimes both at the same time. It's an amazing feeling. Think about how you feel when you hear a song that you haven't heard in ages. Something from you childhood perhaps. I don't care WHO you are, we all mentally, and sometimes verbally exclaim "that's my jam" and turn it up.
In 1956 Dick Clark helped us "pump up the jams" there is another part to that quote, but I kept it clean!!! It is said that Dick Clark legitimized Rock n Roll and helped make it acceptable to a whole new demographic, to the parents of the kids who bought the Rock n Roll records!. On more Saturday's than we can count, Dick Clark brought the music via Philadelphia way into our homes. Well, no only were the kids home dancing and watching it, but so were Mom and Dad. How could you not like that young, handsome, Dick Clark??? How many people learned to dance watching American Bandstand, well that and a bit of Soul Train thrown in there. We had our favorite people we liked to watch dance. The program showed us how we wanted to dress to be "hip". It gave us our first exposure to a word like "groovy". We learned all of this at the knee of Dick Clark. I always wanted to be on the segment that was "rate a record. I wanted to be the person to say,"it's got a great beat and you can dance to it".
An appearance on American Bandstand said to an artist and their audience they had "made it". Dick Clark was instrumental in the desegregation of Television. We saw Chubby Checker and Pat Boone on the same show.. The next program might be Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and Jay and The Americans. You just never new and wasn't that an amazing thing!! Music was music no matter what. It had no color, no rules. What a wonderful thing!
Dick Clark had just about every major musical act from 1956-1987. Think about all the people that passed Dick Clark's way. He brought Little Richard into our homes (bet that scared a few Grandma's). Years later he did the same thing with Kiss. I saw The Osmond Brothers for the first time on Bandstand and The Jackson Five. Dick Clark had John Travolta on when he was just a kid starting out on WELCOME BACK KOTTER when he gave pop music a shot and had a song that went to number one called LET HER IN. He asked John of all things, "was he a good dancer"! Well, John sure showed us after Dick asked the question! In 1984 he asked a very young Madonna what her dreams were and she answered in her modest style "to rule the world". I remember thinking what kind of answer was that to give Dick Clark....well, she sure came close to it! She ruled the music industry. Mr. Clark helped her put her intentions out there and he did it with grace. John Waters spoofed Dick Clark in a very funny and serious way in Corny Collins in Hairspray. I loved John Waters interpretation of the music industry and segregation. There was no doubt Corny Collins was based on Dick Clark!
There have only ever been three other hosts to American Bandstand before Dick Clark. Bob Horn, Lee Stewart and Tony Mammarella. They hosted from 1952-1956. They paved the way for Dick Clark and he created an empire. Not only was it a musical empire but one that encompassed a TV empire as well. Dick Clark Productions gave us ROCKIN NEWS EVE. THE 25,000 PYRAMID, TV'S BLOOPERS AND PRACTICAL JOKES. DICK CLARK'S PRODUCTION CO. produced THE DAYTIME EMMY'S. There are so many many more things he had his hands in that they are too numerous to mention. He was a restaurateur at one point. I think Dick Clark lived the American dream. He worked his way up from DJ in a small radio station to one of the most powerful men in the music industry.
When Guy Lomardo died my Dad said that they should just cancel New Years Eve because there was never going to be anything as great on that night as Guy Lombardo and The Royal Canadians. Dick Clark started ROCKIN NEW YEARS EVE in 1972 and gave us a whole different perspective. Different, but just as good. He hosted yearly from 1972 .He only missed hosting two shows due to the stroke he suffered, but he still showed up in a special appearance.. I hope Ryan Seacrest appreciates what Mr. Clark did.
I speak as if I knew Mr. Clark personally, but of course I didn't. I just felt like most of America felt. We knew him from him coming into our homes weekly. As my friend Nancy Ball commented on my profiled picture featuring Dick Clark "what a gentle man". I think he was in every sense of the word.
There is not much else I can say except to quote the lyrics written by Barry Manilow to BANDSTAND BOOGIE.
Songwriters: Manilow, Barry; Sussman, Bruce; Albertine, Charles;
"We're goin' hoppin', we're goin' hoppin' today
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
We're gonna drop in on all the music they play
On the bandstand
We're goin' swingin', we're gonna swing in the crowd
And we'll be clingin' and floatin' high as a cloud
The phones are ringin', my mom and dad are so proud
I'm on Bandstand
And I'll jump and hey, I may even show 'em my handstand
Because I'm on, because I'm on the American Bandstand
When we dance real slow I'll show all the guys in the grandstand
What a swinger I am, I am on American Bandstand
We're goin' hoppin', we're goin' hoppin' today
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
We're gonna drop in on all the music they play
On the Bandstand
Bandstand, Bandstand, Bandstand
Bandstand, Bandstand, Bandstand
Hey I'm makin' my mark, gee, this joint is jumpin'
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/barry-manilow-lyrics/bandstand-boogie-lyrics.html)
They made such a fuss just to see us arrive
Hey it's Mr.Dick Clark, what a place you've got here
Swell spot, the music's hot here, best in the east
Give it at least a seventy five
Now for all you Joe's, here goes my American handstand
Because I'm on, because I'm on the American Bandstand
As we dance real slow, I'm showin' the guys on the grandstand
That I like my girl but I love American Bandstand
The singers' croonin', he ain't the greatest but gee
My baby's swoonin' in front of all of TV
So if you tune in, you'll see my baby and me
On the Bandstand
And now we're hoppin' and we'll be hoppin' all day
Where things are poppin' the Philadelphia way
And you can drop in on all the music they play
On the Bandstand
And we'll rock and roll and stroll on American
Lindy hop and slop, it's American
Tune in, I'm on, turn on, I'm in, I'm on
Today, Bandstand"
Rest in peace Mr. Clark and give Elvis and Jim Morrison a hug, I'm sure they will be happy to see your familiar face.
With much respect
Pam Beattie-Shore
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Lorax went hopping. For the despicable people who stole the statue!
The Lorax went hopping.
One dark dark night The Lorax did stray, not by himself but was spirited away.
He went not alone but with the 'help' of some scoundrels.
They did it for gain and personal profit. No matter how you see it it's not a class act.
So sad is the woman who lives in the house, he guarded her garden and kept safe the house while doing it all as quiet as a mouse.
The birds are still playing and the ocean does wave but not with The Lorax gazing away.
Bring back the Lorax to his perch in the garden. Your soul will be saved not given away. Please bring back The Lorax from far far away.....Pamela Beattie-Shore
One dark dark night The Lorax did stray, not by himself but was spirited away.
He went not alone but with the 'help' of some scoundrels.
They did it for gain and personal profit. No matter how you see it it's not a class act.
So sad is the woman who lives in the house, he guarded her garden and kept safe the house while doing it all as quiet as a mouse.
The birds are still playing and the ocean does wave but not with The Lorax gazing away.
Bring back the Lorax to his perch in the garden. Your soul will be saved not given away. Please bring back The Lorax from far far away.....Pamela Beattie-Shore
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
LOVE NEVER MEANS HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY (Choke!) From LOVE STORY by Erich Segal, spoken by Ali McGraw in movie of the same name in 1970
Love means never having to say your sorry. Well, that's a load of shit. Love mean saying your sorry, often when you are not, when you are right and when you are still angry! I had to get that out even before I said hello to all of you and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Now dear friends you know I'm not usually cynical and I'm not trying to be it's just i've learned a few things in my life! When Ali McGraw said these words to Ryan O'Neal in Love Story I was all of 11 years old and I remember thinking that is total crap. Even at that age I knew that love was far more complicated than that.
I think at allot of our weddings we all had the scripture read from Corinthians 13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Love is all of those things and so much more. This applies to the love you have for your spouse or partner, your sisters and brothers. To anyone you love. Mostly, I think love is one of the most amazing, complicated and rewarding things you will ever experience. Love to me is a gift that God allows you to give to yourself and others. It's also true you cannot love anyone else until you love yourself.
My life has been made complete and better by the people I love and who have loved me back. What would life be without the love of my sainted Danny. The complicated love I have often have with family members taught me many important lessons. I've learned so much about myself through love. I've learned I'm not perfect. I'm not always nice and I often can be horribly selfish. I've also learned that when I love someone I love with my heart and soul. It has taught me that I will go to deep lenghts to make someone I love happy. I have also learned bitter lessons about myself and been disappointed in myself with how I've handled different situations in regards to love. I still regret that I wasn't able to love my sisters enough to forgive. I wish I had told my parents more often I loved them. I have friends I wish I had never given my love and trust to. I have to say through all these things, good and bad I would not trade those experiences. Good and Bad they are what makes me me. I am imperfect, kind, selfish, caring and so many other things. It's complicated.
If I have one message in this little Valentines Day missive it is to not be afraid to love and loved back. The joys far out weigh the perils. Let me leave you with a small task for the day. Just say I love you to one person. Mean it. You may have just made the day of someone who really needs to hear it at that moment.
So my dear friends, family and anyone else who is reading this. I love you!
Have a WONDERFUL day, not just on Valentines Day, but every day.
xoxoxo
Pammy
I think at allot of our weddings we all had the scripture read from Corinthians 13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." Love is all of those things and so much more. This applies to the love you have for your spouse or partner, your sisters and brothers. To anyone you love. Mostly, I think love is one of the most amazing, complicated and rewarding things you will ever experience. Love to me is a gift that God allows you to give to yourself and others. It's also true you cannot love anyone else until you love yourself.
My life has been made complete and better by the people I love and who have loved me back. What would life be without the love of my sainted Danny. The complicated love I have often have with family members taught me many important lessons. I've learned so much about myself through love. I've learned I'm not perfect. I'm not always nice and I often can be horribly selfish. I've also learned that when I love someone I love with my heart and soul. It has taught me that I will go to deep lenghts to make someone I love happy. I have also learned bitter lessons about myself and been disappointed in myself with how I've handled different situations in regards to love. I still regret that I wasn't able to love my sisters enough to forgive. I wish I had told my parents more often I loved them. I have friends I wish I had never given my love and trust to. I have to say through all these things, good and bad I would not trade those experiences. Good and Bad they are what makes me me. I am imperfect, kind, selfish, caring and so many other things. It's complicated.
If I have one message in this little Valentines Day missive it is to not be afraid to love and loved back. The joys far out weigh the perils. Let me leave you with a small task for the day. Just say I love you to one person. Mean it. You may have just made the day of someone who really needs to hear it at that moment.
So my dear friends, family and anyone else who is reading this. I love you!
Have a WONDERFUL day, not just on Valentines Day, but every day.
xoxoxo
Pammy
Friday, December 23, 2011
"Santa Baby...."
Dear Santa,
Que pasa??? Just checking how you are doing cause I don't think that people often ask you how your are. What do you want for Christmas Santa? We all know your plans for Christmas Eve so I imagine you snooze all Christmas day sitting by the fire with your pipe and Mrs. Claus, God bless her. She must be the most understanding wife in the entire world cause she doesn't get to spend Christmas Eve with her husband.
I of course, I have a few things that I would like Santa and I understand I can't have them all but I'd just like to discuss a few of them with you.
1. Health, not only for me but for all the people I know and love and for everyone in the world. Like they say, if you don't have your health you have nothing. This is true, just watch the news and seeing people without clean water, healthy food and general health care is an eye opener and makes you thankful for what you have.
2. Peace. I wish peace to everyone. There is not much else to be said about that. Peace of mind, peace on earth. I think one goes hand in hand with the other.
3. Love. I hope and pray that everyone finds their peg. Sometimes it takes along time to find that peg but when you do it's so worth it. I always tell my friends, family and my Sainted Danny that he is the best Christmas gift I ever got to keep. I know I will never know the love of having my own child, but I am so thankful that I have my two "girls" Gracie and Lacy to love and who DO love me back. I am lucky enough to know the love of a child even though she's not my own. Emalee, thank you for all the love you show me. There is nothing better than when you give me a hug me, make me laugh or hear your laugh. You enrich my life.
4. HOPE. I want to always have hope for our future. Hope for the hopeless and hope that I am doing the best in this life that I can. I always want to hope that there is magic in this world and Santa, I think you help us keep hope alive. I do believe you come and see us all on Christmas Eve. We may not know you were there, but sometimes there are small little miracles that prove you were.
5. Faith. I work everyday at maintaining my faith in mankind, in God and in myself. My faith has often been shaken lately, but then, who's faith has not been tested during these difficult times. Santa, I have faith in you and plan to maintain that faith for all my life and to spread some of the joy that you spread. God, I don't always understand your plan for me, but I will always have faith that you are working in all of our best interested. Perhaps we are not supposed to understand the plan, but when we go to heaven all is clear. I have faith (and a lot of hope) that I will be joining the people I love in heaven someday. Oh and Santa and God, when I go could you please make sure I get a chance to talk to John Lennon and John Kennedy as I do have some questions. I won't take up much of their time, I promise!
6. Last, but not least I want another life sized stuffed Jolly Green Giant doll. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever got (next to Danny). You would slip a strap from his feet to yours and you could dance with him! I had him for a very long time and I think I danced so much with him he fell apart! I also wouldn't mind my mechanical dog, Gaylord, that I got for my 6th Christmas. He used to pick up his bone. I loved Gaylord. I think he went to "mechanical" dog heaven!
So in conclusion Santa I know there are things on my list I have, some I want and some I wish for other people. Santa, I will always do my best to keep the magic alive. The magic in this life makes it all worth living. I hope you enjoy your gift from Mrs. Claus as I'm sure she's worked hard on finding the right thing for you. Get your rest and we will talk again next year!
xoxxoxxo
Pammy Beattie-Shore
P.S. I understand if you can't locate Gaylord. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Oh...and I didn't bake much this year, but there is chocolate covered mint oreo's, homemade fudge and homemade cashew caramel in the fridge...enjoy!
Que pasa??? Just checking how you are doing cause I don't think that people often ask you how your are. What do you want for Christmas Santa? We all know your plans for Christmas Eve so I imagine you snooze all Christmas day sitting by the fire with your pipe and Mrs. Claus, God bless her. She must be the most understanding wife in the entire world cause she doesn't get to spend Christmas Eve with her husband.
I of course, I have a few things that I would like Santa and I understand I can't have them all but I'd just like to discuss a few of them with you.
1. Health, not only for me but for all the people I know and love and for everyone in the world. Like they say, if you don't have your health you have nothing. This is true, just watch the news and seeing people without clean water, healthy food and general health care is an eye opener and makes you thankful for what you have.
2. Peace. I wish peace to everyone. There is not much else to be said about that. Peace of mind, peace on earth. I think one goes hand in hand with the other.
3. Love. I hope and pray that everyone finds their peg. Sometimes it takes along time to find that peg but when you do it's so worth it. I always tell my friends, family and my Sainted Danny that he is the best Christmas gift I ever got to keep. I know I will never know the love of having my own child, but I am so thankful that I have my two "girls" Gracie and Lacy to love and who DO love me back. I am lucky enough to know the love of a child even though she's not my own. Emalee, thank you for all the love you show me. There is nothing better than when you give me a hug me, make me laugh or hear your laugh. You enrich my life.
4. HOPE. I want to always have hope for our future. Hope for the hopeless and hope that I am doing the best in this life that I can. I always want to hope that there is magic in this world and Santa, I think you help us keep hope alive. I do believe you come and see us all on Christmas Eve. We may not know you were there, but sometimes there are small little miracles that prove you were.
5. Faith. I work everyday at maintaining my faith in mankind, in God and in myself. My faith has often been shaken lately, but then, who's faith has not been tested during these difficult times. Santa, I have faith in you and plan to maintain that faith for all my life and to spread some of the joy that you spread. God, I don't always understand your plan for me, but I will always have faith that you are working in all of our best interested. Perhaps we are not supposed to understand the plan, but when we go to heaven all is clear. I have faith (and a lot of hope) that I will be joining the people I love in heaven someday. Oh and Santa and God, when I go could you please make sure I get a chance to talk to John Lennon and John Kennedy as I do have some questions. I won't take up much of their time, I promise!
6. Last, but not least I want another life sized stuffed Jolly Green Giant doll. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever got (next to Danny). You would slip a strap from his feet to yours and you could dance with him! I had him for a very long time and I think I danced so much with him he fell apart! I also wouldn't mind my mechanical dog, Gaylord, that I got for my 6th Christmas. He used to pick up his bone. I loved Gaylord. I think he went to "mechanical" dog heaven!
So in conclusion Santa I know there are things on my list I have, some I want and some I wish for other people. Santa, I will always do my best to keep the magic alive. The magic in this life makes it all worth living. I hope you enjoy your gift from Mrs. Claus as I'm sure she's worked hard on finding the right thing for you. Get your rest and we will talk again next year!
xoxxoxxo
Pammy Beattie-Shore
P.S. I understand if you can't locate Gaylord. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!
Oh...and I didn't bake much this year, but there is chocolate covered mint oreo's, homemade fudge and homemade cashew caramel in the fridge...enjoy!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
"We gather together to aks the Lord's blessing....."
Gobble Gobble my dear friends and family. Not only do I speak English but I'm semi-fluent in Turkey, not to be confused with Turkish! I only can gobble which I assume in Turkey language either means hello or get the hell away from me! So, here we are celebrating yet another Thanksgiving. Don't you wonder where all the time has gone this year? I sure do. We have all had our ups and downs through out the year, but tomorrow is the day we sit with our family and friends and thank God for all our blessings small and large. It's amazing how the meaning and what we are thankful for changes through the years. As a child it all starts at school where you make a Turkey from tracing you hand on brown paper and decorating it. In my day, we also made Indian Headresses, but I bet they don't do that any longer (I doubt it's considered PC). Children are excited to have that wonderful long weekend. There are the parades to look forward to, the football games and of course all the Turkey, Pumpkin pie and whippped cream you can eat. I, of course of know of several people, child and adult who have been known to sit with just a bowl of whipped cream! As a child we thank God for Mum and Dad. We know it's the start of the holiday season and we are so thankful that all the fun is now going to start. Ah, sometimes to be that child again with such basic, but exciting things to be thankful for and look forward too. As we become adults it changes so much. We are aware of the work that will go into making it a wonderful turkey day for all the adults and children who will be in our homes. Sometimes the work for the adult on a day like this seems never ending! Yes, the parades are still there as are the football games and of course the whipped cream! It's just you are the one now making the whipped cream instead of just eating it. You also have the supreme pleasure of washing all the dishes that went into making it! As I am doing all this I often reflect on past Thanksgivings and all the work I watched my parents put into it for me to enjoy the day.I am thankful for the tradditons they instilled into me. The meaning, at least for me has changed so much. I now find myself thanking God for another year that we can all be together. I acknowledge and am thankful for all the people present and in my heart that are part of my life. I pray for another year of happiness for my friends and family and more than ever wish I could make a global difference that will allow other people to have some of the comforts I have. I also wonder about the first Thanksgiving. I think about how hard it must have been for the Pilgrim's that first year after they left England to persue their right to worship as they wanted to. How lucky they were to have the Native Indian's share their knowledge of hunting, fishing and living in such hard terrain that it allowed them to survive. I could now go off on a tangent about the plight of the American Indian, but I shall save that for another blog and for right now thank them for all they did for us! I think about how different their feast must have been compared to the modern Thanksgiving meal. Their feast lasted three days and they had to feed everyone breakfast, lunch and dinner for those three days. Just think of the washing up!!! The Pilgrim"s would not have had Turkey at this time. There would have been an abundance of seafood, cabbage, onions and of course corn that The Wampanoag Indians would have shown them how to grow. The Indians would have brought deer and venison. There would have been Pumpkin and Squash as they were available, but it would not have been baked into pie's at this time as they didn't have oven's yet. No mashed potato's for this party as the Pilgrim's and the Indian's regarded potato's as poison....Hello Jenny Craig! So, think of it, there has always been so much put into this feast day. No, they didn't have football, Snoopy ballon's or floats but they had another year of life to live. For me, that is what I am mostly thankful for. As I'm writing this I keep feeling that my words are a little flat, a little off. Dan and I recently had a bit of a trama with Dan having an argument with the Lawnmower, it won..but, it could have been so much worse. The accident seems to be coloring what I am writing and how i'm writing it. I am thankful for so much that my words feel trite and as I said, a bit flat. I wanted to do this essay justice as a friend of mine, Josh Stewart gave me the wonderful subject matter. I hope I've done him proud. So tomorrow when you say your thanks, remember the child in you, the adult you've become and what all our forefathers did for us to make this day possible. It's worth all the work we put into it to watch the happiness on everyone's face. As I was writing this I kept having a song pop into my head. It's not orginally a "song" but was from The Gospel according to Saint Matthew. John Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz while at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1970's wrote a "little" musical called Godspell based upon the Gospel according to St. Michael. I keep singing "all good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, so thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love...." That will be one of the biggies on my list tomorrow. So I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving full of love, friendship, whipped cream and the knowledge that life is good!!! Have a wonderful day...Oh and say a thanks to the Tom T. Turkey who is your guest of honor!
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