Saturday 9, The Last Song

Saturday 9: The Last Song (1972)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

This is the last Saturday 9 song of 2022. Thanks to Sam for another great year!

1) In this song, the lead singer admits he leaves the light on when he goes to sleep. Do you leave any lights on in your bedroom? Or do you prefer it completely dark? I like the room to be dark

 

2) He sings that he can't stop wondering where his old girlfriend is. Do you know whatever happened to any of your exes? I know one is a retired fire captain. One moved to Tennessee and became a professor. Another passed away from diabetes. 

3) He says this is the last song he'll ever sing to his girl. What's the last song you sang? Where were you when you sang it? Friday evening my husband and I watched the Kennedy Center Honors. They honored Amy Grand and Gladys Knight along with a few others. I sang along with the entertainment. Sing Your Praise to the Lord and You're the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.

Performance Playlist is here.

I have seen Amy Grand in concert twice. I have several of her CD's.  I remember watching Gladys Knight sing on Soul Train. My mom also liked her music. That's What Friends are for is a favorite. 

4) Edward Bear was a Canadian group who took their name from Winnie the Pooh. As written by A. A. Milne, Edward Bear was Pooh's "proper" name. Pooh's favorite food was honey. Is there a food you can't get enough of? Tacos, apples and no salt, no sugar peanut butter.

 

5) In 1972, when this song was popular, Disney's Winnie the Pooh was quite a celebrity in his own right, appearing on the cover the 1972 Sears Christmas Wish Book. That year, kids asked Santa for plush Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore. Did you have many plush toys as a child? If yes, do you still have any of them? I had a chimpanzee named Zippy and a Winnie the Pooh I got for grad night. I don't have them, but I wish I had kept them. I now have an assortment of plush doxies, and several Minnie and Mickey's.

6) Enough about 1972! Let's look back on 2022. What's something you learned or rediscovered in 2022?

I flew to Texas twice this year and once To Reno/Lake Tahoe. I used to be afraid of flying. I learned that I am never too old to exercise and build muscle or put on weight!

7) Can you think of a moment in 2022 you'd like to do over? I can't think of anything at the moment.

8) What are you looking forward to most in 2023? Another trip to Texas to see my friend and hopefully a family vacation to Hawaii. My 50th year class reunion is in August, and I have mixed feelings about going.

9) Random question: Who received the last email you sent? I sent some pictures to myself. From my phone to my email. I do that all the time. My last post has lots of pictures from Christmas. 

Tuesday 4, Christmas, NY

It is Monday evening, and I am watching a Hallmark movie. The third one for the day. The past few days have been so busy, and it was good to rest today. We did go to my son's home for a few hours. We took our dog Minnie so she can get use to their new puppy Coco.

So for the last Tuesday 4 post, I shared a lot of Christmas pictures from the past including me as a 3-year-old on a rocking horse. I am able to pull pictures from my Web home that I started back in 2000. Every year I think I am going to let go my site, but then I decided not to. I plan to add pages here. 

Last Tuesday my hubby and I went back to Disneyland, having been there the previous Thursday with the family. Hubby was under the weather, but we had to use the tickets and we made the most of it. We did what we wanted, and the weather was not at cold. We got home at 9 and hubby was wiped out. The next day he really felt worse and was coughing more. My daughter and I suggested he take a Covid test. It was very faint, but it was positive. We had him take a second test that was also very faint. We asked him when he first started feeling sick and he said Sunday. Though we were at a family wedding in San Diego on the 17t, most of it was outside. So, we figure he must have gotten Covid at Disneyland because there was a million people there and hardly anyone wearing a mask. He was the only one in the family that had not have Covid. Friday morning, he went to urgent care to get tested though we not coughing as much. He never lost his appetite and did not stay in bed. I made him wear a mask when the test came back positive, but he had been coughing in front of all off us. Saturday morning, he got his result and said it was positive. My son had also had it. So, we were trying to decide what to do about Christmas. It was going to be 80 on Christmas so we set things up outside. He was going to cook pozole, but I end up going to the store and making dinner on Saturday. 

My daughter and grands and I went to the candlelight service at the church near us since our church had service on Saturday morning. While we were at church, a message came through that my son and his wife now tested negative. Once we got back, we had hubby take another test and it was negative. He and my son still wore a mask until my daughter in law said take it off. He had a wonderful Christmas. I did not take as many pictures as I usually do. I took this picture before everyone arrived.

Notice the goodies on the mantle too!

Elf on the Shelf visit their house, and Shepherd on the Search at our house.

He left a Nativity Star for each family.

It is the first time we had to run the air conditioning on Christmas! It got to 82 degrees!After presents were opened, everyone went home and came back at 6 for dinner. Here is the table I set for dinner. We had chicken pozole, green chicken enchiladas, rice, beans and tamales

1.  Many stay home and even go to bed early on New Year's Eve.  What are your plans, and do you have reasons for what you do? My hubby always goes to bed by 9 and I stay up to bring in the New Year alone. I watch tv and play on the computer. I sure miss playing Farmville! My grands will be here with me this year. I want to do something fun with them.

2. Guy Lombardo was a traditional fixture on TV and then Dick Clark and his Rockin' New Year's Eve took over. People ate certain foods; bayberry candles were burned for luck.  It seems that lately tradition and not just for New Year, is being forgotten and lost on so many fronts. What traditions in life are important to you and remain steadfast in your life? Christmas and Easter are the most important to me and spending them with family. Setting the table for Christmas is important to me. I use a gingerbread theme in the morning and more formal for dinner. I kept it simple this year.

Birthday celebrations is important too. Getting together with my siblings and their families is special to me too. As I get older, I really appreciate my family a lot!

3.  The New Year is often a time to reflect on what has transpired and many make resolutions in an effort to improve their life.  Do you count the cost of time and tradition in your life?  How do you handle good times and bad times? Do you forge ahead or get mired down? Every day is a new day. We have the ability to decide how we feel about things and shoe we want to handle it. I do plan for major events, but I also know that life happens.

4.  In ancient Israel, the new liturgical year began in the Spring with Passover.. a new beginning.  The Civil year calendar began on Rosh Hashana and 2022-23 is the year 5783 on the Hebrew calendar as of September. How important is the liturgical calendar in your life?  Do you take notice of religious holidays and times?  Are the holidays more religious or secular for you and your family? Christmas and Easter are the most important things. Our church celebrates the harvest at Halloween time by hosting a friendly alternative. I think of trick and treating as fun with great childhood memories. I am aware that there are those that want to make it evil. I do not like the scary part of it, and it is sad how commercialized the scary part has become.

I did not grow up Catholic and did not celebrate Advent or Lent. Easter and Christmas are the main to religious holidays I have celebrated. It wasn't until I started Bible journaling that I was introduced to it. So, I do Bible studies related to both. This year I celebrated Passover, Rosh Hoshana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. I also celebrated Hannukah and lit my first Menorah. I have only learned of Dia de los Muertos in the past few years. Disney showing Coco made it family friendly with the true emphasis of families remembering the dead.

Saturday 9, Happy Holidays

SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(From the archives)

 

My granddaughter painted this for us last Christmas.

1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be? For our son and his wife to have a baby. For everyone that is sick to feel better. Covid and cold viruses have hit us.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?  

I try to be nice, but on occasion I can be naughty. 

3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train? Christmas is at our house. 

4.  Did you send any presents out of town? If so, what was it and how far did it travel? No gifts, just cards. I furthest card went to PA. I started out good with my cards, then didn't get the last group finished.

5. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? Yes, I did. I always get myself a few ornaments. I also got myself a new robe to wear on Christmas day.

6. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie or TV special? Have you seen it yet this year? I have seen several Christmas movies except A Christmas Carol. I want to see the 1938 Version or 1951 version. The original 1938 came out in black and white but has been colorized.

7. Which do you prefer: a hollow chocolate Santa or a chunk of fudge? A chunk of fudge would be great with some peanut butter on it.

8. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind. Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Holy Night. This is a new song I also love.

9. What's your favorite winter beverage? Mexican hot chocolate. Click on the girl above to get the recipe.

Tuesday 4, Counting Down to Christmas

Let's talk about the countdown to Christmas or Chanukah or both!

1. What was the countdown to the holidays like for you as a child?  Special projects at school. at home. with friends?   Was a big deal made of the month in your family or town?  What does your countdown look like now? When I was growing up, we celebrated the Christmas season at church and at school. We sang carols and Christmas songs. We usually prepared for the Christmas program each year. One year, our class had to recite something. We were all lined up and holding a candle. Someone lit the first candle. Their line was recited and then they lit the next person's candle. Then it came to me. This was my verse. Christians lit the light, that all the world might see. The gift of love, from God above, God's son who set us free. I think I was in either 5th or 6th grade. At the end of the Christmas program as each received a bag with nuts, fruit and Christmas candy. I also remember going to the Christmas parade at night. There is a picture of me with my sister's sitting on the curb, wearing hats.

My mom was not much of a baker, but my aunts were. My cousin got me into gingerbread. Once I had grands, I decided I wanted to bake with them. So, every year they come over to bake cookies. I have been buying my kids Christmas ornaments for years. The grands look forward to this.

Our church still has a Christmas Eve service. This year our church will hold its services on Saturday, Christmas Eve so that families can be home Christmas morning to celebrate. My daughter and her kids can't make that service, so we will go to a Christmas Eve service at the church near us before she goes with her kid's great grandmother's house. My son's will spend Christmas Eve with their in-laws. All my kids and grandkids will come to our house Christmas morning in their pajamas. We will have breakfast and then open gifts.

2. As a kid did your family stay home on the holidays or go visiting around ... what do you do now? We visited my grandparents before Christmas when I was older. But we visited Christmas Eve too. We open gifts Christmas morning. We got together a week ago with my siblings, their kids and grandkids. We try to get together like this a few times a year. A promise we made our parents to stay close for as long as possible. We just got together for a wedding this past weekend.

Terry on the left, Scott, Me and Ann

Around 1971

3. What foods did Mom and Grandma make for those days?   What snacks were out?   What is the food situation in your home today? I remember mixed nuts with a nutcracker. We usually had Mexican food on Christmas Eve. Tamales are a favorite. My mom usually made a roast or prime rib. I loved her twice bake potatoes. My husband's family made tamales every year. You can see pictures here. My husband's brother carries the tradition on. My husband is making chicken posole this year. We will also have green chili chicken enchiladas, tamales, rice, beans and salad. My kids like Mexican food and that is great with me. Posole is traditionally made with pork, but several members can't eat it.  My husband cooks the chicken and uses the broth for the soup base. He adds chili and spices and adds hominy. It is served with shredded cabbage, chopped onion cilantro and radishes. Those are all on the side. I just like the cabbage and lemon juice. He makes it mild. I will cook the beans. Everyone else brings the sides and deserts. Mexican chocolate is enjoyed with desert in the evening.

4.  Did you have a traditional way of spending the day with time to open gifts, visit, special breakfasts, special dinner, guests? My family always opened up gifts on Christmas morning. My husband's family opened them Christmas Eve. This made it easy for us once we were married.  What do you do now?

Christmas breakfast and presents in the morning. The guys make bacon, eggs, French toast, and potatoes.

This year I am also celebrating Hanukkah and I found my Menorah at Target. Here is a picture from Monday evening. I just read that the candles are to be lit right to left. Hanukkah started Sunday evening and last for 8 days. The decorations on the tree are from one of the Advent readings I am going. The back of each picture has a small devotion and scripture verse. This is my crafty corner that I decorate seasonally. I am not Jewish, but I have been studying the Jewish festivals this year and wanted to include this. The festival is also known as the Festival of Lights. The festival of lights is mentioned in John 10:22-23. I watched a Hallmark movie last night called Hanukkah on Rye last night that was pretty good. I have enjoyed several movies this past week. I saw The Bishop's Wife Sunday.

I am writing this Monday evening and we go back to Disneyland on Tuesday.

Our Gingerbread Cottage is here.

Fridays post (Dec. 16) has a few pictures of my family at Disneyland.

Three is one of the grands from 2015 and the same pose from Thursday.

Tuesday's post (Dec. 13) has lots of Christmas pictures, gingerbread cookies,

 baking with the grands and neighborhood lights.

The Christmas Song

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) While this song was published as "The Christmas Song," many people refer to it as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." Have you ever roasted chestnuts (in an open fire or in the oven)? I have never had roasted chestnuts. I would like to try it.

2) Ricky Nelson sings that turkey helps make the season bright. Many of us just had turkey last month for Thanksgiving. Do you enjoy turkey all year around? Or do you consider it a seasonal dish? We eat ground turkey throughout the year. We occasionally buy a smaller cut of turkey meat. I will also order it when it comes as a sandwich choice.

3) He wishes "Merry Christmas" to kids from 1 to 92. Who is the youngest person you will celebrate the holidays with? Who is the oldest? My grands range from 8-14 and will be with them Christmas Day. I was just with my siblings last week and there are several young babies. I was talking to my brother, and we said our mom and dad in heaven are looking down on their 18 great grandchildren. The youngest is about 4 months and I could not hold him to long because he is so heavy.  The other younger two are 8 months and 16 months.  The rest range from 7-14. We still buy gifts for all the grands but not the nephews and nieces unless they are a god child. My husband is the oldest in the family.

 

4) "The Christmas Song" is a perennial favorite and gets lots of play this time of year. Is there a holiday song that you think is overplayed, and that you hope to not hear again (at least not until December 2023)? No, I love Christmas music and can hear it all the time. I like true CHRISTmas songs like Silen Night and Oh Holy Night. I like traditional songs like I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. I like the songs that remind me of school like Jingle Bells and Up on the Housetop. I do not like dumb songs like Grandma got Runned over by a Reindeer. I like the song Last Christmas, but I am tired of it.

5) This version of the song is from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, the sitcom that ran from 1952 to 1966. There were 435 episodes in all. Is there a series whose every episode you've seen? I do remember watching this show, but not the whole series. I probably have seen all of I Love Lucy. I have seen all of ER and Grey's Anatomy. I love medical shows.

 

6) Life magazine coined the phrase "teen idol" to describe Ricky's popularity. In your younger days, did you have a crush on a teen idol? I thought Ricky was cute! I thought Jermaine Jackson was cute too when I was in Jr. High.

 

7) Do you have a funny/ugly holiday sweater? I have lots of Christmas sweaters that I like. But they are old and someone younger would think they are ugly. I wear what I want.

8) Have you received many holiday cards this year? Did you send many? Not too many yet. I usually get several the last week of Christmas and some after. I remember my first Christmas season at working at the post office. It was December 1974 and there were trays and trays of red, white and green envelopes that around 35 of us would be sorting by hand. I worked there from July of 1973 - July of 1974 as a postal assistant. It was a one-year program for students. I got hired in October of 1975 as part time. It was hard because I was on probation and taking finals. I had to memorize over 1000 cities in So. Calif. I got a random 100 to sort in 5 minutes and could only miss 5. I retired in October of 2011.  Every time I pass a city, I say the 3 code digit that represents the main processing center for that city. 926-928 is Orange County. 770 is for cities around Houston. 331 if Florida and so on. I through mail for 14 years so it stayed in my mind. Funny how one question can bring up so many memories.       

9) If you were Santa, what cookie would you like kids to leave for you on Christmas Eve? Gingerbread!

Friday Fav 5 Disneyland

1. Thankful that my whole family could have a family fun day at Disneyland!

2.Thankful that I am fit enough to last from the opening at 8 am 

to closing at midnight! Walked 12 miles!!!

3. Thankful that the weather was nice, no rain and 

that we got to go on so many rides!

4. Thankful for the egg sandwiches we took for lunch,

and the great pot roast and salmon dinner.

5. Thankful for more special family memories!