Well, here it is Christmas, just past mid day.
Christmas day or not, I actually grouted a shower this morning, yes, I can do that, and found time to draw a bit more on one of my model designs. Yes, they are my designs.
My wife, Paula and I, exchange Christmas cards as usual and we chat about a Christmas gathering and dinner tonight with some friends. Yes, I'm looking forward to it, we have great, almost life long, friends.
Paula and I also share words that reflect our previous Holiday experiences and the conversation is generally about those we cannot be with or family members we no longer have in our lives.
The interesting thing about Holidays, as you get older, there are fewer members of your family around to share the Holiday with you. Yes, for us, a sad thing.
Those kind of losses are severe, really severe.
So, you think about those love ones that are no longer in your life, I know we do.
Everyone remembers those they have lost in their own unique or special way of remembering.
Which BTW, brings to memory, my Dad.
My Dad, a really, really smart individual. Hey! where do you think I get it!
My Dad left me with an unusual "treasure" as a child and I never stop thinking about this treasure each and every time I think of my Dad, especially at Christmas.
Yes, Dad made sure I believed in Santa, I probably still do. Don't we all become Santas?
Well, the reason I was blessed with an unusual treasure, was because my Dad, obviously he brought me Santa, that jovial guy that brings you all the goodies you desire as a child. Well, almost.
But in my case, my Dad also made sure there was another side to the Santa story. A side not to many people even know about.
This was, "Mr. Take Away."
After Santa's visit, I had to be nice, really nice and really good.
Exceptionally, because if I didn't, Mr. Take Away, as I was lead to believe, would visit in the wee hours of the night and "take away" my toys.
Having to worry about Mr. Take Away, a horrible belief to bestow upon a child, you say?
Certainly makes you think twice about being naughty.
I think my Dad was on to something.
Charles