In case you wanted to read this with your family, here is the most famous poem written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863). The first publication was December 23rd, 1823…
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
As Tiny Tim said, ”
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
As Tiny Tim said in The Christmas Carol, “God bless us, every one!”
Merry Christmas from my family to you and yours!
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Life in the Foothills 
Air Jordan Fiasco
Posted in Commentary, tagged Air Jordans, Christmas, Corporate Greed, Sneakers, Tennis shoes, Welfare, What is important at Christmas? on December 23, 2011| 7 Comments »
Maybe you saw the headline news…or read it on the internet…I don’t get it. What the heck is so special about an Air Jordan tennis shoe? For goodness sakes it is just a shoe! A sneaker!
People waited at the doors of malls where the shoe would be selling for a price of $180. Sorry, but I would not spend that kind of money on a pair of shoes. Nor would I wait outside overnight in front of a mall to buy a sneaker! I could do much better with my $180, couldn’t you? The really sad part of this is that people were injured, property was damaged and fights ensued all over a shoe! And those buying these shoes, and trampling people in the malls, and damaging property, are the same folks selling the shoes on the internet for triple the price they paid. Again, this is a sneaker!
What is in the name? OK–Air Jordan: Clearly has to do with basketball celeb Michael Jordan. Let me ask those who are wearing the labels: How much are they paying you to advertise for them? Nothing? What, you wear a label and do not get paid? Hmm….free advertising for something that will more than likely not last like my Ked’s or PF flyers! Those lasted me for years as a kid, and believe me I was brutal on those shoes.
This is a sad commentary on society when a shoe creates such havoc! What people should be more concerned with are the things that really matter, like putting a roof over their heads, food on the table, and the ability to pay for their bills. Am I paying for those shoes now because the money spent on these shoes could be possibly coming from welfare? Hmm….
And shame on you to the sellers of these shoes to wait until the 23rd of December to put these shoes on sale on one day only! You created the hype; you assisted in creating the havoc, and the damage, and the injuries and you should pay for this!
This takes me to corporate greed. Yes, this is due to corporate greed. Shame on you! And it is also due to those who just had to have this shoe at a cost of $180, so, shame on you too! You forgot what was important in the message of the season. Take your shoes and put them on, and walk to the fireplace, if you have one, to the stocking hung with care. I hope that you find a lump of coal!
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