Nevertheless, I still want my message relayed, and being so close to deadline I will do my best to recreate my intended message.
One of my favorite holiday songs is The Twelve Days of Christmas (TDOC). Although it is indeed a very long Christmas carol (much like 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall), it is still one that remains popular among my friends and family members. When several of us get together for a seasonal sing-a-long, and finally get to the end of TDOC, we cringe when one smarty pants in the group shouts out, “One more time!”
I’ve been hearing holiday songs on the office radio and the radio in my car, and playing not so subtlety at local stores. The music and recent cold weather has certainly helped me get in the Christmas mood.
This time of year the giving and receiving of gifts is expected; after all, it is part of the tradition. However, Steve and I have been blessed with a special type of receiving.
For the last several days we have been finding gifts on our porch. These are not typical gifts like perfume, plants or bath salts. Instead, we have a secret Santa that is showering us with daily presents and clever sayings that represent the Twelve Days of Christmas. Here’s how it has played out so far!
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree— the gift was a small sack of pears
2 Turtle Doves— the gift was a bag containing Turtle and Dove candy
3 French Hens— the gift was a whole roasted chicken, still warm
4 Calling Birds (actual word is colly, meaning black)— the gift tag explained that although the birds had flown south for the winter, they sent their cousins— three darling penguin ornaments
5 Golden Rings— the gift was a can of pineapple rings
6 Geese a Laying— the gift was a foil pan containing cold deviled eggs
7 Swans a Swimming— the gift was a container that featured blue Jello and white swan-like figures
8 Maids a Milking— the gift was a lovely coffee mug with the letter “S” emblazoned on the front. Steve says the “S” stands for Steve; I say it represents our last name— Strichart. In the mug was a small box of hot chocolate with a small bottle of cold milk on the side.
9 Ladies Dancing— the gift was a CD of Christmas music with a tag that explained that although there were no dancing ladies, the present was instead the music to which they would have danced.
10 Lords a Leaping— Oy, the gift has totally slipped my mind.
11 Pipers Piping— the gift was a can of soup with a tag that declared that it could be served piping hot
At press time this is where the list ends. We are both curious to find out what will be given to us that represents 12 drummers drumming.
We truly thank whoever (whomever) has been treating us with such a sweet and unique example of the true Christmas spirit.
Next week I will reveal the 10 Lords a Leaping gift, the representation of the 12 drummers drumming! and, of course, the name of our generous benefactor.
Here’s wishing you all a lovely holiday. I am ending this Christmas Day column with a poem written many years ago by the late Mary Louise Lynott, a former Signal Hill resident who generously bequeathed $800,000 to the St. Anthony Parish School.
LIFE WAS SIMPLE AT CHRIST’S BIRTH
By MARY LOUISE LYNOTT
Life today is so complex!
But it was different over 1900 years ago.
Then life was slow; life was simple!
Life for shepherds tending sheep on the hillsides was slow–and peaceful!
To celebrate the birth of the baby King,
The Father sought help from the heavenly host.
No contract was signed–the heavenly choir at most
Was told their services would be needed around midnight–to sing!
The deep blue of the star-lit sky–
The glow from angels singing nearby–
The sheep scattered on the hillsides that night
Together composed a scene of magic for the shepherd’s delight!
In the cave there was no stove to warm the babe,
But the cow, the donkey, the horse–the goat
Whose coats of wool and hides of hair provided for the babe warm air–
That enabled the new born to dream (to be sung)–lullaby, lullaby, my babe–my King!
