As we’re approaching the big event of Christmas, most of our buyers and sellers are busying themselves with last-days shopping, making preparations for their travels, gathering all the foodstuffs needed for many family and friends gatherings, and sending out those once a year holiday greetings.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve found myself ahead of the game, and likely because I’ve come to understand that keeping in touch with those who’re dear and dear to me throughout the year, takes away the guilt of not having connected with them the until Christmas rolls around. Yes, I’m finally getting my brain wrapped around what it takes to be filled with the true spirit of Christmas.
Oh, there’ve been many over the years who’d pretended to care, but in the end, it was all about their needs and wants, but fortunately I’ve managed to finally disconnect myself from those one-sided relationships. I’m not completely rid of all, but getting close.
It was a shocker for me this morning when discovering Dollar General completely out of sympathy cards, so I headed over to Fareway where they had a small selection, and glad for it because not but a half hour later, it was time for me to head over to Trinity Lutheran Church to pay my respects to the wife and family of Dale Jensen who was a resident of Prairie Place on 1st.
Upon arrival, I noticed they were gathering in their new ‘east wing’ which was a very expensive build-out for their community of faith, and after getting a good look at my surroundings, there’s no question that church is definitely the flagship of our Lutheran community.
I paid my respects along with having a short conversation with Dale’s wife who’s likely earned her wings with the many months of care-giving she’d done for him, and I dare say, I’ll not ever forget how kind and thoughtful he was each and every time I would run into him. Without a doubt, I’ll always remember his wide smile and genteel demeanor.
While in conversation with several of their volunteers, I found out they’d lost their exceptionally talented organist who took a music position in another church in Rochester, which came as no surprise because of his abilities. I shouldn’t have said what I did when mentioning having heard him play but once, which would’ve taken me three lifetimes to be that good, and almost instantly wondering how long he would remain in ‘the last outpost’. One of them said they’ve got fill-ins for playing their monster pipe organ, so I causally mentioned how nice it would be if I’d be allowed to play it sometime when their church is empty, so we’ll see if it happens. It would definitely be an honor.
I’ve created a new twist on Christmas with my gifting something home-made to each and every person who drops something off at my office. I insisted they let me know how they liked it, and only because it may become an annual gift for the many. Perhaps if it goes over really well, I can create my own branding with the many who’ll remember my office as the one who gifts something really good-tasting. It’s a great deal of work, but the end result is definitely worth the effort.
While working away at office, I received a surprise visit from one of our businessmen, and since I do enjoy listening to his stories, I had a few hair-raising episodes to share which involved tales I was told over the years by those who’d had unexplainable ghostly experiences at one time or another in their lives.
The first one that came to mind, was a happening that took place in a rural setting where a young woman who’d lost her key to a relative’s home she was staying at, and forced to seat herself on the back porch and wait for her to arrive. Well, according to her, she suddenly noticed a ghostly male figure walking across the dooryard and stepping thru a closed barn door. When the relative finally arrived, she was still seated there frozen by the fright of it all. Little did she know, her relative was already fully aware of those sightings, and after hearing her guest’s story, she calmly dismissed it as just another unexpected night-time visit.
Another one I had to mention, was a story told by a young man who’d barely fallen asleep when suddenly he could feel the bed he was sleeping in, being raised off the floor and beginning to shake like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately for him, his body had frozen in terror until the bed finally stopped vibrating and slowly returned to its original position. Now that was a story that sent goose bumps after first hearing it.
Another professional I knew some years ago, mentioned having arrived home from work after dark, and just as he was placing the key in his front door, he could hear muffled voices coming from within, which he dismissed as being someone leaving a message on his answering machine. Well, when he got inside and looked to see who’d left the message, there was no message which sent up the first red flag of fear. Seconds after having dismissed it, he walked over to turn a table lamp on, and just as he flipped the switch, the bulb popped. Ouch! And to make matters all the worse, he suddenly heard one of his bedroom doors slowly closing and latching. Ouch again! After what felt like hours standing there, he finally got up enough courage to open that bedroom door where he was expecting an intruder, but not an animal or human was to be found, and as a footnote, all of the above happenings took place right here in the ‘last outpost’. Yes, I had my visitor on the edge of his seat today. Too funny…or maybe not.
Tonight’s One-liner is: Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.
