Tag: boomer story

A Story OF Love From The Heart Of A Boomer

Sixty-two years ago I was born as a change of life baby on December 23,1948 to my parents who did not expect me to happen.  My mother was in her 40’s and my father in his 50’s.  Most of my childhood life was spent with older people.  Today I find myself as one of those people sitting here on Christmas eve. thinking about you and thinking about me.  Yes, I said you, the Boomer Generation of people.

There is snow on the ground.  Outside my door it is very quiet as though for just a few moments the world is still and at peace.  Some are with families.  Some are sitting with that special husband or wife.  Some are playing with their grandchildren.  Some are traveling to other places to visit friends. Some are sitting alone. Others are preparing meals to share with their love ones tomorrow.  Some may be watching television, reading a book, playing a game on the computer, waiting for a telephone call, wrapping a present, or ending a day of work.  There are some like police officers, fireman, health care workers, security people, truck drivers and etc. that may be working tonight and might be working tomorrow.

There are boomers that might be in nursing homes, hospitals, and even some in far away lands helping to keep our country safe.  Others might be volunteering their time in homeless shelters and even some boomers might be homeless.  Some boomers may have had children others may not.    Some may be blessed with riches and fame.  Then there are some who have very little and their pockets might me empty.  Some may have high educations and others little or no education.  Some may be sitting around a warm fireplace while others may be wishing for a warm fire.

In all of this there is somethings that we share in common.  We have a story.  We have a heart that can be prepared to forgive.  We have gained much wisdom.  We have experienced a lot.  We have made some kind of a mark on the world as it is today.  We can believe.  Some may be able to sing while others may only be able to smile.  Some like me might have a desire to write and share what I am feeling in my heart.

Tonight I think of you.  Tonight I think of me.  Tonight I want to reach out and give each one of you a hug.  Tonight if I was powerful enough, I would give you peace, love, joy, comfort, health, wealth, and a world filled with peace but I am not that powerful.  I do have the ability to write.  I do have the ability to feel.  I do have the ability to show compassion.  I do have the ability to care for others.  I do have the ability through this writing to let you know how special I believe that each and everyone one of you are.  No matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, no matter how you are feeling let it be known that tonight someone has thought of YOU.    We are one.  We are the people of the world.

Originally posted 2010-12-25 15:04:48.

A Colonoscopy Is Not Funny… Or Is It?

Willem Dafoe, Willem Dafoe, what’s so funny about the actor Willem Dafoe? What’s so funny…my wife is. Does she know Mr. Dafoe? No. Do I know him? No. What connection does he have to our family? Apparently, it is I.

Mr. Dafoe has had a long career in films often playing quirky, evil characters. Never a superstar, but he does work regularly in Hollywood films. When he and I were young, we looked nothing alike. He was gaunt, thin and wiry, while I was always full faced and a bit chunky. As he aged, the actor remained thin and gaunt and now has short gray hair. As I aged, I became thin and gaunt with a full head of short gray hair. People who know me for many years think we look nothing alike, probably because they “see” me as the old Bill. But people who meet me now for the first time, have no problem seeing the resemblance. What does all this have to do with funny? Please read on.

Recently I had a colonoscopy. This procedure is not so funny for the patient, but it usually generates a lot of jokes and humor from friends and acquaintances. My supportive wife drove me to the clinic and was in attendance before and after the procedure. As required, I had not eaten solid food for two days prior and I was in a weakened condition as I was rolled into the procedure room.

The room contained the usual complement of medical support personnel and the doctor performing the operation. Coincidently, they were all women. In comes this old, gaunt, thin, starving gray haired man on a gurney. I was not quite under from the drugs they had administered and could still converse as all seven looked down at me. One young nurse said to me,” Hey. You look like Willem Dafoe”. Of course, idle chit chat is the furthest thing from my mind as I anticipate what is about to happen to my little body. But I answer, “Oh. I see”. Of course the nurse passes this on to all those in attendance and they have to bat it around a bit as each one adds her own opinion about me and Dafoe. Fortunately, I dropped off to Never Never Land as the drugs kicked in.

Everything went well and I found myself coming to in a bed in the recovery area. There was my dear wife holding my hand along with the recovery nurse doing her post-op duties. The doctor who had just performed the procedure came by to give us the results (which were all good) and to complete some follow up details.

During her visit, the doctor turned to my wife and said, “Did you know that your husband looks like Willem Dafoe”?

My wife looked directly at the Doctor and responded,” Oh, really. Which end”?

Every other patient leaves the recovery room in a somber, vulnerable state. We left them laughing. Boy is my wife funny!

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Bill Christie is a member of the Writers Group at Village at Deaton Creek, an Active Adult Community. Bill is currently writing a murder mystery that takes place in an Active Adult Community.

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Originally posted 2015-12-25 21:14:38.

The Memory of A Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Story

Today I was blessed to be able to share a story with a young lady about one of my Christmas trees from years ago.  There have been trees in my many years.  I remember one as a child that will always stand out in my mind.

My Daddy went out into the country and dug up a very small tree.  He brought it home. He then filled an old tin coffee can with soil and planted the tree in it.   My mother put an old white sheet around the bottom for the skirt which covered the can.  Then we popped popcorn in a skillet.  Yes, I did say skillet not a bag or popcorn maker.  With cake coloring it is amazing how you can change the color of popcorn.  After the popcorn cooled, my mother made strings of it by using a sewing needle and tread.  We wrapped that around the tree.  I make a paper angel and attached it to the top.  We painted a few pine cones that we had found and hung them on the tree with safety pins.  Since my Daddy was very afraid of fires, he attached one string of lights only which we could turn on just briefly.

As we received Christmas cards we attached them to the tree.  This was a special tree.  As a child, I was very proud of it.  My sisters sent presents from the big city of St. Louis for me.  They lay underneath and of course I had to shake them a time or two before Christmas morning.  Do you know, I can not even remember anything about gifts that year but I will always remember the tree.

When Christmas was over my Daddy some how planted that tree in the front yard of our little rented house.  He had a green thumb and loved to keep a beautiful yard.  It was always mowed, had flowers, and a couple of wonderful shade trees.  Each year that little Christmas tree grew bigger and bigger.  He would trim it and keep it in beautiful shape.

When I was pregnant with my first child, he took a picture of me and my mother standing in front of that magnificent tree.  I still have the old black and white picture.  It is dear to my heart.  That has been many years ago.  It is a memory not of a gift but of one small something of good that I can remember my father doing for me on Christmas.

This holiday some may have beautiful large trees, lots of lights, fancy ornaments. and many gifts.  Some trees may be real and smell of pine.  Other trees may be artificial.  Others may have no tree at all.  Know matter if there is a tree or not, just remember that Christmas is about the love that we carry in our hearts.   Like my Daddy who kept the little tree alive, my wish for you is that you keep the LOVE alive in your heart so that you can cherish that memory.   May you always cherish the Memory and hold it near to your Heart!