Song Saturday- Fairytale of New York

It's going to be a busy weekend at the House Rhuad. Yes the Solstice celebration has passed. We were extremely bummed to miss the awesome display due to cloud cover but baked and observed just the same. We still celebrate gathering. We have a large and diverse family and truly I see no need to cut out anything except the fat man in red. In my opinion he should not be allowed to replace the lesson that we are the hands that serve.

So I will be off for the weekend....okay, as far as I know, who knows what I'll do I may spend copious amount of time online. That's how I live my life, very few hard rules and plans. It drives people nuts sometimes but they fall in line.

Come by and check out the diverse and incredible offerings of seasonal articles this week at http://www.subversify.com. They will both uplift and make you cynical. Where else can you get that?

I leave you with my absolute favorite Christmas tune. It contains most things I love. Black and White filming, Matt Dillon,The Pogues, Celtic music, a trip to the drunk tank and most importantly the late great Joe Strummer who left us this year. RIP Joe.



Tags: holiday, joe strummer, the pogues, song sat, christmas

Christmas is a Comin' and The Geese are Getting Fat

Christmas is a' comin' and the geese are getting fat.
Won't you please put a penny in an old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny than a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny then god bless you.

There are several variations of this song and I think a few more verses. But this is the one I learned as a child and it remains the first song I think of when Christmas time rolls around.

It's brings to mind snow covered buskers and easy comraderie. The idea that we should be giving if we have even a ha'penny. And if we don't we are not alone, people understand and know our struggles and call on the blessings of that which they revere for us.

It's getting harder out there. More people are displaced (read-homeless) and those who aren't are tightening the belt and re-thinking needs and wants in new ways. As much as I abhor commercialism I do celebrate Christmas after a fashion. I love those close to me, I want to be with them in winter's deep. I enjoy sharing time and traditions.

It's also a time when needs are glaringly clear. I cannot ignore it and neither can most people. But sometimes a ha'penny is all I have, like some of you, hell probably many of you. But it is enough, every little small bit is enough.

I have found in my life that the more I give away, the more comes back to me. This does not mean I am always flush when I give money to causes or people. But what it does mean is that I feel good and when I feel good I look for the good. I am blessed.

Part of this blessing is understanding those around me. How could we hope for comraderie if we do not share the burdens of others. And while we speak of ha'pennies let's remember that's symbolic. We have to share other things too, life stories, pain, hope, love, failure, redemption.

To me these are the things this season is about. These are the coins in our pockets, rattling about, waiting to be spent on something. Because coinage whether literal of figuative is valueless until it is spent.

This is what I love about this season, and if you haven't got a ha 'penny then may the god or spiritual light of your understanding bless you.