penandpatience

WRITERS WORDS: “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find the simplest things—not the great occasions— give off the greatest glow of happiness.” – Bob Hope

DECEMBER 2020 MONTHLY MUSING

JINGLE! JINGLE!  RING YOUR RHYME CHIMES

     Christmas is coming…the goose is getting fat—NO, it isn’t. The geese are downright skinny this year. And “Old Mother Hubbard went to her cupboard to get her poor doggie a bone. When she got there the cupboard was bare and so her poor doggie had none” YES, there are too many empty cupboards this holiday season.  “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the Kings horses and all the Kings men couldn’t put Humpty together again.” Well, many folks might feel like Humpty falling off a wall, perhaps because of the horrific Covid-19 pandemic, a fall especially distressing during a time that should be filled with peace, love and joy.

Nursery rhymes date back to earlier centuries and can be defined as “a short rhyme for children that often tells a story; a short poem or song for children.” (Merriam-Webster) Places of origins were many and varied but were recorded mostly in Scotland and England from the 16th century. The history of nursery rhymes’ original and dark meanings surfaced from happenstances in early tumultuous periods. However, today, for the most part, nursery rhymes have become a fun and early learning experience for children.

I muse.  “Pat-A-Cake, Pat-A-Cake baker’s man” is one of the oldest surviving nursery rhymes; an earlier recorded version appeared in 1698!  Many mothers, including myself, played
“Pat-A-Cake” with their young offspring. I recall, when I was a youngster, we joined hands with neighboring children and played, “Ring Around-A Rosie” falling down together in a heap of fun and laughter. And as Bob Hope said in his quotation, “it’s the simpler things that give off the greatest glow of happiness.”

So… what are a few simpler and safe things to enjoy this holiday season:

Family caroling- Grab the kiddos and go door to door in your neighborhood singing your favorite holiday songs. If stale Halloween candy is thrown out the front door…move on to the next house😊

Fortify yourself Christmas morning with a cup of coffee laced with your favorite liqueur while attempting to put that “blankety-blank” bike together.

Bake a batch of your favorite cookies and put them out for Santa. Guaranteed the cookies will be gone by morning.

Include a book of nursery rhymes under the tree and read them to your young children before bedtime.

Recall an early memory: Every Christmas, my Mom put large oranges in the toes of our stockings to munch on while opening Santa’s gifts.

Buy yourself a special or fun gift within your budget.

Donate to your favorite charities to share some holiday joy.

Dear Readers & Writers:  I share with you a Christmas Card poem received by my mother in 1991from a family award-winning poet, Margaret E. Weldon penned at age 85.

THE CHRISTMAS I QUIT- 1991

The pleasure of sending Christmas cards

I seemed to be denied because of arthritis

And some pills that I tried for a quick cure

Because I needed a rhyme;

To send to old friends at Christmas time.

I called Dr. who said, “for you those pills will not do

You are retaining fluid

Like soot in a flue.

I said to my friend, Stephanie,

“I don’t have the wit. I have passed 85 years:

So, this Christmas I quit.”

She said, “It’s true you are old; but you have grit

If you ask me? I bet you don’t quit.”

With pain of arthritis, from the tip of my toes,

to the top of my head

I threw down my pen and stalked off to bed.

Like a gusty wind I tossed to and fro

I couldn’t drift off, but at last I let go.

But the bells rang out, they seemed to say

Be happy, Be Happy it’s Christmas Day.

then came an anguished cry

Like a win’s sad wail

It was silenced and hushed, by a stronger gale

Then the Bells! The Bells! rang out again:

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men-

Then in peaceful relaxation,

I awoke with a grin:

Oh! Gee! By Golly, It’s Christmas again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A hAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR!