A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-16-02 Christmas Is...FReeper Memories

Various Freepers | WVNan; JustAmy; Pippin; Diver Dave; Aquamarine; ST.LOUIE1

[WVNan]

That would be a good idea if he was able to get out of the house, but unfortunately he is confined. He can't walk much and stays in bed most of the time. That's what makes it so difficult.

[daisyscarlett]

I love your special story of Uncle John. You are blessed to have him in your family as he is blessed to have you....I am sure he knows this, why else would you be the only one to give him HUGS....Thanks Nan, and

Merry Christmas! DaisyScarlett

[Mixer]

Last week I forgot about two "FReeper Anniversaries" Sorry I am late with wishing Texaggie79 and Aeronaut a Happy Anniversary.

Hope everyone has enjoyed reading through the stories that are posted here today. I think they are all great and will read through them again as Christmas time draws nearer. I will also print them out and share one each with a different family member when we have them over for Christmas Eve.

Have a great Day Everyone

[FreeTheHostages]

Re your last jpg, I grew up in the same home town in Vermont and was friends with the person who does "House-Mouse" designs, Ellen Jareckie. She really did collect mice as pets when she was little. Great family. Her dad taught me U.S. history in high school. Her brother was an Olympian (biathalon). They had a pond where we ice-skated in the winter.

Vermont being a small town, rumor has it that my mom was courted by 2 gentlemen, my father and also Mr. Jareckie. That's pretty much an open secret! In fact, when my mom learned to drive in mid-life, dad was so ornery about her errors that she got even by firing him as driving instructor and hiring Mr. Jareckie! Hah hah. (It was all on the up-and-up.)

I often tease my mom, when dad does something ornery, that she should have married Mr. Jareckie and then I'd be a famouse mouse artist like Ellen!

(Ellen still draws mice and her House-Mouse design business is very successful. She also does animal rescue work. She still lives in Vermont. Her dad, Mr. Jareckie, is happily retired. All's well that ends well. He married a lovely, very cheerful woman appropriately named "Grace.")

[ladtx]

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on DEC 16th. God bless them all.

1967 2LT Charles D. Kerr (USMCR) -- US Marine Corps, Age 21, Stamford, Connecticut
1967 WO1 Thomas R. King (USAR) -- 170 AHC, Age 19, Hyattsville, Maryland
1969 CW2 Oscar L. Brittenum Jr. (USAR) -- 336 AHC, Age 22, Chicago, Illinois
1969 WO1 Michael J. Drake (USAR) -- A/25 AVN 25 INF, Age 21, Royal Oak, Michigan
1969 WO1 Leonard J. Sugimoto (USAR) -- A/25 AVN 25 INF, Age 22, Gardena, California
1969 WO1 James E. Hayes (USAR) -- 235 AVN, Age 22, Miami, Florida
1969 CW2 Sven S. Mason (USAR) -- 235 AVN, Age 21, Littleton, Coloradoa
1970 WO1 Fred A. Williams (USAR) -- 358 AVN DET, Age 29, Roseboro, North Carolina
1970 CPT John J. Wilson (USAR) -- 101 ABN, Age 24, Davenport, Iowa

On a personal note: CW2 Oscar L. Brittenum was in my unit, the 336th Assault Helicopter Company. He was in our gun platoon, the "Thunderbirds" (T-birds as we called them), while I was in one of the slick platoons. He was a well-liked, personable, professional officer, and respected aviator. It was his memorial service that served as the inspiration for my poem, THE CHAPEL BELL'S LAST CLANG.

Excerpt from poem:

We’ve tasted it; we all know it, fear’s tang.
Bitter and sweet, that fruit of the battlefield.
We all wait for the chapel bell’s last clang.

For the crew we mourn, the chapel bell rang.
Taps in the darkness, no tear is concealed.
It’s night outside the chapel at Soc Trang.
We all wait for the chapel bell’s last clang

The memorial service bulletin for CW2 Brittenum.

Unit patch of the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, the unit in which I proudly served with CW2 Brittenum.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[FreeTheHostages]

WvNan's Uncle John story rang true. I love those tough country people. They built America.

[WVNan]

Good morning daisy. This is going to be a great thread and I wish I could hang around all day. But I've got to get busy now. Hope to check back tonight. Have fun all.

[sweetliberty]

That reminded me of a story of a special Christmas. My grandma and I had been very close when I was growing up. Every year at Christmas she had the biggest and most lavishly decorated tree around and was a fantastic cook. We had lived far apart for a number of years. In 1984 she'd had a stroke around Thanksgiving. Beinig the independent woman that she was we knew she was having a terrible time being confined to the hospital but was not able to be at home, certainly not alone, so my husband (now ex), daughter (then 5) and I went to Virginia and sprung her from the hospital to take her home for Christmas.

Grandma hadn't even had a Christmas tree for probably close to 20 years nor had she had any children around at Christmas since I had grown up and moved away, so we wanted to make it really special for her. My husband and daughter went down in the woods out behind her house and cut a beautiful tree. We pulled out all her old Christmas decorations and made popcorn to string. She only had the use of one hand, but my daughter worked with her to string the popcorn. She and Dawn (my daughter) found equal delight in a musical Christmas card Grandma had received. On Christmas day Grandma sat in the kitchen coaching me on the finer points of baking a Christmas ham, and she never tired of watching out the window as Dawn pushed her new baby buggy and 2 new "babies" up and down the walkway.

In late January, Grandma had another massive stroke and passed away, but we all still cherish that Christmas as the best ever.

I hope that your plans for "Uncle" will be as richly rewarding as that Christmas with Grandma was for us.

[lodwick]

We cannot help feeling, with deep regret, the circle of our old friends gradually diminishing, while our ability to increase it by new ones is equally diminished; but perhaps it is a wise dispensation of Providence so to diminish our enjoyments in this world, that when our turn comes we may leave it without regret.

That is the worst part of life when its earlier path is trod. If my limbs get stiff, my walks are made shorter, and my rides slower; if my eyes fail me, I can use glasses and a large print: if I get a little deaf, I comfort myself that except in a few instances I shall be no great loser by missing one full half of what is spoken: but I feel the loneliness of age when my companions and friends are taken from me.

I found these thoughts of Watts and Sir Walter Scott interesting: they were found while searching for "old age" gifts.

What about planting Unk's favorite tree outside his bedroom window in his honor?

[jwfiv]

Not coal, but a flower...you referred to yourself in devilish fashion last week, it may have been on the Top Ten List thread...anyway, was saving that for the future, and , since the future never really gets here, I thought a Monday morning would be OK.

Take care of the sniffles, stay warm...)

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[daisyscarlett]

I love it when you tell stories of your Navy days. This one demonstrates the wonderful spirit and ingenuity of Americans, especially those far away from home...I have a feeling the young folks serving today still have that spirit and ingenuity.

[WVNan]

Neet story FTH. I subscribe to the House Mouse catalog and buy from them from time to time. I have also had pet mice and love them. I think the House Mouse designs are the cutest things. I have a sweatshirt with the mouse and chickadee on a pine limb together. It's my favortie shirt. Later guys.

[sweetliberty]

Give him memories. At his age it is something he will be able to cherish in the present. Help him live the fullness of the moment reliving the best of the past.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Outstanding thread!!! One of your BEST!

Morning, BillieBlue. : )

You're the tops, babe! : )

[daisyscarlett]

Yikes, those recipes look yummy. I had forgotten what a great cook you are. Remember you shared a wonderful cake recipe last year at the Guild...it was easy to make, too. I would love to have some of that cornbread dressing. Pan cornbread dressing-if made right-nothing like it.

Is this a good place to plug our Special Holiday Music thread, one week from today, hostessed and created mainly by Aquamarine?

Have a great Christmas in those mountains of yours and keep an eye out for the big guy in red...

[Billie]

Some belated Happy FReeper Anniversary Wishes to you three! I missed the anniversaries on 'your days. : (

Happy Anniversary, RonDog, December 6th!

Happy Anniversary, Texaggie79, December 12th!

Happy Anniversary, Aeronaut, December 13th!

[Diver Dave]

Nothing like procrastination to get everything done

Need some help? I'm a journeyman procrastinator. I've got tons of references too.

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you for sharing that very special Christmas memory with us. I admire the work you do for your Faith.

This Christmas, another new apartment and new memories will be evoked and I hope you will continue to share your experiences with us...youwrite good...lol...

Merry Christmas! DaisyScarlett

[ST.LOUIE1]

St.Louie1, the mugsy story is so funny!

Thanks, Free. Muggsy lived to the ripe old age of eighteen. : )

I still miss her.

My cat Nancee was twenty when she went to kitty heaven. And no....I didn't 'light' her up.