The "Spirit" of Christmas
Christmas time is here again…
--From some kids as shown on the Charlie Brown Christmas
I remember as a kid with an overly eager attitude of “want” waking up Christmas morning to open gifts. Now my family is spread all over the USA, literally, so that same feeling has dissipated to a degree. Still the memories are there of my first G.I. Joe, and the “Mego Batcave,” and other cool gifts.
This year, Jen and I traveled to St. Louis area to be with her sister. We drove through rain, followed by icy roads in St. Louis, followed by clear highways on the way home.
We had fun as Zack opened his Batman Winged Fighter Batplane and we opened gifts. Jen’s Mom gave me an incredible gift of a gift card to the Coliseum for hockey and football games. Jen gave me the Batman vault book I requested, which is very cool. I also was given boxer briefs in the spirit of Mom giving me underwear and socks. These actually are kind of nice. I will also smell good, as Jen picked up another bottle of Hugo for me.
Now the joy of the holiday is giving, so I gave Jen an Illini jacket (normally $108.00 on sale at Gordman’s for $22.00 in clearance—I am all about the deal) and a necklace and her practical gift of a Crock Pot. I have less than flavorful and favorable memories of my Mom’s crock pot in the 1970s where everything tastes like stew coming out of it, but I caved, as this is when she wanted. It is programmable and holds five quarts, which means I will have five quarts of stew to eat every week when we are married. I am so looking forward to that.
In the coolness factor, Mark and Mary sent me a print of my second favorite comic character of all in Will Eisner’s The Spirit.
This was a special personal and original drawing of the Spirit drawn by Alex Saviuk who did the inks over Eisner’s pencils for the Escapist. Nicely framed, I may add. Jen thought it was cool as well. Mark and Mary also sent seven rocking DC character watches for me. I have a character for every single day of the week, and I must admit, Green Lantern just rocks! The Plastic Man watch is cool as well. So my youthful energies remain intact.
Jen and I snagged Mark some Marvel Character glasses that represent the Marvel greats of the 1960s. Why they put Wolverine in the mix and not the classic X-men, is anyone’s guess. Still he liked them. I have to admit that I went Gift card crazy for my folks and Mary, but Karen and Bud will have things to open when we see them. My folks sent a great gift, as did Aunt Judy, both of which will serve as a contribution to the marriage fund or my dowry, whichever anyone wishes to call it.
Driving home from St. Louis was not so bad, especially because Jen drove, but the weather took an ugly turn for the worst on Saturday and Sunday as we were dumped on with eight inches of snow. It became unique as I was a greeter at church on Sunday while we had two inches fall in two hours, and I think I greeted about twenty people, as the church was fairly empty, especially those coming in my door. Speaking of the Church, Jen and I witnessed a lovely Christmas service at Wesley United Methodist in Bloomington. The music was incredible and the message was excellent.
Christmas is a time when we can teleport ourselves back to the past and
enjoy the pleasures of our lives. That is the true Spirit of Christmas, although having an original print of the Spirit isn’t too bad either.
--From some kids as shown on the Charlie Brown Christmas
I remember as a kid with an overly eager attitude of “want” waking up Christmas morning to open gifts. Now my family is spread all over the USA, literally, so that same feeling has dissipated to a degree. Still the memories are there of my first G.I. Joe, and the “Mego Batcave,” and other cool gifts.
This year, Jen and I traveled to St. Louis area to be with her sister. We drove through rain, followed by icy roads in St. Louis, followed by clear highways on the way home.
We had fun as Zack opened his Batman Winged Fighter Batplane and we opened gifts. Jen’s Mom gave me an incredible gift of a gift card to the Coliseum for hockey and football games. Jen gave me the Batman vault book I requested, which is very cool. I also was given boxer briefs in the spirit of Mom giving me underwear and socks. These actually are kind of nice. I will also smell good, as Jen picked up another bottle of Hugo for me.
Now the joy of the holiday is giving, so I gave Jen an Illini jacket (normally $108.00 on sale at Gordman’s for $22.00 in clearance—I am all about the deal) and a necklace and her practical gift of a Crock Pot. I have less than flavorful and favorable memories of my Mom’s crock pot in the 1970s where everything tastes like stew coming out of it, but I caved, as this is when she wanted. It is programmable and holds five quarts, which means I will have five quarts of stew to eat every week when we are married. I am so looking forward to that.
In the coolness factor, Mark and Mary sent me a print of my second favorite comic character of all in Will Eisner’s The Spirit.
This was a special personal and original drawing of the Spirit drawn by Alex Saviuk who did the inks over Eisner’s pencils for the Escapist. Nicely framed, I may add. Jen thought it was cool as well. Mark and Mary also sent seven rocking DC character watches for me. I have a character for every single day of the week, and I must admit, Green Lantern just rocks! The Plastic Man watch is cool as well. So my youthful energies remain intact.Jen and I snagged Mark some Marvel Character glasses that represent the Marvel greats of the 1960s. Why they put Wolverine in the mix and not the classic X-men, is anyone’s guess. Still he liked them. I have to admit that I went Gift card crazy for my folks and Mary, but Karen and Bud will have things to open when we see them. My folks sent a great gift, as did Aunt Judy, both of which will serve as a contribution to the marriage fund or my dowry, whichever anyone wishes to call it.
Driving home from St. Louis was not so bad, especially because Jen drove, but the weather took an ugly turn for the worst on Saturday and Sunday as we were dumped on with eight inches of snow. It became unique as I was a greeter at church on Sunday while we had two inches fall in two hours, and I think I greeted about twenty people, as the church was fairly empty, especially those coming in my door. Speaking of the Church, Jen and I witnessed a lovely Christmas service at Wesley United Methodist in Bloomington. The music was incredible and the message was excellent.
Christmas is a time when we can teleport ourselves back to the past and
enjoy the pleasures of our lives. That is the true Spirit of Christmas, although having an original print of the Spirit isn’t too bad either.Happy Holidays to everyone and have a Happy New Year.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 7:23 AM
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