I Think I Grew

Subject: I Think I Grew
From: JedMarum
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:13 AM

Been singin' a lot, these days; regular gigs, Christmas parties and the like ... but I think I've been having too much fun; too many cookies, pieces of pie, turkey, nuts ... etc. I've enjoyed Christmas, but I'll be glad when it's over.

I bought one of those American Flag decals, you the kind John Prine sang about? I gave it to my wife for a little Christmas gift - you know we're not big on the outward signs of any type, but this little token seemed appropriate. So I decided to put it in one of those little card-type envelopes people on Christmas tress, you know like your Aunt used to put in five dollars when she was too old to know what to get you? But I didn't have one, so I looked around the house and found a Thank You card, with an enveloped that looked like it work - so I used the "Thank You" message on the front, and signed it inside "... for marrying me and Merry Christmas!" (We just celebrated 31 years married last week). Then I also enclosed the little flag. Well, here I was thinking I was being just a bit silly turning a Thank You card into a Christmas gift - and I think it turned out to be the best thing I gave her. She was very happy. It put a smile on my Christmas face, I can tell you!

Now, if I could just get into my jeans ...

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: JedMarum
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 12:18 AM

hmmm, why do I always re-read after I hit "Submit" ???

I apologize for my typographically challenged original post, and hope there is enough there to get the message across! I also hope all of you Christmas celebrators had as nice a day as I have had! God Bless.

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 09:22 AM

Hey there Jed - We had a great Christmas over here too. Strange thing about American flags. Lately I've taken to wearing the American flag pin that my dad wore all during the Viet Nam war. I asked for it when he passed away over 10 years ago. I'm not sure why. We had plenty of arguements about that war but when he passed on I knew I wanted that pin.

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 10:07 AM

Gosh, Jed. If you grow any taller, Big Mick will have to change his name. Maybe Michaeline?

You and your wife are very lucky to have found each other. I know too many women who would have bitched at an American Flag Decal and missed the love behind the gift. Congratulations, again, on your 31 years together. And Happy New Year!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 10:18 AM

it's a natural progression in the life of a married man; holidays come and suddenly you're more concerned with how you'll get into your own pants. . .

The best gifts are those that reflect the workings of the heart. Thanks, Jed for illustrating how much joy there is in remembering the true meaning of the season and of the patriot. Let us all hope that in the coming year we have less need to wear our patriotism on our sleeves.

All the best in the New Year.
Bart

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 02:38 PM

Bart---"holidays come and suddenly you're more concerned with how you'll get into your own pants. . ."

Bwahahahahahaha!!! Ain't it the truth...?

I'm going back to work tomorrow after 5 days off, and I'm just absolutely convinced that I've gained about 150 lbs this past week; to refer back to another thread, I feel like a Hobbit: 6 meals a day (when I could get them)!

I wonder how it would go over if I show up at the office in the massive plaid flannel nightie my mum gave me?

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: Amos
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 03:31 PM

Ya know, it's just possible Jed was talking about slightly different dimension of growth from this leetle experience.

I'lda thunk so, anyway....

And DON'T ask me who Ilda is!!!

A

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 03:44 PM

Great story Jed!

When Karen and I first married, I was coming off an insane business venture that left me totally broke. Right after we married in October, we moved back to Ohio and our first Christmas was spent living with Denny and Sue, two very dear and close friends. As a ,atter of fact, Karen was still in Georgia qnd I was looking for work up here. Denny and Sue surprised me by sending her a ticket so she could come up and be with me for Christmas.

Denny was extremely busy and had me go out and buy Sue's presents that year. He gave me a list and a wad of cash and said for me to buy Karen some things too. I couldn't do that.....He was my dearest and closest friend, but I was already mooching food and lodging and borrowing a car for gawdsakes. I went out and even did a good job picking the right gifts as Sue's tastes were well known to me too.....it's nice to be trusted that much! In any case, at one store they were giving away a promotional stuffed bear, very cute, and quite an expensive type of stuffed toy too. I bought Sue's watch there and got the bear and told Den I'd give it to Karen if it was okay. He, being Denny, thought I was nuts and tried to give me a hundred bucks to go out and shop for Karen, but like I said, I couldn't go that far.

So Christmas morning, Karen got her bear. It wasn't much obviously, but she loved it. When I think back to our first 6 months of marriage I am amazed that she hung in there with me. Since then, on every Christmas, no matter what else she gets, Karen always gets a bear. This year's was sad looking and loveable little guy, purple chenille, and very soft. We're getting quite a nice collection and I hope it continues to grow, as has our love.

Spaw

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: MMario
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 03:58 PM

awwww- dagnabid 'spaw - i'b cloggd ubth enov wib thid coud widthot snivvlig ober your posds!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 04:17 PM

Message was loud and clear, and very much appreciated!

Stories like yours give ya hope, you know?

Thanks!!! :D

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 04:39 PM

Spaw---and here I've been casting you in the role of charming curmudgeon; careful, your marshmallow centre is showing!

What a sweet story; happy Christmas!

PS---what kinda damage did your boys wreak on the humble abode? Mine is wall to wall!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 04:48 PM

LOL....Well Des, the place is littered through at least 5 rooms with small shards of wrapping paper and such. Tomorrow maybe I'll attack it. Ain't happenin' today though! I tried, I really did......burnt wrapping paper in the fireplace as we went along and all, but somehow the joint is just a complete disaster area. ah well, they're having fun and to be truthful, the place is generally in one form of mess or another anyhow! Merry Christmas Des!

Spaw

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: GUEST,Desdemona
Date: 26 Dec 01 - 04:54 PM

Right back at you! I arose this morning (not w/out bleariness, I don't mind admitting!) with good intentions, but they'd completely disappeared by about noon. As you say, with little boys a house is generally in some degree of disaster anyway; that's part of the fun, right? (This is the sort of thing we tell our childless friends in order to ensure the continued procreation of the species!)

I'm back at work tomorrow after a few days off, and so our mess will probably remain intact---if not indeed continuing to grow!---till at least the weekend. It's those blasted Lego sets that you need an engineering degree to construct that get to me, and when you step on them in the dark---aaaarrrrgggghhhh!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: MudGuard
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 03:40 AM

It is not a matter of how much you eat during the Christmas days whether you get into your jeans or not.

It is the well-known CETCHWASH *) that lets the fibres of jeans (and other clothes) shrink a bit...

*) CETCHWASH = Combined Effect of The Cold and Humid Weather And the Shortness of the daylight Hours (not to be mixed up with the stone-wash effect!)

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 04:17 AM

LOL...out here it's more like the CSAABE (Cold and Stiff As A Board Effect) if one likes the natural sun-dried look!

No little kids here, but the cats have more than made up with as they have a whole box of Christmas paper to play with. It's all wadded up in there, until someone goes nuts, grabds some out and starts batting it around, then beating it up with their hindlegs. Bits of ribbon and paper lie everywhere, with extra-cat-sized clumps of shed hair mixed in.

Spaw, I knew we were going to get to hear the bear story, soon, ever since you mentioned it in another thread; glad I found it!

The best gift Rog ever gave me was a little kid's valentines. We were already out for dinner when he finally realised what the date was; he jumped up, went across the street to a convenience store, bought a box of them, selected one, wrote a love note in French, then came back to the restaurant. I was really a bit concerned as he'd offered no explanation when he left. As soon as he reached our table, he went down on one knee, uttered some to-die-for French love pledge and gave me the valentine. I have never felt so "wooed" in my life; guess that's one good reason he is still around after almost 22 years!

kat

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 11:56 PM

I like the bear story, Spaw. Funny thing is, I've given one to Louisa on occasion as well - including each of the last two Christmases. Great minds ...

Nice story Kat - sounds like he did the right thing, too!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: JedMarum
Date: 27 Dec 01 - 11:57 PM

Oooops! I almost caught that typo, but looks like I wound up with a nearly identical double post.

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 10:36 AM

Aw Spaw. Now you have me going all mushy too! You guys! My mess? The kitten discovered a bowl of nuts and has somehow figured out how to crack walnuts. First he kicks them from one end of the place to the either with four bigger cats in tow. Then he cracks the shell. Those shells are sharp!

Subject: RE: I Think I Grew
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Dec 01 - 10:40 AM

CETCHWASH?

Wasnt he a Zulu Chieftain in the 19th Century?

*G*