Open Thread

Bxgrl, my Southern Baptist friend’s church did really good stuff for poor people, constructive projects that change lives. I have learned a lot from knowing her. Although I certainly don’t agree with her politics, I admire what she and her church do in Baltimore.

“Just how do you know how much charity work I participate in?”

Well, yes, but they’re probably Catholic Charities, and you KNOW how we feel about Catholics. Worse than terrorists, certainly. (rolls eyes)

Hi kids, just checking in before finishing up some last minute Christmas presents. I tried to train the cats to cut and sew, but they weren’t having it. Some of them have perfected the art of seam ripping, however.

I kinda miss the Christmases of my childhood. We lived in a very small town upstate. One of the entrances to the town was at the bottom of a steep hill, and the main street of the town started there. They had a small park called the Overlook in the shelter of the hill, and it had a large spruce tree that was covered in lights every Christmas. There was also a walkway with an observation bumpout in the path, that looked out on the town, and that’s where Santa Claus gave out Christmas stockings to all the kids every year. It always snowed, and I remember years of going down to meet Santa and getting a stocking. I distinctly remember the year he told me he was going up the hill to my house that night, and I was totally freaked that he knew where I lived. (Turns out he was my brother’s best friend’s grandfather, and everyone in the town knew where we lived, as we were one of two black families in the whole town, but anyway….) The stocking had candy and an orange or tangerine, and we were totally thrilled.

It was on channel 2-13. I didn’t have cable at the time. I am thinking 20/20 or 60 minutes. The program was on during the ran during the last presidential election.

Fascinating, Maven. If you happen to come across a link to that or remember where you saw/read it, I’d love to delve into that a bit.