Another “Spirit of Christmas” Message

I know. Christmas is just a few days away. You’ve heard all the uplifting messages, and celebratory suggestions, discussed gifts and gatherings, and heard more than a few requests for donations from those working diligently for the underprivileged as they pull at your guilt strings. You might be tired of it all – before it even begins.

Maybe you don’t feel the Spirit of Christmas anymore. Perhaps you are feeling that it’s just too much work decorating only to shuttle the same boxes of decorations back to storage in short order anyway. Maybe you’d rather enjoy the frozen Stouffers Turkey Dinner alone rather than the family menu of choice and the disruptions that you are confident will eventually come to hard feelings or worse.

Maybe 

Christmas is for Everyone

In my younger years, I worked at Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul, Minnesota. Time spent there included several job descriptions but today, we’ll focus on the busboy/server position. A common starter job, this one included more than most. Of course, we carried 6-8 dinners on trays held high over our heads with return trips including used plates, dishes, cups, saucers, and various utensils that always caused problems. These trays must have, (in my mind) weighed a hundred pounds. 

There were several weekends during the summer when we started working at 7 AM on Saturday and returned home just after dinner on Sunday evening, 34 hours later. Making $0.75 per hour was serious money for us! I don’t remember hearing anything about child labor laws or overtime pay in those days, so all is good.

Between serving and bussing, we re-configured table placements for the next-up celebration dinners, lunch buffets, golfing tournament buffet breakfasts, and dance parties. Many parties required colorful draperies with lace table skirts and under-skirt lighting. This was, after all, an upscale, elegant, and expensive, golf club. 

Everything was expected to be perfectly flawless. Always. 

Christmas Week, Friday Day 6 - PEACE

PEACE ON EARTH

I searched online and then took a sight-seeing drive.  People decorating houses for the holidays can be quite creative. Traditional displays sit next to the unusual and spectacular. I was looking for something that used to be common.  

Disjointed Thoughts Coming Together

Breath

I must first provide apologies to my Minnesota friends.  A deep freeze is not something that comes frequently to my current location.  So, the other day, when walking into the office at temperatures in the low teens (the reason for the apology), I could see my breath.  This warm-meets-cold vapor preceded me in its opaque form.

This was not something new to me, but since it is a rare occurrence here, it was noticeable and it reminded me that every breath I take is a gift.  Apparently, it helps to be able to experience things for which we should be grateful.

Pronunciation

Our Treasures

In a secure garage, the antagonist states,

“My entire life was spent on these cars.  It is a constant reminder of where I’ve come from and where I want to go.”  

(The Rare Vehicle Garage Clip from the movie Overdrive)

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With only 22 miles on the odometer, this Volkswagen Beetle has not been driven since 1964 and is currently offered at $1,000,000.

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How about a bottle of Macallan Whiskey?  Well, you’re a little late and about $1.1 Million short. Perhaps then, Macallan Rare Cask. You probably won't be out much more than $300.00.

It Only Works Once

Surprise.
Wonder.
Sometimes amazement and joy.


These are the things of children.  We seem to lose our ability to be surprised and amazed as we leave the things of children behind in favor of becoming adults. Inevitable, I suppose.

And this is certainly true in society and business. We have left behind the things of children in favor of adulthood.  But, once in a while, someone changes that if only for a minute or two.

Watch this German grocery store (Click Here) moving well beyond "sales pitch".  Many worked diligently to provide surprise, amazement and joy.  They chose to give -  to their customers and to all who watch this video. They chose to create smiles, hugs and even a little dancing.