mizzou7

Dad
by Nisius, Robin

He was a big man -- standing well over 6 feet tall and weighing nearly 300 pounds -- his black curly hair now white, shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of the world and with a heart as big as Texas.

He always had a smile on his face and a hearty laugh just bubbling beneath the surface. This wonderful man had no enemies.

To his many friends he was "Big Louie". To his wife he was "Lewis". To his many nieces and nephews he was "Uncle Boober".

To me, he was just "Dad".

And a wonderful dad he was. Always making excuses to celebrate, he made each day exciting. He never said anything bad about anyone and, despite his size, he was the most gentle man I have ever known. He loved life and his family with a devotion that would never fade over the years. After he retired, the highlight of his day was going to the post office every morning to get the mail and visit with his many friends.

He was never very organized, though, and although he loved his family unconditionally, never gave much thought to his own immortality. I always thought my dad would be there forever, and somehow, I think he believed that, too.

I can remember over the years, my mother fussing at him on many occasions that he didn't have "his affairs in order" and that if anything ever happened to him, my mother would not know where to start as far as claiming the benefits from his VA or his life insurance. In fact, my dad couldn't even remember which company held his life insurance policy. But, that never seemed to matter much to him, as, I believe, he thought he'd always be there to take care of us.

Dad was never one to do much shopping, but Christmas was his favorite time of the year. He would drive mom to the mall every year to do the Christmas shopping and would delight in all the gifts that she bought for everyone. When he wanted something special for one of us, he would tell mom to get it and she always would. Under the tree each year, our gifts would always say, from "Mom & Dad".

On December 8, 1994, Dad had been going to the post office that morning and suffered a massive heart attack while driving. He was in the hospital, alive, but on life support and wasn't expected to live. As I packed hurriedly, I remembered to bring along a Christmas ornament that I had bought the day before for my Dad. It was a beautiful angel perched atop a crystal ball. When I got to the hospital, I hung the angel at the head of his bed. He awoke just long enough to see each one of us and tell us that he loved us very much, and then he was gone.

How devastating for so many people to lose such a wonderful friend, husband, son, uncle and dad. He was, in so many eyes, the greatest man they had ever known. But this story doesn't end there.

When the shock of the funeral was finally over, we had the difficult task of taking care of business. Not knowing where to start, my mom and I began looking through tons of boxes that had accumulated over the years. We were looking for any kind of paperwork that would lead us to the life insurance policy that my Dad had. We searched for days and found nothing.

The top of their closet was already filled with Christmas presents that mom had bought. The only other thing in the top of the closet was a small chest that Dad had given her years ago. In that chest, she kept their marriage license and some old love letters he had written to her when he was in the Navy.

We took the chest down to get the Christmas presents out and wrap them, determined to go on with Christmas, in spite of our loss. We knew how much Christmas meant to Dad.

We were in for the shock of our lives.

As we pulled out the bags of gifts that needed to be wrapped, we discovered a bag of beautifully wrapped gifts. Mom was very surprised at this discovery, as she had not yet wrapped any gifts. When we began to pull them out one by one, we discovered that they were each tagged. "To Dona... from Lewis" was the first tag that we saw. Our hearts were breaking. There were gifts for all of us in that bag. My Dad had gone shopping alone, and had bought, wrapped and tagged gifts for each of us, and had hidden them in the back of the closet! He couldn't have known that he wouldn't be there since the heart attack was so sudden. But, somehow, he DID know! And he wanted us to know that he loved us and expected us to go on without him.

Mom picked up the chest to return it to the top of the closet, where it always sat. But, instead of returning it, she opened it. Inside, right on the top, was a bundle of papers tied neatly with a red and green ribbon. On the top, was a Christmas card for each of us, signed by my Dad. Underneath, was his life insurance policy, his Navy discharge and all the things that we had searched for and given up on days before.

Christmas that year was bittersweet for all of us, but we learned that Dad's love could transcend from the grave and touch us in the gentle and loving way that it always did when he was there.

Every Christmas since, I remember those wonderful gifts that he bought, but more than anything, I remember the wonderful MAN, and the way he loved and cherished his family more than anything on this earth.

Not long ago and far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip...but there were problems everywhere.

Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where to.

More Stress!

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.

Totally frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hit the liquor and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said: "Where would you like to put this tree fat man?"

Happy Holidays...

mizzou7

quote:

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Originally posted by Ktrain420:
alittle christmas story............

Not long ago and far away, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip...but there were problems everywhere.

Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where to.

More Stress!

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.

Totally frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he found the elves had hit the liquor and there was nothing to drink.

In his frustration, he dropped the coffee pot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made from.

Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said: "Where would you like to put this tree fat man?"

And that my friend.... is how the little angel came to be on top of the Christmas tree

---

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much
bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Ric

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

Hope the new year brings everyone great health, wealth and happiness.

Dakota and Dakota's Misses told you that......

My favorite Christmas Carol.
Love it done by a young man named Josh Groban.

Listen to it......It is the most beautiful version ever......IMHO......POWERFUL
Enjoy.. http://www.cojoweb.com/josh-groban.html

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
Of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, o night divine

Chains shall He break
For the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
Then ever, ever praise we
Noel, Noel
O night, o night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, o night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, o night divine

Lil

Bentley (BLYC) in 2005...

Get the word out...