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December 2021
Ryan Murphy, Down with the Ship
How does December affect you and your life personally? Is it
merely an ending of a time period known as a Year that may or may not
have made precious memories to warm you during the month and throughout
your future? Is it a grieving period that tells you daily that the end
is drawing closer, be it of the year itself or a period of life when
time shouted out daily to come enjoy? Is it the warmth of crackling
fires and cosy afghans tucked around to hold close those moments and
scenes of other Decembers, other loved ones, other songs of the season?
Is it a bustling, trim the tree, decorate the home from threshold to the
furthest corner by the back door time? Is it shopping desperatly,
rechecking your lists of names, gifts, food for the night before and the
day of your cherished traditional celebrations? Is it a time of sharing
your bounty, be it material blessings or the blessing of kindness and
caring, of laughter and hope, of music? Is it a shake off the past and
seek new horizons to dispel any familiarity stage you find yourself
within?
Whatever your answer to any of those scenarios, this issue
could certainly chime with a few of them as it flows from joyful
reminiscing to exhortation for wariness, to exuberant feelings, to fond
recollections of peaceful silence. Let's find new opportunities for
celebrations together!
Poems are the thoughts that sing inside until they demand
being versed upon the page. Our poetic authors tap into their own and
others feelings, saying aloud what we may have wished for words to
express. Walt Perryman, who often does Cowboy poetry sessions in
Luckenbach has a wonderful poem we are repeating for this December, "A
West Texas Tumbleweed Christmas." He also shares "Happiness More or
Less, " "On My Mind," and "Recipe for Sleep" this month. Bud Lemire's
romantic "In Her Eyes," and the two more serious "Vacine." and "On The
Front Lines" are a contrast. Bruce Clifford"s poems are usually composed
as song lyrics and his for December are "Cause for Alarm," "Highlight
Reel," and "Not Knowing What to Say."
Your editor includes her usual Christmastime poems "Tiny
Miracle," along with "Make Mary Merry," and "The Season." Also included
is a new poem "Squirrels," an observation that has nothing to do with
holidays..
John I. Blair, still recovering from recent surgery, and
although not up to doing his column, nor feeling poetic, sent along one
of his articles we had not seen, "Music and The Blairs." Linda Tate 's
article is "ESSAY: Amazing Life." Linda recently shared another article
with us.
Judith Kroll's column "On Trek" asks the question "Are You A
Believer or Unbeliever," citing a personal event. "Cooking with Rod" by
Roderick Cohenour offers a succulent solution to preparing that dinner
for the holiday that everyone will remember with his Christmas Posole.
Melinda Cohenour who does "Armchair Genealogy" embarks upon
the project of helping to clarify comprehension of the history of DNA
and its applicaton in numerous fields. December presents the first
segment of this series.
Dayvid Bruce Clarkson, whose prose is as melodic as poetry,
sends word pictures in his writing, and we are delighted to show some
recent "Reflections of the Day." Mattie Lennon in his "Irish Eyes" does
three gift suggestions for favored friends, and includes a few topics
that started him musing on them. Marilyn Carnell whose column
"Sifoddling Along" often causes us to reflect on our own family
occasions, tells how an article warning against too many toys for
children triggered her own "Toyland" memory of gifts.
Thomas O'Neill, our Pennsylvania native now teaching in
China, reveals current status of Christmastime there, and his own
resulting activities with pictures in his column "Introspective" and
includes a link to YouTube as an example. "Woo Woo" the column by
Pauline Evanosky travels further than that, reaching into the other side
thru channeling, and tells how it has changed her personal concept of
Heaven.
Mike Craner and wife Susie, who recently celebrated another
Anniversary, are the backbone of this eZine which was co-founded by him
and your editor. Mike keeps this informational and entertaining
publication viable despite the many business, family, and personal
demands in his and Susie's lives. I admire and bless them every day.
Thanks, Mike, for everything,!
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Merry Christmas!
Click on author's byline for bio and list of other works published by Pencil Stubs Online.
This
issue appears in the ezine at www.pencilstubs.com and also in the blog
www.pencilstubs.net with the capability of adding comments at the
latter.
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