Friday, December 18, 2015

December 18 – “Blanket-dropping”

Looks like we have some new neighbors at our old house across the street.  It started night before last.  A truck and a car appeared in the driveway.  The very first thing they unloaded?  A huge Christmas wreath that they hung on the front door.  I think I’m gonna like these people.  They took in a few things and then left for the night.  Next morning, the For Sale sign came down, and an entourage of pick-up trucks and SUV’s unloaded throughout the day.  All of the ones helping to unload were in their twenties, so I guess the median age of the neighborhood will drop just a tad.  We’ll have to go over and introduce ourselves when we can catch them both at home.  Maybe with a loaf of Chris’ famous Amish friendship bread. 

We had a great turnout for our church white elephant party.  Food galore.  Chris made chili.  Someone brought ribs and chicken nuggets and sandwich fixin’s and chips and dips.  I think some of that just may make its way up to the church for dinner on the grounds Sunday.  Not sure about the rib, though.  I do have to eat a few meals between now and then.  They’d probably just go bad anyway, right?

The gifts were wildly varied this year.  Minion puzzles and men’s cologne and kitchen towels and movies (Horton Hears a Who and Ghostbusters and Harry Potter) and a huge box of candies among others.  Oh, and the ever-present framed photo of a certain hot dog girl (Lora Boyer) that has been floating around Seaside parties for numerous years now.  The one I opened and actually got to keep due to a fortunate set of circumstances was really a find.  It was some actual (cancelled) stock certificates from The Cleveland SHORT LINE Railroad, The Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Company, The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company, and The READING Railroad Company.  Did you catch why this was such a cool find?  Make the connection?  Here’s another clue: “Take a ride on the Reading.”  Still nothing?  Come on.  When was the last time you played Monopoly?  These are the railroads that are on the four sides of the playing board.  Now how awesome is that?  Now every time I play I automatically control those four spaces on the board, right? 

We did take a moment to listen to Linus quote the Christmas story from A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Pointed out that at the moment he talks about the angels saying, “Do not fear,” he drops his blanket.  No accident there.  Linus, the one who is terrified to be without his blanket, simply didn’t need it when he talked about the Jesus.  Atta boy, Linus.

Luke 2:10-11 says, “But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”


Father, thank you for giving us blanket-dropping moments.  Amen.

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