OREGON MEMBER RINGS THE CHRISTMAS BELLS

This Oregon member left the state to look around.

Twice.

And I found out why I like it here better than there.

This is how I explain it to my kids:

“I wanted my own room. I found out I didn’t have to move three thousand miles away to find it.”

I moved back and found a life I didn’t expect.

I also tell the kids: “You don’t have to move 3000 miles away to find space. I can ignore you from next door.”

Just ask my neighbors.

Card Carrying Oregonian

Every other place I’ve lived I felt like the ‘new guy’ from ‘out of state.’

At least that’s what my pals said. Also, “You’ll be going back. You won’t last here.”

And they were right. I didn’t last, but not for the reasons they suspected.

My favorite people were raised in Italian households and I was jealous.

Since I wasn’t Italian I’d never be in the club.

For some odd reason I wanted to belong to something. After football teams, wrestling teams, and joining the Army, I missed a certain connection.

I wanted to do things you could only do in Oregon. I belonged to that club.

Now it’s official. And it feels pretty good.

Join The Real Club

An Oregon member has duties.

One of them was getting married.

Thirty-five Christmases in have not been a disappointment.

I’m here alone at five in the morning writing on Christmas Day.

Perfect.

In a few hours my wife will come into the room in dramatic fashion. A few hours later my son will be here with his wife and baby.

This afternoon my second son will be here with his fiancé.

Food and presents and happy time will prevail.

I’ll make my famous scrambled eggs, the kind you’ll never find anywhere because I have an Oregon member secret I’m not telling.

Later I’ll work on a ‘six fish for good luck’ Italian soup. I’m feeling lucky, Oregon member lucky.

Will I make presents in the garage at the last minute? No, because I did that yesterday.

Will peace and love take over? If it doesn’t things might get rough.

To set the proper tone I call out, “Hey Siri, play Johnny Cash Christmas album.”

Old Johnny knew some hard Christmases and it’s good to remember others.

Ringing The Bells For Jim

The father heard church bells at midnight
A wrong time for church bells to chime
He went to the tower, found a little girl there
Said, “Why ring the bells at this time?”

“I’m just ringing the bells for Jim
Please father, ringing the bells for Jim
I’m sorry, I’m cryin’ but my brother Jim’s dyin’
So, I’m ringing the bells for Jim”

Please father, pray for him this Christmas
He’s sick and he’s in so much pain
The doctors all say, he’ll be gone any day
So, I must ring the bells again

Ring That Christmas Bell Hard

An older woman I know used to be a nun. I’ll ring the bell for her.

She resigned her nun-ship, married a good man, and enjoyed her life.

After he passed away she decided to live in a community of retired nuns.

When my son, wife, and granddaughter visited her they were quite a hit.

The retired nuns asked her how she lucked into such good fortune to have visitors like them.

I feel lucky having them in my life, too. Double lucky to have the run I’ve had with my kids.

I feel impossibly lucky to be married to the love of my life and all that comes with it.

I’m ringing the bell for them all. If you hear a bell, that’s me giving the Oregon member bell a shake for you.

Find a Christmas bell and ring along. It worked for Jim:

On the day after Christmas
She brought him said, “Father, heed little Jim
You see, he got well, when he heard the church bells
I was ringing the bells for Jim”

Be well, readers. Let’s heal up for the new year.