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true meaning of christmas

As I write this it is the afternoon of Christmas Eve.  As a kid I loved this day.  Every Christmas Eve Mom, Dad and myself would go to to the Czekalinski home in Parma, Ohio.  It was always a lot of fun filled with Polish and Catholic tradition.  We would eat downstairs.  It was a “poor man’s meal.” Sole was the fish.  We ate on a huge table that was covered by a table cloth and underneath was a complete bale of straw spread out evenly.  At the end of the meal everyone reaches under the table cloth and pulls out a piece of straw.  If you had one with a lot of flowers on it, legend had it that you would enjoy the upcoming New Year.  Grandpa and Uncle Ralph now had a few glasses of wine in them and they started singing Christmas songs in Polish  My Aunt and Grandma just rolled their eyes and my Dad just shook his head and laughed.  Now it was time to go upstairs and open gifts!!!!  Finally….what Christmas is all about.

I was an only child and the first grandchild.  I was showered with gifts and it was never enough.  Surely there has to be MORE????  Well I was right with one exception.  It wouldn’t be found in a box with a bow on it.  Life moves fast my friends.  Life is always changing.  Mom and Dad got divorced when I was thirteen.  People took sides.  There was no more Christmas Eve at the Czekalinski’s.  Grandpa got cancer after that.  He suffered a lot and eventually died.  I grew to HATE Christmas.  It reminded me of how happy I used to be.  In my adult life I continued to look for that feeling I had every Christmas Eve.  I would just throw “money” at a bunch of gifts for people thinking that would at least bring THEM happiness.  I continued to be miserable.

I’m a Christian.  Make fun of me if ya want.  If you knew me, there are MANY things about me that you can ridicule.  I really don’t care.  Christmas is the birthday of a man that died for us so that we may experience eternal life.  I won’t bang the bible.  Anyone can do that.  It’s subjective.  You can pick and choose a quote to support any cause.  Try this.  Look around.  Nature is kind of a cool place.  Where did it all begin?  Some will say “The Big Bang Theory.”  Okay….I’ll give ya that.  Who made the big bang?

I’m just seeing this now.  I’m fifty-five years old and lived my life a hundred miles an hour with my hair on fire.  I have no idea why I am alive.  I was in a coma for five days in September of 2015 because I was doing bad things to numb myself.  This isn’t about me.  I only put myself into this story to show you it is never too late.  Christmas is the birthday of Jesus.  Jesus is not flash.  Jesus is all about faith.  What you do with my story is up to you.  Thanks for reading.  Merry Christmas.

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Justin BieberRole models.  When I hear people complain that sports stars and celebrities OWE their fans to be a good role model I cringe.  Sports stars and celebrities live in a privileged word that is not conducive to the real world 99% of us live in.

Justin Bieber is simply a spoiled brat that is in need of a good spanking.  I would want to go backstage just to put this punk over my knee and hit him with my mother’s wooden spoon.   We are to blame, as a society, for creating this monster.  Justin Bieber (for whatever reason) is a pop star.  That’s where it should end.  He shouldn’t be expected to exemplify good morals and good behavior.  He shouldn’t be considered a “peer” among your teenage kids.  The only “role model” a child should have is their parents.  That’s the responsibility you signed up for when you decided to bring a life into this crazy world.

Justin Bieber expects to be treated differently.  He expects you to “kiss the ring.”  He illustrates his gratitude of becoming a multi-millionaire through teenage concert ticket sales by spitting on his fans from a hotel terrace.  I shouldn’t just single out Justin Bieber for the list of pop culture vermin is long and plentiful.  Kim Kardashian became a star because a video tape of Ray J putting his tool in her “no-go hole” went viral.  I’m sorry but if that is what it takes to be a “star” I will pass on the initiation.

I am amazed by those that follow and revere any of the “Real Housewives.”  If ya wanna laugh at them and their sorry existence I can understand that but to praise them and fuel their gold digging mentality really is a sad comment of your own existence.  Let’s call these women what they truly are “Pretentious whores of _________ county”  Would you let your child be baby sat by one of these botox injected skanks?   Probably not.

I think we all were at one time a “know it all” teenager that was embarrassed to be seen in public with our parents.  I also remember something my late father told me in the basement of our home in Strongsville, Ohio:  “You will eventually realize that your mother and father will be the best friends you will ever have.”

Dad…you were right.  I’m just glad you passed before I had to attempt to explain Honey Boo-Boo.