dagblog - Comments for "My Christmas of the Broken Wing"

Sleepin, that's a fine bit of

Oxy Mora — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:56:56 +0000

In reply to My Christmas of the Broken Wing

Sleepin, that's a fine bit of writing, thanks for sharing it. It sure brought back memories. My Dad didn't have a tavern but he had a huge investment in one which required his presence at late evening meetings on special nights like Christmas Eve. To this day I can't stand the sight of a bottle of Early Times or an Elk's Club.

Firefox worked! I loved it,

we are stardust — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:56:11 +0000

In reply to My Christmas of the Broken Wing

Firefox worked! I loved it, Jeezus. A few thoughts: didn't Mumsy tell you Santa was magic, and could shape-shift to accomodate your narrow chimney pipe? Sheesh! It cracked me up that you paintd your five-year-old self as a sick little bastid not minding so much if Santa burned up, but oh, no; not the presents!

Remote fathers were sure ubiquitous at the time, weren't they? Hard to hear that you had to break your arm to feel such concern and tenderness from him; that you still had so much empathy that you wanted to let him sleep was awesome. I often think about how grace is evident in our lives, and how much love your mum must have given to you all to engender your warm concern as a five-year-old. Criminetly! (as we used to say)

It was cool you pointed out how in your haste to open gifts your forensic attention was diverted; another way of saying what I did about wanting to maintain certain fictions about Christmas. ;o)

Thanks for letting us share that day, friend.

Write that jail story,

wws — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:53:33 +0000

In reply to This particular Santa was

Write that jail story, please, Jezus! "I'll be there as soon as the pies are done" - - ha! what a calm, cool collected Mom! (Maybe her remark is your title for that story?)

This particular Santa was

SleepinJeezus — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:05:01 +0000

In reply to Sleepin -- For your "later

This particular Santa was never too involved in the "accountability" business as far as I was concerned. Maybe it was because the brandy was sometimes disruptive of his short-term memory. But I like to believe it's because this particular Santa had a soft-spot for salvageable "juvenile delinquents." In fact, I seemed to be one of his favorites.

The others? Not so much! I had my share of troubles dealing with parents, siblings and, yes, the law - and Sister Hildegard, too!

Perhaps I should tell the story sometime of calling home from the Sheriff's Dept. one time, late on a Good Friday evening. I was all of fifteen years old and was being harrassed (no other way to call it!) by a nearly psychotic local detective who didn't like long-haired hippie "terrorists." My "crime" involved standing outside the jail yelling up at a window to talk to a friend of mine who was incarcerated pending charges for supposedly threatening to blow up the Federal Building in town.

The response from my mother when told she had to come and essentially bail me out of jail? "Well, I got a couple pies in the oven, but that shouldn't take long. I'll be there as soon as they get done."

Merry Christmas, Wendy! And I hope you know much happiness and peace in the New Year.

Sleepin -- For your "later

wws — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:30:29 +0000

In reply to Never got in trouble for the

Sleepin -- For your "later deliquencies," were you "held to account" by Santa? Parents? Sibs? Or the Court of Appeals?

Great story, told by a gifted storyteller. Blessings on you and yours this day and every day.

I've always enjoyed you

stillidealistic — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 05:24:39 +0000

In reply to My Christmas of the Broken Wing

I've always enjoyed you writing, SJ, but I don't think I ever realized you were a story teller. As one who has always loved "A Christmas Story" I would have to say, this is really good. I REALLY enjoyed it and could just picture the whole thing. Thank you for sharing it with us! And Merry Christmas!

Astounding Christmas story. I

Watt Childress — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 03:34:17 +0000

In reply to My Christmas of the Broken Wing

Astounding Christmas story. I read portions to my family as they play a card game, with carols on the stereo in the background. This is definitely one to read out loud. It would be great to hear it on the radio.

Never got in trouble for the

SleepinJeezus — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:58:12 +0000

In reply to Very nice story. Sounds like

Never got in trouble for the window. But my career as a juvenile delinquent subsequently made this a "small miss" in the transgressions for which I was ultimately responsible and held to account. ;O)

Alas, seashell, I no longer

SleepinJeezus — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:55:55 +0000

In reply to Almost had a

Alas, seashell, I no longer run over-the-road. My travels each night find me bouncing back and forth a couple times between Madison and Milwaukee.

But then again, in terms of looking for me I would hope you might find a bit of me everywhere, as in Tom Joad's insistence that "Wherever there's a fight so hungry, people can't eat - I'll be there."

Glad to see you here, seashell. Merry Christmas!

Thanks, Ramona. The choice of

SleepinJeezus — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:48:57 +0000

In reply to Busy day today, but everybody

Thanks, Ramona. The choice of avatar is quite deliberate. Studs Terkel keeps me focused in ways that might not otherwise be possible. I miss him.

I hope the holidays bring you peace and joy. Merry Christmas.