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of Heart! ~ If you are not a subscriber and this has been passed on to you, join us by sending a blank e-mail to four_ears @ msn.com (remove spaces) with "subscribe" in the subject line. And get the love direct! Web site: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001 Archives: http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/Archives.htm ________________________________________________________ "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T. S. Eliot ______________________________________ JINGLE BELLS by Mark Davis "My NUTS roasting on an open fire!" Matt sang with gusto as he clung to the side of the shopping cart. My three-year-old must've overheard me in the shower. His mimicry seemed to part the crowd of holiday shoppers whose expressions ranged from mildly amused to this-father-needs-a-refresher-course-in- parenting. "Matt, we're in a store," I chastised him. I felt a little heat in my face as I pushed the shopping cart down the cereal-and-poptarts aisle. "Sing something else, son." "JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS--" "Okay, Matt, that's enough." "FLEAS ON MY DOG--" Groan. My shower version of "Feliz Navidad." "Matt?" I hissed, bringing my nose to his. "Listen to me, bud. If you really want to watch the movie tonight, you'd better change your tune." "Daddy?" "What?" "You smell funny." I'm sorry. But I lost my composure right then and there. This called for my brand of guerilla tactics. I had to tickle him. With the other two kids at home with my wife, it was such a treat to do one-on-one time even for running an errand as ordinary as shopping for cereal, butter, milk, bread, and lightbulbs, the list my wife scribbled on the back of the receipt from the last time we shopped here. "Hey, Daddy, look!" His face lit up as though Santa had materialized right behind me. "What? What?" I turned in the direction of his stubby finger, forgetting to chastise him that it was impolite to point. Anything to keep him from an encore performance. Well, what do you know. I was pretty darn close. Before I could stop the little guy, he jumped into the lap of a man in a motorized wheelchair. "Can I go for a ride, Santa?" Matt asked. Startled at first, the man grinned and looked up at me, his eyes shining. He was dressed in a Santa suit, fake beard, the works. "Well, you might want to ask your Dad first if it's okay." I could only nod. I watched them go up and down a couple of aisles. "JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS, ROBIN LAID AN EGG!" they harmonized, not caring who heard. They stopped long enough for Santa to ask, "So what do you want for Christmas?" "Your chair! It's cool!" I wanted to sink right through that floor, but Santa smiled and hugged my son. "Thanks for the ride, Santa!" We finished our shopping trip without further incident until we walked out the automatic doors. A brisk wind greeted us as snow drifted softly in the fading light. And there was our Santa. With a handheld bell, he flung its sharp tinny sound at us with the pivot of his wrist like a priest's blessing. Snug under the weight of a plaid blanket, he sat next to a tripod, a red bucket suspended from it. "Salvation Army" was emblazoned across the sign above the bucket. I dropped a handful of change into the slot. "Daddy, is that money for the ride?" Yes, son. And for so much more. Mark Davis ruidosodavis @ hotmail.com Copyright © 2002 by Mark Davis. All rights reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About the author: Mark is a single father of three awesome kids, hailing from beautiful Ruidoso, New Mexico. _________________________________________________________ FROM OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER In regards to "A Life Well Loved" by Jaye Lewis (http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/121002.htm) That was so beautiful and insightful. Something I really needed to see. It is a long hard battle, take the small victories where you can by helping someone worse off than you. I have been trying this for several years and I am still here, although it has been a close race times. Thank you for sharing. - mewsicmama Many thanks to you and Jaye Lewis for sending out A Life Well Loved in your StoriesOfHeart. I very much needed the message it contained. You are without a doubt, 2 angels right here on earth. Thank you. Wishing you and your families many joys and blessings this holiday season and always. - Kristina _________________________________________________________ ON THE HOMEFRONT HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our son, Cody, who turns 8 on Thursday! Hard to believe he's come this far from that 1-lb, 6-oz preemie! If you'd like to see the rest of the story on his entrance to this world, we invite you to check it out at http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/slingshot.htm. We love you, big boy! My organization held its famous annual holiday party on post last Saturday. On the way our old Buick made those dreaded knocking noises, white smoke spilled out of the hood, and I barely managed to pull up to the waiting soldier at the access point. "I'm sorry," I said, flashing my ID, "but may I please pull over? My car is in the middle of breaking down." He glanced at the three little boys in the back seat, their anxious faces peering right back at him. "Sure, go ahead," he said, waving me to the side. Just as I pulled off the road, the car emitted its death rattle. I tried calling home to no avail with the answering machine to serve as a sounding board. "Excuse me?" I said, approaching one of the military police. "Could one of you drive me and the boys to a Christmas party on post?" He looked a bit skeptical. "Please, sir. It would mean so much to them. They've been looking forward to it for weeks now." Next thing I knew all four of us stuffed ourselves into a soldier's compact car and were carted to the gymnasium where the party was in full swing. As much as I said "Thank you" to this kind soldier, it just didn't seem enough. Just one small act of human kindness making a difference in the season. The boys quickly merged into the activities. Matthew even won a major door prize, a Red Ryder wagon! The tow truck dragged the Buick's carcass home, ripe for the junk yard. It had been overheated to extinction. We are now in the midst of searching for another used car. Sometimes there are signs, no matter how small, that tell you things are going to be just fine. The other night I rifled through Cody's book bag for evidence of homework. I came across a tightly folded piece of paper. Curious, I opened it to find his handwriting. "As long as ther's Chrismos I truly beleve," he wrote. Amen, Cody. Amen. We will not be sending inspiration your way for the next weeks, but please know that we count all of you, writers and readers, amongst the blessings in our lives! Enjoy the richness of the season, the warmth of family and friends, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the glow last beyond the holiday into the new year and beyond. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY four_ears @ msn.com "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles my be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: four_ears @ msn.com ________________________________________________________ |
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