Merry Christmas

We just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Woof woof!

A Gift

So this morning on my way to work I heard "The Gift". This song has become my favorite Christmas song of all time. They don't play it on the radio very much, so it was a nice suprise for me to hear it this morning. And as usual, I cried. Not just a little misting of tears but full on, streaming down my face. I can't pick out one or two things about this song that makes it so touching for me. It is the whole song. The version that is my favorite is sung by a young girl, I don't know her name. So, in case you don't know what song I am talking about, here are the words:

The Gift

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for a rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For it's feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped it was travelling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand

She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time

Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night
There were diamonds and incense
And perfumes
In packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring

She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him

Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
Maria, what brings you to me
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door and let me see
Though she trembled, she did as He asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new

Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
Whose beauty was fit for a king

Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offerings was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

Maybe I like it so much because it reminds me of something that I would do-stop and save the birdie. I am not sure, I just know that I love it! I need to try and find a CD with it on there. Gee, then I would be crying all the time! :-)

So, go sing you favorite Chrsitmas Song right now!

Why me?

I can’t remember if I have written about this before but for some reason this happens to me a lot. Me, finding animals that need my help. My mom says it is because St. Francis knows that I will know how to take care of the situation. Maybe. I don’t know but I was on my way home from church yesterday morning, when I saw a deer on the side of the road. And as I drove by she lifted her head and looked at me. I was taken aback and found a place to turn around. As I passed her again looking for a safe place to pull over she turned and looked at me again. I could tell she was small and not very old. She didn’t have spots but she was small. So I called Piedmont Wildlife Center- they help rehab native NC species. Anyway they told me that if she was injured (she was-looked like a compound fracture of her back leg) there was nothing that could be done but to end her misery. She gave me the number to call for the county I live in. So I called. They said they would send someone and that I did not need to stay. Well, I couldn’t just leave her in the cold drizzle. So I stayed. I kept a few feet away and just made sure that nothing else would happen to her. A neighbor lady came out and stayed with me as I cried. Interestingly, she is a small mammal rehabber. So we talked and wait. And then the Sheriff’s department came. I felt really bad for the officer because he took one look at me and I could tell thought “Oh, great a crier, now I am going to have to explain what has to be done”. But he was always nice and I knew what was going to happen anyway. We ended up talking to a deer rehabber that said there really was nothing to be done, except end her suffering. At least I know that we had exhausted every avenue. So the deer rehabber talked to the sheriff to make sure he knew how to end it immediately. I heard him say that he had only had to do this a time or two. Ok what a completely sucky part of his job. But, I knew that I couldn’t stay for the act. That is the coward in me. The nice lady said she would stay and told me to go. We hugged and I left. But I can’t stop seeing her cute little deer face.

There is a reason for this story. And here it is. (And I will warn you, I am getting on top of the soap box) First, I did not hit this deer. Someone else did. And now I had to “clean up” their mess. Let me re-phrase that, I didn’t HAVE to, however I am a responsible adult. I had to do something. I could not let her suffer. How can you hit something and just drive off? I know that sometimes the deer run off and you can’t find them. I get that. This little girl was right there. And I could tell that was where it happened. I also understand that some people really just don’t know how to handle it. I get that too. But you can always call the police and report it. Actually you can call 911 and they will help you. I also know that some just don’t care. Which I won’t even go into how I feel about THOSE people. So, here is my PSA for today.

In your car, have a list of important numbers: Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, High Patrol and Animal Control. In the age of the internet, these are so easy to find and it might take you 10 minutes if that. If you hit an animal, find a place to safely pull over. If you can, get out and assess the situation; see if the animal is still alive. Do so very carefully. Injured animals can be dangerous. If it is still alive, call one of the numbers on your list. They will send someone. In fact, if the animal is still alive and you do nothing you can endanger the lives of other motorists. If you are going to drive, you need to be responsible for what you do.

Ok, so I am off my soap box. I had a lot more to say but honestly, thinking about the whole thing just makes me want to cry again.

So, little deer, I am so sorry that something so terrible happened to you. I hope you knew that I was there to help you and that I cared. I also hope that I was able to help you stop suffering and also to realize that most humans are good. I am sure St. Francis is helping you settle in up there. I hope you are running and eating lots of good grasses.

Oh, and Saint Francis, if you are able, could you send me some HAPPY animal situations to deal with? Thanks! Your loving servant, A

My Christmas List

I want it to rain. A LOT.

I want everyone to be kind to animals-well all living things really. Human and animals.

I want world peace.

I want a home for every homeless animal.

I want a home for every homeless person.

I want hungry people to have food.

I want stray animals to have food.

I want people who abuse animals to be punished.

I want people who abuse people to be punished.

I want good things to happen to good people.

I want Global Warming to stop.

I want everyone to have a Happy Christmas

That isn’t asking too much is it?

Christmas Quiz

I did this last year and it was fun. Here is the 2007 version although I think the answers are the same:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? No Question-Wrapping paper! It must be the Hallmark Girl in me!
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial-since I am allergic to the live ones and the scent brings on seizures in my dog. :-(
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving, but this year I am not putting it up
4. When do you take the tree down? January 2
5. Do you like eggnog? ICK!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A box of play (dress up) rings that Santa brought me.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No-but I wish I had a little one.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Brother at least until gift cards became popular!
9. Easiest person to buy for? My nieces!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A pair of old shoes from my uncle. It was a joke but still Gross.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail or handed out.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love, Actually and the Year without Santa Claus
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try and shop all year.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep. It is the ULTIMATE recycling. And it was not from or to anyone on this list! 
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cheese Pierogi, my sister-in-laws crinkle cookies, mom’s homemade bread.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Multi Color
17. Favorite Christmas song? Feliz Navidad, Bare Naked Ladies version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, and that song about the Nightingale. I weep every time!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Sure
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Hmmm I think it is a dog dressed up like an angel!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Santa’s gifts on Christmas Morning, family gifts Christmas Eve.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic at all the stores
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme? I call it the Mimi theme. That means every kind of ornament you can imagine and lots of them!