Some Random Thoughts about Christmas

“So this is Christmas
And what have you done?”

So signs John Lennon is his song Happy Christmas (War Is Over). This song always getting me thinking about what Christmas really is about. And what we, as a nation and a culture, have done with this holiday. Long time ago (2002 to 2015 yrs. ago), a little Jewish boy was born to a young mother far from home.

What have we done? We have a big commercial frenzy that excludes his own people from the celebration! What have we done, indeed!!

So, here’s some random thoughts of mine on the holiday we call Christmas

The Fuss and Whoopla
We have all this whoopla before Christmas: the frenzy to buy presents and the bubble in retail sales; decorations in stores, homes, and public places; the music on the radio; and a few voices trying to remember the reason for the season (oh, this Jesus Christ, known to Christians as “Our Savior” is born!).

And Who’s Missing Out on it All?
But wait a minute, who’s missing out on the celebration? Well, one group is our Jewish friends. Hummmm, but wasn’t Jesus born to a young Jewish mother? So, I wonder what this nice boy Jesus is thinking about our present day fuss about his birthday. And who misses out on it all.....his own people! Oy vey!!!!

And When Was Jesus really born?

My little research of internet sites provided a great variety of results:

• Jesus was probably born on Sept. 29th or March 1st or June 2nd or maybe Dec. 25th.
  
• Jesus was probably born sometime in the 13 year period between 6 BC (6 BCE) and 7 AD (7 CE).

The date and year all depend on which “star” marked his birth, and there are a number of significant planetary conjunctions which may have caught the eye of the astrologers from the east.

But, there is a little contradiction with the biblical text, as Jesus was said to be born during Herod’s rule (and he did in 4 BC [4 BCE]). Yet, the census that required Joseph and Mary to travel in Bethlehem didn’t happen until 7 AD (7 CE). And, for the first couple of centuries, followers of Christ didn’t celebrate his birth, so there wasn’t any real effort to come up with an exact day and year. And some believe Dec. 25th was convenient as it coincided with the Roman solstice celebrations.

Personally, I like the September or June date, as it would give some separate space to think about what Jesus did and said and what it means personally and for the world. I have even considered petitioning the major Christian denominations to move the religious celebration to this date and leave the Consumer Holiday in December.

Why Doesn’t the New Year Start on Christmas Day?
If the birth of Jesus marks the years in the current calendar, why does the year start a week later? Well, January 1st represents the day Jesus was named, the day of his circumcision. Most people don’t think of New Year’s Day as the Feast of the Circumcision…..might through a different perspective on the celebrations.

Fall in My Favorite Park

Boston's Public Garden is near my office, so I stroll there often. Sometimes at lunch, sometimes walking to the subway at the end of the day. The park is beautiful in all seasons, but the fall foliage paints the park with a particularly stricking palate of colors.

Here's a sampling of my photos of fall in the Public Garden. For more photos, check out my blog Urban Vistas.

Do You Need a Perfect Vagina?

Do You Need a Perfect Vagina? How’s that for a questions? But can you believe this is a trend in cosmetic surgery for women?

Maybe I’m getting old, but I still remember when it was the thing to get a face lift or a tummy tuck. Before that, there was always the nose job. Well, at least these alterations related to the part of your body that everyone sees on a regular basis.

But the vagina? I keep thinking to myself, why? Who’s going to notice? It’s not something you’ll notice every time you look in a mirror. And it’s not something someone near you on the elevator will see. So, why spend $5,000 to have a perfect vagina?

A report by the BBC (New warning on “perfect vaginas”) says some women are embarrassed in front of a sexual partner.

Maybe. Depending on the nature of the encounter. But in intimate encounters of, shall we say, the “first kind”, it’s not exactly what’s he’s looking at. It’s usually dark….all he’s looking for is the entry portal. As he’s finding his way in, his mind is not on the aesthetics of the entryway, that’s for sure! For guys, it’s simple: he finds his way into the “happy place,” the big event happens (hopefully, not too soon), and then he’s happy and maybe you are, too. In my perspective, it’s the presence of the vagina, not the perfection of its appearance, that is the main attraction for the guy.

But, that's only one perspective. There may be other reasons…..some women complain of being uncomfortable in tight clothes or riding a bike. Maybe there are other personal reasons to spend $5,000 for perfection in this private region. Leave a comment about what you think.

Saving My Garden

This year, the killing frost is late. Last year it arrived for El Día de los Muertos (Nov. 2). This year, it was unseasonably warm. But as the week progressed, the temperatures plummeted and some frost was visible yesterday morning. So, even though today is sunny and warm, it was time to save what I can from the garden.

I repotted the geraniums which I keep inside over the winter. I also brought in the parsley, one of the few plants that did well during our short, wet and cool summer.

On the right, that’s most of the cherry tomato harvest below: 9 green tomatoes. There was one ripe tomato we had around Labor Day, and one rotted on the vine before ripening. Oh, well, everyone tells me it was a bad year for tomatoes, and there’s always next year.

Below: my ferocious beast stalking in the wilds of the garden.

El Día de los Muertos

El Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is tomorrow, November 2nd. It is no surprise that the late autumn is a time to remember the departed. In the northern hemisphere, we witness the temperatures dropping, the sun lower in the sky as the days get shorter, and the death of annual vegetation. Here in New England, this takes the form of a vivid display of bright foliage.

Today (El Día de los Santos, or All Saints Day) was extremely beautiful, unusually warm and even sunny. I took a bike ride to the Mount Auburn Cemetery, one of the most beautifully landscaped cemeteries in the area. It was an appropriate day to take in the beauty of fall while contemplating our mortality.

One of my favorite reflections is found in Psalm 90 where one translation reads: “teach us to number our days that we may learn your wisdom.” Yes our days on earth are numbered, they are finite. But we must embrace our transitory existence and not be afraid of or obsessed with our eventual death. That is the wisdom we must learn, so that we can make the most of our lives.

The Psalm also says “for a thousand years to you……is like the passing of a single day.” This contrasts the eternal nature of God to our brief existence, with an understanding that time can be experienced differently, something that would be embraced in Einstein’s special relativity centauries later. Our lives pass in snippets of time, maybe a century at most. God spans the centuries (“por los siglos de los siglos”).

So, what becomes of us? Do we wither and fade and our life is extinguished, like the annual flowers in my garden with the killing frost? Christianity, Judism, Islam, and other faiths embrace an afterlife in heaven with God. Hinduism professes reincarnation. Others think death is the end. We don’t know the answer.

But while I was there in the cemetery, one thought came to me. I do know what will happen come April. Those same trees now displaying their brilliant foliage, after 4 months where their branches lay bear through winter winds and snowfalls, those very branches will bud forth in a glorious display of spring colors. Hope and life springs eternal.

The "Man Rules" and My Reply

Do men and women have different persepectives on those little rules of life....those little rules that govern relationships and living together, from how to leave the toilet seat (up or down) to What does the other person really mean by what he/she just said?

Recently, a friend from another web site passed on these "Man Rules" to me. Granted they were offered just for laughs. And a lot of them are funny. But, still, they don't tell the whole story. I think a little reply is due. After all, it is my blog about my thoughts, so here they are!

I'd like to encourage readers to add their comments, too.

So, I've copied the man rules in manly blue Arial font and my thoughts in a contrasting italics and purple Georgia font. And one thing.....while the guy who wrote this numbered all the rules as "number 1" on purpose, I've added letters, to make it easier for my readers to comment on them.

The Man Rules

This is JUST for laughs!!
WOMEN: Continue to do what you want after reading this.
MEN: We ONLY labeled it as such to make you happy!!

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story (I must admit, it's pretty good). We always hear 'the rules' from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules!

Please note.. these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1a. Men are NOT mind readers.
Nor are women! If you're quiet and don't say what's on your mind, we don't know whether you're happy or sad or angry or whatever.

1b. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
It's not the seat so much....it's when guys piddle on the seat (instead of lifting it up!) or when they leave their piddle on the rim. You won't loose your manhood by taking some toilet paper and wiping piddle off the rim!

1c. Sunday is for Sports! It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

Maybe for some men, but a lot of guys are available on Sundays for social activities other than watching sports!

1d. Crying is blackmail.

So are controling emotional outbursts, like getting angry.

1e. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

Like 1a, this can go both ways, too!!

1f. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
Perhaps, but not if I still haven't made up my mind!

1g. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

Well, I have to disagree. I want my friends, regardless of gender, to be able to be sympathetic and be able to listen to what's on my mind, particularly if I'm feeling hurt or sad or scared. It's not difficult....all you have to do is listen, you don't have to say much. Maybe a hug or embrase would be nice, too.

1h. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become Null and Void after 7 Days.

Whatever, but some things I won't forget! I may not tell you, but I can remember hurtful words years later.

1i. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

But, I don't think I am fat, but sometimes I think I look fat. How hard is it to say "you don't look fat to me" or "you look sexy" or something nice like that!

1j. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

Well, that's easy for you to say! But you mean it one way or the other, so how do I know which way you mean it? And maybe how do I know you don't mean it the way that makes me sad or angry? I'm not a mind reader, you know!

1k. You can either ask us to do something OR tell us how you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
But if you're doing it in my place, I want it done MY way! And, if you're nice, you'll be glad to help me and do it my way!!

1l. Whenever possible, PLEASE say whatever you have to say during commercials.

Well, who do you like more: me or that stupid TV show you're watching?

1m. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

And he thought he had reached India!

1n. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

Tough! Women's fashion and house decorating requires a full palate of colors. Maybe you don't get it, but we do.

1o. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
But, if you have to scratch your crotch, as least do it in private!

1p. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing", we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

Well, guys are known for not sharing they emotions, but it's not worth the hassle to get them to share them.

1q. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

Yeah, but you should know that and tell us what we want to hear!

1r. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... REALLY!

That's fine for guys....but you don't understand..it's more complicated for women! I don't want to find I'm overdressed or underdressed, or wearing something that looks out of place.

1s. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football or motor sports.

Sure, but you can say you're thinking about me (even if it's a lie).

1t. You have enough clothes.
You think? But fashion is always changing. And a woman can't wear the same thing to the office each week like a guy can. A guy just needs a few pairs of pants, some shirts and just change the tie! You don't understand, it's just more complicated for a woman!

1u. You have too many shoes.
Again, a guy can get by with some sneakers and a nice pair of black shoes. A women needs different shoes for summer and winter. Different shoes for formal, the office, nice casual, casual casual, and informal. Heals and flats. And different colors to go with different outfits. And fashion is always changing! A woman simply can't avoid having a lot of shoes!

1v. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

LOL. You wish

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Why do guys always think they did something wrong? Guilty conscience? Afraid of women? Most of the time, a women will get over it, just give her some time.

Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh!

Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them an even bigger laugh!

Men and women: please leave your comments!

Does Warm Weather Encourage Smoking?

We have a few nice days this week, with the temperature nearly 70 degrees (about 18 deg. C). So, I was walking around outside. But, in front of every office building were the ubiquitous smokers. With indoors smoking banned, they line up outside doorways, spewing second hand smoke in the midst of passers-by.

So, while I thought it should be an great day to enjoy the fall air, but instead, there was a heavy dose of second hand smoke along every sidewalk.

Now, I grew up during the “tobacco age” where smoking was normative. Adults might choose to “take up” smoking. I recall women declaring “I like a man who smokes!” as though nicotine addiction made a man more macho or handsome. Yuk!! Who wants to live with a man whose breath smells like an ashtray!

In my family, most adults smoked when I was a kid and every family gathering was blanketed in a blue haze of smoke. Amazingly I survived! But instead of “taking up the habit” I was strongly against the idea of smoking. Well, I’m glad the tobacco age is over, the health risks are well-known, and we now know smoking is one of the strongest drug addictions out there.

I’m always amazed at those addicts who persist. There are a couple of “professional smokers” in the building I work in. It seems they are always outside one door or another attending to their addiction, sometimes socializing with fellow addicts. I wonder if they actually do work in their office!

But this week got me wondering: does the good weather encourage smoking? Do the smokers come take additional breaks because it’s pleasant to stand outside? In that case, maybe cold and inclement weather is actually healthier – smokers lighting up less and non-smokers exposed to less second-hand smoke.

A Snow Globe in October?

October in New England. Fall foliage. Brilliant colors. Hillsides and mountains draped in reds, yellows, oranges, and browns. Leaves falling on tree-lined streets.

That's what you normally expect. But whether it's a sign of climate change or just a fluke of the weather, but the scene was quite different yesteday in Massachusetts. It was snowing! And sticking!

The New England Patriots were playing in Foxboro, Massachusetts while the snow was accumulating on the field. It was like the stadium was in a snow globe!

Was I asleep for 2 months and woke up in December? What's with the weather? First we had rain and cool weather in June and the beginning of July. Then we had maybe 6 weeks of summer when we should have had 3 months. Now snow in October? ¿Qué pasa aquí?