A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

christmas

BWF: Party season

Party season

Let’s get those calendars ready.

Soon, we’ll be flipping the calendars to 2021. And it will be a hard one, ya know? I mean, who doesn’t want to hang on to 2020, what with the shortages of toilet paper, being shut down or held back, not being able to travel fully, and, oh yeah, a deadly virus. 

Add to that one of the most nasty and contentious presidential campaigns (as well as other offices) in my lifetime and who wouldn’t want it to end. 

Alas, we need to end it with a bang, don’t we? 

It’s December. The holiday season! Parties galore! Maybe it’s for the office. Or something among friends! Booze will be flowing freely, I am sure. Some great food with everybody dipping their hands into the servings. 

Mmmm mmmm good!

Imagine all those hugs. Maybe a few smooches. And depending on the party and people, who knows what else. 

Goodness, the holidays are upon us and the people are ready. 

But wait, 2020. You’ve really messed up our year, haven’t you? 

People are anxious. Tired. Nervous. Well, probably half. The other half seem to think they are bionic and can just waddle through everything. 

So party season? 

It won’t be like it usually is. The holidays – for many – will be smaller. The office parties and huge gatherings? I’d think most will be skipped this year. 

This virus is real and maybe with vaccines and such coming, we’ll start seeing something change. 

But the party season? 

I’m honestly going to be happy if my family stays healthy and we can have a small gathering for Christmas (it’s usually only seven or eight of us). 

I’m not much of a party goer. I used to love our softball team parties for the holidays back when I still played. But outside of that, I was never much for going to them. When I was younger, I loved the holidays with bars. However, I honestly haven’t been in a true bar for a beer since I stopped playing softball a few years ago. 

For those who live in areas where the “restrictions” may not be as strong, I hope you will all consider being smart this holiday season. Follow public health protocols. What we don’t need this party season is a massive breakout.

Stay smart. Stay healthy. Wear a mask.

Blog With Friends: December 2020
Blog with Friends is a themed collaboration challenge where a group of bloggers get together and publish a project based on a theme. Please see the others who have taken part for this month’s theme carrots. Links to their posts can be found below the image!

This is the final Blog with Friends. It’s been a fun little run and glad I was able to be part of it at the end!

Check out what the others did with home!

Enjoy blogging challenges? We have several that happen here, and we’d love to have you join us! The Photo Blogging Challenge is one of our main ones and it runs monthly! Join us as well for the Food Photo Challenge!. We’d love to see you!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Merry Christmas!

Please allow me a moment to wish everybody out there a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Be safe and healthy.

To family, friends, and all those in the blogging universe –I hope you have the chance to make this season special and spend time with your loved ones. For those who celebrate this day, enjoy, have fun and appreciate what you have. This is a time we should reflect on the good and work to make positives out of negatives.

Please remember, too, that the day isn’t just about materialistic items. Whether a religious day for you or one where you spend it with family and/or friends. take it in. Gifts might be fun to exchange, but keep everything in perspective.

Enjoy the day and have a wonderful holiday season!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Timeless Words: Yes, Virginia

In 2011, I published this post on the blog. I thought it would be a good one to bring back each year. I want to repeat that post in the holiday spirit. Enjoy!

More than 100 years ago, one of the most famous lines in newspaper history was printed in the New York Sun.

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.”

Virginia O’Hanlon, via Wikipedia public domain.

Those words were penned by Francis Pharcellus Church, one of The Sun’s editors. The words were in response to a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

As the story is told, young Virginia asked her father whether or not Santa Claus was real. To that, Dr. O’Hanlon told his daughter to write The Sun, which was one of the top newspapers in New York City at the time. As Virginia noted in her letter to the Sun, her father told her “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Her letter made its way to Church. The editorial, which is reprinted on a yearly basis in newspapers and on websites, has been used in books, for songs and movies. It is the most reprinted editorial in history, according to Newseum, which also noted it was an editorial without a byline.

Though it has a Christmas theme to it and is mainly reprinted around Christmas, the original ran Sept. 21, 1897.

Virginia wrote this to The Sun:

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

“VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
“115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.”

Enter Church, a former Civil War correspondent.

His response is an amazing work. Somewhat buried in the paper, it reportedly got quite the response. And as history has shown, that response is one of the most famous things in a newspaper.

Even in today’s standards, this is one heck of a good piece of work. (Realize that the style of writing between 1897 and now is night and day).

So, without further ado and with the history of this piece done, allow me to give to you — in the spirit of Christmas — Church’s excellent response to young Virginia O’Hanlon.

***

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Church, via Wikipedia public domain.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

This editorial originally was published in The New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Christmas joy and memories

As I’ve gotten older, I tend to have a lot more fun with giving and watching the youngest family member (Cameron) as he learns more about Christmas.

He really got it this year.

Santa. Opening things. The joy on his face is awesome. His interest in things is quite joyous.

It’s sometimes hard for me to post some of the Snapshot Saturday posts, especially those from Christmases and other holidays long past. I think of those no longer with us, especially my father, and how much enjoyment was had. I look at the looks on faces of those such as my brothers and it gets a little emotional.

I think that’s all part of getting older.

When I look at the photos from this Christmas, or even the past few with Cameron, I can’t help but to have those same emotions. To see the joy on the faces of everybody as we watch or take part is great.

Christmas is about many things to people, but the memories should always be something you always keep with you.

I wanted to share a few images of Cameron for today’s post (this despite the photo blogging challenge theme for the month!)

It’s my hope you all had an excellent Christmas!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Hearing the holiday season

As we approach Christmas … only a few days away … I can’t help but to notice that the festive feel is definitely in the air. It probably doesn’t hurt that there is some snow on the ground or that I’ve had the SiriusXM holiday stations on for most of the month when driving.

It also doesn’t hurt that my nephew/godson is at the age where he understands more of it, which is awesome.

But the music is what really gets me into the holiday spirit, so I thought I’d share my top 10 favorite Christmas/holiday tunes – and the versions.

1. All I Want for Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey)

There are so many tunes that are traditional in nature and such, but this is one destined to go on for many decades to come. It’s pretty cool that it was written during this generation. Mariah Carey has long been one of my favorite singers, so this song is definitely at the top of my list.

2. Christmas Canon (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

Canon (Johan Pachelbel) is my favorite classical piece ever. To think I wouldn’t have this near the top of my Christmas favorites, well, would be crazy.

3. Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)

I love hearing this song every Christmas season. Burl Ives is so known when it comes to this kind of music for many reasons and him singing this song is awesome.

4. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Andrea Bocelli)

Just watch the clip. This is the live version. This rendition of this timeless classic with that voice … amazing.

5. Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano)

Come on… this version is the best for this song and I don’t think that will ever change. When I hear others singing it, it just seem right.

6. Frosty the Snowman (Jimmy Durante)

Who didn’t grow up hearing this version from the cartoon classic? It’s awesome!

7. Most Wonderful Day of the Year (Glee cast)

This version of the song is really good. It kind of gives a more modern feel to a classic.

8. Snow Meiser/Heat Meiser (from the animated classic “Year without a Santa Claus)

Watch it and enjoy it. The whole animated show is great!

9. Mele Kalikimaka (Bing Crosby)

I love a white Christmas and all, but I’d love to be in Hawaii for Christmas one year. This song reinforces that!

10. 12 Days of Christmas (Straight No Chaser)

This version is excellent. Well worth listening to and hearing this song in a total different way. Enjoy it!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” A ‘lil HooHaa on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!