Happy Holidays to One and All

Posted on December 11, 2022 by mestengobooks

Source: Google Images/Dollar Tree

I came across this poem many years ago. I don’t know who wrote it (if you do, please let me know). Each Christmas I’d print this out and stick a copy in each card I sent to family or friends. This year I share it with you, dear readers, in appreciation for your loyalty, comments and kinship.

May this holiday season be rich with good food, the warmth and comfort of family and/or friends, and maybe a nice snowfall!

The Christmas Card List

There is a list of folks I know

All written in a book,

And every year at Christmas time

I go and take a look.

And that is when I realize

Those names are all a part

Not of the book they’re written in,

but deep inside my heart.

For each name stands for someone

Who has touched my life sometime,

And in that meeting they’ve become

A special friend of mine.

I really feel that I’m composed

Of each remembered name,

And my life is so much better

Than it was before they came.

Once you’ve known that “someone”

All the years cannot erase

The memory of a pleasant word

Or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards

Are just a mere routine

Of names upon a list that are

Forgotten in between.

For when I send a Christmas card

That is addressed to you,

It is because you’re on the list

Of folks I’m indebted to.

And whether I have known you

For many years or a few,

The greatest gift the Universe can give

Is having friends like you.

#Christmas #Xmas #Holidays #friends #writersoninstagram #writersontwitter #author #amwriting #christmasgift #giving #Hannukah #Kwanza #friends #travel #Italy #wanderlust #newmexico #connecticut #massachusetts #california #oregon #washington #Instagram #Twitter #Tribel #Mastadon

Will The Real Rudolph Please Shine His Nose…

Posted on December 23, 2021 by mestengobooks

Source: NPR/Rauner Special Collections Library/Dartmouth College

I came across this NPR story some time ago on an IG post. What is Christmas without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? How many of you know the real story of how he came about? Let me summarize…

The Real Story

It all began in 1939 (yes, that long ago and on the verge of WWII) when Montgomery Ward execs asked one of their ad men to come up with a story for MW’s children’s book, an annual holiday promotion. The ad man, Robert May, made a list of possible names before settling on Rudolph. So May, an aspiring novelist and known for his wit at parties, came up with a story of a reindeer underdog named Rudolph. His boss wasn’t very impressed but May, undaunted, went to a friend in MW’s art department to draw up some sketches to go with the story.

Courtesy of NPR/Rauner Special Collections Library/Dartmouth College

Then something awful happened. May’s wife died of cancer. He was devastated but forged ahead, telling his boss that he “needed Rudolph now more than ever” after his boss offered to give the project to someone else. Rudolph was a big hit and copies sold around the country. But by now May was in deep financial straits from his wife’s medical bills and was trying support himself and his child on a copywriter’s salary.

The Big Hit

For reasons that remain unclear, the CEO of Montgomery Ward gave May the rights to Rudolph after WWII. May’s brother-in-law was a songwriter, so May enlisted him to write a jingle about Rudolph. Miraculously, it was loved and picked up by none other than the famous singing cowboy Gene Autry. As a result, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer sold over 25 million copies and was later picked up by Rankin/Bass, who made the stop animation film we all adore (I watch it every year).

If you’re curious, you can follow this link to the whole story, including reading the original book/story that was changed oh-so-slightly for the Rankin/Bass film:

https://www.npr.org/2013/12/25/256579598/writing-rudolph-the-original-red-nosed-manuscript

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, to one and all. Stay safe and healthy and prosperous wishes for the New Year.

#Christmas #Rudolphtherednosedreindeer #RankinBass #Christmastime #holidayseason #RobertLMay #holidayclassic #fictionwriters

Holiday Wishes

Posted on December 24, 2018 by mestengobooks

May this holiday season bring lots of love, laughter, and family in to your home and your stories. Keep on writin’!

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The Christmas Card List

Posted on December 19, 2016 by mestengobooks

I’ve had this poem on my laptop(s) for years. I can’t remember where I found it or even who wrote it, but it’s my favorite way to tell family and friends what they mean to me. My apology to the author for not properly crediting him/her. If anyone knows who wrote this, please let me know. In the meantime, feel free to share this with your family and friends. I like to print it out on slips of paper and tuck it into Xmas cards. This year I simply emailed it to everyone to ensure timely receipt. (I love to send cards as they’re more personal, but the past several months have been a difficult time for me and I wanted to make sure I didn’t forget anyone.)