Christmas 2013
My best friend and mentor Margie gave me the best birthday present ever this year – a pre-lit Christmas tree and all the trimmings. In the past I have gained a reputation as a non decorating Scrooge but this year is different.
I don’t know if it is the spirit of Christmas Lites III (for sale Dec. 3!) getting to me, the gift of the tree minus the arduous task of stringing lights or that we have a nice home to decorate for once… or a combination… but the festive spirit has really taken over me this year.
Unfortunately Margie can’t come in our house much because she and her husband are highly allergic to animals and we are practically a zoo over here at the moment. Our computers also don’t like to talk to each other so she hasn’t been able to see any photos I’ve sent.
This post is dedicated to Margie, best friend and wise mentor… the woman I call when
The rustic Santa’s are charming little guys…
things are all going downhill fast and I need some guidance and the woman I call with good news. Thank you Margie, for the gift of Christmas Spirit… and Happy Thanksgiving!
Ring Out, Wild Bells
by Lord Alfred Tennyson
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Angela Yuriko Smith is a regular contributor on Dandilyon Fluff and the author of several modern Gothic books including Mr. Bonejangles & Other Tales of Dark Karma and the End of Daze series which includes End of Mae and End of Joon.
Presently serving as a hostess on internet radio talk show, JournalJabber, she pays her bills by working as an editorial assistant for a weekly newspaper.
