On the third day of Christmas: three French hens, symbolizing variously, according to one tradition or another, the Magi gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh or these three: Faith, Hope, and Love. And the greatest of these is Love,  άγάπη (agápē)  https://www.dictionary.com/e/greek-words-for-love/  in one collection, or possibly gold in the other collection;  although the assignment of Xn symbolism comes later. It seems to have been just a song first, maybe a song to sing as a memory game at holiday gatherings.  Jumping in first, AI offers its usual flat "just the facts, ma'am" answer about the song, Wikipedia does a more human job  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)   I do know that when we sang the song in the Norfolk Naval Base officers' club at the 1958 or 1959 Christmas party of our destroyer squadron wardroom officers, our verse to stand and sing filled with Christmas spirits was "Five gold rings," and we were ins...

On the second day of Christmas:  two turtle doves,  and a partridge in a pear tree. ++++++ Holed up in my Bay side window seat hiding place where no one can see me unless I want them to,  surrounded by what? my loot. Treats: good things to eat, and a book to read, "James" by P Everett, a novel developing the life of N - - Jim from Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" if you know the story. In my day and Time it was a charming, enchanting, amusing classic universally read by every student about - - maybe sixth or seventh or eighth grade in an age when we didn't know any better, God help us. But you only know what you know, nomesane? Here in the South we still heard about The Cause and everything was the way it was supposed to be, and it never occurred to us that everything we knew was injustice and a lie, Godless cruelty to other human beings. I'm expecting "James" to take me back to my Time of realization - - which basically dawned on ...

  "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" he waves as he drives out of sight, red suit, sleigh, tiny reindeer and all.  Christmas at 7H began about 0215 this morning, but sensible awareness never dawned, so I was back in bed by three something, sleeping until about, in Navy language, 0630 hours. 4:30 PM ruckus at church last evening was best of all, and I found that it's even way, way more fun sitting in a pew and watching from out front instead of from my clergy chair in back. The kids were superlative and the audience/congregation were wonderfully responsive! Annual Xmas morning breakfast of a length of Tallahassee pork sausage on a hotdog bun, smear of mayonnaise and smear of yellow mustard, but not enough condiments to hide the wonderful sausage taste, which I've been waiting and hoping for these months. It's all good! Kristen and TJCC are expected later this morning, kitchen will be Tass and Jeremy's except for my putting the strip of beef tend...

  The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke: 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of t...

  Outside, 41°F but wind ENE 10 mph gusts to 17 mph make it feel like 31° in this 3:56 AM CST predawn darkness of Xmas Eve Eve, Mon Dec 23 2024.  Opa mug of hot & black with one tsp avocado oil and a thick slice of deliciously heavy pumpkin nut bread, yesterday's gift that made me feel like I'm still a real boy and not something that's faded into the, what? Universe? Multiverse? the ether of endless space. Again, have you noticed it happening? AI has started answering every question I ask of Google.   From NASA, Hubble and Webb images of two galaxies interacting. Is God there? What is God interested in? Does God have hobbies? Who or What is God? Is God force, intellect, mindfulness, intention, chaos, energy, ... ? Where is God? My seminary theology professor insisted that God, Christ, Jesus is not present with one alone, because the promise is, "Where two or three gather in my Name, there am I in the midst of them." Jenson was a little bizarre, but so have I b...

  Advent Four: today is Mary Sunday, in the background she sings her song while I read poetry, this morning by Seamus Heaney. And Yeats: are the Irish poets best? Here's one I liked, "Twice Shy," but then I liked them all, like them all: Her scarf a la Bardot, In suede flats for the walk, She came with me one evening For air and friendly talk. We crossed the quiet river, Took the embankment walk. Traffic holding its breath, Sky a tense diaphragm: Dusk hung like a backcloth That shook where a swan swam, Tremulous as a hawk Hanging deadly, calm. A vacuum of need Collapsed each hunting heart But tremulously we held As hawk and prey apart, Preserved classic decorum, Deployed our talk with art. Our Juvenilia Had taught us both to wait, Not to publish feeling And regret it all too late - Mushroom loves already Had puffed and burst in hate. So, chary and excited, As a thrush linked on a hawk, We thrilled to the March twilight With nervous childish talk: Still waters running deep...

Fri Dec 20 2:25 AM, seems like up too early, but it was early to bed so it's early to rise, a man in extreme old age sips hot & black from his 8 oz. mug. As yesterday, it has a teaspoon of oil in, but this Time it's the recommended EVOO, California brand bought at Target after the 9:30 dermatology appointment.   It is strange, fresh EVOO may have a peppery taste, and this does, adds it to the coffee. Reminds me that the Chief Commissaryman used to add a pinch of black pepper to the coffee urn as it was perking and brewing. Established in 1948 combining several specialties of cook and baker, the rating Commissaryman was changed to Mess Management Specialist in 1974, and then to Culinary Specialist in 2004. I'll venture to stir the pot by speculating: was that all about getting "man" out of the title, and was it a form of Woke at work, and did I read that Pete Hegseth is waffling on his position against gays in the military and women in combat assignments? Havin...