From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Christmas_Song:
"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts
Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry
Christmas to You") is a classic
Christmas song written in
1944 by
Bob Wells and
Mel
Tormé. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born.[1] "I saw a spiral pad on his (Wells') piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, 'Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics." The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song early in 1946. At Cole's behest – and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records – a second recording was made later the same year utilizing a small string section, this version becoming a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole again recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Cole's 1961 version is generally regarded as definitive, and in 2004 was the most-loved seasonal song with women aged 30–49,[2] while the original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974...[3] |
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:
Happy Birthday today to
Helen Bost Rainelle ('72) of FL!
Happy Birthday tomorrow to
Mary Massey Lyle ('61) of NJ AND
Marcus C. Higgins ('65) of AZ AND
Tom Norris (Hampton HS - '73) AND
My Former Daughter-in-Law,
Bethany Winona
McAllister
(Siuslaw HS, OR - '94) of UT!
Happy Birthday this week to:
13 - Kay Davis Smith ('57);
14 - Elizabeth Mitchell Hedgepeth ('57) AND
Kathie Avant Taylor ('64) of GA;
17 -
Norma Helmick Burks ('63) AND
Tom Oxner
('65) of AR;
18 - James Strickland ('57)!
Many Happy
Returns, One and All!
http://www.nnhs65.com/Happy-Birthday.html
THIS DAY IN WWII
:
December 11, 1937 -
Second Italo-Abyssinian War: The Fascist Council in Rome withdrew
Italy from the
League of Nations. .
December 11, 1941 -
Poland declared war on Empire of Japan. |
THIS DAY IN 1954:
It was 60 years ago today that
USS Forrestal
(CVA-59)
was christened, right there in Newport News.
Remember? Even I remember that; I was right there with my family. I was
wearing my white organdy dress.....
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http://www.nnhs65.com/SITE-MAP.html
http://www.nnhs65.com/12-11-54-Forrestal.html
THIS DAY IN 1964:
Friday, December 11, 1964 - Comedian and actor
Michel Courtemanche was born in
Laval, Quebec,
Canada.
Friday, December 11, 1964 - Singer-songwriter and guitarist (Del Amitri and The Uncle Devil Show) Justin Currie was born Justin Robert Currie in Glasgow, Scotland. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Middle-distance runner Ella Kovacs was born in Luduş, Romania. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Singer-songwriter, bass player, and producer (Widespread Panic, Stockholm Syndrome, and J Mascis + The Fog) Dave Schools was born David Allen Schools in Richmond, Virginia. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan was born in Concord, New Hampshire. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Swimmer Carolyn Waldo was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Singer-songwriter (The Highway Q.C.'s and The Soul Stirrers) Sam Cooke (b. 22 Jan 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi) died in Los Angeles, California at the age of 31 in what was then ruled a justifiable homicide. Friday, December 11, 1964 - Actor and singer Percy Kilbride (b. Percy William Kilbride on 16 July 1888 in San Francisco, California) died in Los Angeles, California of atherosclerosis and terminal pneumonia at the age of 76. |
From Wayne Agee
('58) of FL - 12/10/14
- "You have to watch this... just awesome..... - Merry Christmas":
You have to watch this...
just awesome..... - Merry Christmas! To get you in the spirit of Christmas The Air Force band like the designated official bands for the other Military Services are composed of highly respected musicians . Many of these band members have advanced degrees in voice, instrumental and music composition,. In addition they are fully trained and qualified as soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen and coasties. They perform free concerts around the world of classical, jazz, popular, rock and martial music. If you have an opportunity to attend one of their concerts you will be totally impressed and entertained. I was fortunate to work with an Army special band during the Country’s bi-centennial in a musical presentation of the soldier and 200 years of history. The show traveled from coast to coast for over a year and played to thousands in the finest theatres. During this tour I came to realize the professionalism of these soldiers and their importance to our Country. They are truly special. http://blog.theveteranssite.com/smithsonian-flash-mob/#wFbHWRqUyX1gVq5V.01 - It Starts With a Lone Cellist… And Grows to 120 Musicians! The U.S. Air Force Band Flash Mobs the Smithsonian In Style!
WOWZERONI! Thank you,
Wayne!
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From My Husband, Paul Harty (Bardolph
HS, IL - '61) of NC - 12/10/14
- "YES...THIS IS US!":
YES...THIS IS
US! Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took: The melody out of music, The pride out of appearance, The courtesy out of driving, The romance out of love, The commitment out of marriage, The responsibility out of parenthood, The togetherness out of the family, The learning out of education, The service out of patriotism, The Golden Rule from rulers, The nativity scene out of cities, The civility out of behavior, The refinement out of language, The dedication out of employment, The prudence out of spending, The ambition out of achievement, or, God out of government and school. And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!! And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country. Does anyone under the age of 50 know the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner? or O Canada Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention, on veterans day and our great country's birthday . YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN! I'm the life of the party......even if it lasts until 8 p.m. I'm very good at opening childproof caps...with a hammer. I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going. I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up. I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying. I'm very good at telling stories; over and over and over and over... I'm aware that other people's grandchildren are not nearly as cute as mine. I'm so cared for --- long term care, eye care, private care, dental care. I'm not really grouchy, I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, Jenny Craig and Toyota commercials, barking dogs, politicians and a few other things I can't seem to remember right now. I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere. I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg. I'm having trouble remembering simple words like....... I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps. I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days, and when did they let kids become policemen? I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150? And, how can my kids be older than I feel sometimes? I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the storeroom door. Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN and I think I am having the time of my life! Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn't send it back to them, but I would send it to many more! Now - Have I already sent this to you??????? If so, I'll try not to do it again (for a while.) |
Thank you, Haul Party!
From My Cousin,
Jean Atkinson Mallory (Warsaw
HS / Rappahannock HS / John Marshall HS - '65)
of VA -
12/10/14 -
"Make Time":
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ABSOLUTELY!
Thanks, Jean!
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From My Husband, Paul Harty (Bardolph HS, IL - '61) of
NC - 11/22/14 - "FAMILY PORTRAITS (#17 in a series of 18)":
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AWW!
Thanks, Dools!
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From My Friend, Tammy, of NC - 12/07/14 - "Daily Christmas Story (#9 in a Series of 24)"
This year I decided to
share some of my favorite Christmas stories and quotes. It is a
tradition in our family to read a Christmas story every night in
December culminating with the Nativity on the 24th.
Christmas Story Day 9,
Trouble at the Inn by Dina Donohue |
For
years now, whenever Christmas pageants are talked about in a certain
little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of
Wallace Purling. Wally's performance in one annual production of the Nativity play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old-timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened. Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth. Most people in town knew that he had difficulty keeping up. He was big and awkward, slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was well liked by the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask to play ball with them or any game, for that matter, in which winning was important. They'd find a way to keep
him out, but Wally would hang around anyway—not sulking, just hoping. He
was a helpful boy, always willing and smiling, and the protector,
paradoxically, of the underdog. If the older boys chased the younger
ones away, it would be Wally who'd say, "Can't they stay? They're no
bother." And so it happened that
the usual large, partisan audience gathered for the town's yearly
extravaganza of crooks and crèches, of beards, crowns, halos and a whole
stageful of squeaky voices. "Seek it elsewhere." Wally spoke vigorously. "The inn is filled." "Sir, we have asked
everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and are very weary." |
Thank you so
very much, Tammy!
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