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12/21/13 - NNHS Newsletter - Winter Solstice

“Grant, O God/dess, thy Protection
and in protection, Strength
and in strength, Understanding
and in understanding, Knowledge
and in knowledge, the Knowledge of Justice
and in the knowledge of justice, the Love of it
and in the love of it, the Love of all Existences
and in the love of all existences,
the Love of God/dess and all Goodness.”

- Nichols, 305

Dear Friends and Schoolmates, 

   Today's Newsletter, marking the day's Winter Solstice, is especially for   Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH and her daughter,   Avens, but as we celebrate everything together here with our big happy Typhoon family, Good Yule to all!

   Domi sent me this BONUS VIDEO two years ago:

BONUS #1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFu3zwEDs0&feature=email - Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull

   No free midi file was available, but I think you'll enjoy that video, as well as this one she sent me on 12/05/11:

BONUS #2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2c7RywNkyY&playnext=1&list=PLpHndh_Qs8DK39sPYBNyFkSVYjoNU2bCf&feature=results_video - Winter Solstice & Yule Time Blessings - Winter Born by Unto Ashes

  Thanks, Domi!

From http://www.cupofwonder.com/songs3.html#solstice:

This song is a dance to celebrate winter Solstice (mostly on the 22nd and sometimes on the 21st of December) and appeals to rejoice the lengthening of the days, c.q. the return of the light. In it druïds dance while the narrator calls for people to gather underneath mistletoe and give praise to the sun. For many European nations like the Celts, and the Germanic peoples this festival in ancient times was one of the major ones of the year, full of rites and ceremonies of which some survived the ages like the bonfire/fireworks. During its spread over Europe, Christianity claimed this festival by 'implanting' Christmas as a festival of light on the 25th of December. The back of the sleeve of the "Solstice Bells"-EP (released in 1976) has a brief anecdote describing how the Church coöpted the pagan winter solstice celebrating, Yule, and replaced it with Christmas...

HOMEWORK:

From http://www.neopagan.net/NeoDruidismCalendar.html:

The Winter Solstice is a Minor High Day, usually occurring around December 21st or so of the civil calendar. Also known as Yule and Midwinter, this is a day sacred to Sun, Thunder, and Fire Deities. Large fires were built outdoors and Yule Logs lit indoors, in order to rekindle the dying Sun and help it to return brightly to the Northern skies. Burnt logs and ashes from the Midwinter fires were kept as a talisman against lightning and house fires. It was also a custom in many parts of Paleopagan Europe to decorate live evergreen trees in honor of the Gods (cutting down a tree to bring indoors is a blasphemous desecration of the original concept). This is considered, along with Midsummer, the best day of the year to cut mistletoe. Among some Mediterranean Paleopagans, a date on or near this was celebrated as the Birthday of Mithras and/or the Feast of Saturnalia (which the Christians co-opted to use for the birth of Christ).

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS:

   Happy Birthday tomorrow to   Kitty Norman Haskins ('57) of VA AND Elliot Schlosser ('63) AND    Dottie Pegram Daniels (NNHS / George Washington HS - '64) of WV AND    Harry Barritt ('64) of VA AND    Dale Mueller ('64) of VA AND   Bill Rash ('67) of VA!

   Happy Birthday this week to:

23 -     Tom Flax ('64) of VA AND   Joyce Lawrence Cahoon ('65) of VA AND  Holly Hill Campbell (Hampton Roads Academy - '72) of VA;

24 - James Gay ('57) AND Ann W. Hutcheson ('57) AND    Malcolm Davis ('65) of VA AND   Sandye Jordan Frost ('67) of NC;

25 -   Patsy Bloxom Meider ('57) of NC AND Doug Dickinson ('69) of VA! 

27 -   Anita Morgan Becker ('66) of VA;

28 - Bob Stalnaker ('63)! 

   Many Happy Returns to You All!

http://www.nnhs65.com/Happy-Birthday.html 

THIS DAY IN WWII:

December 21, 1941 - A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan was signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew.


 

THIS DAY IN 1963:

Saturday, December 21, 1963 - Actor and politician Govinda, was born Govinda Arun Ahuja in Virar, Maharashtra, India.

Saturday, December 21, 1963 - Cricketer Jack Hobbs (b. John Berry Hobbs on 16 Dec 1872 in Cambridge, England) died in Hove, East Sussex, England five days after his 81st birthday.


 

  From Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH - 12/19/13 - "Solstice Greetings! (Welcome Yule, by Susan Cooper.)":

“And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.”

― Susan Cooper

   Thanks so much, Domi!


 

  From Domi O'Brien ('64) of NH - 12/20/13 - "Old Irish Seasonal Poem":

Scél lém dúib

ut dixit Find hu Baiscne

1. Scél lém dúib
dordaid dam.
snigid gaim
ro faith sam.

2. gáeth ard huar
ísel grian
gair a rrith
ruthach .i. tondgarach rían. .i. muir

3. roruad rath .i. raithnech
ro cleth .i. ro cheil cruth.
ro gab gnath
giugrand guth.

4. ro gab uacht
ete. én
aigre ré.
e. mo scle.
scél lem duib

Translation

As Finn, descendent of Baíscni, said:

My tidings for you: the stag bells,
Winter snows, summer is gone.
Wind high and cold, low the sun,
Short his course, sea running high.
Deep-red the bracken, its shape all gone,
The wild-goose has raised his wonted cry.
Cold has caught the wings of birds;
Season of ice - these are my tidings


SOURCES

Lebor na hUidre, ll.849-856.

   COOL BEANS! Thanks again, Domi! Good Yule!


 

   From Malcolm Davis ('65) of VA - 12/20/13 - "I seem to have dropped off of your December birthday list.":

  May I please resume my place among those who were born on Christmas Eve?

Of course that was a long long time ago and in a land far far away.

Thank you for all that you continue to do in your communications to us all.

   Oh, Malcolm! How could such an egregious error have occurred?!?

Okay, actually I know exactly how it happened, but I won't bore you with the details. Suffice to say it was all my fault, and I'm so sorry. I've done my usual revisions for this year, and that should prevent it from taking place in the future. Thank you for bringing to my attention!

 
 


 

    From Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) of VA - 12/20/13 - "NNHS Famous Military Deaths":
Carol,

I have been away way too long and miss participating to the NNHS website.

I used to update the Famous Military pages for you providing full names as well as correct full birth and death dates/places. I would like to start that back up seeing some names that needs updated. Would you mind my doing that? Thanks!

   Thank you so much, Eric - I would really appreciate that!


 

     From the Incomparable Charis Bean Duke (Governor Thomas Johnson HS, MD - '85) of PA - 12/20/13 - "hi!":

Hello Carol,

How are the Hartys? We really miss you guys. It's very different here, but I'm slowly getting used to it. We didn't have a Stake Christmas program, and I miss it. It always set such a nice tone for the holidays.

I have a new blog post I think you will like. I wrote a new song for it called "Carol of the Bigots."

http://lasttangowithcharis.blogspot.com/2013/12/im-not-dreaming-of-white-christmas.html

...Have a very Merry Christmas.

Charis

   Thank you, Charis! We had no Stake Christmas program, either - something about not having the Duke family here to be in charge of it. It was sort of a George Bailey moment, and everyone missed it.

   We are having a very different kind of Christmas this year. Last year, it was just the two of us. This year we'll have with us one daughter, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren ranging in age from 14 to six months! It'll be hectic, harried, and chaotic, but grand and glorious fun!

   Thanks for your latest blog - and Merry Christmas to you and your amazing family!


 

   From Bill Hobbs ('66) of Northern VA - 12/20/13 - "Check out 'Il Silenzio' - Melissa Venema (13 year old)":

This is a must:

http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm - 'Il Silencio' (The Silence) played by 13 year old Melissa Venema with André Rieu and his orchestra at the 'Vrijthof' in Maastricht.
 
Melissa plays like an angel. The sound of the trumpet evokes harmony and heavenly peace. What a majestic interpretation!
'Il Silenzio' is an Italian instrumental piece written in 1965 by trumpet player Nini Rosso.
André Rieu (born 1949) is a famous Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer.

   Thank you so much, Billy! I was having trouble getting this link to play, so here is an alternate link of the same gal playing the same number two years later.

    Il Silencio is not to be confused with Taps, though it is reminiscent of it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Silenzio_(song)


 

  From Ruth Ann Reece Horace ('67) of FL - 12/20/13 - "New Snow Plow for my northern friends":


From a friend in upstate New York:
 
Now that I’m retired and need a little extra income to get me through, I got my new snow plow ready for the cold, snowy winter.
 
So just let me know when you need your sidewalks or driveways cleaned.  I can probably work out a good rate for you as long as we keep it under the table.
 
For all you other retirees, I'm thinking of setting up a dealership and will be selling these new snow plows starting in early January.
 

     Thanks, Ruthie!


 

          From My #6 Son, Dale Harty, (Hillsboro HS, IL / American School, IL - '02) of NC - 12/20/13 - "Christmas Jammies":
Here's another one for your Newsletter - the only real way to send Christmas greetings. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWYXkVVrFo - Christmas Jammies -  Merry Christmas From The Holderness Family!

     This is just too wonderful! Thanks, Dale! The dad here is from one of the Raleigh television stations!


 

 From My Friend, Tony, of UT - 12/20/13 - 'I Hear...' ":

  Yes. Yes, I believe He did.....

Thanks, Tony!

 
 


 

       From George Helliesen ('61) of MI - 12/20/13 - "One Word Essays (#1 in a Series of 28)":
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Neat things in life!
 
 
May your troubles be less,
May your blessings be more;
May nothing but happiness come through your door!!

   Thanks so much, George! These are cool!
Determination
 


 

BONUS CHRISTMAS CROCHET PATTERN:
Christmas Pixie Baby Hat - "Keep your baby warm and cozy this holiday season with the Christmas Pixie Baby Hat. This cozy crochet baby hat will keep little heads warm as temperatures drop. No need to worry about the wind blowing this hat away since the little tie-strap will keep it snugly in place. This adorable hat also features a pom-pom point at the very top to further add charm. Make this pattern as is, or scale up to make it fit for adults. This crochet hat pattern will make the perfect holiday gift this season."


 
BONUS YULE LOG CAKE RECIPES:

http://hubpages.com/hub/yule-log

http://kathyniemer.tripod.com/kathysillustratedrecipes/id11.html

http://www.joyofbaking.com/YuleLog.html

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Classic-Yule-Log/Detail.aspx

http://www.donogh.com/cooking/holiday/yulelog.shtml

http://www.suite101.com/content/yule-log-recipe-from-betty-crocker-a9735

http://www.ehow.com/how_10052_make-yule-log.html

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/209420_yule-log-cake-recipe 

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,yule_log,FF.html


 
FINALLY:
 
From www.ajokeaday.com - 12/20/13:

Q: Why do ducks have webbed feet?

A: To stamp out forest fires.

Q: Why do elephants have flat feet?

A: To stamp out burning ducks.


 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

1. Thursday, January 2, 2014 - The NNHS Class of 1955 holds Lunch Bunch gatherings on the first Thursday of every month at Steve & John's Steak House on Jefferson Avenue just above Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News at 11:00 AM. The luncheon is not limited to just the Class of '55; if you have friends in that year, go visit with them.

2. Wednesday, February 12, 2013 - The NNHS Class of June 1942 meets at noon on the second Wednesday of every other month for a Dutch treat lunch at the James River Country Club, 1500 Country Club Road. PLEASE JOIN THEM. Give or take a few years makes no difference. Good conversation, food and atmosphere. For details, call Jennings Bryan at 803-7701 for reservations.  


 
PRAYER ROLL:

http://www.nnhs65.com/requests-prayers.html - updated 12/16/13

 BLOG:

http://nnhs.wordpress.com/ - updated 03/13/11


 


   Y'all take care of each other!  TYPHOONS FOREVER!  We'll Always Have Buckroe!

                                 Love to all, Carol

==============================================

NNHS CLASS OF '65 WEB SITE: http://www.nnhs65.com

PERSONAL WEB SITE: http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/cluckmeat

==============================================
 

Carol Buckley Harty
7020 Lure Court
Fayetteville, NC 28311-9309
915-780-3048		  


THREE WAYS TO DONATE:  

1. Visit the main page (http://www.nnhs65.com), scroll halfway down, and click on the Pay Pal Donate Button (nnhs65@gmail.com);

2. Go to www.PayPal.com, log in, select "Send Money (Services) to nnhs65@gmail.com; or

3. Just mail it directly to my home. Thanks!    
             

Ring Out, Solstice Bells

Written by Ian Anderson (b. 10 Aug 1947)

Recorded by Jethro Tull, 1977


Now is the solstice of the year,
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Join together beneath the mistletoe.
by the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out those bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.

"Ring Out, Solstice Bells" lyrics courtesy of http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jethrotull/ringoutsolsticebells.html - 12/20/11

"Red Bird Berry" image courtesy of http://dailydig.bruderhof.org - 09/13/04

"Crown of Thorns" image also courtesy of http://dailydig.bruderhof.org - 12/15/04

Holly Divider Line clip art courtesy of http://www.bravenet.com - 08/12/04

Animated Tiny Birthday Cake clip art courtesy of Sarah Puckett Kressaty ('65) of VA - 08/31/05
Thanks, Sarah Sugah!

Navy Seal clip art courtesy of http://www.onemileup.com/miniSeals.asp - 05/29/06

Bethel High School's Bruin clip art courtesy of Eric Huffstutler (Bethel HS - '75) of VA - 03/22/06 (replaced 02/23/09)
Thanks, Eric!

Animated Hiding Mallard (by AF Artist - Josh Doohen) courtesy of http://www.animationfactory.com - 05/15/08

Governor Thomas Johnson High School's Logo courtesy of http://www.tjathletics.org/ - 06/16/08Animated Laughing Jerry courtesy of Cookie Phillips Tyndall ('64) of VA - 06/14/06
Thanks, Cookie!

Animated Cheering Smiley clip art courtesy of Al Farber ('64) of GA - 08/18/05 (re-saved 02/27/09)
Thanks, Al!

Hillsboro High School's Topper (Band Version) clip art courtesy of http://www.hillsboroschools.net/schools/hhs/activities/music2/Band/bio.html - 06/07/08
Thanks, Mark!

American School Logo courtesy of http://www.americanschoolofcorr.com/grads.asp - 09/05/06

Animated Laughing Kitty courtesy of Tom Flax ('64) of VA - 06/03/06
Thanks, Tom!

 Air Force Seal clip art courtesy of http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/celebrate/milsongs.htm - 07/07/06

Animated Ringing Christmas Bell clip art (designed by Art Holden) courtesy of http://www.animationfactory.com - 12/08/05

Back to NNHS Newsletters - 2013

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