Xmas Traditions

Mistletoe, Christmas lights, family gatherings, caroling, a Christmas church service, that crazy aunt, and gift exchanges. Christmas 2005 has past as each year they do, so what made Christmas for you this year?

Christmas is a time of year that usually is defined by new and old tradition. What happens or may not happen may determine whether or not one has a good Christmas. This at least seems to be the case for me.

Last Friday was my first day of vacation. I headed down to my hometown Salisbury, Maryland. As I drove up the driveway I was excited to get my family time fill. The Christmas holiday time at the Banks’ house has a few things to expect. Every year our family from my mother’s side gets together on Christmas Eve and we have a light dinner followed by a gift exchange. Prior to the gift exchange it is tradition that the family sits around while each member tells the eldest (my grandfather- our sudo Santa Claus) what we wish to get for Christmas. So in order from youngest to oldest, one by one, we reveal our interests for the year. The great thing is that we videotape this, so it puts everyone on the spot. This used to be a little embarrassing growing up, but now a Christmas without it would just not be Christmas.

Christmas day starts with a nice breakfast. Later in the day we usually get together to exchange gifts followed by dinner. Overall it’s a day for the family to be together. I truly value Christmas for the family time and tradition. So tell me, what are some of your family's Christmas traditions?

Barbie Doll

A glance and then my attention was had. Have you ever noticed someone, that by sight your attention was instantly had? This past Thursday I was having a dinner with vendors and colleagues, and within moments noticed two women in the restaurant. Keep in mind this was a very highly rated restaurant on the water in Annapolis. The type of people this place attracts are very well off and give a polished persona. This woman physically attracted every ones attention. After our dinner a couple of us invited the two ladies to join us at the bar.

Her words were heard and we all were individually and consciously critiquing her. I mean when you meet someone that just has that much of a physical appeal you wonder, ‘what is it about her’in my case? She carried herself very well and was drinking a great choice of wine. You could tell an outing like this, at a nice venue as this, for her was routine. The more we chatted the more we realized she had to be older, but she looked too flawless to be that mature physically. This is when I realized.

The smile too perfect, the skin too smooth, the body… well you get my point. I had realized that the same girl that caught the attention of nearly every male and mostly every female may have had a little help. Why was this person so attractive to the eye? I mean the more she spoke the more superficial she sounded. ‘Barbie’ was seeking an audience. I guess I wonder at what extreme do we cave into the pressures of our culture. I understand that it is more demanding on women, but where do we as a society, cross the line?

Thirty minutes after the conversation began, my thoughts moved from how beautiful she was, to the many ways she didn’t appeal to me. Strange, but true, I guess it is true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

'Second Hand'

My week so far has entailed vendor entertainment, last minute bids, and a company car. During the end of the year our vendors love to wine and dine their key customers or distributors. My company Graybar just happens to be one of the largest distributors. What that means is that we sell a lot of their crap! Last night we went to a nice restaurant in Crofton. The highlight of the night was that I got carded! One of the younger employees got carded as well and they were not happy about it. Anymore I find myself not minding it at all. I find these events not as appealing as when I first started in the industry. It’s more of the vendors trying to pry information about business and heavy drinking. Since I don’t drink that much anymore, this is no longer my idea of fun. I believe all the smoke in the bar is also one of the main reasons I don’t prefer these activities. I can’t stand smoke and cigar smoke is even worse.

Tonight, another vendor is taking the company out to ‘The Chart House’ in Annapolis. I am excited about this. From my understanding this restaurant is a classy place and I will be eating a tender Filet Mignon.

This week for some reason has been full of last minute bids. Work normally is a little more predictable, but so far we have been under the gun to quote these projects. It’s a great thing that I have more than a weeks vacation coming up shortly!

Yesterday I picked up my company car. It is not the sharpest or coolest car on the road, but it is a free ride so I can’t complain. This means I may be selling my car shortly, but not sure yet. The only problem I have with the Taurus is that the last salesman was a smoker. Man, do I hate cigarette smoke! It’s hard to think of a more unattractive thing that is always followed by an awful smell.

Guilt in the Wind

This past Link Group we discussed the idea of Guilt and Regret. Since then, I have attempted to find areas in my life where I may have or currently feel guilt. Guilt is in essence a disturbance in ones conscience. Today I will share a glimpse into my past. During my college days I was hardly living a Godly life, in fact I did my best to avoid anything related to or involved with such a thing. My life at the time was a journey of decadence and living life for the next thrill, or high. Roughly nine years ago I can remember one specific night where my night went from euphoric to nearly over. Sadly, this is just one example, when as to I have had a couple near falls. Recently, I found a letter I wrote and saved from this night. I honestly believed that during this night, that these would be my last words. I still find them curiously interesting.

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Wind

On this Thursday morning; early morning at that, by cause of late nights. The feeling is very nice but weird, scary weird. I am different, almost… I feel heavenly aspects and evil aspects. The days are bright. Then other days are dim and hard. I am envisioning great deals of patient moving moods of mud and soft sand. I see dark in the background and us; when we were young but aged boys, and a sweet smiley sister. But this family’s eyes were all serious and stern, not harsh enough to throw an idea of mean or sad. We were there, that in what I saw was the mother, sound and just a perfect mother. The father was in the back behind us, always protecting us from evil and showed me why love is the strongest power. It is what life should be like, and that its passion to make smiles and good feelings to be passed and shared. I love my family so much, they are who made me. They made a guy who was a jerk , but also a real gentleman in the other. I have matured like increasing pieces of this amount of promise. I stood strong to challenges. As I find a way to be different, I need to change my path, it is not right and my talents should be to help others find this pure power. I am not in a stable condition. I am Jon in a different way. This way shows futuristic situations. Time travel Brian that is what it all is about baby… This is very different right now: I am fighting it, and I have to resist. I can’t fold, I need sun and white bright smiles of a happy stay or state. Both pose serious intentions in what I so subconsciously and consciously am saying. Or maybe I like pizza, doughnuts, not bagels, I would love a candy bar or gummy worms. Colored rocks… I see things serious and more efficient, and a smart way of doing. Loops lay are a cool thing. I love the beach, love the sun, and Love JESUS. I feel your power! “My Sweet Lord” I love you. ~Jon

PS. I AM EATING CRACKERS RIGHT NOW…

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Today, I read this and cannot think of any reason to feel guilt or shame. If anything I should think I was totally whacked! But honestly I will say that I am truly thankful that I lived through these times. This just happened to be one of the many obstacles that may have helped me understand that there was more beauty in life than I could see. Events like these just make it more evident to me that God is using and working in my life. Without Him I would not be here. I only hope that I can take any guilt that I may have and throw it to the wind.

“Lord, God. I thank you for life and miracles. I ask you to continue to show me understanding and my purpose. Through You I know we have hope, and we all are forgiven. Please continue to make this apparent to me even during those tough times when we feel like failures. May I continue to walk towards You and away from the past. With this I pray”-Amen