Fast Forward to 2017

Just for the record, it was a very different year for Kay and me, as usual. Our one-page family newsletter shared the synopsis; (can make more copies to meet a demand).

Year-end fireworks in the foggy distance.  (When we were young, we just banged pans on the back porch at midnight to celebrate New Year's.)

TV in the other room – anything extraordinary?

Wearing my orange Stihl ear protectors while vacuuming – symbolic of how I blocked out most political talk in 2016.

A sweet repeat of Christmas choir music with David Archuleta – my own reward for cleaning floors.

"Happy New Year from Google!" – a timely, personal greeting from our go-to search engine.

What more can I say this year?  Just that I wanted to end with a fast note ... for the record.

"Grow old with me ... the best is yet to be ..."

Old Year Passes

Our halls are still decked as "fast away the old year passes ...".

Maybe some things should pass, too ... for thrift-store shoppers to treasure and enjoy in the New Year.  I can be content with memories and digital photos safely archived (pics, that is – not so sure about my memory).  And it always does my heart good to share useful stuff with others.  In fact, this year I suggested free yard sales, like barter ("synonyms: trade, swap, exchange" – G.) ... e.g., "they bartered VHS tapes for PVC pipe" – I can do that. So far, no one seems interested, like they're set with all the used stuff they will ever need.  Unbelievable.  However, I understand Kay's thinking (at my age) we actually need to get rid of some, not just trade.  (Time to read Walden and Marie's magic tidiness again to feel joy next year.  But not on this lunch break.)

How can I part with this useful beauty?  (JVC audio tape deck from DI)
Sad to say, "They don't build 'em like they used to."

Last year, a family member said this was out of style.  But it still keeps me warm!

Ned saving daughter's art and maintaining grandkids' basement playground

A favorite VHS discarded, only because it broke

Go figure!

This isn't all – we have more books to go.

Year-end Statements

Our years go 'bye with simple statements such as these:

"Thanks To All Who Served" in our military!

Lights at Prescott AZ, 26 December 2015

"Merry Christmas! with love, Ned & Kay"

Kay's Potato Soup mix etc. gifts to go 2015

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"
(No worries – kids' spills are easy to clean up.)
Entertaining with trusty old table for twelve, 12 Dec 2011

"Stay focused for a few days till Christmas!"

Favorite high school English teacher, 16 Dec 2015

Take the time together, and keep each other warm – it's worth it!

Winter stop at Grand Canyon, sunset for two, 30 Dec 2014

May this week be a memorable end, anticipating a
new beginning!

Pics of Christmas Past Too

Somehow he did it – I still haven't figured out how, although I got some clues from movies we've watched.  So Santa fit this senior couple into his busy schedule of deliveries to good girls and boys everywhere.  And I have not been that good, but won't get into that here.  Our stockings were hung ... and got partially filled.  With heavenly music in the air, and a few presents under the tree, this Christmas Day is a case of "less is more".  I love it!

Christmas today brings back sweet memories of family celebrating this special season as we remember our Savior's birth.  That calls for more pictures I'm picking out.  My words can't do it justice; maybe if I were a better writer ...

missing young Elder Cannon on Christmas morning '94,  East Mill Creek

Let's see ... what can we feed this crowd? (at frontier family get-together)

Kay's gifts to go for 2015

gaming devices popular with Cannon Family at frontier home

Cannons playing Grandma Kay's old-fashioned game with corks & beans

"Once there was a snowman ..."

growing Cannon Family visiting our Colonial Court home

Ned pondering nightlights in frontier home, 7 Dec 2011

Cannon high school choir Christmas concert was fantastic!

Arizona Cannon Christmas joy!

Pics of Christmas Past

Family history is fun, especially at Christmas time.  I found some on my old external drive (still working for OC digital hoarding). Not a lot of words, but a picture is worth ... designed to be shared.

Enjoy the season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We know He lives and loves us all!

lighted crèche at Ray & Helen Johnson's, 25 Dec 2010

touchdown at SL airport, ready for Christmas, 17 Dec 2011

granddaughter arrived at our frontier home, past bedtime, 17 Dec 2011

a happy firstborn with Grandma Kay at Temple Square, SLC, 14 Dec 2011

visiting the Christmas display at Deseret Book SLC, founded by GQC

reflection of SLC Christmas outing with grandson, 14 Dec 2011

the twin grandsons still wearing their Christmas colors, 13 Feb 2011

"The force" is with the twins' tree, 9 Dec 2011.

"to all, and to all a ..." fun site!

our history of cookies & caroling cans – so sweet

Late List for Santa

After a spiritual Sabbath day, why is the materialistic me coming out?  Are writing personal history and sharing thoughts just excuses now to make a self-centered list of Christmas wishes?  Is my second childhood showing up?  With so much stuff, why would I want more?  Rhetorical questions. Thinking out loud.  No need to answer.  “But where are the verbs?” you wonder.  “Alright without them,” I think to myself; (to whom else would I think?)

Moving on, if not too late for Santa’s production program, here’s my short list ("Ned's Nine") in random order:

toy train

country cookies (oatmeal raisin)

storybook for reading to grandchildren and Grandma

big black bags for sacking stashed stuff

chocolate chunks (we dig dark)

poetry, prose, or pictures of posterity

sweet bread – the staff of life

cloth covers for personal pillows (not pillowcases)

peculiar paperback publication (third request to surprise me)

familiar family photo

family favorite by Farr's 

our two oldest, happy with Santa's gifts in "H" Street home bsmt.

U of U Beta Fraternity dog with Ann & Ned, published in SL Tribune on a 1950s Christmas Day

early Christmas arrival weighing 7 lbs. 13 ozs. – art by the proud papa 

Moving at a Slower Pace

She’s probly thinkin’ about me, “That’s him alright – slower every year.”  Actually, my favorite high school English teacher would probably say, “That's he – moving slower and speaking more slowly every year.”

It’s true.  What better time to do?  It’s a whole week before Christmas Eve, and there’s plenty of time to shop, mail packages to loved ones, send cards, deliver goodies, and just relax.  (Hint: cookies are a favorite, as readers may recall.)

While strolling through Walmart last Thursday night, I observed frenetic folks fighting their way through the yearly routine.  “Try to go with the flow,” I challenged myself.  It was hopeless – this old man could not keep up with the crowd. 

Google defines frenetic: “fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.  [e.g.] "a frenetic pace of activity".

“An example of a frenetic person is someone running around trying to do 10 things at once.”  – yourdictionary.com

So yes, I’m moving at a slower pace now that I’m older.  I love the Simon & Garfunkel song, “Slow down, you move too fast / You got to make the morning last.” (“59th Street Bridge Song”)

This morning, Kay and I had a Christmas open house for our friends and neighbors.  After days of frenetic preparation, it felt good to slow down and spend a few hours getting better acquainted.  Of course, young Kay did most of the work, cooking and everything.  Super woman, she is!  And heavenly food, it was.

Be kind to yourself, and enjoy this season at a slower pace.

Seasonal Glossary

It’s late in the season by most shoppers’ standards, but not too late to list a few English words and terms relating to Christmas, New Year's, and the end of Twelve Days.  Including some Cannon Family traditions and favorites for the season, this incomplete glossary is my idea of "an alphabetical list of terms or words found in or relating to a specific subject, text, or dialect, with explanations; a brief dictionary."  – Google defined

A cappella choir   “without instrumental accompaniment.”  – Google defined
(a Christmas favorite on tour from East High School, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Amahl   a disabled shepherd boy as the main character in the 1951 production, “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti; 
three wise men from the East are following an extraordinary star

Bailey, George   main character in Frank Capra's classic film (released in USA on December 25, 1946) and the book (©1947), "It's a Wonderful Life"

Bethlehem the small town or "city of David" where Jesus was born (Luke 2:4 and Matthew 2:1)
Caroling   here we come ... a wandering through the neighborhood, singing Christmas songs  and sometimes getting a treat to eat
Christmas   annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; (Christmas Day is December 25th.)

Gift giving  a Christmas tradition of sharing with family and friends; (cookies are a favorite for giving and receiving – yes, that's a hint :)

Grapefruit   breakfast food on Christmas Day at the Cannon homes

Holly & ivy   Christmas decoration available on eBay;

("The Holly and the Ivy" is a traditional British folk Christmas carol."  
– Wikipedia)

Isaiah   “a Hebrew prophet who was believed to have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ," whose coming he foretold.  – biography.com;

(Isaiah 9:6)   "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."   

Jesus Christ   The Son of God.  "He was Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament."  – jesuschrist.lds.org
Lights   on trees, houses, mountiainsides; "a key element of  our celebration"  – LFF 12/4/2016 post, "Loving the Light"
Mary   "was highly favored of God and chosen to be the mortal mother of Jesus Christ."  – lds.org

“Messiah”   “… oratorio by German-born English composer George Frideric Handel, premiered in Dublin on April 13, 1742 ..."  – britannica.com;  (titled “Messiah”, not “The Messiah”)

Mormon Tabernacle Choir   features the annual Christmas Concert by the "360-voice ensemble based in Salt Lake City" and enhanced by The Bells on Temple Square (32 musicians)  – mormontabernaclechoir.org

“Music & The Spoken Word is a weekly, 30-minute broadcast of choral music and inspirational words.”  “First aired in 1929 …”  – mormontabernaclechoir.org

The Nativity   birth of Jesus Christ; Luke chapter 2 is a special reading on Christmas Eve; children may dress up to create the manger scene
New Year's   Eve (12/31), Day (1/1), resolution (a positive promise)

Orchestra at Temple Square   "a 110-member orchestra located in Salt Lake City ... created in 1999 under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley, then the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ..."  – Wikipedia

Poinsettia   “... popular as a houseplant at Christmas.”  – Google defined

Reindeer   a deer with large antlers found in some cold climates (believed to pull the sleigh for Santa Claus or Father Christmas)  
– www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/festivals-christmas
plural reindeer (occasionally) reindeers.  – dictionary.com

Santa Claus   a jolly, older man believed to manufacture toys (with help from Mrs. Claus and elves at North Pole) and deliver them to good girls and boys worldwide on Christmas Eve

Three Kings Day   also known as Epiphany

“Friday 6th Jan, 2017 will be …  Celebrating the day upon which the three kings [wise men] arrived at Bethlehem [and gave gifts to infant Jesus], Three Kings Day is twelve days after Christmas day, and marks the end of the Christmas period.”  – daysoftheyear.com

Trimming the tree   hanging ornaments on the Christmas tree; (not pruning)
Twelve Days of Christmas   whenever the family likes to celebrate, sing the long song, and deliver anonymous gifts each day.

White Christmas   "a Christmas with snow on the ground"  – englishclub.com;

a dreamy song folks love to sing

KISS ("Keep It Simple, Santa!")

Sweet!

Kay's firstborn with cousins at Ned's grandmother's Christmas Eve '75

Loving the Light

Knowing the eternal value of light in the work of creation, God subdued darkness with His first command, “Let there be light: and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)  I see this as both literal and symbolic of the promised Savior as the "light of the world".  I also liken it to the light of truth and to the Light of Christ with which we are all born, helping us discern right from wrong.

“Then spake Jesus … saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

It is fitting that lights are a key element of our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  What do Christmas lights do for us?  “The twinkling lights radiate joyfulness that almost gets brighter as Christmas day approaches. Not only do the lights become more dazzling, but our spirits also seem to lift." 

– mormontabernaclechoir.org, November 27, 2016 - #4550 …

Spoken Word, “The Lord Is Come”

We are so blessed with light – we love it!  I thank God for light and for sending His Son to fulfill the great plan of happiness.

Lights at Temple Square, SLC Christmas 2014, photo credit to Kay

Tallest Christmas tree, Outlets at Anthem, 24 December 2014, by Kay's iPhone

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach OR, 2 August 2012,  by Kay's Fujifilm digital

Sunrise at our frontier home, 2 October 2011

Our humble home lit up, 16 December 2011 – Merry Christmas!

Our lighthearted firstborn loving his Christmas Teddy from Kay's friend Betsy