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Northeastern Pennsylvania Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono area
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Old 12-18-2008, 05:05 PM
 
Location: Sunshine N'Blue Skies
13,321 posts, read 21,836,277 times
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Oprah had a show today about the "meaningful" gifts. It was very interesting........In a way though most of us have probably have done a few of the things .

One happy gift I gave was three scrapbooks to our girls ( she had treasure boxes) it had their pictures but also their momentos from the past. That was the first thing they wanted to see that Christmas.
One even had a record from back when with her name on it.Each had a letter of why I was so proud to have lived in this time and place, and with them......Those scrapbooks were priceless to us all.

I've often given to the Angel tree ,or an Angel family. I made sure my girls knew what this meant.
I loved doing it ,giving a tree and food, clothes and toys. I only stopped when the man in charge said....." some families complained they got less then others, so they didn't do "families" anymore"........I still gave to the cause, but I didn't want to give in to anything with a greed issue. That didn't feel good. I must say that early on I had wonderful families who gave me sweet and thoughtful letters .......It was just nice to know the gifts mattered in a small way.

My favorite time was leaving a tree for my MIL that had a huge tag saying " From Santa".......She must of called around all day looking for who left it. I lived a good half hour away! I can still see that tree left leaning on the house. She wasn't going to afford a tree that year.......Hohohoho
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Old 12-18-2008, 06:20 PM
 
Location: Sunshine N'Blue Skies
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I might have two families of sleigh riders tomorrow. It depends on the drive ability of the roads.
Gosh, that means lots of Hot Chocolate, Marshmellows.........wood for the fire.
I have to go hide the stockings just in case this happens.
If it does the Christmas cookies will be made by the little fellows and their neighbor friends who have been here often and are a joy. Once sleeping in a tent in my family room........just for fun.
It sounds like a great day.........but I will not let them go on the roads without them being clear and safe. So it really depends on weather issues.
Right at this moment I don't know whether to drag out the cookie cutters or not....
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Old 12-18-2008, 07:53 PM
 
1,815 posts, read 5,217,907 times
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I think NEPA people are more generous in general than people where I live. Maybe it's just the representative sample, but overall I think it's a way of being that is different than the self absorbed place I currently call home. A place where most people will look down on you if you have an old car and wear the same clothes year after year. Maybe I just live too close to the Hamptons. I love retreating to my little world of friends here on CD, you all are such wonderful people. Even when you argue! LOL!
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Old 12-18-2008, 08:27 PM
 
27,870 posts, read 28,378,720 times
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to all of you who have lost loved ones during the holidays, sending many condolances to you and your families.

the Christmas spirit to me comes in many forms...in song, life, charity, lights, home baked cookies and breads, wide eyed children filled with excitement, red's and greens...peace, and, for me, a time to reflect on the past year.

never have been into the commercial end of gift giving, because as a young child, it seemed to me, that people got so wrapped up into gift giving, and forgot the true meaning of Christmas.

I think the true spirit behind Christmas, are people...when one smiles at another, when a woman hands a 20.00 bill to a cleaning lady, or when people come home to families who have been away for awhile.

Christmas means a lot of different things to each and everyone of us...to me and for me, it is friends & family gathering, compassion and understanding...great care for others...and not about gifts, b/c the most wondrous gift anyone can give, is that of themselves...which can never be measured in dollars and cents, but in tears of joy, b/c a new baby was born...or b/c a new snow is falling. To me Christmas is life, and the joy of life...a gift...which sings throughout the year...Christmas is love and remembering how lucky we are to be here, for one more Christmas. And hopefully, with the new year upon us, we will grow together, into a much better year, until another Christmas awakens. But for now...
wishing everyone here a very Merry Christmas.

To the OP, thank you, what a great thread and opportunity to reflect.
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Old 12-18-2008, 09:59 PM
 
2,834 posts, read 10,403,936 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lialleycat View Post
I think NEPA people are more generous in general than people where I live. Maybe it's just the representative sample, but overall I think it's a way of being that is different than the self absorbed place I currently call home. A place where most people will look down on you if you have an old car and wear the same clothes year after year. Maybe I just live too close to the Hamptons. I love retreating to my little world of friends here on CD, you all are such wonderful people. Even when you argue! LOL!
Alleycat....coming from LI myself, you remind me of myself way back then. I knew that I was not 'supposed' to be a Long Islander...jsut didn't know where to go...then my parents retired here and after one visit, we knew we found home. It was like a weight was lifted off our shoulders when we moved here, and I had the added plus of having Grandma & Grandpa living right near us to get to spend time with their Grandchildren. Something I NEVER thought would happen. The first time I went back to LI was 6 months after I moved. I can't beging to describe how absolutely stunned I was at all I hadn't noticed while living there....all we tolerated....and the fears we tolerated. Going shopping and cautiously walking to your car in the dark...looking under and around if you were alone. I live in complete freedom of any fears...maybe save from walking into an occassional black bear! I would never go back. This is truly home.
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Old 12-19-2008, 01:03 PM
 
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I've know for a long time that I wasn't like everyone else here, but I like you, I'm not sure where to go. I've got friends in North Carolina, South Carolina and Connecticut, but none of those places seem like they could be home to me. When I visited Lancaster with some friends, it reminded me of the east end of long island with the rolling farmland and I loved it. I've been researching PA ever since. Unfortunately, the markets have tanked and my house value plummeted and I'm still paying off my ex, so funds are tight to make the move now. I need to have a secure job offer before considering a move. I am looking and hoping that something comes along by the springtime.
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Old 12-19-2008, 02:35 PM
 
Location: Sunshine N'Blue Skies
13,321 posts, read 21,836,277 times
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Today it felt like Christmas.......I guess it is the snow falling down in huge flakes. I now can see a Christmas card scene before me. I can't wait for the sled lights to turn on.....
I just can't believe we are getting this close.........Days are going by fast now.
Cookie day tomorrow no matter what........
If the kids arrive to go sledding, there will be sprinkles all over.( they make cookies too)......I'll have to just laugh about that until they leave. Ah, whats a few sprinkes that clean up.
Well, time to go shovel again............its ice, snow, ice, snow around here.
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Old 12-19-2008, 05:47 PM
 
Location: Sunshine N'Blue Skies
13,321 posts, read 21,836,277 times
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Christmas on its way.........Santas Full Sleigh.........
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas..........You can dream too!
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Old 12-19-2008, 06:37 PM
 
Location: Pocono Mts.
9,480 posts, read 11,726,305 times
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It was cookie day no matter what for me, too, today!

I think we will have a white christmas!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll105/poconoproud/DSC02979.jpg?t=1229733439 (broken link)

I got the spirit...
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Old 12-19-2008, 10:22 PM
 
Location: Wake Forest
2,835 posts, read 7,052,383 times
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What Christmas means to me.

Being I'm living in the south now my answer will
have to be as the song goes; only in my dreams.

Family, Friends, and memories of Wilkes-Barre growing up as a kid.
Riding cardboard or plastic sheets down the hills in the old Park on Park Ave.
Staying out playing in the cold & snow until we could not feel our fingers anymore
then coming in and running them under warm water!
Traveling to Berwick to see the one street lined with lights!
Having Mom and Dad and the Family drive around the area to see all the X-mas displays.
Running the trains under the Christmas tree.
Christmas Eve dinner with extended family.
Christmas Eve Mass.
Christmas day, opening presents and than visiting family and friends.
Running the trains under family and friends trees.

...and finally thanking God for giving us his only Son to the world!

P.S. Notice I never mentioned, DVD movies, PS2's, xboxes, IPODS, Cell Phones,
PC's, Notebooks, Facebook, Instant messages, Text messages, 180 TV Stations,
or Youtube!

How did we ever survive back then?????? One word 'Familes'.

Great question, thanks for asking!
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