Tell us about your Christmas

[DrRalph]

Do you have a funny or interesting story about your Christmas? Something funny, sentimental, sad, happy, a special gift

How about this: my handheld VHF died about two months ago, it was almost 15 years old, nice Standard Horizon unit. Anyway, I was going to shop for a VHF for next season, and look what Santa brought me. And, it's shockproof and waterproof; YAY!!!

[SamFamAustin]

Dang-dest thing I ever saw, this family carted a bunch of beach chairs, a cooler, an umbrella, and a bunch of boxes down right to the beach shore. Papa set up an artificial Christmas tree and Mama with the kids started decorating it. Then they put the kids' presents under the tree. There were obviously not very well off, but they probably had as much fun as anybody, anywhere. The eyes on those kids got so big!

[Island Daze]

The best thing i get for Christmas is a ticket outta here to GTC for six weeks.

[Abacobrad]

I

[Abacouple]

Our pets do become part of us. I really appreciate the pictures. Shows a lot of love.

My little Christmas prank:

My oldest daughter got engaged around Thanksgiving with a date about a year away. My goal was to spend next Christmas in Abaco, but with paying for a wedding, that might not be do-able. I have tried to convince her to get married in Abaco, but to no avail (she subscribes to the bigger, the better philosophy and all that nonsense). Plus she is carrying the terrible burden of having to know everything there is to know at 23 years old.

Anyway, a pile of large, heavy, imposing presents have been dominating my living room for several weeks, all labelled "To" my future son-in-law" and from my oldest. Obviously an impressive "haul" for anyone at Christmas, I wondered what she had in store for "Dear ol' Dad" since I know how much my "little girl" adores me.

On Christmas morning she handed me my present with the commentary that, "this is all I could afford this year." I made sure that she saw me cast a deliberately wistful eye toward the yet unopened "mother lode" and she disgustedly exclaimed, "Oh, stop it!"

I opened my gift from her to find a Jimmy Buffett CD and DVD (which was really great, as far as I was concerned, but noting her obvious discomfort, I had to egg it on. I demanded to know what she had in store for her future father-in-law as a gift so I could decide where I stood in the pecking order. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud as I put my new CD's in the computer and happily retired to my corner to listen on the ear buds and take a mental trip to the Caribbean.

By the way, the "mother lode" was a couple pieces of patio accoutrements and some really tacky (to us GT folks) Georgia sports memorabilia. I still won. Merry Christmas.

[DaGoose]

Brad and Susan, That brought tears to my eyes, so sorry for your loss. We lost our 13 year old Chocolate Lab Mocha a few months back so your eulogy really hit home. You were so lucky to have Wilbur with you on GTC and those photos show how much he loved it there. What a special dog! Your hearts will heal as the months go by but you'll never forget him.

Now am I the only one who sees a resemblance between "Grasshoppper" and Dr Ralph?:D

Tina

[TurtleDreams]

Brad and Susan, That brought tears to my eyes, so sorry for your loss. We lost our 13 year old Chocolate Lab Mocha a few months back so your eulogy really hit home. You were so lucky to have Wilbur with you on GTC and those photos show how much he loved it there. What a special dog! Your hearts will heal as the months go by but you'll never forget him.

Now am I the only one who sees a resemblance between "Grasshoppper" and Dr Ralph?:D

Tina

Tears here from this VT Dog lover also! Silly maybe, or maybe just symbolic of so much. Beautiful pictures Brad.

And Tina, your reference to "Grasshopper" says more about your age than any picture I've seen of you! Congrats on your Great 'Guana Beachhouse' .

Susan

[DrRalph]

Now am I the only one who sees a resemblance between "Grasshoppper" and Dr Ralph?

David Carradine, Kung Fu???

Wish I had his $$$

[DaGoose]

I know, Susan, I'm always a bit afraid to mention some 60's TV show. I actually sang the theme song (or what I could remember of it!) to The Patty Duke Show the other day. Now that's bad:eek:

Tina

[BahamaBabe]

OK, I've got tears in my eyes as well. So sorry to hear about Wilbur and Mocha.

Speaking of older TV shows....do you remember the "Flying Nun"? How about "Bonanza"?

[DaGoose]

Yep, remember both of those although I never really watched Bonanza much. I think our B&W TV didn't get CBS very well.

Yep, Dr Ralph, that would be one of the Carradines on the show Kung Fu. A bucket of seawater from your favorite beach for you!

Who remembers which 60's TV show had a main character named Wilbur?

Tina

[dyn0d]

Mr ED!

[DaGoose]

Mr ED!

You also get a bucket of water from your favorite beach!:)

Tina

[Abacobrad]

Here are a few more Wilbur shots. I made a mess going through photos- real photos, boxes of them. Now its a couple of external hard drives, .mac space, gmail and only pictures that are suitable for framing or gifts get printed. I ended up putting a photo gallery of Christmas and family shots around the kitchen-

Have a great day everyone.

Brad

[Patti Puzo]

Brad, Wilbur looks like he was a world class snuggler and a true member of the family. Your pictures tell a wonderful story.

[Charlotte Couple]

Thanks for sharing the memories and photos, Brad. We lost Darla, our Basset Hound shortly before our Abaco trip last April. She never went with us to Abaco, but dearly loved running on the beach at NC's Outer Banks with her best friend Mattie. We had her cremated and scattered her ashes on her favorite section of beach there.

Mattie obviously was grieving for her for awhile, and the first walks on the beach without Darla she seemed really sad, but she's getting past that now, as are we. Very sorry for your loss. Lots of kindred spirits on this forum who love dogs like we do, and understand what you're going through.