"The Truth About Santa Claus..." Douglas Dunn' (Encore)

Guest blogger Douglas Dunn on the beach with his daughter JoAnn back in 1981. Doug is a regular commenter and guest-blogger on dakinetalk... Doug runs a small publishing consulting business in San Diego county and is a   certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter (for Deaf people),  last but not least he has been a Democratic Party media spokesperson and has had  the good fortune to work with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Doug also drives a Nissan Leaf !

Santa Claus and JoAnn Dunn back in 1977, "Yes there really is a Santa!" By the way JoAnn is now   married and a  Mom to two lovely granddaughters.


This blog originally ran as dakinetalk blog # 520 on 12-23-11. It was so popular our editors decided to run it again allowing more people to read this beautiful holiday story.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SANTA CLAUS

When my daughter JoAnn was eight years old, she came home from school one December afternoon, very upset. Some kids had been teasing her because she still believed in Santa Claus. Her Dad had told her there was a Santa Claus, and she knew that Dad would never tell a lie.

“Daddy,” she said, “I’m eight years old. I’m old enough to know The Truth. Is there really a Santa Claus?” Parents dread this question almost as much as, “Where do babies come from?”

But when a child asks for THE TRUTH, it is time to be straight with them.

“Okay,” I answered. “If you’re old enough to know The Truth about Santa Claus, then you’re old enough to know the truth about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy as well.”

“I want THE TRUTH.”

“Well, your Daddy is really the Easter Bunny. And your Daddy is really the tooth fairy. [Pause] Santa Claus is real.”

Her eyes grew big and round. “Santa Claus really comes each Christmas Eve and leaves presents?”

I said, “The Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are mythical characters, made-up for holiday fun. Santa Claus is real. He really lived and is based on a real person. But it is often difficult for very small children to understand about the real Santa Claus, so over the years a lot of make-believe and fantasy have been added to make it more fun.”

We talked about the historical figure, St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who used to go out on Christmas Eve with gifts for poor children who would otherwise have no Christmas. But like all real human beings, he eventually grew old, and died at the age of 73 on December 6, 343. But after Nicholas, others took up the role. We read together stories from newspapers and magazines of people up to the present day who spread joy by giving Christmas gifts in secret. There are lots of them! Santa Claus is not only real, but alive and doing very well in the modern world.

“If you’re old enough to know THE TRUTH about Santa Claus,” I concluded, “maybe you’re old enough to BE a Santa Claus.”

“BE a Santa Claus?” she asked, brightening.

It was too close to Christmas to make extensive plans for the current year, but we talked about ideas for the next year.

The following year JoAnn and I contacted our local Post Office and arranged to receive letters that underprivileged children had sent, addressed to Santa Claus. We found that the Post Office believes in Santa Claus, too, and takes its role seriously, and does deliver letters from children in need to real Santa Clauses.

We were able to identify three needy families, and deliver a real Christmas to each one. Instead of random gifts through large organizations for “boy—age 9” or “girl—age 6,” we responded to specific requests from individual children. What fun we had shopping, wrapping, and planning a Christmas Eve delivery route — just like any real Santa!

We felt our adventure that first year was successful. All of the children we found were in difficult situations, and it appeared they would have had no Christmas without us. But much of our energy had been spent screening the letters to choose which children were most needy. We also considered that poverty alone is no indicator of whether or not a child will have Christmas. Many families, poor but loving, will make sure their little ones enjoy holiday magic.

The following year JoAnn and I tried a different approach. We located an agency that provides care for children who had been removed from their families on account of child abuse or neglect. A social worker helped us make arrangements to be Santa for six children in a group home who needed a Santa Claus. Over lunch, she told us about the personal stories of each one of these special children who had endured terrible experiences that few others can ever imagine. We learned that the real “truth” about Santa Claus is that the “naughty” and “nice” list is part of the fantasy myth. In reality, there are no “naughty” children; that problematic behavior only represents troubled pasts cured with compassion and caring, not further deprivation. The real Santa Claus gives unconditionally. The social worker gave us each child’s list, and told us what each child had requested from Santa. Again, we provided the items on their lists, and enjoyed our merriest Christmas ever. We were hooked. We continued this tradition for several years, adapting our routine when my wife Thelma joined our family, and trying different variations such as sponsoring “Santa Claus” for children at Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity orphanage in the Philippines.

I appreciate the lessons Santa Claus has taught my daughter, and the values he has shared with her. Our Christmases are celebrations of true joyfulness, and in the truest possible measure of true value. I do believe in Santa Claus! I especially appreciate the opportunity Santa Claus gave one father to pass on his values to a young daughter.

Note, epilogue; My approach to telling my daughter “The Truth about Santa Claus” was adapted from another true story that had inspired me several years earlier. It was an article in Reader’s Digest about a little Jewish boy who had grown up in New York City, feeling left out of Christmas, but felt he could not celebrate a holiday that might betray his religious and cultural heritage. But he did feel he could, in good conscience, give a gift to those who do celebrate it and BE a Santa Claus to children in need. I was so moved by the story of how he became a real Santa Claus, that I was inspired to hold it in my heart and, at the right time, do something similar. The pointed question -- demand! -- from my daughter for THE TRUTH gave me the opportunity to act on that. Just as those who come from a Christian background celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of a Jewish boy who grew up to become a great rabbi, my story about my daughter is also inspired by a modern Jewish role model.


From Seinfeld & YouTube; Happy Festivus day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFLqMyo0fo


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

" "How safe Do we really feel these days ..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Sunday)

"Guest-blogger Judith Whitehead lives in Amherst N.Y. and has worked in the

 ophthalmology field of medicine for over 30 years..." Today she talks about  the recent massacre 
at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut  and what is happening? ;D(.

How safe Do we really feel these days

      Why is our country going through such turmoil these days; isn't it enough that so many have to deal with loss from the War we have been embroiled in over the last several years.  In view of all the recent killings in public places it makes you take pause if we are really safe anywhere these days.  Never before did I have second thoughts while going to the movies on a weekend to relax.  I ask myself,  will this be one of those times when a troubled individual will lash out into the crowd and attack innocent bystanders?  Over the recent years movie theaters  began safeguards  by the police but is that enough to make us  feel safe and secure.  Do we 
need to carry protection with us to stop such an incident if it should occur   

When my children were growing up I never gave it a second thought to ask myself if I was sending them to a safe 
place; what has happened to our society, our children, and our troubled adults that they feel they have to lash out and hurt themselves and many others at the same time.  

It’s almost like an epidemic happening, similar to the way life was in the wild west when  people ran wild  in the streets;  they were not safe to travel on.  Many , many years ago anyone could 
buy a gun or weapon for their self defense; is it too easy to get a hold of   a weapon  these days?

We all have the right to protect ourselves but do we need to install a more thorough way to profile the purchaser.  I don’t have the answers but in light of all these recent occurrences’, it 
surely gives us a reason to think about how we can live a more secure and safe life. 

What makes it even scarier is that the shooters of today walk among us; they are people like you and me ,  they are neighbors and classmates, they are co workers and friends and are unpredictable. 

Our  hearts go out to all those that have  experienced such violence  or lost their lives to such a violent act; the bystanders will never be the same. Their lives will be changed forever and the parents of those children that have lost so much will forever grieve.  Having to 
deal with a child’s death is  traumatic enough but having to lose a child to a violent act is unfathomable.   

How do we deal with our lives on a daily basis knowing that there may be a shooting somewhere in the country again; will it be in our town?  One can only carry on with the premise that we need to continue to believe that there will always be good vs evil and we must continue to look for the good in people and believe that goodness must prevail.   

If we look at people we come across every day and wonder if they are going through  the  mental turmoil that could 
cause them to perform a terrible act, then they will surely win and render us feeling powerless.  We can only go along and view each day as a gift of life; be cautious but not paralyzed and 
enjoy our lives. 

We need to pray for those that are so troubled and teach our children even more so than ever what to do in urgent situations.  We all need to be aware of our surroundings and  take measures to be safe; do not think that if you live in a “safe” area that you can let your guard down.  As we have seen most recently, violence and crime can happen in any neighborhood and because of our financial and current environment, people are reaching a threshold that they never before have had to endure. 

We must stay safe and hope for the best for hope is sometimes all we have to hold on to. 


Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook... 

 A Mitzvah is an act of Kindness. It is customary for Jews to perform a Mitzvah when disasters happen... it triggers a chain reaction of making the world a better place. Call it a Mitzvah, call it Kindness or even Paying it forward, it works!

"Drive A Cab if You've Had Too Many..." 'Debbie Eayrs' (Source)

Guest-blogger Debbie Eayrs co-owner of Eayrs plumbing and heating from Homer, Alaska
 is the source of  this informative blog about knowing when to say no to driving after a night 
of partying with friends... ;D) Enjoy!

Hi All

With the Holidays upon us I would like to share a personal experience with my family/friends about drinking and driving.

As you may know some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities from time to time on the way home after a “social session” out with friends.

Well a few days ago, I was out for an evening with friends and had several glasses of beer/cocktails.  I was feeling a little too jolly, but I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the limit.  That’s when I did something that I’ve never done before – I took a cab home.

Sure enough on the way home there was a police road block, but since it was a cab they waved it past.  I arrived home safely without incident.  This was a real surprise as I had never driven a cab before.  I don’t know where I got it and now that it’s in my garage, I don’t know what to do with it.  If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Happy Holidays to you all.

Seriously though, Please have a Safe and Happy Holiday!

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...

"The Mayor and Police Chief are both good men..!"‏ 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Miracles can happen!  Happy Holidays...! 

check out my opinion article in the 12-26-12 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island news, " A Christmas Miracle."

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-december/article_48d58182-4f23-11e2-b2dc-0019bb2963f4.html

Kaua'i has two things going for it, one we have an outstanding mayor and two an incredible chief of police. They are both dedicated public servants whose lives evolve around their jobs. However their bickering needs to stop.

The Mayor on Feb. 1, 2012 suspended Police Chief Darryl Perry, and placed him on paid administration  leave. The Police Commission ordered Perry back on the job Feb. 22, however the mayor objected per the county attorney and did  not re-instate him until March 12.

This is  all about whether the Mayor or police commission  has the authority to suspend or terminate the Chief of police? 

The mayor is  elected by the  people,  the police commissioners are appointed citizens by the mayor on volunteer duty.

Mayor Carvalho said he spoke with the police commissioners when the incident  happened last February,  they agreed to take the matter to court and to stand by judge’s verdict.  They had their day in court and the verdict  was decided  in the mayors favor, however the police commission is appealing and not living by their words.

Mr. Mayor and Chief Perry, show some true Aloha and give the residents of Kaua'i a truly pono Christmas gift they will long remember? Please  settle your differences without  expensive attorneys at taxpayer expense. 

 In closing I would like to quote the good book, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.  (John 8:7)

Miracles can happen!

Happy Holidays,

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-december/article_48d58182-4f23-11e2-b2dc-0019bb2963f4.html

 Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...
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"The Reason for the Season..." 'Davis D. Danizier'"3-D" (Encore)

Guest blogger Davis Danizier “3-D”  began life as a political and religious conservative, even entering into formal Seminary studies. Gradually, he became troubled by inconsistencies in factual assertions and values in both political and religious conservatism and, after deeply traumatic soul searching, reversed course in both areas. After retiring from a career in commercial property and casualty insurance, Dave has had the free time and flexibility to share with others some of the thoughts that led to his life-altering epiphanies. His book “Betrayal of Jesus” presents unorthodox (believers might say heretical) perspectives on the Christian mythology. Dave currently resides in Oceanside, California.

About  "3-D"Danizier

"Be wise. Be wild. Care for others. Love your neighbor as yourself. The mysteries of the universe are not beyond your grasp."   https://danizier.wordpress.com

Please note this blog originally ran as dakinetalk blog #516 on 12-19-11, because of it's popularity our editors decided to run it again an an encore.(Hana Hou).

The Reason for the Season 

It’s beginning to look (and sound) a lot like Christmas! And that means it won’t be long before the religious conservatives commence their paranoid fantasies of a mythical “war on Christmas” while they try to justify using public resources to make everyone else participate in their religious observances and rituals, pursuing their ultimate goal of socialized religion since they apparently don’t trust that their churches, homes and religious schools are up to the task.

And of course, they will go around telling us that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But what of this season? Certainly Jesus joins Santa Claus as a favored icon of this jolly time of year.

Both of these myths originate from actual persons who supposedly existed (though there is no certainty of documentation for either), Jesus of Nazareth and Saint Nicolas, Bishop of Myra. But from what sketchy facts we have about either of these men, much myth, legend, fantasy and magic has evolved.

Both of these myths represent legends in which they offer free gifts — Jesus brings salvation and Santa brings toys to children. In both cases, the gifts are unconditional, well, with the exception that in each case they do have the requirement that you believe in them. At one time in my life, I believed in a real, literal Santa Claus who brought me presents for Christmas. Still later, I believed in a real, literal Jesus as savior who magically makes my “sins” disappear in return for accepting a human sacrifice. While I have outgrown the literal belief in the magical, fantasy aspects of both mythologies, I continue to embrace and celebrate the spirit of joy, love and (almost) unconditional giving represented by each.

But is Jesus (or Santa Claus) the “reason for the season”? Actually, not even close. There are four seasons, summer, spring, fall and the current approach season of WINTER. And the REASON for this approaching winter season is the winter solstice! The Solstice was celebrated long before Jesus' birth, in all parts of the world, in different ways.

In the Roman Empire, the Solstice celebration was a drunken orgiastic bacchanal celebrating all the earthly pleasures on December 25, in recognition of the lengthening days, called the Saturnalia after their god Saturn who, even in modern astrology (which originates from ancient times), is the ruler of the winter season. (More people who read their horoscopes each morning are actually worshiping the Greek gods than Christians do.)

When Rome converted to Christianity, the Romans had two problems: First, people may change their beliefs but, like me and many former Christians, we're less willing to give up our favorite holidays, even when the religious beliefs behind them change, and neither were the Romans. Second, the new church was honoring various saints on their birthdays, but the most central figure of the entire faith, Jesus himself, had been born in a humble stable and no one knew the exact day, though most scholars suspect it most likely sometime in the Spring.

Assigning Jesus' birthday to December 25 and making it the biggest holiday of the new religion, addressed both of these problems. And as Christianity spread north, it imported many pagan traditions, including traditions of holly wreaths that bear their fruits in the depths of winter and evergreen trees that stay green when others are bare. Also added were yule logs for winter warmth, Father Winter, who was blended into the mythology of St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, to evolve into Santa Claus, and pagan myths of elves and a magical North Pole, along with some leftover revelry and drunkenness from the old Saturnalia.

The new traditions co-opted and replaced the Saturnalia and a new super-holiday was born, still centered on the Solstice, and still based on the reason for celebrating that season, the wither solstice and the lengthening of days it heralded.

Christmas was here before Jesus, and while the addition of the Christian tradition is one important component of Christmas, the holiday still goes on with or without him. Jesus is not the “reason for the season,” and Christmas is but one of many holidays celebrated during this season.

About  "3-D"Danizier

"Be wise. Be wild. Care for others. Love your neighbor as yourself. The mysteries of the universe are not beyond your grasp."

For a shorter version of this blog check out "3D's" opinion article in the North country Times(serving North San Diego and Riverside counties) on 12-09-11"The reason for the season." http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/letters-nct-dec/article_f3a56b52-0f5c-5d9f-90b4-d71c0874f605.html

View all

Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen, Publisher.

for more insights into Dave's thoughts check out his blog at; https://danizier.wordpress.com

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...



2000 year old tree in South Africa known as tree of life!!! 

"Say Money Honey..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Classic Wednesday)

Bettejo Dux  has  lived on the cosmic Island of Kaua'i  for
over 40 years. She is a people lover, animal lover and lover of life.Today

she shares with us what creative writing is all about...  Enjoy!
www.bettejodux.com

As I'm sitting in my courtyard with long yellow legal and  pencil- as my friend and editor Kimo Rosen suggested - conjuring up ideas for a column, as all columnist must do, I am suddenly distracted by the thought of money. A dreadful distraction on such a drippy wet interesting morning.

My mind, and the zillion words there in, are supposed to  swing towards a total involvement in the trilling, tweeting, twittering song of the birds that flock and flourish in my jungle, sending delightful word-spinning, pencil scratching, lead ditters on the page.

The sweet scent of  fragrant frangipani  is supposed to scroll me a Pulitzer at the very least. Then lure me into a loquacious twittle, babble, gabble word crevice while chilly mini raindrops falling on my head swell up to  fill my quota.

The taste of tinned Christmas cookies will fill my head, as well as my belly, with big fat nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs Kimo, and others, will be able to read on the screen.

Oh joy. Kalloo kallay...

But what pops up? Don't look up. I better find some money to pay some guy to come and cut those branches down before a wicked witch wind womps  them on my woof...er, drops them on my roof

"Stop it," my creative mind screams and covers her ears. Unfortunately covering my ears when the words are coming from the inside out doesn't cut the mustard  Don't think about white elephants...

"...white elephants my foot. Where's this money supposed to come from?"

"Shuddup." The wind lifts a page of long yellow legal and its long flat tongue flutters back.

"The last guy you talked to wanted twelve hundred dollars  a day."

"That's more than I pay my dentist."

"Teeth. How awful it must be to have a body."

"You got one, too. You're attached."  I think about attachment. I'm attached to money.

Bird squawks, nose sniffles, cookie crumples and page flaps take a rumble seat as a walloping wind sends empty pages flying. Clutching pen and pad I scramble to my feet and head for a drier spot. I find one on a comfy wrought iron chair, plunk down, and giggle as dead branches gilded gold and dripping glittering dime store ornaments-my original contribution to an outdoor Yule- dance and  bob and bumble in the thrashing elemental wind and rain.

A war-whoop crash of thunder rapidly following a display of jagged blue brings my meandering mind to a jarring halt. No thoughts. No words. I am deafened. I am dizzy. I'm distraught. My head's a blank.My teeth itch.

When my vision clears, what to my wandering eyes does appear? Not a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer but a  rampant raft of rubble large enough to build an ark that floats dinosaurs and unicorns, too, to safe anchor.

My mind whimpers...

...and that nasty noisy little voice that lives there sings, sweetly, "Think money, honey."

Hana Hou, Encore) Shared from Facebook...
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"I Learned my Spam Lesson on Facebook..." 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

It's OK that I get bombarded with junk mail and spam, however on the
one day I try to spread  the word about the atrocity of the massacre at Sandy Nook elementary school  the Facebook God's suspended me from commenting  for 15 days on major posts. I can still post and comment to friends, just can't answer or post to popular posts like"The Voice," Survivor"   and popular meme's, etc...Today's blog was copied and pasted from my Facebook Timeline. Finally did I learn a Lesson?Yes, I will post very little and use the 'like button' more often than not. Liking says a lot without words and getting yourself in trouble, which lately seems to be my middle name... Enjoy!  ;D)

I had a real scare on Facebook, they said my account may be disabled for 15 days for spamming. I was given a test to verify photos of friends, it said I may not be able to post for 15 days, so if you do not hear from me for 15 days, please continue to check my blog daily. I am afraid to post the address since it seems every time I post my address they take it as spam, thew address is dakinetalk(dot) blogspot(dot) com i wrote this way so it does not interpret it as spam. hope to see you tomorrow! ?

I learned my Facebook lesson on Spam and it had nothing to do with canned lunch meat made from mystery animal parts, but rather a rude awakening on proper social media etiquette. Check out my Facebook post and comments when I posted I had been busted.

Like · 

• Irina Briksa likes this.
• 

  Joseph M Giannotti Jim, I just realized how easy it is now to report spam, by mistake. On the RH side of my screen where FB shows the latest activity I clicked on your post. When the post comes up there is also an X on the top right of the post box. I thought it was just to close the box, but it's not, it's to report spam! Your readers may be innocently closing the box and inadvertently reporting spam. I think fb should have some other symbol besides X which is known the world over as an action to close.

  Saturday at 22:38 · Unlike · 1
• 

  James Kimo Rosen Joe, thanks for posting. Looks like I am able to post but did I ever have a scare. I admit I'm a Facebook junkie. 15 days suspension would be huge withdrawal symptoms. I think for now I will post my daily blog and just use my like button a lot and not do to much posting.

  Saturday at 22:50 · Like
• 

  Diana LaRussa Once I posted several times in a row to other people and they warned me with a pop up message. Have they warned you or did they just block you?

  Yesterday at 03:00 via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  James Kimo Rosen THEY said i was blocked for 15 days? But if you get this I guess I am OK? They actually gave me a test with about 10 tagged photos and asked me to identify the person that was circled. i got them all right, but still said i was suspended for 15 days, anyhow, so far so good.

  Yesterday at 09:06 · Like
• 

  Chester Lau You are still Ok for today

  Yesterday at 09:54 · Unlike · 1
• 

  James Kimo Rosen I hope so, Unc...

  Yesterday at 10:29 · Unlike · 1
• 

  Harmony Bentosino That is strange.

  7 hours ago · Like
• 

  James Kimo Rosen OK everyone here's the outcome, I am actually blocked from major posts, like all the national meme's. national websites like Survivor show, the voice, American Idol, etc... The reason being I responded a few times on major sites with my opinion on the ...See More

  6 hours ago · Like
• 

  Peggy Kemp Kimo, I saw your same post with the link to your blog - identical word for word - as a comment on many different posts. No wonder FB thought you were spamming.

  6 hours ago · Unlike · 1
• 

  James Kimo Rosen yea, to much coffee and along with the heartache of Connecticut had me wanting everyone to hear what I had to stay, for now, only my friends on Facebook will have the option of reading me... lesson learned! ;D(

  6 hours ago · Like

• Anonymous
  

  
  

  Yap. That's fb for you

  Y they think its a spam the voice s the same as those bastards keep stalking me I have the voicemail to compare if someone will get me seriously

  Listen and take me seriously
• 

  16:36
  

  James Kimo Rosen
  

  
  

  it's ok for people to send us there garbage but God forbid I try to send out a well written blog in defense of the children in Connecticut and I get busted? WTF, over.

Hana Hou, (Encore) I made both Meme's!  Enjoy....