h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

After the Grinch, whose heart was two sizes too small, and who'd ALWAYS hated Christmas, felt sure he had stolen Christmas from all the Whos down in Who-ville, after he had brought all their stolen Christmas goodies up to the top of Mount Crumpit (to dump it!) he waited to hear all the Whos crying about having no Christmas . . . and well, then THIS happened!


"So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he *did* hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow . . .

But the sound wasn't SAD!
Why, this sound sounded MERRY!
It *couldn't* be so!
But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville!
The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook!
What he saw was a shocking surprise!

All the Whos down in Who-ville,
the tall and the small,
Was singing!
Without any presents at all!

He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: 'How *could* it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes or bags!'

And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
*Then* the Grinch though of something he hadn't before!
'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store,
Maybe Christmas . . . perhaps . . . means a little bit more!'

And what happened *then*. . .?
Well . . . in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light
And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And he. . . He Himself . . . carved the roast beast!"




az

They are getting ready to switch on the colourful Christmas street lights here, next Sunday!, as well as all the white fairy lights in the orange trees. It always feels like magic to me, though I suppose I should know better. But it *is* magic. That at least once a year we come together to celebrate all that is dear to us and show our appreciation for those we love. And then we are reminded to love all others as much as we can. Those who don't have a warm bed to sleep in or someone to care about them. We are reminded at Christmas not to only think of ourselves. Even if our hearts have shrunk during the year and feel two sizes too small . . .

I'm an atheist but I can't stand people wrecking other people's fun, just for the hell of it.

Going to London, family thing for Christmas. It's going to be good.

I love the Grinch story.......

....Over here we are expecting some snow tomorrow and a real storm on Saturday...kinda early for the white stuff...but I love it...makes it "feel" like Christmas, ya know....

We look forward to the holiday season here...with my daughter Jen expecting, I bought her some maternity clothes...she's so tiny...but that little tummy will be growing and she will need some extra room soon! It's the best present I could wish for....I so look forward to being Grandma!

As always, we remember our friends who are alone, and invite them to share Christmas and New Year's Eve with us. Sometimes the holidays can be very depressing for those who are alone.....

Hoping everyone has a wonderful, meaningful, warm Christmas Holiday.....and to reflect on the past year and look forward to a very happy, healthy New Year!

Barb

... :-/ I think I am the grinch. :-( I think Christmas is scary and expensive. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F70877?thread=353182 - Jordan

hi Jordan!

Well, since I have nobody here to buy prezzies for Christmas is not expensive for me at all. Which probably isn't a good thing either.

I just got home from a walk around the centre of town and they *still* haven't turned on the Christmas lights! But there were lots of people milling about and even chestnuts roasting on open fires (well, braziers) and that made me feel quite festive.



az

ps.

Jordan, note subject line title!




az

You can buy Jordan presents!

Because every day is a Jordan present-getting day...

- Jordan

I believe that Jordan's posting qualifies as "Scrooging" not "Grinching". I believe that the Grinch's objections to the Festive Season were based purely on his emotional detatchment and, of course, due to a medical condition (his heart was 2 sizses too small).

Whereas, Scrooge, being a miser, objected to the financial obligations entailed by Christmas. Granted, there was an underlying psychosis brought on by events earlier in his life.

However, given the accepted view that Scrooge's main objection was financial and Grinch's obejctions were based on emotional detatchment, Jordan's posting qualifies as Scrooging, and Scrooging alone.

Well, I am Scottish. What do you expect?

The Scots: kind, generous, misers, contradictory.

- Jordan

As a Scot, I can only concur...

Ah, Christmas, yes, all those lovely ads on the telly to tempt my children, screams of I want, I want, not only that but we have dear old father christmas bringing presents on the 24th and the reyes magos on the night of the 5th January, double expensive.........

Tomorrow we have a big rehearsal with the children for the nativity play and christmas songs, a car boot sale at the British church, I am manning the kids theatre group stall wearing my mother christmas hat, father christmas will also be in attendence at the car boot sale and the bar will be open.............its going to be a good fun day, particularly for the kids, ah yes I am looking forward to the new wine and roasted chestnuts as well as raising some funds for our group.

Yep I love Christmas, I love the atmosphere around, I love the excitement of the children and the magic of their joy, I also get sad as I remember those whom I have loved who were a part of previous Christmases for me, but are no longer physically here, but it,s a kind of healthy sadness.

So lets have a drink for Christmas, offer one another love, peace, health and harmony.

Jane

‘Tis the season to be greedy.
Fa La La La La La La La La

Don’t be shy, now. Make a list
Fa La La La La La La La La

And if your parents say they’re broke
Fa La La La La La La La La

Bug them daily, whine and holler
Fa La La La La La La La La

Now, here is something. All my life I have been singing "Toll the ancient Yuletide carols". I started looking for the lyrics on the internet and could only find "TROLL the ancient Yuletide carols".... I thought "Geez, how can every single site get this wrong???" So I checked my hymn book. Lo and behold... It is TROLL not TOLL!

I cannot believe for some 40 years, I thought it was TOLL.

Which begs another question. Why "Troll"? I could understand "toll", as in bells or "trill" as in singing (which makes even more sense). But TROLL!!?!?!??!?!?!!?????????

Well. this explains it:

troll - a partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time; "they enjoyed singing rounds"

troll - sing loudly and without inhibition

troll - praise or celebrate in song; "All tongues shall troll you"
praise - express approval of; "The parents praised their children for their academic performance"

troll - speak or recite rapidly or in a rolling voice

My children are expert at "trolling"

Jane

hi Mudhooks,

I must agree with you that Jordan cannot be grinchy because he is only concerned about spending money and his heart is definitely not even one size too small.



az

azahar, that's brilliant. No grinching here either! I've been to one party already (for work) and we're invited to another tomorrow, by my dear friend Anni. Lots of yays!

Aw, thanks az! I don't dislike that everyone has fun, I love giving the presents to people. I just don't like the teetering state of my finances afterwards...

- Jordan

I hate that people go into debt seemingly to prove they love people.

I hate it when people insist on "a list". If you say "Just get me something you think I'll like." The bug you and bug you for a list. My former in-laws would bug me for a list. Finally I would have a couple of things we needed I would say "Well, we need a ----." Before the first thing is out of your mouth, "Okay, we'll get you that...".

Great, now there's no surprise....

I hate it when you make something with your own hands, putting a lot of time and effort into... and it ends up in the next garage sale.

I agree with you on this one. But I think hate is not a good emotion.
Try giving plants instead of handmade presents, at least they will have the decency to die before they can be sold, but most of all never stop giving.

Bah humbug!