Merry Christmas, Y’all

Here’s a Merry Christmas wish from me to all of you. If you have the chance, make sure you spend this Christmas with the people you love. If you can’t be with them, don’t send a text. Pick up the phone, call them, and tell them how much you love them.

The holidays can be a particularly depressing time for many of us. Memories of loves lost, family members gone too soon, tragedies that keep us apart. Don’t let another Christmas go by with hard feelings or unresolved disputes. You don’t know how many more chances you’re going to get.

If you have young ones, cherish every moment that they Believe. My little ones, pictured above, can’t wait for the jolly old elf to arrive. My son, who’s about to turn 10, certainly won’t believe in Santa next year, and I’ll have to beg him not to ruin it for little sister. This will likely be the last time that he falls asleep nervous and excited, hoping to hear sleigh bells or reindeer hooves. I’m not going to take any of that magic for granted.

And as the year wraps up, I want to tell each of you how thankful I am that you choose to come to this tiny corner of the internet. Over 80 percent of you come here just by typing in the web address. You’re not coming because you saw a Facebook share or an SEM advertisement. You’re coming to be part of something that’s growing and changing and becoming something better every day. I’m thankful for the many existing and newer contributors we have, like Tom Klockau, Thomas Kreutzer, Rebecca Turrell, and others, and the ones who are furiously working away on their first contributions. Riverside Green is quickly becoming more than just the home of Jack B. and Bark M.—it’s becoming your home, too, and we’re glad that you’re here.

Of course, I can’t say thanks on this blog without thanking the man who started it. My brother is a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me he’s the guy who was my hero and my role model growing up. Everything he did, I wanted to do to. He fixed my bike, he carried me home when I was hurt, he took me all over town in the passenger seat of his Volkswagen Fox, and he never made me feel like I was anything less than his very best friend. We’ve both had some tough times over the years, and I can’t tell you how much it means to know that, no matter what, no matter how far apart our travels might have taken us, that I can pick up the phone and talk about whatever’s troubling me and he’ll give me all the time and attention I need, and reserve the judgment for another day.

I love you, big brother.

Merry Christmas.

36 Replies to “Merry Christmas, Y’all”

  1. ScottS

    I know the brother thing pretty well, and the piece you wrote when Jack got married really hit home with me.

    All the best to both of you this holiday season.

    Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  2. silentsod

    When my mom told me my little brother looked up to me it was a heart breaker. I still have troubling believing it could have been the case.

    My little brother drowned and was resuscitated with permanent brain damage when I was 17 and he was 14. I honestly regret not treating him better over the years, and it took a very long time to come to terms with the fact I lost him as a friend (we were just starting to really bond in a peer manner).

    Anyways, thanks for writing this piece and putting together a community. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    Reply
  3. Dirty Dingus McGee

    As I’m entering into the later stages of life, the family members left have dwindled down to low single digits, and are spread far and wide. Friends, for the most part, have families of their own and the associated responsibility’s that come with them.
    As such, I’ll likely do what I usually do for Christmas; the now traditional Christmas pizza, and weather permitting a motorcycle ride.

    Merry Christmas to all y’all.

    Reply
  4. Robert

    Merry Christmas Bark, Jack, and the rest of the contributors and commenters who make this such an entertaining and thought provoking place to visit.

    Reply
  5. hank chinaski

    Kickass year guys, Merry Christmas.
    I don’t have brother, but it’s rewarding to watch that dynamic in my clones.

    Reply
  6. Tmkreutzer

    Merry Christmas to you and everyone else in the Riverside Green family. I’m proud to be a part of what is happening here. I hope the season brings love and warmth to you all.

    Reply
  7. Disinterested-Observer

    re Santa: I read a really nice blurb about how to transition your kids. Basically you let them in on the secret, everyone is Santa. You start having them pick out gifts for people and have them give the presents anonymously with no expectation of reward or even acknowledgement.

    Reply
  8. Ronnie Schreiber

    When I was about five years old, I was at the Federal department store in Detroit with my mother, who could never pass up a bargain. She told me to go to the Santa and get a candy cane. I protested, saying we were Jewish and that I didn’t believe in Santa Claus. “Santa” overheard the conversation and starts talking to my mother in Yiddish, pats me on the head and gives the “shayne kinder” extra candy canes. He was an old Jew, probably about the age I am now. Heck, when my beard grows out I get called Santa, even though it’s still about half red.

    When my older daughter was little, she asked us who the “red clown” was that she saw everywhere.

    Reply
  9. Ronnie Schreiber

    Last week I helped bury the father of my best friend growing up. He was a very influential person in my life. On Sunday I took my 93 year old mother to the wedding of my first cousin’s son, who is very close to my own son. Mom is fading away to dementia. She still recognizes me (I visit her once or twice a week), but my younger sister flew in for the wedding and she said Mom didn’t know who she was.

    Treasure your family and friends. Wring as much joy out of your interactions with them as you can, God knows you’re going to have some grief so you might as well sieze the with both hands.

    Reply
  10. -Nate

    Thanx guys ! .

    You’re -so- right .

    We’re having a bit of a bump in our road this holiday season, I expect we’ll be fine and dandy again by June or so .

    Especially take the time to GO VISIT old Friends ! so often they’re all alone and taking them out for a nice hot cuppa, dinner, whatever will mean vastly more than any gift you could buy .

    -Nate

    Reply
      • -Nate

        You and me both DD McGee ! .

        That’s why I decided to insure it and sooner than later (I hope) I’ll order up the new battery it needs and give it a go .

        -Nate

        Reply
  11. Sobro

    Merry Christmas to the Baruths and their extended families, and to all here within the sight of my pixels.

    Here’s hope 2018 will be health, happy, and productive for all.

    Reply
  12. Frank Galvin

    Merry Christmas Jack and Bark. We’re already half way into the Shitfaced Santa Wrap party, and it’s fallen on me to walk the puppy. Given that its way to bleeping cold, the damn dog won’t relieve himself, and I’m half pissed walking on sheet ice, what better time to squint at the phone and wish you and yours the most merry Christmas.
    Slainte,
    Frank

    Reply
  13. ComfortablyNumb

    Merry Christmas! Even Vogo, I guess.

    Bark, my 11-year-old knows the real deal, but he’s still all wrapped up in the magic of the season, the way only a kid can. Even when they know the truth, they’re still a ton of fun. Enjoy!

    Reply
  14. sabotenfighter

    Merry Christmas you guys!
    Here in the land of Christmas cake and KFC fried chicken on Christmas Eve, Christmas day is just another day. OTOH, through the internets, I get to see and hear the joy of my friends and family in other parts of the world via SNS and Skype/Line whilst I crack open a few special brews Ive been holding for a while.

    Reply

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