Appreciation and reflection. That’s Christmas for those who have a body of life experience and some measure of intellect. Thinking about it all. Life itself, the meaning of existence and, in particular, our place in the social order we’ve fashioned for ourself or that has been fashioned for us….and sometimes both. What does it mean to truly care about others, from those close ‘inside the wire’ to those who flit about outside but not far away? It would seem that in today’s world cultural milieu that thinking and caring about others more distant is not quite as in fashion as it might have been, but without the ‘spirit of Christmas’ pervading some of our thoughts, with respect to the world, what kind of a world worth living in would it really be? Christmas, as other holidays, but maybe more deeply, gives a sort of ‘stutter’ to life for those of us who truly care.
Think. Have some coffee, hot chocolate or even some of that holiday good cheer. Then sit around a tree, or whatever you have and smile about what you have, plot to move toward what more you want and give thanks. Thanks to all those who’ve contributed to your situation and give back to you because you’ve given so much to and for them. The baby Jesus, the grown Jesus or even the non-existent Jesus, matters only in that the belief system is really all about you and how you view and treat others.
Merry Christmas this day to all those who’ve given so willingly to me on Facebook and in my regular life here in Lake Geneva. I have holes you can drive a truck through but I’m surrounded by people who are really great at doing those big thumpy asphalt patches to cover them. Thank you.
Merry Christmas to all of you! Jim thank you for sharing your voice with the World. I think of my first Christmas in New Zealand. It is summer there at Christmas. And it sure didn’t feel like any Christmas I’d ever known. It felt strange and Christmas felt like it was a million miles away. And that wasn’t under combat in the Jungles and the heat and humidity of Vietnam like you, like my brother and so many others endured and experienced. It was very hard to get into the Christmas spirit.
I know as I write this, and as we all read these posts, that we have Soldiers so far from home still. I think of them this year, and with gratitude in my heart, I say thank you to them and to their families and loved ones for the sacrifices they make to serve US! May God speed them home safely and soon!
Merry Christmas all!
Appreciate you sharing the experiences and sentiment, Mark.
Merry Belated Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year
Semper fi,
Jim
Well…looks like all the previous comments were from last year…I would like to say thankful for the writing and your artistry and mastery of it…I am grateful that I found 30 Days and have followed you ever since…I do believe as I have stated before that you were given this “gift” for a purpose…that purpose, in this old country boy’s opinion, is for healing…for all of those that had no “voice” to speak for them…to effectively relay their pain and the horrors seen…to let them vent and share on your page…and to help shed light on some of those dark shadows that lurk within us…that we try to avoid…but most of all to help others understand…that have never known or could have never imagined what you have so skilfully described…and I agree with Ms. Henderson’s exchanges with you on your abilities and purpose…Merry Christmas from North Carolina…
I do apologize for not being quick to your comment, Mark.
The Holidays were normal, hectic and family filled.
I so much appreciate the support you give and the comments.
Yes, we do share a real friend with Nancy.
A very Healthy and Prosperous New Year Wish to you and your Family.
Jim
Merry Christmas James, from a fellow Marine that served in the same area and time as you. Semper Fi and God bless.
Thank you, Wes.
A wonderful Christmas Season to you and yours also.
Semper fi,
Jim
Wishing the Very best for you and your family James. Have a Very Merry Christmas
And a wonderful New year.You’ll never know how much your sharing of your tour has helped myself and others.
Semper fi my friend
Thank you, Stephen.
I am deeply humbled the words have helped you and others.
Semper fi,
Jim
Merry Christmas, James…write on, sir. As soon as I can rub a few nickels together, I’ll invest in copies of the “30 Days” series. (fortunately the chapter-at-a-time stuff folds nicely into this fixed income, retirement prioritization thing). I wrote you once that this is like talking again with my late brother, I Corps Marine from July 66 thru October 69. Still feel that. Thanks.
A short Christmas story, courtesy of my youngest grandgirl. Last year and she’ a funny, mischievous four year old teaser who’s little mind seldom retreats from creativity.
“Whaddaya want for Christmas, Winnie?”
No pause, immediate response:
“I wanna book. And, a ham samwich.”
That came up, sometime in October. And she never changed her answer. Sat on Santa’s lap and told him. Sat on Grandpa’s lap and spoke the same request.
So that’s two of the things I gave her.
Another blessing in the life of a survivor of our War.
God bless you, Jim. You’ve sure blessed me with your pen.
I apologize for not responding to your comment sooner, Neil.
Holidays set me off track a bit.
Your granddaughter is a lucky young lady!
Enjoy a Healthy and prosperous New Year.
Semper fi
Jim
Such an endearing reflection, James!
I truly appreciate one other not-so-little point you make! You see, it’s so helpful when this Air Force vet hears a marine vet use a great analogy. You see James, I was trained as a radiologic technologist while in service and which I would use to great effect in my hospital based/ emergency medicine career! I absolutely loved your analogy regarding those who love you, and the way they patch the asphalt of our lives! Especially, for having thought, after all these years in the medical arts that asphalt of our lives was just some form of rectum trouble!!! Lol..Merry Christmas! Loveyabye!
Thank you for sharing. Dennis.
I have been out of routine during the holidays and missed some of these wonderful comments.
Bets to you and yours for a Healthy and prosperous New Year
Merry Christmas to you and yours James. Thank you for all the work you are doing to present us with your trials of life in such a way we can’t wait for the next installment.
I have a friend I am going to loan my copy of the first 10 days to as he showed me a book about Vietnam veterans from Mississippi and was moved to remember his fellow troops. I hope it helps to displace some of his demons as I am sure it has helped others after reading it.
I have enjoyed your voyage through your writing. Bless you and your family and merry Christmas.
Thank you, Collin
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Semper fi,
Jim
I purchased a present for myself it was “Thirty days has September” I’m looking forward to reading it.
Semper fi
We must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others, Dick.
~~smile.
When finished, please leave an honest review.
semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for your writing. Articulating what a lot of us feel is a talent worth sharing. This and your experiences are great reads.
Thank you Walt, for saying that. I do try. The writing comes harder than a lot of what I’ve written,
especially when things are going on here in the holidays and things were not going to so good back there on the ground.
Appreciate the support and caring enough to comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thanks & Merry Christmas James!!!
You are most welcome Johnny. Thank you for taking the time on Christmas morning to bother to write and wish me
well. The very same back to you and your own. Thanks for the reading and the comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
Merry Christmas Jim!
Thank you Brad, for reading along and supporting me. Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well.
Semper fi,
Jim
Merry Christmas James
Merry Christmas sir, and thank you for putting memories in print for all to see and share….
Thank you Kim! And Merry Christmas. I am glad you are reading, as not many women comment on this site.
Today’s military is a bit more eclectic than those old days when it was us guys alone. I wonder how that
is working out, and maybe one day you will be writing it.
Thanks for the comment and the reading,
Semper fi,
Jim
LMAO…..I probably should have added :RVN 71-72…..I crewed a Mike model Huey gunship, mostly in the central highlands. We coordinated with the 173rd Airborne, 22nd ARVN infantry Regiment, and mostly with the Korean Tiger Division. Although my wartime experiences were a lot different than those of the grunts, I can empathize with the common elements….the lack of preparedness at just how fast things unfolded, feeling like I was four steps behind in doing what needed to be done, being full of adrenaline and not being able to unwind when the action ended…..
It takes one to know one in this kind of a context. Yeah, the being behind on everything and everything being critical in some way or another was
simply overwhelming. And what down time. When you are not in it you are living back in it!
Thanks for the apropos comment and liking the writing.
Semper fi,
Jim
Sounds like Phu Cat, learned the 81mm and FDC from the 173rd, Tae Kwon Do from the Koreans from the Tiger Div. there, and chopper flights out, 68-69
Sounds like you had a busy tour Felix, and learned a lot. Funny how none of our skills transferred over to the real world.
I was told I could qualify to be a surveyor. Thanks for the comment and the reading.
Semper fi,
Jim
Here’s a poem I wrote about Christmas, which, I think, echoes what you wrote:
The Meaning of Christmas
Beneath the colored lights and noise,
The shopping frenzy and the ads,
The TVs’ touting “must have” toys,
The crowds, the Muzak, this year’s fads,
Beneath all that, unsullied still,
By all the shrill commercial lures,
The Christmas prayer of goodwill,
Of peace and unity endures.
And even though it often seems
That Santa has replaced the Child,
That elves and reindeer reign supreme,
That Christmas Day has been defiled,
Within each soul, so deep and true,
The meaning of the season lives.
And every year we learn anew
How blessed is the one who gives.
Yet what we search for in the mall,
And what we place under our trees
Has no importance, none at all
The things themselves are not what please.
Instead it is because they show
The love that presents represent.
Receiving them, we come to know
How much our being there has meant.
And when we give, it is a part
Of ourselves that we want to share.
Each gift is sent forth from the heart
To show how very much we care.
At Christmas time we bring to mind
What we should know throughout the year,
That we belong to humankind
And we must hold each other dear.
Wow. Now that has depth and meaning John. I’m definitely leaving it up here for other guys to come and read. If you give me permission, I will credit you, link you and have my
friend Chuck put the poem up on the site. Merry Christmas my deep-feeling intellectual friend.
Semper fi,
Jim