Musing in Manhattan

      Sunday’s church service was of course a pre-celebration of Christmas with the little ones singing their Christmas songs and doing the sign language along with the verses.  They were just too cute for words.  New this year was the teen element of the performance where the teens put on two Christmas skits–One depicting how teens can get involved in helping the elderly celebrate Christmas and how COOL you really are when you get involved with the true act of giving of your time rather than money.  The second skit was the real tear-jerker.  The teens re-enacted the song:  The Christmas Shoes while the song played behind them.   Picture the bustling department store full of people gathered to make their last minute purchases, all with their lists in hand and holding lots of presents.  Soon after, in walks the poor disheveled boy looking for the perfect and final gift he and his dad would give his dying mother on Christmas Eve.  He looks around for something special and finds what he considers to be the most beautiful shoes he has ever seen.  He proudly waits on line for his turn to pay the cashier, confident that mommy will absolutely love them and that she will be the most beautiful angel when she meets Jesus.   Finally it is his turn and he puts the shoes upon the counter.  He has been saving his pennies for a long time, but still there isn’t enough money.   Crying yet?  The boy tells his story to the cashier and moved by the story a kind soul on line offers the extra money so that he can buy his mom the Christmas shoes.  Excitedly, the little boy walks out of the store with his gift and the knowledge that he will be giving his mom something extra special and you are left feeling guilty but completely humble and so thankful that you have so very much.  This holiday season, forget about the job, the bills, the economy, and all that we can’t fix in an instant.  Put the stress aside and play with the kids and their new toys, hold them close and read them their favorite story, hug a little longer, kiss even when you aren’t under the mistletoe, and say “I love you” and really mean it from the bottom of your heart.  Let everyone know that you are grateful that they are a part of your life.   To my wonderful family and friends–you complete me and make life worth living.   I have been so blessed to have been given such amazing souls to walk this world with. God Bless Everyone today and always!   I love you. 

Well, it has been brought to my attention that one of my blogs found here on the world wide web has not been drawing in massive crowds of people.  Not a surprise to me of course since I have been pretty much missing in action since I began working in Manhattan full time. Sure I get a post in here and there but I have not been able to “network” and “share” or “buzz up” my writing since I began the 9-5 job–which given commute time is actually 8:30 till 8 pm.  I used to be able to surf the net and bring in more traffic, but now, I can’t even get on the computer to post.  I used to be full of ideas, and now I feel like I am just staring out into the abyss.  When I get home from work at 8 pm I slather my 5 and 3 year olds with all the love I have in my heart because I missed them so much all day and then use any left over energy I have to get them ready for bed and for school the next day.  Like a hamster running on his wheel, I am getting no where with my dream of writing.  Like the Titanic, I am just treading water until inevitably the entire ship plunges to the bottom of the frigid ocean floor.  Given the choice, I’d rather write full time, however, blog writing doesn’t pay my mortgage and by the time free-lance writers hear back from publishers regarding their work they (and their children) have already lost 30 pounds because they couldn’t afford to buy groceries.  That being said, I have been working hard as a secretary in the medical field and have thus let my dream of earning a living as a writer (and enjoying my children while they are young in the process of staying home with them and completing said writing) fall off the tall, jaded side of a steep cliff and die a slow agonizing death.   Thanks to the guy who said:  you have to work harder on getting your blogs read you’d make more money.   Gee…why didn’t I think of that?  I get the whole constructive criticism thing–I really do, but must we kick a person when they’re down?  I’m so depressed.