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Have you ever wondered if the person responsible for the
song "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" ever went to prison? If they didn't
they should. It is about 10 days away from Christmas and I have heard "Run, Run,
Rudolph" by Chuck Berry, "Little Saint Nick" by the Beach Boys, and Gene Autry's
"Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" at least four thousand times a day on Atlanta
radio stations. I could stand more "Mary Did You Know" by Kenny Rogers and
Wynonna and "New Star Shining" by Ricky Skaggs and James Taylor over the
airwaves or Mannheim Steamroller's version of "Silent Night" and I can't hear
"An Old Christmas Card" by Jim Reeves without thinking of Lee Roy Brooks. I once
had lunch with Bing Crosby's oldest son years ago and we chatted about how it
isn't the Christmas season until we hear Der Binger's "White Christmas". Gary
Crosby once wrote a rather unflattering account of his father but was finally
reconciled to the fact that his dad made the world happy with his mellow
baritone voice.
Speaking of mending fences, don't you think that this is a perfect time of the
year to forgive folks who may have offended or hurt you in years past?
Forgiveness after all is what Jesus Christ was all about according to what I
learned in Tallapoosa at the corner of Lyon Street and Head Avenue. Just a
thought to think about.
Have you thought about what makes this time of year special, I mean really
special? People seem to be either in one or two camps, the first, happy and
festive with lots of smiles to go around. The second camp is that person who
cuts you off for the parking spot at Wal Mart and is in a foul mood when telling
the clerk "I will never shop in this store again" when told an item is out of
stock.
I stay as far away as I can from the grouch element during the Christmas season.
I try to be in the smiles all around group during this time of celebration. Why
is it that we only see Claxton Fruitcakes during December? Is there any
nutritional value in egg nog? Do you still resent that person who gave you a
Chia Pet last year? My kids don't seem to understand that Santa Claus can't
bring everything to them advertised on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. I
have watched "Charlie Brown Christmas", "Frosty the Snowman", and "Its A
Wonderful Life" more than once since Thanksgiving. Why is it kids can watch a
show over and over again and never tire of it? Many of you remember me as an
independent thinking man who ruled his castle. That guy checked out about six
and a half years ago when I became a dad. My kids now control television
programming and I am becoming quite an expert on "Dora the Explorer" and "High
School Musical XXIII" or whatever number it is now.
I went to the Southeastern Conference championship game about a week ago at the
Georgia Dome and ran into Leon Rutherford and a group of Tallapoosans there to
cheer for the Crimson Tide. I don't know where they went after the game but the
gators at Zoo Atlanta are now missing.
Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and serves at Distinguished Lecturer in
the Department of Communication and Director of Special Projects in the Office
of Development at Kennesaw State University. Comments welcome at
Rhubarbjones@aol.com or at P.O. Box
1001, Tallapoosa, Georgia, 30176.
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