Still, for those fans who prefer the simplicity of visual communication, I present (get it?) this photo-essay titled:
Good Behavior Properly & Promptly Rewarded: presents from Santa
Dear, dear Santa!
Santa, I love you. Nor do I forget you during the 364 days that are not Christmas. You are my hero.
It was a thrill to finally meet you in person.
Listed below are the gifts that I hope will reward my year-long efforts which, lest you've forgotten in the rush of seasonal preparations, are as follows:
***Little crying, less pouting, no whining or unnecessary barking, eat meals promptly & neatly, go to bed at proper time & without fussing, waking hours spent in wholesome activity: in short my behavior = Very Good.***
Evidence of same: Mama et Papa took me [bundled me off] to Doggie Daycare for the required pre-admission Temperament Test at Pawtropolis [my old prep school]. The staff discussed amongst themselves my potential as an acceptable pack member, then introduced me to my group, [pathetically titled] "Tiny Tots." As I acclimated to the surroundings [which you can view through the online Pawtropolis web cam], they kept a watchful eye out [not unlike you, Santa, they saw me when I slept, knew when I awoke] for any signs of negativity, espeically aggression on my part, e.g. growling, lunging, baring of teeth, etc.
Notes were entered in a meticulously kept log with special mention of behavior problems IF there were any, which THERE WERE NOT.
My rating at day's end: EXEMPLARY, the highest commendation possible. Many happy face stickers were also awarded.
My Christmas List:
1 Terry-cloth puzzle ball with 7 smaller balls contained within
1 soccer ball, regulation size
1 yellow colored ball, small
1 warm blue sweater & 1 gray t-shirt [Mama insisted I include these]
Lots of colorful tissue paper wrapping
My own gift-laden stocking
Please remember Mama et Papa:
Mama would like a 2-week all-expenses paid trip to England to be scheduled for mid-April, 2008. [3 weeks would also be ok& the expenses should include an allowance for making purchases while travelling about.] Papa would like a first-edition A Christmas Carol, some valuable antiques & a cashmere jacket; he could also use some professional-quality cookware.
Finally, Dear Santa, in your own immortable words I wish you "a happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night," with love from your pal Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir!
Mama likes to experiment with technology; she has lost her generational fear of just clicking the mouse or pushing a button & now does both (and more) with abandon. She often looses interest in her technological experimentation. This explains her only foray into creating musical-visual collages for her iPod.
Six beautiful pictures of me slide across the small screen to the tune of "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever," words & music by Sufjan Stevens. The music-lyrics are not by any means cynical nor is it (as one may assume from the title) a song of mean. To the contrary, "...worst Christmas ever" is a touching, haunting, lovely story with this refrain:
In time the snow will rise.
In time the snow will rise.
In time the Lord will rise.
In time the Lord will rise.
Sufjan Stevens Presents Songs for Christmas Singalong comprises 5 cd/s, a cartoon poster, Songbook with guitar chords, lyrics and other stuff, and 5 holiday stickers, one of which (my favorite) shows King lion lying down with the baby lamb). I highly recommend this as an addition to your holiday music collection. (available from Amazon)
Which brings me to the subject of this entry:
Christmas Ornamentation of the Home: Deck the Halls
Mama's style may be labelled eclectic, tending towards collage or in a turn of phrase rather associated with Target (Tar-gay), shabby chic. Shabby, disorganized, ill-considered would be less flattering terms. Slip-shod might conceivably apply.
However, if ever there were a time to eliminate the adjectives & highlight the actions of the heart, surely it is Christmas time: "a kind , forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time... in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave....God bless it!" (email me if you can identify the original from which I quote).
Mantle decorated with cards, a treasure box of jewel-colored bells, a Santa musical snow-globe and happy Japanese boys & girls, framed.
Finally, Mama remembers that comfort begins at home and especially during the holiday. She provided me with my very own special Merry Christmas pillow.
And that pillow exactly expresses my wish for you: a happy, restful Christmas season.
Haplessly, if not hopelessly, I look to Mama for guidance.
Her suggestion: "Dance! Sing! praisefully & joyfully," she said, "start Carolling."
From the depths of my spring break in December malaise, I assumed she'd lost her marbles. [It has been know to happen.] However, "what is carolling?," I asked.
Mama, ever the teacher [lecturer], began to explain:
"Historically Carols were simply stories intoned at various times of year to help explain and celebrate cyclical occurances (harvests, planting-times, etc.); in 129 AD, "The Angle Hymn" was sung in a Christmas service in Rome. It was the 13th century innovation of St. Francis Assisi (beloved as Patron Saint of Animals) to encourage Christian carolling in folks' indigenous languages (previously Latin had been the unpopular choice of carol language).
Carols were initially performed by professionals, "Waits," but latterly singing Christmas carols hearalded the beginnings of the holiday season for Christians throughout the world, in their homes, churches and public gatherings. And today, for all who enjoy the annual rush & confusion of the last month of the year, from musac to High Mass, the Christmas carol provides a lovely excuse to make joyful noise," said Mama.
"Mercury, my pretty precious beauty [this is how Mama speaks of me always], sing out & make a gladsome noise. Click HERE and HERE and HERE! And follow the tunes & lyrics and Sing out Loud!," thus spake Mama.
And perhaps she spoke prophetically and wisely for the Christmas spirit entered the Roushanzamir home, wintery weather descended and the warmth of shared good times worked their magic.
I find I'm partial to "Good King Wenceslas." This carol tells a 1000-year-old story about the King of Bohemia who, viewing impoverished peasants from his castle tower, was moved to bring them food and wood. It is said, however, that the real (or more historically accurate) story of King Wenceslas is rather gory! Click HERE for both versions, i.e. the carol and the history.
And now dear friends & loyal fans, please enter into my tuneful mood by replying to this entry with the title, and any other information you care to impart, of your own favorite holiday carol.
The Peaceable Kingdom
