Merry Xmas from Australia

[TubeLover]

Merry Christmas Ajax, and I certainly hope things cool off for all of you spending Christmas in Adelaide.

 

While its certainly nowhere near as serious as what all of you are facing, for the first time in many years, we will not have a white Christmas here where I am located in Michigan and that's very disappointing to many people, and damaging to the economy. I feel worst of all, though, for a dear friend, whose father has very little time left to live. All he has been talking about in his remaining days was his wish to see one last Christmas, and especially, one with snow. And sadly, this will have been his final hope for that.

 

JC

[TubeLover]

+1 .. this is practically a Christmas miracle

 

Merry Christmas y'all.

 

I agreed with Ajax about about not making this a thread about loss. But seriously, you apparently live in the United States and are calling this a Christmas miracle? I have lived in the same house for 22 years and this is only the second time we have had no snow for Christmas. But that is less than nothing beside the terrible, personal loss associated with my friends father. Here in Michigan, they are already projecting a $30 million dollar loss, since the ski resorts have been unable to open at all for the huge, normal ski season, from Thanksgiving to New Years. And holiday related suicides have quadrupled, per this morning's news report due to the unforgiving dark, rainy, snowless days continuing non stop.

 

Yes, certainly a Christmas Miracle

 

JC

[TubeLover]

Yes, I live in Pennsylvania just north of Jud, which is why I quoted his post. No, I did not call our weather a Christmas miracle but jokingly said it was "practically" a Christmas miracle .. meaning "nearly" or "almost" in this context. I live in an area which also has ski resorts and are financially impacted by this warm weather. On the other hand, last year our winter was quite snowy and brutally cold. So cold, in fact, that while the resorts could make snow (didn't really need to) it was much too cold for many skiers, thus impacting business. I feel for those who rely on seasonal weather for their living and did not mean to offend you, your friend, or you friend's father. BTW, my life has been affected more than once by suicide and I don't feel the need for rebuke from anyone JC. Still, I hope you had a nice holiday.

 

Peace.

 

Melvin,

 

I apologize for the tone of my comments. I had just come back from a visit to my friends home where her father is more clearly than previously, in the last stages, and seeing this wonderful man in such a state, and hearing his mumbled comment about no real Christmas caused an overly emotional response from me. I also lost my best friend, of more than thirty years, about eight years ago, to a suicide at this time of year, and that also heightened my sensitivities.

 

I hope you also had a good holiday, and wish you the best of New Years.

 

JC

[TubeLover]

TubeLover, *very* well said. Our best to you at this time of year that for so many mixes joy and sorrow.

 

 

Thank you very much, Jud. And let me also wish you and yours the best possible remaining holiday season, and an equally happy 2016.

 

JC