Title says it all, I don't have grandkids yet and don't know if I ever will and the holidays are not much fun anymore without little kids.
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Ah come on Steve, put a lid on the bah humbug routine and listen to your inner big kid. He's in there somewhere and wants to play . . Here's some plans that might help:
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Merry Christmas!
Peter
Well it is no darned fun without little kids.
Maybe someone can set up a service for renting grandkids for the holidays. Get a couple of 3 & 4 year olds to be stand-ins.
Doesn't Nate have a herd of them?
You could open Christmas Village Daycare for the school holidays to relieve parents that have to work.
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My grandsons are old enough to be?ÿkeen to the "Santa" deal, but still young enough to humor all?ÿadults.?ÿ At my age I've found Christmas joy for me comes from random and extemporaneous?ÿacts of charity.?ÿ The other day we stopped by?ÿa local elementary school and gave $100 to their cafeteria lady for any kids who's meal tabs just might be in arrears.?ÿ It was a satisfying moment.
I might also?ÿsuggest if you're into that kind of thing to call ahead.?ÿ It's a little more difficult in today's times for a wooly old surveyor in boots and a worn flannel shirt to get into an elementary school...and be taken at face value.?ÿ It worked out though.
One year I?ÿwas in line at the wally-world cashier behind a young mom with 2 tykes.?ÿ It was maybe two days before Christmas.?ÿ She was counting change from a small paper sack for diapers, milk and some cheap boxes of mac-n-cheese.?ÿ There was no "last minute" Christmas stuff in her cart.?ÿ The kids?ÿseemed to have?ÿhollow eyes as they watched everybody else buying flashy Christmas stuff.?ÿ I was hit by the spirit and gave her a couple of hundred bucks cash.?ÿ It was more difficult than you might think; at first she was hesitant and acted as though?ÿI was?ÿa nut.?ÿ I just told her to make sure the kids had a good Christmas and retreated quickly.?ÿ She cashed out in a hurry and?ÿgone; I thought maybe I had embarrassed her.?ÿ Luckily she graciously caught me in the parking lot, thanked me and promised to make good on my request.?ÿ After a short conversation I was pretty sure my charity was on target.?ÿ But nowadays it is crap-shoot...you might just be donating to someone's crack habit.
When the?ÿfast food joints have specials on their breakfast biscuits I've also been known to pick up a dozen and drop them off?ÿwith the winos?ÿloitering at the local park.?ÿ Seeing someone's eyes light up from receiving a gift that hits the spot is priceless.?ÿ I don't care if they're six or sixty.?ÿ And I've handed out a saw-buck or two that probably got spent on a quart of Thunderbird or MD 20/20.?ÿ At times that can be out of your control, but don't let that alone be a deterrent.
I've been blessed with more than I probably deserve in my life and I'm happy as a lark.?ÿ The Joy of Giving is a luxury that is there for the taking. Just keep your eyes and ears open and use your head.?ÿ?ÿ It doesn't take much to make a big difference in someone's holidays.?ÿ
I've been blessed with more than I probably deserve in my life and I'm happy as a lark.?ÿ The Joy of Giving is a luxury that is there for the taking. Just keep your eyes and ears open and use your head.?ÿ?ÿ It doesn't take much to make a big difference in someone's holidays.?ÿ
You're a good man Mr. Cash, and you gave new meaning to your handle....Paden Cash.?ÿ Thanks for sharing that.
Made a nice donation today to a tiny church. ?ÿOnce each month they put on a simple meal at noon and encourage the general public to join in and make a donation if they feel like it. ?ÿI think their average attendance is around ten. ?ÿAbout 40 were at the lunch today, including a wide variety of denominations and non-believers. ?ÿThe donations are simply slipped into the top of a tall vase which ensures privacy as to the amount of cash deposited. ?ÿThey ended up with every $2 bill I had on me.
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Let me clarify. ?ÿRecently, I assembled about $700 in $2 bills. ?ÿThey are getting distributed liberally.
That's a good way to get rid of $2 bills without having some clerk who's never seen one call the manager and the manager call the police about the "funny money" you are trying to foist off on them.?ÿ I've been told by people this happened to them.
That's a good way to get rid of $2 bills without having some clerk who's never seen one call the manager and the manager call the police about the "funny money" you are trying to foist off on them.?ÿ I've been told by people this happened to them.
A couple of years ago I made some Christmas?ÿpurchases at a Russell Stover's Candy Store.?ÿ As is my habit, I had cash for my Christmas spending and tendered two hunnerd-dollar bills for payment.?ÿ The young clerk drew out a piece of notepad paper and asked for my driver's license.?ÿ It was explained to me the management had requested this procedure to avoid taking any "funny money".?ÿ?ÿ Of course you all know just exactly how politely I asked for the store manager.... ??ÿ
When I told the manager he had one last chance to make a $175 candy sale without seeing my ID?ÿhe complied.?ÿ I also explained my shadow would probably not darken their doorway ever again...and it hasn't.
The world is turning stranger every day for us old farts. ??ÿ
Anyone who doesn't like my cash doesn't really want my business. ?ÿThat's their problem, not mine.
There was a time that $100 was?ÿ a lot of money and I had never even seen a $100 dollar bill.?ÿ Now, it's virtually pocket-change.?ÿ However, you might consider that sometimes when a policy is enacted the store (or "enacter") has been burnt in the past and they are taking action to try to ensure it doesn't happen again.?ÿ It's why Micky-D's is compelled to tell you that the coffee is hot.
