Evidence of Idaho’s Christmas Spirit
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I am buffeted by advice that this site should focus on more positive stories. I like to point out most anyone is free to register and publish positive stories on their own, so long as it is locally interesting.
Most everyone is also free to leave positive comments in some of the more positively-oriented articles, and thus direct more of the conversations to a positive energy. Unfortunately, the positive or “conversationally-neutral” stories often receive few to no comments, leaving the majority of comments to cluster around the more contentious articles.
I will always try again.
I know somebody who’s daughter-in-law is going through a rough divorce this year. Of course without going into details, there are some tough custody issues and apparently a sizable backlog of child support. It looks like a financially lean and emotionally stretched Christmas for this family this year.
The somebody is planning to buy presents for the girl and her kids, wrap them up with name tags, and secretly leave them in her car.
I immediately thought that was so awesome, and such a fantastic display of the Christmas spirit.
Do you have any fantastic Christmas spirit experiences like this that you can share, something that happened this year or in years past?
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0 Just curios Ok, did you know all of the families that you did the Secret Santa for? I think that the 12 days of Christmas is an excellent idea but off the top of my head I can’t think of any needy families that I could do something like this for.
I get nervous sometimes about programs such as the Angel Tree. Don’t get me wrong, I know that it can be a great program and help those who truly need it. Unfortunately, I watched some people I know take advantage of this system as well as others (the Salvation Army, Soup Kitchen, etc). All of their money went to alcohol, cigarrettes and parties. They then used these programs to get food, personal items and christmas gifts (including for their children and grandchildren). They have taught these things to their children (all of them are grown adults with several children of their own) and they do the same thing. I always wonder when looking at the tags on the angel trees for the adults if it is the same type of situation and wish that there was some way of knowing if I was really helping someone that needed it, or just allowing someone else to throw another party or buy some drugs with the money they otherwise could have spent on Christmas.
I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a scrooge because that is far from the case! I am all for helping those who truly need it.
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0 0 The same family for all 12 days. Yes, we personally knew them all, and were related to the one I mentioned above.
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0 0 When I was a kid we were the ones that people helped out at Christmas time on a few occations. I will never forget how grateful we were at peoples generosity. We lived in what I thought was a middle class home in a middle class neightborhood. For a couple of years there was a job change for my father and it was rough.
I will never forget however, that in those lean years when we did not have money to give that my Father began shoveling all of our neighbors walks. He would begin with the widdow accross the street who like us lived on the corner so with the driveway there was alot of snow to shovel. My dad would have us kids out there shoveing and shoveling until our hands and feet were frozen. I remember we would be so cold and miserable and beg him to let us go home to our warm house.
After hearing us go on and on he would finally relent and let us go home. My father however would never came home with us. He would stay out no matter how cold until he had shoveled at the very least all of the widows on our street.
Now this was before snowblowers and I think my dad still has the shovel he used. It was one of the very heavy big metal ones where the corners had curled inwards from so much use and the wooden handle had splinters on the end. This shovel I could barley lift as a kid by itself little lone full of snow so we kids never used that one, that was dads shovel.
My father taught us a very valuable lesson about service and giving and receiving. Even though we received and were in no position to give money or goods, we still gave via service. I will always remember that.
Consequently, after a few years of doing this we were in a better place financially but my father continued his ritual of shoveing all the walks he could. Then one time after a very heavy wet snowfall my dad threw his back out from all the snow he shoveled. He was laid up in bed not able to move for days. Did this deter my father? Not even, after he could walk and get out of the house he went to Ace Hardware and bought a used snowblower and that guy to this day still does everybody’s walks!!!!!
He has never owned a 4 wheeler but he is vowing to get one with a blade so he can do the whole block!
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0 0 flyonthewall,
It’s about giving in ways one can. Sometimes, the most valuable gift we can give is our time and our listening ear.
Roysie, I share you concerns. I’ve opted to personally shop for a needy child or two, when I could. I’m sure I spent far more than I would had I written a check, but I had a specific age in mind, and I just couldn’t stand thinking this toddler might be cold without shoes, a coat, and warm soaks, besides the absolute basics her mother wanted.
As a surprise to me, the store gave me 25% off. I think I was the one who received the most that year, much like when I was a child and our family would help bring Christmas to a family. Sometimes all of it; sometimes just part.
One other year, another family had something quite tragic occur right before Christmas. Santa and Mrs. Claus just weren’t themselves and couldn’t get everything done. At 11:00 p.m. on 12/24, Santa hadn’t even loaded his sleigh.
I have parents that were amazing about teaching about sharing. They told me the had some gifts for me (and my sibs), and because Santa would becoming during the night, they wanted to give me my gifts early. And, they shared with me the situation of the other family.
There was NO PRESSURE FROM MY PARENTS, but as they started loading their Christmas presents, and some extras my mother kept around the house for gifts, I found it very natural to “donate” my brand new “Etch -Sketch” and other stuff.
Unfortunately, I must leave now. However, I will finish this later, as my parents took me with them, after midnight that night (and before Santa could come to anyone) to the home that needed a helping hand. What a learning experience.
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As a kid, my family always played “Santa Claus” for a family who need some extra help. There are several stories and each very special in their own way. One time we did the 12 days of Christmas. It was tricky to not get caught and even have that family call us and ask if we were doing what we were doing. It was great fun because we would plan, as a family, what to do to potentiay confuse the receiving family a bit, so they wouldn’t know it was us. Nothing bad was done, just things they wouldn’t think my family would do. I remember everything was left by, “The Pine Cones” and pine cones were left wth each day’s gift. The mom was pregnant and had a heart condition. She was on total bedrest. They had several little kids and had fallen on some hard economic times for their family. While we only did the Twelve Days of Christmas one year, it is still a favorite memory. It was one of the three years, in all the years we helped Santa personally for a family, that stand out the most for me.
As an adult, TSO, is so very special to me. I was dumbfounded at the show and how moving it was (besides awesome music). I will now see my 4th one this week. I highly recommend TSO to all. That is part of the beauty for TSO West Musical Director, Al Pitrelli (famed for his work with Alice Cooper, Asia, Megadeath and many others), as he says he looks into the audience and sees four generations of families sitting together enjoying the show. Probably, different generations have different reasons they enjoy the performance.  Regardless of the reasons all ages attend this show, it is an event that once one goes, I’ve never heard of even one person not attending another show, if they could.
A Christmas Rock Opera with “goodies” like Anna Phoebe from England and her Pink “rock violin” and high energy. Not everyone can run up event center stairs while playing their violin and never miss a note or pant. She also keeps an interesting blog of their shows and time in between. CVs of the musicians and singers are impressive.
TSO brings Broadway musicians, successful members of rock bands, teamed with some of the most succesful jingle writers in the  business world, Robert Kinkel wrote the music and words for one of the major Coke ads),  A “Narrator” and different six different singing stars are part of TSO, given their different voice ranges and abilities. Plus, in a show that has rock, classical, R and B, Jazz and other music, and different voices (like Tommy Farese’s “Blue’s voice”) to emphasize songs such as “Old City Bar” and “Ornament/This Christmas Day.”
And they bring a laser and pyro show second to none. Some of the technicians use to work for Pink Floyd. Unlike other concerts, the audience must sit about 1-2 sections farther away from TSO, given the flames that accompany certain songs. The lasers are awesome.
Plus, they bring perhaps one of the most important messages of Christmas: giving of themselves. It takes a lot of energy to meet every fan who wants to meet them after a show. And if you have specific questions, they will answer you. And, they will ask you questions, New York style - very directly.
TSO “morphs” into two touring companies for 2.5 months: TSO East and TSO West. I can’t imagine seeing an east coast show, given the talent (and characters)of the west coast group, plus other commitments the members of TSO West have made to give to the communities in which they perform.
Paul O’Neill remains committed to making this show affordable so families can attend. He is a genius and sets the example of what giving of one’s self is about. His stories and music are beautifully interwoven - and to think he was once a lead guitarst for a touring Jesus Christ Superstar show, who later produced stars such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, Def Leopard, Michael Bolton and so many others.
Paul O’Neill will NEVER take credit all he does. Rather he defers to the 3 he asked him to join his vision for what he thought coul be, but had never been done. Robert Kinkel, Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli joined O’Neill in finsihing one song he wanted to expand to a Rock Opera. That song, first on “Dead Winters Dead” for Savatage, (produced by O’Neill)was Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24.Â
The stories are deep, including their first hit, Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24 and subsequent ones since and their music is inspiring and familiar. Pieces have been used in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and other current movies. Classics such as their very famous “Christmas Canon,” originally written by Pachabel and improved by TSO. Sarajevo and now “Wizards in Winter” are all crowd pleasers. Some of the less known songs, such as “The Prince of Peace,” are tear jerkers to those who listen and hear.
There is far too much to write about TSO. I am convinced that those who attend their concerts come away with what they need: hope, remembering to forgive, healing from old scars from the messages given, the pleasure of hearing great poetry and lyrices with awesome music. Besides, the laser and pyro show alone are worth seeing.
Some of my favorite lyrics in O’Neill’s TSO work comes from, “Promises to Keep,” (on Christmas Eve and Other Stories). Although the CD has children singing the words and the live show opts for adults, the words are the same and allows each of us to make a choice of how we want to live our lives on Dec. 26 and the rest of the year.
From Promises to Keep:
“Christmas time
And the moments just beginning
From last night
When we’d wished upon a star
If our kindness
This day is just pretending
If we pretend long enough
Never giving up
It just might be who we are”
Also from the pen of Paul O’Neill, in “The Music Box”
And the most magical thing
About this night we will now reiterate
That no matter where you are in life
It never is too lateÂ