Christmas Music and Movies

I am a Christmas junkie. My family knows it but I have to keep it under control because I am truly married to a Scrooge. How this worked out I don't know. When I was little I would get Christmas albums out and listen to them any time of the year I felt I needed too. No one scolded me or questioned my sanity. After I got married I was actually scolded by Clyde when I pulled out a Christmas album in March and listened to it. So after that it had to be on the sly. This worked out fine until I had children that were old enough to tattle. Then I had to be really careful when I listened to the music or I once again I would be told that Christmas music was for December and December only. Thank heaven by this time we had given birth to Heidi, so at least the Christmas Season could start on her birthday December 1. Before that it had to wait for my Aunt Norma's birthday because the was family tradition as to when to put the tree up (so basically anytime after December 10 though that really wasn't Norma's birthday). My mother didn't even wait that long and it was her sister (at least once she had an artificial tree). I don't want to make Clyde sound like he is the meanest person it the world or really anti-Christmas, because he isn't. Part of it is his childhood and part of it is that he is so OCD that everything must be in its place and Christmas out of context just makes him nuts. But back to my story.

Then we got a VCR. I could not only listen to music whenever I wanted to I could watch movies whenever I wanted too. I must admit that when I was really down nothing makes me to this day feel better faster than a Christmas movie. I have several favorites and 1 is my all time favorite movie. My most favorite movie of all time is The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant, Lorretta Young, and David Niven. I love that movie - every minute of it. They made a remake of it with The Preacher's Wife which just does not capture the beauty of the original movie. I like the Preacher's Wife but it will never rank as high as the Bishop's Wife does in my book. Funny thing - people that have told me about what a fabulous movie the Preacher's Wife is and then I give them The Bishop's Wife - are alway converted to the original.

My other favorite Christmas movie was one Debbie Cannon told me about 20 years ago from the Disney Channel. This was when everyone was enamored with Australia because of Crocodile Dundee and The Man From Snowy River. This movie is a made for TV movie called A Christmas Visitor where a little boy named Ned mistakes a vagabond for Father Christmas. It is a delightful movie. I would love to find that one on DVD because the video I taped off of TV 20 years ago is getting very worn out. I doubt I will ever find it though. It starred Dee Wallace Stone. I think that was one of her last movies she ever made. Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire is another movie that I love but you can truly actually get away with that one year round. The first Christmas movie I remember ever seeing was White Christmas sent out on a re-release when I was 10 and so was it. I thought it was the most beautiful movie I had ever seen. Funny thing - I fell in love with Danny Kaye. I thought he looked the best of anyone in the picture. But then I had already fallen in love with him because of his music from Hans Christian Andersen.

I love the clay-mation TV specials and so the last couple of years I have started collecting those on DVD. Hopefully soon they will come out with my favorite, The Life and Times of Santa, written by Frank L. Baum of Wizard of Oz fame. It is an interesting version of the story of Santa Claus. I also would like to have the DVD version of Nestor the Long-eared donkey. About 6 years ago I saw a collection of the Charlie Brown specials for $10. I thought I would see it again on DVD but never have. Now they are $20 for one. Until they group them together for a good price I will just patiently watch them on tv or find them on the computer.

I am not sure what even triggered this blog. Music and movies are one my favortie aspects of Christmas. I guess it doesn't diminish the fact that they are special even if I watch or listen to them periodically during the year. Maybe it makes them more special because I know they are there to pick me up whenever I need them. How fun is that?

My Hero

I know I have written about my dad before but I had to write again this week because last week was his birthday. I can honestly say that my father has been my hero longer than any person on this earth. I have hero worshipped him from the moment I laid eyes on him. How do I know? Because I can't imagine my feelings were any different then than they are now - 55+ years later. My earliest memory of my dad is seeing the light go on in the morning. That was my signal that he needed me to go and help him study. To this day, when we are visiting and I see the light go on in the morning, I still have the urge to go and just be with Dad. It was my time to curl up on his lap and fall back to sleep but it was my special time with Dad.

We have had a lot times when we have just been the two of us. I went to Berlin, Germany with Dad, and Grandma and Grandpa Brugger. Mom was too sick to go and they had already made the reservations. Dad took me and I felt so grown up. I wasn't even 10 yet. That was my longest trip alone with Dad but it was so memorable.

When we were living in Denver, in order for me to attend Seminary before school, I had to attend another ward's. Dad and I drove together every morning and then onto Smiley Jr. High School. I loved that time with Dad. It was quite a miserable school experience (and seminary experience too) but I loved every morning with Dad.

I desperately missed Dad when he was in Korea. Mom and I went through that phase that many mothers and daughters go through where they don't get along. I am not sure I did it because I thought I should or we were like oil and water right then because we are really so much alike. I hope it is because we are so much alike. At that this point in my life I would find that a wonderful compliment.

When Dad came home, whenever Dad had a speaking assignment with the High Council or in the Stake Presidency, I would tag along. I met a lot of wonderful people in the stake that way and had more one on one time with Dad.

I guess the funniest one on one time I had with Dad was when Clyde and I lived in El Paso. I was all by myself and really sick with the flu. Dad was concerned that I was that sick and alone (Clyde was going to be gone for over a month). He had me fly to San Antonio and stay. After a couple of days I was not getting better. I was constantly queasy. Finally he took me to Brook Army Medical Center and under the name of my brother, Robert Maynard Brugger, they ran a pregnancy test. It turned out I was pregnant and put on bed rest because I was high risk. Marianne was graduating from BYU and so I was all alone in Mom and Dad's house for a couple of weeks (they did have a friend of mine come and stay nights in case something happened to me or the pregnancy.) I finally left 4 months later when they gave me the all clear and every one was confident I was not going to miscarry that pregnancy. I didn't and have Carianne to show for it.

The last one 0n one time Dad and I really had was the day we went and picked up Doreen's wedding ring set. I am so happy for Dad and Doreen and that they have each other. It hurts so much to think that I cannot just pop over and spend the day with my dad. But no matter what, he will always be my greatest hero. I guess every little girl hero worships their father to some extent and they should. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to send me as a daughter to my father.

Tagged

1 minute ago I was getting packages to mail to Heather and Heidi.

1 month ago I was going to physical therapy with Joe for my leg.

1 year ago I was getting my Christmas Book ready because we were going to be with Pam and Chris for the last week of November (much like this year).

3 years ago I was getting my Christmas book ready.

4 years ago - I was getting ready to go to Carianne's to spend time with her after Noah's birth.

5 years ago - our first Autumn in Rhode Island. We spend Vetern's day at Plymouth Plantation.

7 years ago - I was trying to help Doreen get things ready for Bob and Dena's wedding.

10 years ago - I was living in a house I loved, in a ward I loved, in a community I loved surrounded by loving family. It doesn't get better than that. Unfortunately I was having major health problems that were playing with my mental and physical health. It would almost 4 more years before we figure out what whas going on and how to fix it. Fortunately I had Dr. Nilsson to help me get through it all.

I was tagged

This is my 6th picture in my 6th folder on this computer. It is a picture of my niece Julianna on her mission in Uruguay in the Montevideo Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She will be there for about 7 more months. She has grown in amazing ways thus far on her mission. I wish I could share her letters and emails with you here but that is not feasible. I am proud of all of my nieces and nephews. But I am closest to my Dittmar nieces. Our families truly just meld from on family to the next. My sister is 'Grandma' to my grandchildren and in truth when we get together the grandchildren have a hard time telling which one is Marianne and which one is me. I love my Dittmar nieces as much as I love my own daughters. We have practically raised our families as one. Now they are all in Utah with the exception of Julianna.

I was having a pity party the other day. I was feeling sad that I don't get to live closer than 10 hours to any of my grandchildren. Then I thought of my own grandparents but in particular my Grandma Sarah or Omi. She never lived close to any of her daughters after they left home except for short stints when a husband was on a 'hardship' tour or during Aunt Norma's divorce. But that was just a few years in all. Aunt Alice Anne was in California and sometimes didn't make it to Utah for several years. We had many years when we were overseas that we didn't get to see our Utah family. Once Grandpa Tuttle died though, then Omi would come and stay for extended visits. That was fun. But that wasn't until I was a JR in High School. I truly spent most of my childhood with just summer visits in Manti. I am still surprised how close Omi and I always were. The best years I had were the years I was at Snow and then Clyde and I were at BYU. We made sure we would go and visit Omi at least 1 weekend a month when she was in town. I loved seeing her. She has always been an important part of my life - but then she was my grandmother. I have decided that even though she was in my life for such short spans she still had a great impact. I have got to figure out how she did it because obviously in that respect my life is mimicking hers. I am never going to be in close proximity to any of our grandchildren and I need to quit feeling sorry for myself about it. What I need to do is find ways to have a positive impact on each of their lives and let them know that I am always here for them.

Monday Heroes

On December 18th Chad Jenks leaves the area. It will make me very sad. I guess I have adopted him in a long line of 'sons' that I have picked up through the ages. I am really going to miss him. I have worried about him, laughed with him and listened to his beautiful organ and piano music as he has studied law at Roger Williams University for the last 2 1/2 years. Now he is graduating, early I might add after attending school year around. He has finally decided to settle in Boise, Idaho. Because he is single and 30, he is hoping that out West he will find the woman of his dreams. I do too, he deserves that. He has been so busy concentrating on his mission, his bachelor's and Master's degree in music (his emphasis is organ) and now his double degree in law and an MBA he has put his dating life on the back burner. Plus there really hasn't been anyone to date here. He has tried having long-distance relationships but they have all fizzled. I hope and pray 'she' appears soon after he is settled in Idaho. He deserves it.

My other hero turned 1 on Saturday. Why would Kaitlin be my heros? Because last year she started in this life at just over 3 pound! They had to take her by C-section so that her mother would survive. But it has turned out that Kaitlin is one strong willed little girl. Most preemies are 'slow' to devlelop. I bet if we put her next to our grandson Luke (who will be one at the end of the month) the two of them would be pretty close. Kaitlin is far ahead of the babies born in January (when she was due). She walks, she is trying to form words and she is very opinionated. She has become the whole wards 'baby' because we were all fasting and praying so hard for her for so long. Obviously prayers are answered. David and Trish are incredible parents to this little girl but she did 99% of it on her own. These may be two odd heroes but heroes come in all shapes, sizes and ages.

On an incredibly exciting note, after I don't know how many years, I got to see Elise Cannon! She and her friend (my friend too because of her parents) Jessica Smith came to our ward for Sacrament Meeting. To make it even better it was the Primary Program so Clyde and I were able to sit by them! We had so much fun. Hopefully next time our visit will be longer but just the hour and a half we spent together yesterday was wonderful. I love seeing Jessica anytime. To see Elise again was just beyond words!

Sunny Days

I love sunshine - so much so that I nicknamed our oldest daughter Sunshine. (It helped that she has always been such a positive person and the name stuck because of that). For the last 4 days there has not been a glimmer of sun in the area. I am not sure I would know the sun if I saw it at this point. I think that this is one of the reasons I have a hard time with the New England winters. It isn't the snow and it isn't the cold even - it is the lack of sun. This 'girl' who has spent the majority of her life in the Western US where there is an abundance of sun has a hard time not seeing the sun every day. I can go 1 or even 2 days but we will probably not see the sun for at least 2 more days at least - which will make it 6 days since the sun shone in total. Anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder in this part of the world will start feeling symptoms during November. November is the darkest and dreariest month of the year here. I need to find me a 'happy' lightbulb and put it in our dining room lamp. That should be just enough time each day to keep my spirits up.

Hopefully the sun will shine soon. In the meantime I am going to go and read a book about somewhere Southern, warm and sunny.

I Almost Didn't Get to Vote

Can you imagine what it is like to show up to vote - knowing you are registered and be told you aren't there? To be told you can't vote? That happened to me. I have voted absentee for the last two elections because of my traveling to Vegas 2 years ago to be with Heather and our Girls' gathering last March so I missed the Rhode Island Primary. I went and gave my name and was not to be found. Clyde's name was there. I was told I could vote for the President but nothing else. There were some local issues that I was quite passionate about that I wanted to vote on even more than president - believe it or not. So I protested and said I had to be somewhere in the system. For sympathy and because I was afraid I would be standing in lines for a while I did bring my cane (turned out to be a good thing for a number of reasons). They started looking for me - offered me chairs and eventually found me at #38 and not at 26 Harbor Village. They had moved Clyde but not me. By moving we had moved precincts. I tried to let them let me go two blocks over to the library and vote but NO! I had to fill out paperwork and forms galore. Finally 45 minutes after Clyde finished voting I was finally able to get in line to vote. Was it worth it? Yes. But it was a very weird exprience. Hopefully next time I will vote without a glitch (or absentee again).

I'm feeling left out

Every blog I have read for the last two days but 1 has been about politics. Every phone call that has come to the apartment has been about politics. I am tired of it. It is time to move on and accept what has taken place. It is time to pray for the new administration, support the new canditates and start badgering senators and representatives to make sure that any promises they made you want them to keep - they do or things you don't agree with - they know about that too. If there is going to be real change in this country it will be through Congress and not through the President. Will a Democrat heavy Congress give a Democrat President everything he wants? Not necessarily. It hasn't worked that way before and once the glamour of the first African-American in office wears off it could be that none of his promises come about. The Democrats were so proud of Jimmy Carter. It was a Democrat heavy Congress when he was in too. Our economic times and gas prices were all over the place. We were in trouble for most of the 4 years because nothing was decided the whole time. Now, however the President does have the right to veto partial bills. He did not have that power during Carter's time. Our country is in a mess. We need to be supportive - just like the 12th Article of Faith says.

Before the election I wrote one email privately to someone. We were on opposite sides of the political poles but I was glad that they expressed their points of veiw to me. They obviously read things differently than I did but that does not make them a bad person. Knowing them, they read far more than I did about things. I have only the internet and TV to rely on. They have magazines, newspapers and the internet. I know that their research into their candidate was probably a much broader search than mine ever was. Once I read their point of view, to be honest I was almost convinced to switch. It was not a charismatic email - just the facts.

We live in a country of freedoms - freedom of speech, freedom to think the way we want too. We believe in free-agency in the Church. That right was exercised on Tuesday. No matter who you voted for - it was the right candidate for you. Now is the time for us to rally together and make this one of the greatest eras in US history.

The Flip of the Coin

Everyone that knows me knows that I am pro-life. I still get melancholy this time of year because our first child would have been born now. My miscarriage was at over 4 months so this would have been our son. It is always a hard time of the year for me. But that is not what I want to write about. I was talking to my physical therapist one of the last weeks that I was there. His wife had a miscarriage last year and on the date that the baby should have been born she received a card from a pro-life group saying "If you hadn't chosen to abort this baby - you would be holding a living child in your arms today." Because the medical records had used the medical term abort and the DR had neglected to put 'natural' in front of her miscarriage, Joe's wife received a letter that devastated her. She still is having a hard time recovering from this because she ended up having surgery and they will not be having anymore children naturally. How cruel was tha? All because someone invaded private medical records and misconstrued information. To me - these people are just as bad for the mental cruelty they have inflicted as the pro-abortion people have inflicted on others. I have meant to write about this for some time but I have had so many people call me today and tell me how wonderful pro-life people are. Just because you are pro-life doesn't make you a nice person - obviously.

My Heroes - The Mello Family

I was going to wait and do Jennifer closer to her birthday - which is December - but decided it just cannot wait any longer. Since we first moved here Jennifer and her two sons' Cody and Devon have been and important part of our 'Newport' family. Cody and Devon have been very close to us and Jennifer has been a very good friend. The first Christmas we were here she invited us over to her house and there we were able to really get to know her husband and boys father, Dana. He is now truly one of our favorite people in the area. The thing about the Mello family is they are there to help you when you don't even think they are aware of the need. When we first moved here Jennifer was the Primary President. When Clyde was made bishop it didn't take him long to call her to be the Relief Society President. She thought she was exempt because her husband isn't a member of the Church. Thank Heavens' that is not the case because she has become Clyde's third counselor. Jennifer knows more about what is happening in the ward than I think Clyde does. She gets into people's homes in a way that he never could. She is truly amazing.

Dana is a wonderful father and husband. He is also an incredible chef! He make some of the best jambalaya that I have ever eaten! On the other hand anything Dana cooks and brings to a ward function is usually the first thing gone because it is always the best tasting thing there. He is currently one of the Boy Scout leaders for his son's troop. Dana is a friend that I am so grateful to have made here in Newport.

Cody and Devon are a cross between sons and grandsons I guess. Clyde and I both love them dearly. They are some of the neatest young men you will ever come across. Cody is 15 and Devon is 13. Cody and I have kind of handshake tussle thing that we do every Sunday but Devon and I hug each other every Sunday and tell each other we love each other. We have for 5+ years. I wasn't going to hug him the first Sunday I came back from my surgery because Devon had hurt his collar bone. He grabbed me and gave me a one armed hug and told me he loved me and had missed me. It doesn't get much better than that. These young men are going to grow up to be some of the greatest men I will ever have the privilege of ever meeting one day. Mark my words.