The Sandcastle

McDonald’s was the first. How did they do it? They made all the burgers the same–with ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions. So they could make them quickly. And they didn’t offer anything else. Thus fast food. Your food was almost ready by the time you finished ordering it.

Then along came Burger King. They thought their claim to fame would be their flame broiled burgers. They built an open grid, metal conveyer belt that passed over an open flame. When you ordered, they placed your burger patty on that conveyer belt and it came off the other end perfectly cooked.

But, what actually made them competitive with McDonald’s was their new slogan. Many of you may remember the song, “Hold the pickles; hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…” Being able to “Have it your way” brought in all those people who didn’t want ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions on every burger.

Like me and Dave.

Now when we get food from McDonald’s we get chicken nuggets.

We still don’t like their “standardized” burgers.

TTYL,

Linda

Sometimes friends or family drag you to a mall when you really don’t want to spend money. Here are some ways to survive that with your sanity intact.

Pretend you are at a museum. Admire the exhibits but don’t touch.

Pretend you are at a library. Read the greeting cards, t-shirts, posters, bumper stickers, etc. Think about what people are willing to express to others.

Pretend you are at the gym. Try out the exercise machines that are on sale with no intention of buying one.

Pretend to be a researcher. Check out the electronic gadgets to see what they do.

Pretend to be a secret shopper. Check out prices and quality and make notes relating to them.

Pretend to be a movie/theater costumer. Decide which shoes, clothing, and accessories would be appropriate for which scenarios.

Go home having enjoyed your visit to the mall without spending any money.

You can do it.

TTYL,

Linda

My maternal grandfather was a magician during the vaudeville era.

My mother was a magician who performed shows for charities.

My uncle was a missionary who performed magic as part of his lessons until he realized his audience thought he was using demons to help him.

My middle brother performed his magic shows on a cruise ship.

I participated in my first magic show about age seven when Mom did a show at the Masonic Lodge and I did one trick as part of her show.

I did my second show at age 11 when my 6th grade class used Captain Kangaroo as the theme for a variety show.

I did my third show as a high school freshman when my school performed a variety show with a Down on the Farm theme. Somehow the guys could not produce the egg they saw me place in a cloth bag. It took a female to do that.

That was my last show.

I still own the gear for a couple of tricks. I should take them to the local magic store one of these days to pass on to a new magician.

TTYL,

Linda

When our daughter was little, the Deaconess at our church told me this story. One child told his brother that Santa wasn’t real. A sister immediately followed up by say neither was the Easter Bunny. The child immediately went to his mother and demanded, “Did you lie to me about God, too?”

That was the year I asked our five-year old daughter if she wanted to help me be Santa for her Dad.

I wish I had this idea back then as well. Spend Christmas Day baking cupcakes. Load them and the kids in the car and head out to where lonely people are. Have the kids offer each one a cupcake saying, “We are celebrating Jesus’s birthday; would you like a piece of His cake?”

Another family developed a rule to minimizing the focus on gift getting. “Something you want; something you need; something to wear; and something to read.” If the something you need is a new toothbrush and the something to wear is new pajamas then the whole family could brush and change and settle down to read together. What a lovely feeling that gives me.

TTYL,

Linda

Thanks to a blogger I read I have the song Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer stuck in my head.

That got me started thinking about the songs we teach our kids in December.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

Frosty the Snowman

Here Comes Santa Claus

The last one ends with “Let’s give thanks to the Lord above that Santa Claus comes tonight.”

Wait! We’re supposed to thank God for Santa Claus?

What does any of this have to do with the birth of Jesus?

The only children’s song I could come up with that actually relates to Christ’s Mass is Away in a Manger.

Surely, we can do better than that.

TTYL

Linda