'Red Stick' awaits Ole Man River's fury

A peaceful Mississippi River flows under the bridge at Baton Rouge, La. in December

Ole Man River is on the rampage!

The giant Mississippi funnels a lot of water from the midsection of the country down  through Louisiana and out into the Gulf of Mexico.

The rivers water level in December was well below the top of the levee

And with the overabundance of rain during the past few weeks, many homes, cars, roads and bridges have been damaged or destroyed. And lives were also lost.

That weather system didn’t start acting up until about mid-December. That was the time we made a visit to Baton Rouge (Red Stick), La.,  where one of our granddaughters played the part of “Tiny Tim” in a Little Theatre production of Dickens “Christmas Carol.” 

I know, Tim’s a boy, but you know, they just get the best individual they can who can bring passion to the part.

And she did just that.

We arrived in the city early and decided to take a walk along the riverfront next to the downtown area.

There’s a paved walkway that covers a mile or more on the levee that protects the town. The levee is dotted by street lights with occasional benches for resting and enjoying the scenery.

The river at the time seemed to be at peace. But what began happening farther to the north didn’t bode well for everyone in its path.

Afternoon walkers stroll along levee at Baton Rouge, La.

And that story continues to unfold as the surging waters head further south.

Next post: Jan 12, 2016

What Child is This? -- Jesus, of course

 

Artwork depicting Mary, Jesus and angels watching 

Riding home from breakfast at our local favorite spot this past weekend, my wife asked me what my favorite Christmas song was.

I had to think about that for a few minutes.

It wasn’t "Joy to the World, Silent Night, We Three Kings, Old Little Town of Bethlehem or The First Noel."

I kept running tunes through my brain and finally realized that my favorite was “What Child Is This?”

As much as I like the song, I have difficulty remembering the words.

As luck would have it, upon entering church this past weekend, our music group included the song in their presentation.

Taking a little bit of artists’ license this week, I’m writing that we’re traveling into the Christmas season and therefore am including a picture taken from the Medjugore website that shows Mary and the Baby Jesus with a couple of angels.

According to the Wikipedia website, the lyrics were written by Englishman William Chatterton Dix in 1865. He was an insurance company manager and “had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including the lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of ‘Greensleeves,’ a traditional English folksong.”

The words (to the abbreviated version) are as follows (check out the video on You Tube)::

What Child is This?

What child is this, who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh -

Come, peasant king, to own him:

The King of Kings salvation brings -

Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The babe, the Son of Mary!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Next post: January 5, 2016

Tis the season

New Orleans Christmas festivity

Today's post is one of Christmas Past.

I can remember the joy of getting a bicycle, on Christmas morn, more than a half century ago.

Snowlike flakes at Miracle on Fulton Street

I can remember setting out to go snow skiing with my wife on our first Christmas together, only to see the highways, on Christmas morning, blocked by a huge snowfall outside of Chattanooga, TN. We headed back to Mississippi.

Huge Christmas tree in Gatlinburg, TN

I can remember the Christmas eve of almost a half century ago when our first son was born.

Decorations on family Christmas tree

And although it was July, I can remember enjoying the entertainment at the Cannery in San Francisco when a group of individuals, dressed in a varied array of Santa costumes, moseyed into the area. Because of my beard, they even called out to me as being Santa Claus.

Hattiesburg, MS yard display for Christmas

The Christmases tend to run together nowadays. 

We try to visit Bellingrath Gardens outside of Mobile, AL each year. 

And now and then we visit New Orleans to enjoy Miracle on Fulton Street, an entertaining array of decorations, trees and live shows.

The Fantasy of Lights Christmas parades in Gatlinburg, TN have been enjoyable, as well as the Christmas on the Water parades of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

But for the most part, except for maybe two times over the past 48 years, Christmas morning has been spent at home. 

Nowadays, our Christmas is celebrated with sons, daughters-in-law and grandkids, mostly on Dec. 26, giving each a time at home for their own celebrations and family gift-giving.

I only hope and pray that we all will have a lot more Christmases Past to enjoy.

Enjoy the pictures below of our Christmases Past.

Next post: December 8, 2015

Decorations at Mercier Apple Orchard outside Blue Ridge, GA

Timed-photo exposure at Bellingrath Gardens, AL 

Bellingrath Gardens, AL

Bellingrath Gardens, AL

Cute sidewalk snowman

Christmas time in Gatlinburg, TN

Christmas couple on sidewalk in Canton, MS