"Jingle Bells" and a sleigh drawn by razorback hogs

[gurdonark]

Today I drive to Camden, Arkansas, through Hope.
Atop a downtown building in Hope, I'll see Santa's sleigh being drawn by seven razorback hogs. Some night this week, we'll drive out into the woods outside Fairview to see the Jeffus home. The Jeffus family and their neighbors all put on an immense light display that virtually amounts to a holiday theme park. The leaping dolphin is my favorite, but I'm sympathetic with those who prefer the cannon shooting flashing lights across the sky.

We'll have lunch at my sister's home, as various of my relatives must head to in-laws or former in-laws for part of the festivity. Tonight we'll have sirloin steak, following which Santa usually arrives with a complement of toys on Christmas Eve. When I was a kid, Santa frequently would leave presents while my family was out on a drive, touring Christmas lights at neighboring homes, and singing "Jingle Bells" together. I do not remember us as having chorale-worthy voices, but I still love to sing "Jingle Bells".

If the weather holds warm, I'll do some fishing and some hiking. Chill weather will confine me to hiking.

Last night I stopped in Target to get a 10 year old nephew a present. Although this is my "hunt and fish" nephew, the fishing equipment had apparently been relegated to seasonal obscurity and while I do not fault him for Bambi patrol, nor do I encourage that hobby in particular. It's a way many fellows bond with other fellows in their family, so I'll leave him to it. I'll just pass on the 10 gauge and orange camouflage, thank you very much.

I despaired of finding anything, when I had a moment's thought--"hey, this is a 10 year old kid. He'll like a world of things! What would I like when I was 10".

Then I saw the old-fashioned game Stratego, in a boomer-tempting "Nostalgia Games" wooden box.
When I was a kid, I loved to play Stratego. I hope that he doesn't mind that the game doesn't have electronic components, designer labels, or
anything remotely resembling an issue of Field and Stream.

Comments

[lonesomenumber1]

For what it's worth, friends of ours have a typical video-game-loving 14-year-old boy who likes to play Stratego.

Merry Christmas!

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

That's great comfort! I used to love it when I was a kid, though my memory is that I was not that good at it:)> Happy holidays!

[secularkangaroo.livejournal.com]

when I was very small, I thought it was "making spirits fried" instead of "making spirits bright."

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

"making spirits fried"! That's great. I am trying to remember the variant we knew as kids that went "jingle bells, shotgun shells", but the words fail me

Re: good, he won't shoot his eye out

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Wow, with xmas mail that took a LONG time to arrive. I almost never inflict both things on someone at once.

"making spirits fried", "oh what fun it is to roast a christmas ghost tonight". Hmmm....

[burninggirl.livejournal.com]

I love Stratego. We have a set at our place in Tasmania (I don't even know who it originally belonged to), and every summer for years my cousin and I would sit there in the evenings and play game after game. He'd almost always win, but it didn't really bother me because it was fun just to play. I think we even played it last summer when I was there, even though we're "grown up", because it's tradition with us. I'd forgotten about it until this post reminded me.

Merry Christmas. : )

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas! Maybe you need your own Stratego game now :)