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W
e e k l y F
e a t u r e P a g e
Links to archived past pages on lower left
The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. Click
on any photo to see it larger in a separate window. |
Advance Notice
Prowling the mental corridors, parting the cobwebs as we go, it was
decided to begin this week’s exercise with a bit of a disclaimer
written a few years ago as a forward to a collection, or perhaps better
said, simply an accumulation
of written material that was being assembled. In part, the piece read as
follows:
“ Perhaps because this process was not begun until I had
entered my second half-century, I discovered that it was easier to
do this than it was to dig,
plant, fix, paint, repair, or do many of the manual labor tasks that I should
be doing as a productive member of society. With that realization, the process
was begun, and with no particular deadline or schedule, has continued on
at it’s
random pace. Some of the pieces were written in response to current events,
some as playful jabs at friends, some as personal reflections on life,
and some just
because I couldn’t sleep. I make no claim that the following material
displays talent, expertise, inspiration, or art, only that they amuse me.
I further claim
indifference if they offend any that may read. By way of explanation, any
merit the reader may find within, I attribute to the inherited gifts of my
father’s
fondness for a well-turned phrase, and my mother’s unrelenting school
teacher’s
ethics. I view positive reaction from others as an unexpected bonus, but
continue on in its absence, just the same. By way of apology for my shortcomings,
I
offer the following excerpt from my favorite poet, Robert E. Service:”
Ah
yes, I know my brow is low
And often wished it high
So that I might, with rapture write
An epic of the sky;
A poem cast in contour vast;
Of fabled gods and fays
A classic screed that few would read
Yet nearly all would praise.
With all of that as a preface to any non hobby-related
material you may find on this page in future weeks, mindful of the
holiday season at hand,
and
anticipating the upcoming presidential campaign (usually a wealth of
material to be found
there) we begin with the following offering:
GIFTED
By Frank Young
The Christmas toy, that object of joy
That calls out to every child
They can’t get enough, of that wonderful stuff
That under the tree will be piled
Perhaps they are needy, or maybe just greedy
It’s all the same in the end
Till the big day arrives, they can barely survive
And they all know Santa’s their friend
Sweaters from Granny, or maybe not any
Thing they had really desired
But the smile’s just as wide, when the ribbon’s untied
They’ll think the old elf was inspired
The kids of today, some people would say
Are not like the children of old
Their lives are more hectic, their toys all electric
And over the internet sold
But look in their eyes, the excitement will rise
To a lofty new crescendo
When they pull off the wrap, and find in their lap
The latest new toy from Nintendo
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