A merry Christmas to all my friends, except two... - W.C. Fields
Fields spent his last weeks in a hospital, where a friend stopped by for a visit and caught Fields reading the Bible. When asked why, Fields replied, "I'm checking for loopholes." Fields died in 1946 (from an alcohol-related stomach hemorrhage) on the holiday he claimed to despise: Christmas Day.
It was late December 1965 and I was in AIT (Advanced Training) at Fort Hood, Texas, when OMG, it was so much fun I, forgot to apply for Christmas leave. The base would be, just about, deserted and then I thought: "Hey I'll save two weeks of my leave time for another time." I was assigned to a Headquarters Company with the 2nd Armered Division and we supplied all the administrative support for the REAL warriors.
So my commander assigned me to the Protestant Chapel. You know, to guard it or something. Suprise, Suprise, I had a whole building all to myself. I liked to explore things, not unlike Stonner, so I literaly peeked in every nook and crannie UNTIL I found the Christmas Decorations stored up in the attic. Talk about spooky, there was stuff up there from World War II. I mean this was General Patton's church.
So I started decorating, not even thinking IF there would be anybody to even SEE my creativity. In a couple of days, I had the whole ALTER area trimmed to the hilt. A Chaplin finaly walked in and obviously didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream with delight. Being accustomed to diplimatic procedures, HE complimented ME on my Special talents and you guessed it, I became the Church's administrator for the next two years.
"X-MAS" That's what my buddies died for in Vietnam ?
We're GOOD Deb: I meant maybe the Vietnam WAR was all about giving rise to a guy like Charlie so HE would put an "X" in HIS forehead, so WE would condence "Christmas" down in letters to only X-mas, so as to save on paper/trees and ink. ALL part of the GREAT environment cook-off !!
Cause I don't recall ever seeing "X-Mas" used before Charlie carved an "X" in his forehead. I think ORwhat and Peppermint Patty GOT-IT.
WE are sneaking around the church to SEE if God is there. Sneaking, sneaking all around, in the attic, everywhere. Seems a shame to have to sneak to find God.
A Merry Christmas to all. Somewhere under the tree Father Christmas has left me the Manson File, Goodbye Helter Skelter and the Manson Family Opera.
Mr Hendrickson, I began watching a doc on your Vietnam war (I heard once they refer to it as the American war). I see during WW2 the OSS helped out Ho Chi Minh in his fight againt the Japanese and he helped return shotdown American airmen. At war end the Brits re-armed the Japanese to help keep him down and the French returned to claim it again having given it to the Japanese in 1940.
Interesting comparison to today's Middle East in that the west loves to meddle and change sides according to what suits us.
A peaceful Christmas to you too, dear Robert. And to all the lovely regulars here. May 2016 be a greater year than the one which we now consign to the dustbin. As Beckett writes in Worstward Ho:
"All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
Here's to 2016. Let's fail better my friends, fail better.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to all :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas, Deb and everyone.
ReplyDeletePS : I'll bet I'm not the only one who thinks about the Zodiac killer when they see that expresion.
Merry Christmas to all! I hope everyone has a safe, happy & festive holiday.
ReplyDeleteA merry Christmas to all my friends, except two...
ReplyDelete- W.C. Fields
Fields spent his last weeks in a hospital, where a friend stopped by for a visit and caught Fields reading the Bible. When asked why, Fields replied, "I'm checking for loopholes." Fields died in 1946 (from an alcohol-related stomach hemorrhage) on the holiday he claimed to despise: Christmas Day.
It was late December 1965 and I was in AIT (Advanced Training) at Fort Hood, Texas, when OMG, it was so much fun I, forgot to apply for Christmas leave. The base would be, just about, deserted and then I thought: "Hey I'll save two weeks of my leave time for another time." I was assigned to a Headquarters Company with the 2nd Armered Division and we supplied all the administrative support for the REAL warriors.
ReplyDeleteSo my commander assigned me to the Protestant Chapel. You know, to guard it or something. Suprise, Suprise, I had a whole building all to myself. I liked to explore things, not unlike Stonner, so I literaly peeked in every nook and crannie UNTIL I found the Christmas Decorations stored up in the attic. Talk about spooky, there was stuff up there from World War II. I mean this was General Patton's church.
So I started decorating, not even thinking IF there would be anybody to even SEE my creativity. In a couple of days, I had the whole ALTER area trimmed to the hilt. A Chaplin finaly walked in and obviously didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream with delight. Being accustomed to diplimatic procedures, HE complimented ME on my Special talents and you guessed it, I became the Church's administrator for the next two years.
"X-MAS" That's what my buddies died for in Vietnam ?
I believe Charlie was also assigned to a chapel and also made his way into the attic.
ReplyDeleteRobert, what I was going for with the X-mas was a bit of an homage to the forehead X's. It was not a slight to your buddies who died in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteOrwhut, you saw right through me!!!
Merry Christmas peeps!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU0BfSELcRg
ReplyDeleteWe're GOOD Deb: I meant maybe the Vietnam WAR was all about giving rise to a guy like Charlie so HE would put an "X" in HIS forehead, so WE would condence "Christmas" down in letters to only X-mas, so as to save on paper/trees and ink. ALL part of the GREAT environment cook-off !!
ReplyDeleteCause I don't recall ever seeing "X-Mas" used before Charlie carved an "X" in his forehead. I think ORwhat and Peppermint Patty GOT-IT.
WE are sneaking around the church to SEE if God is there. Sneaking, sneaking all around, in the attic, everywhere. Seems a shame to have to sneak to find God.
Happy Xmas and holyDay to all O" You !!
ReplyDeleteWhat I would have gave to see Manson escape Vacaville in a hot air balloon.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Charlie Blog!
ReplyDeleteIt's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
ReplyDeleteEverywhere I go......
There's never a place to park.
By 4 O'clock it's quite dark.
And all the shelves at Crate & Barrel are bare and stark.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Everywhere I've been...
The check out lines are too long.
Something is going wrong.
I can't wait to get back home and light my bong.
Come on, you all know the words....
Merry Christmas to EVERYONE! Forget the PC garbage because my agnostic persona welcomes ALL.
Happy Holidays !
ReplyDeleteA Merry Christmas to all. Somewhere under the tree Father Christmas has left me the Manson File, Goodbye Helter Skelter and the Manson Family Opera.
ReplyDeleteMr Hendrickson, I began watching a doc on your Vietnam war (I heard once they refer to it as the American war). I see during WW2 the OSS helped out Ho Chi Minh in his fight againt the Japanese and he helped return shotdown American airmen. At war end the Brits re-armed the Japanese to help keep him down and the French returned to claim it again having given it to the Japanese in 1940.
Interesting comparison to today's Middle East in that the west loves to meddle and change sides according to what suits us.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all a safe and happy festive season. Peace .
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to ALL Christians and HAPPY X-Ma's to ALL Nation of Islams
ReplyDeleteGET IT ? Ma's-X (Malcolm) "X" in forehead. Charlie was sending HIS message to the Black Muslims: "It's TIME, Let the ZEBRA Murders begin."
Thank you Mr. "B" for helping ME get the message out."
AND thank you Mr. LBJ for showing ME how acting crazy can be kind'a
"far-out."
A peaceful Christmas to you too, dear Robert. And to all the lovely regulars here. May 2016 be a greater year than the one which we now consign to the dustbin. As Beckett writes in Worstward Ho:
ReplyDelete"All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
Here's to 2016. Let's fail better my friends, fail better.
I know now that I am truly Manson Family obsessed because I thought this was hilarious. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!!
ReplyDelete