PLWP Yuletide Essay Contest Awards

 

We are pleased to announce the award winning essays of the First PLWP Yuletide Essay Contest.  They are:

FIRST PLACE            The Littlest Gift by Beth Bennett
SECOND PLACE       Merry Christmas by Larry Royston
THIRD PLACE           First Snow by W. T. Smail

To read award winning essays, simply click on the title.
To read all entries, scroll down.

The original entry details HERE.
Judging procedure and comments
HERE.
 

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    All Essay Contest Entries

 

We are very pleased and proud to share the entries of the 2002 essay contest.  We feel each of the essays are winners.  They are listed in order of receipt as they are generically labeled.  No editing has been done to the entries...spacing adjustments have been done to satisfy graphic design of page.

 

On behalf of the judges, we thank each participant for this special gift to all of us.

 

To read entries, simply click on Entry # or scroll down page.

Entry #

Author

Title

1 Jimmie "Toad" Turner The Christmas I Learned True Meaning 12-07-02
2 Shari Lynn Weaver

Twas the Night Before Christmas (my version)

3 Pauline Neck A Rain Forest Christmas
4 Larry Royston   2nd Place Merry Christmas
5 Sister Mary Grace Flynn     A Christmas Ode
6 Georgia Cruz God's Wrapped Gift
7 Gordon D. Hardacre The Poetical Parkinsonian : Professor and Patient
8 Patsy Turner

Santa Claus Has Been Had

9 Shari Lynn Weaver ...No Title...
10

Neil G. Fleming

Life is Good
11 Bridgette Howard ...No Title...
12 Kerry Mitchell ...No Title...
13 Beth Bennett    1st Place The Littlest Gift
14 Lynda McKenzie The Christmas Gift
15 Lynda McKenzie The Christmas Bazzar
16 Kathy Maggio Cookies
17 W. T. Smail (Bill)  3rd Place First Snow
18 Ann T The Day I Ruined Christmas

 


Entry #1

The Christmas I Learned True Meaning 12-07-02
by Jimmie "Toad" Turner

 

In order for you understand the significance of my most memorable Christmas, & how I learned it’s true meaning, I must start on Thursday, July 3rd, 1980.

 

We were moving back to Arkansas from So. California. I had built a 4X8 box on the top of my ‘72 Ford 3/4 ton pick up truck bed, & it was full to level with our every possession. My wife & four children, ages 5-8, were in the front of the truck with me & it was stifling hot. In fact, one of the worst heat waves in history, & we had no air conditioning.

 

All of a sudden my truck started smoking & making a rattling noise. I was near an exit to Elk City, Oklahoma, so I pull off of the highway. Thankfully there was a gas station open there. The mechanic said my thermostat had stuck & my warning dash light was out. I had driven too far with a very hot motor & there was oil in the water. The only thing I understood was that the motor was shot, & no help was to be had till Monday, & this was Thursday afternoon. It was literally 106 degrees in the shade & there was no shade.

 

After many calls, I reached a brother that would come rescue us, if we could pay for his gas. I was broke, so I sold my truck for $200 to the gas station mechanic. We unloaded the truck & waited 8hrs for my brother. Since we weren’t paying customers we had to wait outside in the heat.

 

We had rented, in advance, a small 2 bedroom house, that was 24mi, one way, from town. My brother had us there by the night of July 4th. No electric till Monday, but we had shelter. So there we were, 24mi out in the sticks, no car, no fans, no appliances, & just enough money for the electric to be turned on. At least we had well water.

 

We were on 105 acres that was largely wooded, so I took the .22 & hunted. The timber had been selective cut, so there were a lot of “tops” there. My landlord, Ron, furnished a chain saw & gas, & paid me $10 a rick for firewood, to be resold at a later date. Cutting & stacking firewood in 105+ heat was no fun. I’d work awhile, be sick, rest awhile, & start over. The next week, Ron picked me up & he bought a used refrigerator. I thought I was just there to help load it, but tears flooded me when he said, “This is yours. You’ll pay it off by working my farm, part time.” Shoveling liquid chicken litter on a commercial poultry farm for $3 an hour’s no fun either.

 

Days turned to weeks & we existed by the grace of God, though I can’t really say how. I thought we were in hard times but little did I know they were just starting. The heat wave was over & it was mid October. & I was “disking” a field for Ron. First you break fallow ground with a disk. Then you go back & pick up large roots & rocks & haul them away. I was in a very low gear & hopped off the moving tractor, tossed a big root on the disk & was climbing up on the tractor when my muddy boot slipped on the belly pan into the moving tire. The tire grabbed my over-alls & pulled my right foot & leg through a 4” space, between the tire & belly pan. This resulted in my ankle breaking on both sides, & would take a year to heal.

 

In November we run out of propane & stayed out for six months. We heated & Patsy cooked with a woodstove. I had stockpiled plenty of wood, but had not split it. I would get on my knees & split the wood because I was in a cast. My 6yr old twin boys would carry & stack it. We took ice cold showers with unheated well water.

 

During this time people I never saw, before or since, dropped of groceries or a few dollars. Hunger & strife will put pride in its place. I learned the meaning of “praying in supper.” Water gravy & beans with no grease or salt, was normal table fare. Groundhogs, raccoons, squirrels, robins, woodpeckers & such were “chicken” to the kids. And then it was Christmas time & there was NO money.

 

 Christmas 1980 looked worse than bleak, until Christmas Eve. Don McGee, a newly acquired friend & some of his friends had bought out a whole garage sale of toys. They repaired the broke ones, refurbished the used ones, & added some brand new ones. They also added a food basket with fixings for a grand Christmas dinner. The night before Christmas I learned what Christmas truly meant. It was/is the best Christmas of my life.

Actually, I had been receiving the Christmas spirit for months, without realizing it. Strangers willing to answer the call of God, thereby meeting my urgent need. They gave freely, willingly, & respectfully. I learned the true meaning of Christmas is living it all year long even though it’s formally celebrated just once a year.

 

I learned that time can be a greater gift than money. I experienced manna from Heaven in ways not understandable or believable to man. In many ways, the year after July 3rd, 1980, was the best of my life. I learned to trust in God & He never failed me. I realized I had a partner in Patsy that never complained, nor could be run off. I experienced true friendship. Now I know why the hardest lessons are those remembered best.

 

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Entry #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twas the Night Before Christmas (my version)

by Shari Lynn Weaver

 

 Twas the night before Christmass and all through the house

All the creatures were sleeping - all but Parky the mouse.

 

The stockings were hung up on the stairway rail

With the wish that Santa would fill them up well

 

The little ones were all tucked in nice and warm

While Parky the mouse creeped up and down his home

 

Come back to bed now Parky - Momma mouse said to him

Oh I'd love to sweetie, but i can't sleep in bed

 

My hands are all shaky and my legs just as bad

And I really don't think sleep for me will be had

 

Parky jumped with a start as he heard such a clatter

And Momma mouse got up too - to see what was the matter

 

As they looked out their window at the fresh blanket of snow

They understood the noise came from above - not below

 

Santa was there with his twinkle in his eye

And Parky chuckled when seeing his belly so wide

 

Hey Momma - look at that - when Santa starts laughing

It looks just like me when pd starts me shaking

 

Now Parky you are funny - you are making me smile

Let's go back to bed and rest for a while

 

So Santa can get right back to the task

Of filling our stockings with things we would ask

 

So Parky and Momma toddled back to their bed

And dreamt of a Merry Merry Mouse Christmas

And that is enough said..


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Entry #3

A RAIN FOREST CHRISTMAS

by Pauline Neck

 

My home town is a beautiful place,

but all this rain is a real disgrace.

 

Santa and elves must learn how to swim,

the worry is making them terribly thin.

 

The sleigh must be fitted with mast and a rudder,

to sail through the puddles with hardly a

shudder.

 

Their snorkles a-flapping and 'wet gear' on

tight,

the reindeer are looking a terrible sight.

 

While you are still sleeping, all cosy and hot,

Santa and reindeer are sneezing a lot.

 

So don't worry my friend on Christmas Eve night,

the sound that you hear before morning's light--

 

It isn't the patter of hooves in the snow,

it's the squelch of reindeer galoshes - ho ho ho!

 

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Entry #4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

by Larry Royston

 

 

The first Christmas season since finding out

What my body's recent quirks have really been about

Things seem even dearer, very  precious now to me

This holiday feels so much more than just lights upon a tree

 

The house is warm and cozy, decorated up for Christmas day

The year winds down we face the future whatever comes our way

The smells are deeper, music sweeter and treats made to entice

As the old year ends the new is here, born through the cold and ice

 

I take much comfort from nature and the lessons that it brings

From the shining glisten of a snowflake to the clear notes a bird may sing

I've noticed them before but this year it is clean and new

Things have become all boiled down to what is pure and dear and true

 

I am writing these words of the holiday if only just to say

From one who lives with PD, living each and every day

Merry Christmas to you and yours and a great year of good cheer

If we just hold on together we can more than persevere

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am 42 years old. I am originally from Hawaii but I live in the Atlanta area now. I am very newly diagnosed with Parkinson's as I was told it was what my condition is called just a little over a month ago. I have been noticing the initial symptoms for about a year, though. My wife Jan and I recently celebrated our third anniversary. We have six cats in what you can probably imagine is a very cozy one-bedroom apartment.  I spent 10 years as a vocational counselor for people with various physical and emotional challenges but now I sell books online.

 

 

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Entry #5

A Christmas Ode

by Sister Mary Grace Flynn

 

 

This is an ode to Santa Claus 

who came to me one day in June.  Yes, June! 

He is not wedded to December visits.

And here is why he came. 

It seems a year or two ago 

My left hand began to tremble, a scary thing indeed,

Nothing could make it stop.

Did I say I am a nun?  Yes, I am a Catholic Sister who does what she is told to do.

Obedience, tis called, a holy vow that if you keep, it will keep you!

"Go to a doctor,"  no mistake, it was an order given.

"See a neurologist and ask what's wrong."

My doctor was from India, gentle, kind and very good to me.

Once I taught his daughters, lovely girls, all three.

His sad brown eyes told me a tale, the end of which I knew.

"Parkinson's," he said, "But we'll take care of you."

He plied me then with pills--blue and grey and white.

They chased away the tremor; no other troubles seemed insight.

Until . . .

 I took a few short steps and then began to hurt;

The walking caused me, oh such pain!

My back and thighes would ache and ache.

Because our halls are very long, in fact, I'd say it's true--

Almost a mile there is between my cell and chapel pew.

But resolution of this state was never far away.

"I need a scooter," said I, "Oh, please get me a scooter soon."

 

And that's what Santa brought to me

Even though 'twas June

 

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Entry #6

God's Wrapped Gift

by Georgia Cruz

 

To show He was for all mankind,

He came as One so poor,

And walked with us, with dusty feet,

And said "I am the Door"

 

He lived a life that were there ink

enough, and parchment too,

Could never tell the Story ,

of His great love for you.

 

So when we see the Christmas lights,

And how our spirits they do lift,

Let us also remember,

That day To the world,

God's wrapped "Gift".

 

Note:  This author is not a member of PLWP but cares about those who do have Parkinson's.  She requested that we share the following site with our members:  http://supersign.tripod.com/thecure.htm

 

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Entry #7

The Poetical Parkinsonian : Professor and Patient
by Gordon D. Hardacre

 

My disease is just irksome, not fatal,

(symptoms truncal and limb and palatal):

Does one find, with PD,

Apoptotic debris

In projections non-nigrostriatal ?

The results from this site anatomic

(Mainly motor, and some autonomic)

Include slowing of gait---

Festination is late---

Not to mention effects economic.

(Don’t mistake my PD for senescence,

Though this word-play suggests adolescence !):

MDS summons all

To confer in this Hall,

Where, of wisdom resides the quintessence ! (1)

You may meet A. E. Lang or A. Lees,

They reflect MDJ’s expertise; (2)

Doctors Brooks, Fahn and Lynch

Or Dubois, in a pinch, (3)

Can be heard on a range of disease.

"Is PD from a toxin or gene ?

Vicious germ or abnormal protein ?" (4)

Symptoms…..imaging…..drugs,

Pharmaceutical plugs,

Lectures, parties and much in between!

Years ago, through the meadows I romped,

Now, I’m slow where I used to be prompt;

What we need, to move free,

Is less 3-O-MD –-

That’s achieved by inhibiting COMT.

Levodopa to start? It’s a flip, (5)

I, your scribe – a GP, take ReQuip:

Oh, L-Dopa’s alright,

(One can dream every night !)

Now my legs really move at a clip !

This, my "abstract"’ is typed, so to suit

Normal vision – my script is minute;

With my anosmic nose

And a tremor that shows…..

Life has challenges one can’t refute.

Many questions remain – here are what-I-mean –-

Is protection conferred by rasagiline ?…..

Is risperidone right

For those visions at night ?…..

And can tremor be stopped by mirtazapine ??

Yes, PD will continue to vex

Many scholars…..it’s hugely complex;

But its cause…..here proposed,

(See my data enclosed) (6)

…..Not no coffee, but far too much sex ! (7)

 

Gordon D. Hardacre MD, CCFP, FCFP
Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine,
University of Toronto, Canada
…..and patient, Toronto Western
Hospital Movement Disorders Centre

 

 

 

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Entry #8

Santa Claus Has Been Had

by Patsy Turner

 

To begin this story, we went to visit an aunt in Topeka, Kansas, one year for Christmas. Shortly after we arrived they decided that they were going to have to go rent a Santa Claus for their party. Usually Uncle Glen played Santa, but for some reason this year he did not. No Santa was available on this short of notice, so Aunt Anita suggested going and getting a Santa Claus suit. But who would be Santa?

 

Everything was set up. Aunt Anita and others went shopping. The very next day was the Christmas party.

 

Santa arrived in all his glory. The kids never noticed the limp, and Santa Claus played the part to the hilt. He passed out presents to young and old alike. Everyone sat on Santa’s lap. You would have thought that he had played this part for many years. He was a pro. Everyone was in stitches from the things he said, and did. To prove all of this I still have the video. It was such a hit, that we began to have Santa visit our house every year. 

 

We now live in a big 2 story house. You could go out our bedroom door, circle the house and come in the living room door. So now we play Santa and Mrs. Claus every year. We would get up early and dress in our outfits, and sneak around the house. Then when we got close to the door, we would start saying, "Ho!Ho!Ho! Merry Christmas, and all the babies would run to the door to let us in.

 

Then it was time to pass out presents. Everyone from Great grandma and grandpa to the smallest baby sat on Santa’s lap. When all was about over, our grandson, came up to Santa, and said, "Pa, is that you?" Which Santa tried to prove that he was the real Santa. Our grandson tried to pull the beard, to see  if it was real.  Then he just disappeared for a while.

 

It was time for Santa and Mrs. Claus to ride away. Everyone came out to say good-bye. We snuck around the house and into our bedroom to change clothes and to return to the scene in the living room.

 

It wasn’t long before our grandson came back into the room. He said, "Pa, come here." Now he was only 5 yrs. old at this time. So Pa followed him to our bedroom. He pointed to the bed and said, "Now put it on."

There lay the Santa Claus Suit in full living color. Pa (Santa) had been had.

 

We laughed until we were plum tuckered out.  For such a small child, he was very smart. 

 

Time and traditions change every year, but the excitement of the happy looks on the children’s faces stay the same, they are just passed down from one generation to another.   

 

 

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Entry #9

 by Shari Lynn Weaver 

 

M  emories of long ago

E  veryone loves to get together

R  eminisce about childhood dreams

R  rockin' around the christmas tree

Y  ummy treats for all to enjoy

 

C  candy, cake, cookies and condiments

H  appy faces all around the table

R  aising their glasses in cheer

I  love Christmas traditions

S haring food and gifts and laughter

T  oo soon the day is done

M  any good memories to hold on to

A  nd of course there is always next year

S  o have yourself a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

 

 

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Entry #10

Life is Good

by Neil G. Fleming

 

AS i write this collection of words ,it would be my preferance that these thoughts and feelings  be dedicated to every living thing on this planet ,and for that matter , any planet. I had adopted  a query of wearing a baseball style  hat  with the saying "Life is good" it  also included a little skinny  fellow who , epitomized the quotation. Without knowing , this  would  become the ralling cry  that screamed  out from the belches  of my soul , a message that i was , or so i thought , proud of. Then the  darkness  set -in. I wa s  on a crash to hell! My life fell into disarray and despair. I lost my son to misunderstandings  and  lack of communication . My love of life , a girlfriend  who trusted me  and actually loved  me, abandoned me  and rightfully  so for i had taken up arms with an old foe "Gambling".  Due  to worsening Parkinson's , my life as  productive and  meaningful worker  was  to never be  again . My plate was full and my cup was spilling over .

 

It was then that the unbelievable  occurred . I was to become a hideous monster that without regard for friends or  loved ones , was to forever brand my self "An attempter of  Suicide"  The holiday season seemed  surrealiistic and distant . Lfe was "not good" or so i thought. Then  an angel appeared to me . Not an angel that was in the sense  of the word pious  or foreboding, but in the simplest of  manifestations , a human being who, just happened to be one of my dearest friends . She did not  judge  nor did she purport to have my salvation a hand . Without hesitation  she started  a  regime that  has it's  basis in the spirit of our holidays whether it be Christmas , Haunakka, or Kwaansa. She laid  bare her soul and took my well being and put it to the forefront . We phne deach other every day and she even dug  deep int her  own pocket and helped me out with some of her holiday money that i came to find out, had been much needed for her own family's holiday.

 

Without a doubt, ths dear angel had come to me in my worst  moment and  was the spirit of  not only  holiday  cheer but  a genuine  caring human being who was the catalyst for saving my future  on this big  globe and restoring  the  proud insignia that i had worn on the  ball hat that  i used to wear that always had been my  heroic statement  "Life is Good"  She quite literally brought  me  back to the world  of the  living  and  gave  me  a  look into the real reasnon  we  are all  thrust together in this  universe , compassion ,  love  and genuine   care  about ourselves   and the  plight of those  who, by  some  quirk , have lost their  way and need  some help to "get home whereLIFE IS GOOD"..........

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Entry #11

by Bridgette Howard

 

I call Christmas the cycle holiday-everything works in a cycle and don't we expect the same things to occur each year?  We look forward to the stores putting their decorations up a little too early (or do we?) and we expect to see our Sunday newspapers littered with bright ads.  Our daily news shows highlight the top gifts for kids then show ruthless parents in hot pursuit of them ( tickle-me-Elmo, beanie babies).  We look forward to making Christmas lists, a time when everyone returns to their childlike stage of mapping out fantasies.  The malls are crawling with moms, dad, teenagers and grandparents searching for that perfect gift.  In school students squirm in their seats, twiddle their thumbs and mouth to each other the number of days until break during that boring math class.  We look forward to seeing the charmingly tacky Christmas sweaters with the matching sequined shoes and of course the ubiquitous "Santa hat". 

 

Christmas is also a time when schools have clothing drives to remind students that there are others who are less fortunate.  In general, its important to step back from the globe of festivity and express gratefulness for all the blessings granted throughout the year.  For some, the cycle may seem broken one year because of economic downfall or loss of a loved one.  But as long as love exists in the heart the spirit of the cycle will never break. Somehow that evergreen lit with golden charms and multicolored lights bring a small joy into the atmosphere. Joy comes in many forms, while drinking eggnog, opening gifts, seeing friends and family happy or while singing Christmas carols. So as I say, Merry Christmas! and Happy Cycling!

 

 

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Entry #12

by Kerry Mitchell

 

This is the season for joy and mirth,

for giving and peace on earth,

for telling the one you care about

how much her love is worth.

This is the season for caring,

and doing a little sharing,

giving of yourself

and asking how others are faring.

This is the season for tidings and gifts,

and giving a loved one a lift,

and telling an old friend

how much he's been missed.

This is the season for wreaths and toys,