Skip to main content

Christmas-Eve Day

In this episode - Christmas-Eve Day . . .


When was the last time your neighbors surprised you? Ours did this past weekend. One young family who passes by our home every day around 5:00 p.m. came to our door, dressed in red, (the little guy peeked in our window) holding a tray of Christmas treats.


“You did get Snoopy up for the Holidays, we love Snoopy, thank you.”


“Merry Christmas,” he said while extending his platter wrapped in foil.


This reminded me of a Holiday poem we recorded to share with our family. We want to share it with you - enjoy.


Christmas-Eve Day . . .


“Twas the day before Christmas," and all through our house,


The kitties were stirring, in search of their mouse.


With Missy on guard, and Junior prowling ‘round. We were watching TV, not making a sound. 


The stockings were hung on the mantel with care,

In hopes that Junior would not go on a tear.


Filled with ornaments and lights, to brighten the season,

Our house was all warmed . . . 'gainst the chill was the reason.


Mother was nestled all snug in her chair,

While the TV was blaring with holiday fare.

Me in my sweater, with Junior in lap,

Had just settled in for an afternoon nap.


Sunlight caressed the freshly mown lawn,

Gave a warmth to the day,

as dog-walkers trudged on.


Then the doorbell rang, there arose such a clatter,

Junior sprang from my lap to see what was the matter.


Away to the window, he flew like a flash,

Tore open my leg, while Missy chewed on the sash.


When what to my wandering eyes should appear,

But gift-bearing neighbors, with sweet Christmas cheer.


Their mother was jolly, so lively and quick, I knew in an instant it wasn't St. Nick.


Up to the door, the young family came.

With a card and a package, she called us by name - "Where's Patrick, where's Lori we have a gift!" she exclaimed.


They were dressed all in red from their head to their toes,

And the smiles they wore set their faces aglow.


A bright red platter in the little girls' hand, 

Was extended with joy, that was part of the plan.


Perched on the window and balanced with care, 

The kitties just watched but tried not to stare.


Fresh cookies and tea, A right jolly old snack, 

I looked like a peddler adding gifts to my stack.


As the neighbor’s departed we heard them say,

“Happy Christmas to all,” . . . And have a Great Day.


My hope is this tiny gift is a reminder to reconnect families and carry forth the spirit of giving. To nurture friendships and appreciate others.


May you be blessed this holiday season.


I'm Patrick Ball, thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Updated: 12/10/2021

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Resurrecting the '90s Graphite

Let’s face it, there’s a certain danger in reading John Gierach's Trout Bum . His wit, self-deprecation, and sharp, effortless satire are entirely infectious. If you aren't careful, his words will inspire you to drop everything, wade into a freezing river, and try to outsmart a creature with a brain the size of a lentil. In my case, re-reading Gierach recently didn't send me straight to the river. It sent me digging through the dusty, spider-guarded corners of my garage. In the early 1990s, seeking a natural escape from Manhattan's concrete canyons, I decided to learn to cast a fly rod. I bought an Orvis Rocky Mountain —eight-and-a-half feet, three ounces, built for a five-weight line—and had absolutely no idea how to use it. To avoid aimlessly whipping the water like scrambling eggs, I took fly-fishing lessons from Al Cucci, co-author of Hatches , on the Delaware River. With his guidance, I fished renowned waters: the AuSable in New York and Michigan, and New Jersey...

A B+ Kind of Life

Welcome back to this week's On the Fly . Retirement has taught me something unexpected: life gets a lot more enjoyable when you stop chasing perfection. Lately, I've been having an absolute blast playing executive par-3 courses like Rancho Carlsbad . A short iron, a sunny morning, and nowhere to be except the next tee—that's my kind of day. This Thursday, though, I'm raising the stakes. I'm heading to The Links at Lakehouse in San Marcos, a full-size par-71 course with enough water hazards to keep the local fish well-stocked with my golf balls. After shooting a 64 on a par-3 course, I've set myself a new goal: shoot an 89 before my birthday next August. Why 89? Because on a par-71 course, that's bogey golf—one extra stroke per hole. For non-golfers, think of it this way: par is like earning 100% on a final exam. Bogey golf is a solid B+. You got the job done, learned something, and probably had a lot more fun getting there. The older I get, the more I appre...

The Birth of a Cubs Legend

In this episode, The 162-Game Exhale — and the Birth of a Cubs Legend There’s a hush in the baseball world on Game 162 — a collective breath drawn in and slowly released. Scoreboards stop flipping. Dugouts empty. For six months, the game has been our steady heartbeat, pulsing from the cherry blossoms of Tokyo in March to the crisp, playoff-charged winds of late September. And now, as the regular season exhales, baseball fans everywhere pause to absorb the story we’ve just lived. For me, that story has been deeply personal. This season unfolded in the rhythms of my daily life. It was the summer soundtrack echoing beneath the constant turmoil of politics and sensational headlines. It was a handful of carefully chosen ballpark pilgrimages stitched together with countless nights in front of MLB.TV. And at the center of it all, for a lifelong Cubs fan like me, it revolved around one name — a young center fielder who turned hope into history: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The 2025 season didn’t begin...

From Mailbox to Microphone

In this episode, catching up with Sierra . What happens when you combine a little imagination, modern digital tools, and the willingness to make a glorious, muddy mess? You get our guest’s latest project. I’m Patrick Ball. Welcome back to On the Fly . Today, we are diving into the world of native plants and guerrilla gardening with twelve-year-old creator Sierra. After watching her impressive, self-produced tutorial on how to make ‘Seed Balls,’ I had to know how she did it. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sierra evolve from a young artist wielding crayons and stationery into a savvy digital creator. She’s writing scripts, mastering voiceovers, and editing—all to make a positive, green impact on her local community. “She shoots, she scores, and she’s here to tell us all about it.” Please welcome Sierra to On the Fly ! Let’s get into it. Audio interview . . . For more blog posts showcasing Sierra’s talents, see: The Mailbox Surprise . . . and The Summer Surprise I’m Patrick Ball. Sta...