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

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...

The Pessimism Aversion Trap

In this episode, The Pessimism Aversion Trap Picture this: a room full of bright minds nodding in agreement as a bold new strategy is unveiled. The slides are polished, the vision is grand, and the future, we're told, has never looked brighter. Everyone beams—because who wants to be the one to say, "Um… this might not work"? Heaven forbid someone spoil the mood with a dose of reality. Better to smile, add a buzzword or two, and march confidently toward disaster. That's how the Pessimism Aversion Trap works. Even now, I can still hear the sound—a high-pitched shriek and a digital hum, followed by the slow, rhythmic clatter of data pouring from a 5¼-inch floppy disk. It was the late 1980s, and my makeshift home office (our living room) was dominated by what felt like a marvel of modern engineering: a used Tandy 1000 PC with not one, but two floppy drives. To top it off, we purchased a 'blisteringly fast' 300-baud modem—which, for the uninitiated, could downloa...

Pushing the Pause Button

In this episode, Pushing the Pause Button: Stepping Off the Treadmill Hello, friends — If you're reading this, I'm already off the grid. Today begins a much-needed vacation, and for the next few weeks, On the Fly is taking a break right along with me. For a long time, my inner voice has said, 'Keep every commitment, no matter what.' That's meant early mornings, long days, and a calendar packed with posts, podcasts, and projects I couldn't seem to say no to. I've been trying to be the tireless workhorse—but that kind of grind doesn't end well. Lately, I've noticed I'm not quite myself—shorter fuse, louder sighs, and a few too many grumbles (Lori deserves a medal). That's when you know it's time to hit pause before the spark burns out. So, I'm stepping back to rest, recharge, and remember what it feels like to not live by the next deadline: no tech, no to-do lists, just some space to breathe. Thank you, truly, for all your support and ...

The Friday Morning Pause

In this episode, The Friday Morning Pause: When My Brother’s Bookshelf Called Me to Stillness We live in a world allergic to stillness. Our mornings begin mid-sprint—thumbs scrolling before our eyes even open. The impulse to jump into the digital chaos is immediate. But sometimes, stillness finds you . It was early Friday morning. We’d arrived late the night before, stepping into the cool air before the day turned hot. Half-awake, I reached for my phone—emails, headlines, social feeds waiting like a morning buffet of distraction. We were in Cuba. No Wi-Fi. No 5G. No password. Just stillness, disguised as inconvenience. Instead, I caught sight of something unexpected: a small stack of books on my brother’s TV shelf. My brother and his wife are powered by perpetual motion. They are the definition of overscheduled and overstimulated. Yet there it was: Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday, quietly mocking my scrolling habit. The irony was perfect. I put my phone down—a small, delibe...

On The Fly

Search This Blog