Who we lost in 2022

 

   It's hard to say goodbye to a whole year let alone the people that we lost. How did they affect us? Why did they leave us? From an illness, suicide...COVID? Well, here are some famous people that we had to say goodbye to this year. Not going by month, just by how hard it affected everyone.

 Not everyone can be called the longest reigning monarch and lived for over 96 years. Starting her reign in the late 1950's, Elizabeth was the Queen of England for over 60 years. Almost 70 if she made it a couple more years. Passing away on September 8th, 2022, the reign ended; and now her son William is the new King of England. Almost near his 80's I don't know how much longer he'll last. No and I mean NO ONE, will ever reach the peak like she did.

 My heart instantly broke when I heard the news of Bob Saget's passing. January 9th, he was found dead in a Florida hotel room. Thinking it could have been drugs, it wasn't. He hit his head the night before and decided to ignore it. That could have been the reason why he died. Head injuries can end up fatal. But...I would remember him as Danny Tanner from the show 'Full House.' Let's just say everyone that watched that show, or his rotche comedy... were moved to tears.

 Speaking of comedians, Bob Saget wasn't the only one to die this year. Louie Anderson, known for his comedy and cartoon. Dying also in January, Louie Anderson was more remembered for his hosting gigs on Family Feud before leaving. I wasn't a huge fan of him, but I still thought he was somewhat funny. His recent project was a tv show called Baskets. 

On August 8th, Olivia Newton-John, known for playing Sandy in Grease, passed away from cancer which she was suffering from for years. She was also known as an accomplished singer with her song, 'Let's get Physical" back in the 80's. She kept going on despite not being able to be in certain films and tv show guest appearances due to her health. She kept fighting on for as long as she could with friends and family by her side. We'll miss you, Sandy

After Olivia died, we lost another great actress. Not knowing her that well through movies, Anne Heche was known for being a unique person. She was considered strange to some people, and her acting seemed to be hit and miss. Known for having mental health issues, dating Ellen after she came out and well...being in a remake of Psycho which well... I will not mention. We will miss her

   If you ever seen "Cheers.", then you would remember her. On December 5th, we got the shocking news that Kirstie Alley passed away from colon cancer about a week in a half after receiving the news. I remember her in some movies like "Look who's speaking", "It takes two", "For richer or poorer". Her tv status was more known than her movie status. We will still miss her. The last time I saw her, she was performing on the "Masked Singer." Goodbye, Baby Mammoth

    Gilbert Gottfried was another comedian we lost this year. Dying of an illness in April, Gilbert was known for his gravelly voice. I would know him in movies where he would play an annoying character. That was what he was known for. Even voicing an annoying parrot in Aladdin as well as the sequels of the movie and tv show. I always thought he was funny, and...lile many people, thought he had an annoying voice. But now, the voice is silent.

   An actor known for many film roles involving gangsters has died. Not by being shot on the streets like in Godfather but from an illness. James Caan suffered from coronary artery disease at the age of 82 in July this year. He was known for playing serious roles, except for one I will always remember. Elf where he played the estranged father of Will Ferrell's character who is an elf. James Caan was in other movies as well, but this is one movie I will never forget him in.

    In 1993, Artis Leon Ivrey Jr. gave a song that would be the most memorable of all his hits. It was called "Gangsta Paradise" Artis went by the name Coolio and was very well known when I was a kid. I loved most of his songs, but Gangsta Paradise was his best known. It would play constantly when I was young. Now, being older, I understand the lyrics Coolio was trying to give. Life is tough, no matter where you are. And it's harder when you do it alone. We'll miss you, Coolio.

    Before she would turn 97 in October, Angela Lansbury passed away. My grandparents would know as Jessica Fletcher in "Murder she wrote". I would know her as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. She had been in various movies and tv shows, but she was always known as Mrs. Potts to me and Jessica Fletcher to others.

  Ray Liotta, another actor known for gangster roles in movies, was another we lost this year. Dying in May, Liotta was known for many movie roles like "Goodfellas" where he played the lead. Dying in his sleep, Ray Liotta's death was shocking, but peaceful way to go. He was also in movies like "Turbulence", "Corina, Corina", "Muppets from Space", "Date night" and much more. But he'll always be known as someone that wanted to be a gangster.

  There are way too many people to list on who passed away this year. Pele, Meatloaf, Estelle Harris, Leslie Jordan, Taylor Hawkins, Irene Cara....just so many to name and all of them had a purpose in life. And knowing next year...we will lose more, this year, we'll never foregt who we lost.

MERRY CHRISTMAS-Poem

 

The tree decorated,

the yule log burns,

presents around the tree,

that time of year

when we celebrate

the most

festive day,

of the year

sparkles,

tinsel,

the magic,

that comes,

every December 25th,

We know,

this holiday,

would be considered,

stressful,

as well as,

time consuming,

there is magic,

on that one day

A special magic,

only children believe in,

but we all must,

believe,

that this day,

in December,

is special for a reason

spending time with family,

opening gifts,

seeing happiness,

in children

who believe

 

Santa is real

Mealtime with family,

gathering around the table,

food placed in front,

as everyone enjoys,

the meal,

for the family

ham,

pasta,

latkas,

and many more,

as different religions,

come together,

in one month

Christmas,

comes,

only once a year,

and this is the moment,

we all never want,

to go away

Why holidays are stressful

 

 It's not even Christmas yet, and I feel stressed out all ready. From people that work long hours in department stores to UPS delivery drivers. Everyone is stressed out. Christmas is the most stressful as well as suicidal holiday to celebrate.

  All the stress of cooking and cleaning and baking and working just to have the holiday to celebrate. Yet, why does it feel we're under pressure every year? Is it just us? Is it us getting older that we lose more childlike innocence that the holiday was once filled with? 

 Even Santa gets stressed this time of year. For children, they have no idea how much pressure the man in the red suit is under. Remembering who is naughty and nice to hoping no child has set Santa Traps or even sees him when they're supposed to be sleeping in their beds. 

 Postal workers have it the hardest. Why? Well, they have to get packages as well as letters to everyone before Christmas Eve ends. If they have to deal with pissed off customers after the holidays, that's not on them. Treat every postal worker, grocery cashier, department store worker with respect this holiday season

  Even when we get the gifts we are giving to others, we have to wrap them, package by package. Wondering if we will run out of tape or even wrapping paper. Cutting the paper too small for the gift or losing your patients for finding out Amazon delivered the wrong gift for you to wrap.

 Before you know it, it will be Christmas day. Everyone will be cheerful despite the insanity they went through the couple of weeks to get to that day. A day where everyone is happy. No matter what religion they celebrate, the stress dies down before the new year.

  Christmas dinner on the table. Whether it would be pasta, ham, sandwiches, even a small meal is a Christmas dinner. For us, we celebrate with homemade pasta, and it makes us happy. Stress will come and go, and we suffer for it every year.

 Celebrate with you loved ones and forget the stress that comes before it. We all suffer through it, and it never ends. Even if Christmas comes closer and closer every year. With it brings stress, heart attacks, headaches and anger.

 Even kids like to write to Santa asking them for things I doubt, they even need. The stress gets to the family as well as them. How they would be after getting their gift. Will it be the one they want, or something they don't want. 

  Whatever goes on, it is a stressful time of the year. Christmas has its ups and downs but there is always one thing that stays the same. Being with our family, friends, and showing the love and care. The stress will always be there for the holidays as we know what is worth in the end.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME-POEM

 

It's that time again,

the time to be,

another,

year,

older,

born in December,

of 84

38 years ago

Knowing I have survived,

another year,

filled with happiness,

sadness,

grief,

joy,

and much more

Born in the year,

84,

December,

15th,

10 Days before Christmas,

it didn't mean,

anything to me,

back then

December child,

as they say,

is a special one,

does it mean,

more presents?

A birthday can be special,

no matter when it is,

but it's now my time,

my time to shine,

my time to be known,

along with the others,

on my day

I am not alone,

we all share,

with others,

famous or not,

we know,

we share,

a birthday with someone,

by day,

or the day before

Cake,

presents,

company,

cards,

what we all want,

when we get a chance,

to blow out the candles,

and for others,

they have to share,

on a holiday

Sure,

 It may be close to Christmas,

but even a birthday near a holiday,

is special,

for people,

who have to share it,

with one of the biggest holidays

ever

for 37 years,

I have learned,

to appreciate,

making it through another year,

even with all the obsticles,

I had to face,

now....

it's my time,

my turn to,

enjoy my day,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Best Christmas gifts ever given

 

  Ever wanted a great Christmas present under the tree when you come downstairs in your robe and slippers? Some people wish to have the best Christmas gift in the world. Presents aren't really hard to come by anymore being grown up and all, but when you're little the child inside wants a new dollhouse, doll, race car anything that would make a child smile to open that present on Christmas morning.

  There were some toys that drove people up into utter insanity. This was before I was born, but in 1983, every child needed a Cabbage patch doll under their Christmas tree. They were selling like hot cakes in many stores like Toys R Us or KB Toy store. Now...they're still around but not as popular as they used to be.

  There was a Tomagotchi craze when I started high school. It seemed everyone was seen wearing little keychains with screens where a toy animal was seen on the screen. If you don't take of it....it will die. I used to have a few of them. Giga Pet was another brand. Seeing them as stocking stuffers when I was young was considered a great gift. Now, they're still around and have become more virtual than ever.

 Like the Cabbage patch craze. Furby's were considered the toy for every kid, but there have been some controversies on them being used to spy on the FBI or the government or something to do with their voices recording us or something like that. I never had a Furby. I thought those things were creepy.

   Old Nintendo back in the 80's was so new to people after the Atari. It seemed as if video games were starting to become the new thing for getting as a Christmas present. For us, we were fortunate enough to get a Sega Genisus instead. Mario and Sonic were like the Pepsi and Coca Cola of the video game worlds. Sega being the Pepsi of course. Both are still around and are now in handheld. Both Sega and Nintendo are still around.

 

  For kids young and old, many of them wonder what is going to be under the tree once Christmas arrives. For us, we were one of those kids. While the internet wasn't fully there when I was little, my brother and I would enjoy being outside. Riding bikes, playing sports and much more. Finding a bike underneath the tree was amazing for children to enjoy and learn how to get from one place to another. Roller skates are another.

   Another craze was a toy called Tickle me Elmo. A toy that felt like a vibrator when it moves. Don't get me wrong I was a teenager when this toy came out. It drove parents crazy to find one of these in toy stores like Toys R Us. Elmo was a Muppet who was popular around this time. I think everyone was into this toy. Toy stores were sold out of them when the craze started. It made the Cabbage Patch doll craze look lame by comparison. 

Video games, board games, dolls, video games, stuffed animals, any of these things you find under the tree from Santa Claus himself. Many toys become popular to us, while other toys fade away, but there will always be a fad that would end up being the best gift ever given on Christmas morning. But it's the memories of getting said gift, that last forever.

Annoying Christmas Songs

 

   Some songs can get stuck in your ear and can get really annoying. Same can also be said for Christmas music. Yes, that time of year where most stations play Christmas music non stop. Some are pretty good, but there are others that can get annoying so fast, you would want to find a way to burn the song out of your memory. Here are my least favorite Christmas songs that you hear constantly on Christmas.

  In the 1970's, Elmo Shropshire decided to write an earworm for Christmas called "Grandma got run over by a reindeer." I don't know why he would want to write that. Did he have a tragic experience with his grandmother during Christmastime? Was his grandmother an alcoholic? Does it matter? They even made a cartoon about this particular song around 2000. Just don't even pay attention to this song around the holidays

  In the 80's a huge group of singers like: Madonna, Bono, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and a lot of others famous around that time...decided it was best to make a song called "Do they know it's Christmas" It was about the struggle children had in other countries that were less fortunate than ours were. I have no idea why this was so popular. They keep playing it a lot around the holidays. Making a 20th anniversary edition when I was turning twenty. SHUT IT OFF! They don't care! Send them money...not this!

   If you like sad Christmas songs, this is one for you. Came out recently, but this song is about a woman dying of I guess cancer, and a little boy asking for a pair of shoes for his dying mother. Well...there recently was a music video by a band called NewSong. Rob Lowe portrayed the father as we watch this sad song go on as all it is about is Christmas shoes for a dying mother. This song will make you cry and well....it is not a pleasant song to listen to on Christmas.

    If you love Alvin and the Chipmunks, you will Not enjoy their Christmas song. Known mostly for that song, and less for their crappy live action movie, they are known for other songs. But singing about Hula Hoops and a loop da loop plane. I can tell this song can get so annoying so fast that you would wish Christmas will hurry fast so this song can die! It's called: Christmas don't be late. But it should be called: Target practice on chipmunks this Christmas

   

   I have a feeling that the writer of this song was high at the time. Sung by a ten-year-old, who is still alive today, I want a hippopotamus for Christmas is considered one of the most confused songs to play. But I think there might be a strange back story to this. Working in a zoo, the writer of the song decided to create a confusing Christmas song about wanting a hippopotamus under your tree. Any zoo animal actually. There's nothing negative about this song, but the singer was ten at the time. She's actually a good singer. It's the lyrics that are confusing.

 All I want for Christmas (is you) Is the most popular Christmas song of all time! It can also be an earworm that will not escape your mind forever. Some people have mixed feelings about this song. Some people hate Mariah and want this song to be forgotten, and others...are fine with it. I confess...I am one of those people that like this song. I always found it joyful and entertaining. I prefer this over the Chipmunks that's for sure.

 Known as an Italian Christmas donkey, Dominic the Donkey is known as an annoying song where most of the time you would hear a "he haw, he haw" Why? Apparently, someone in the song is imitating a donkey noise I just think it's best to leave this song in Italy. I don't hate it, but this song can get on my nerves from time to time.

 Last Christmas is an ok song, but WHAM sings it, it's annoying. No offense to the band (ok maybe some, but don't take it personally) there are better versions of this song. Jimmy Eat World, Backstreet Boys and many more versions of this song is better than their version. Plus, the way they sing it gets stuck in your head through the rest of the holiday. Merry Christmas! Don't listen to their version.

  There are other annoying songs like, "Wonderful Christmas Time", "Millenium Prayer", "Wonderful Christmas time", "Please Daddy (don't get drunk on Christmas)", "Christmas Conga" and many more Christmas songs can be considered in bad taste. Some of them can be ok, but there are newer Christmas songs coming out almost every year, even the same song in different versions. Sometimes, you have to listen for yourself to find out which ones can irk you, and which ones are pleasant Christmas songs