Losing a dear friend is always a very sad thing; having that lost happen during the Christmas season is especially sad (Sam passed away on December 15th, 2008). To me, Sam Shields was a very special individual, and I will miss him very much.
Sam was a beautiful man. A man of presence standing six foot five at over two hundred and fifty pounds. He had the gentle qualities of a Teddy Bear. I never remember Sam being anything but warm, generous, with words of kindness on every occasion we were together. If I could have had someone to pick as an older brother I would have picked Sam. Sam died suddenly from a massive stroke. The doctors said his life could have been saved but he would have been a total vegetable. I know Sam would not have wanted that. Sam had been an engineer with Boeing for forty-six years. He never spoke of what kind of work he did. He would laughingly say, “If I told you, I then would have to kill you.” I am going to miss Sam terribly. They do not make men like him anymore.Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
"Sam Has Left The Building" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Boeing, Cancer, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, In memory of Sam Shields of Allen Texas, Losing a friend at Christmas, Lost of a wonderful person at Christmas, Sam Shields, Stepfamily, Teddy Bear, Texas on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
"It Was My Sweet Jesus" copyright 2009 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"
Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged Christianity, Christmas, Jesus, Lord, Opposing Views, Religion and Spirituality, Stepfamily, Texas on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of scotdodge.blogspot.com
"A Christmas Memory From Long Ago" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming "Passion Amidst Apathy"
Posted in A Lesson About Love, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged Christianity, Christmas, Holidays, Military discharge, Opinions, Religion and Spirituality, Texas, United States Air Force on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of free-christmas-deskstop-wallpaper.blogspot.com
“Baby Jesus Lives” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”
Posted in Poetry, The Actual Date of the Birth of Jesus?, tagged Baby Jesus, Bible, Child Jesus, Christmas, Jesus, Lord, New Testament, Religion and Spirituality on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of sion.hr
"The Magic Christmas Bells of Florence Street" copyright 2008 John J. Rigo, upcoming book, "Passion Amidst Apathy"
Posted in upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged Calendar, Christianity, Christmas, Dallas, Holidays, Religion and Spirituality, Stepfamily, Texas on December 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
"I Remember Fondly Christmas’ Past" copyright 2005 by John J. Rigo, selection from "Rainbows Amidst Thorns"
Posted in A Remembrance of Christmas by John J. Rigo, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged Calendar, Child Jesus, Christianity, Christmas, Holidays, Jesus, Religion and Spirituality, Texas on November 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
(The little boy’s story in the poem is true and a time from my own past.) This Christmas Season of 2013, I was thinking of my Father. This poem mentions him several times. I remember how dirty he was when he came home from work when I was a little boy. My Father was an iron and steel worker. After he came home and took a bath, my Mother would then attempt to clean the ring out of the bathtub from his bath. Many times with close to a half hour of scrubbing, she still could not get it out. In those days, my Father made about a hundred dollars a week. He worked very hard for that money.
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I remember fondly Christmas’ past our first tree alive with lights before it caught fire later that week. I remember fondly the Christmas with toys. Never before had my brother and I received toys. How angry my Father became when we broke several toys after a few hours of play. It was my Father’s first Christmas bonus as a steel worker. He spent that bonus on toys for us that Christmas. He thought those toys would never break. I remember fondly a special Christmas as a kid when no money was available whatsoever for toys. We found a punch-out cardboard castle in a department store window. One dollar and ninety-eight cents was the price of that castle. My young brother and I played with it for days. A punch-out castle was the best toy we ever had. I remember fondly Christmas past, acting in the church Christmas pageant. I was a little child with the beard of a prophet shaking in a spotlight in the church play. It snowed that night. My best friend and I asked permission to keep wearing the beards. A most beautiful snow floated through the air as we walked home together. The dirty streets of the city were made clean and white with heavy, swirling snow flakes. We sang church carols walking home our arms around each other’s shoulder. How close to baby Jesus we were back then. I remember fondly Christmas’ past when life seemed so much simpler. Joys more easily shared with laughter much deeper than now. Still I thank God that I had those Christmas’ past even to this special day of a new Christmas. Another December which will also will soon be gone into the misty memory of another Christmas’ past.“Baby Jesus Lives” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”
Posted in Poetry, The Actual Date of the Birth of Jesus?, tagged Bible, Christmas, Jesus, Jews, Lord, New Testament, Religion and Spirituality, Savior, September 24th Birth of Jesus? on September 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Courtesy of sion.hr
Texas Poetry 