Posted in A Pre-Christmas Story and Poem, A Remembrance of Christmas by John J. Rigo, Selection from "Roses Amidst Thorns" published in 2005, tagged A Blessed 2014 Christmas to My WordPress Followers, Calendar, Child Jesus, Christianity, Christmas, Holidays, Jesus, John J. Rigo international poet, Published Poet of two non-profit poetry books, Religion and Spirituality, Showcased in the "Who's Who of international poets, Texas, Winner of Collin County Poetry Award on December 24, 2014|
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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 2014, 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.
*****************************************
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.
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Posted in A Christmas Memory from the Past from a Texas' Poet, A Lesson About Love, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged A Poem from a Texas' Poet, Christianity, Christmas, Holidays, Military discharge, Opinions, Religion and Spirituality, Texas, United States Air Force on December 7, 2014|
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Posted in Christmas Poems by John J. Rigo in 2014, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged Calendar, Christianity, Christmas, Christmas 2014 of Poetry from Texas, Christmas poems by John J. Rigo, Dallas, Holidays, Religion and Spirituality, Stepfamily, Texas, Texas Christmas Poetry on December 2, 2014|
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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|
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Courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
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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|
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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.
*****************************************
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.
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A Commentary by John J. Rigo in the Blessings of a full life. Copyright 2013 John J. Rigo
My wife is a meticulous housekeeper. It is a huge challenge at present. We are blessed in now having three homes and one commercial property to keep up while we are in the process of “down sizing,” and planning for what we hope will be our long-term retirement.
I shot this picture early this morning with my Samsung Smartphone. It is a picture of the fireplace in our lake home in Gun Barrel City, Texas. I felt a sense of beauty with the lone web extending to the tip of the candle holder. Even my wife got humor when I pointed it out and did not say, “Oh My God, I need to clean this place.” We both were thankful for our full and busy life with our “projects” and I especially, with my “Honey-Do List.” Blessings this day to my WordPress family in their celebration of this coming Thanksgiving holiday.
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Posted in Poetry, The Importance of the Words "I Love You", upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged Child support, Children Youth and Family, Holidays, Home, Stepfamily, Texas, Valentine, Valentine Day on July 30, 2013|
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Courtesy of kelihasablog.wordpress.com
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Texas Poetry 
“A Symbol of a Full Life” copyright 2013, John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator
Posted in The Blessings of a Full Life a commentary by John J. Rigo, tagged Cedar Creek Reservoir (Texas), Gun Barrel City, Gun Barrel City Texas, Holidays, Texas, Thanksgiving, WordPress on November 27, 2013| 1 Comment »
A Commentary by John J. Rigo in the Blessings of a full life. Copyright 2013 John J. Rigo
My wife is a meticulous housekeeper. It is a huge challenge at present. We are blessed in now having three homes and one commercial property to keep up while we are in the process of “down sizing,” and planning for what we hope will be our long-term retirement.
I shot this picture early this morning with my Samsung Smartphone. It is a picture of the fireplace in our lake home in Gun Barrel City, Texas. I felt a sense of beauty with the lone web extending to the tip of the candle holder. Even my wife got humor when I pointed it out and did not say, “Oh My God, I need to clean this place.” We both were thankful for our full and busy life with our “projects” and I especially, with my “Honey-Do List.” Blessings this day to my WordPress family in their celebration of this coming Thanksgiving holiday.
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