Hey g, I hear ya on no outside. It's darn raw here today. Was supposed to be warm, but you can't tell it by me. I've had a number of experiences over the years, but I'll tell ya'll about the first one I remember. When I was five my grandfather died. I had wanted to go visit him just before then but my parents wouldn't let me...long story. So, when he died I wanted to go to the funeral bad. They wouldn't let me, said I was too young. I was very adamant and really threw a fit about it. I didnt' get to go. Shortly thereafter, one night I was in bed. A storm was coming, something woke me up and I saw a figure of a man at the window putting the window down. I knew it was him. Right after that my mother came in to shut the window and was surprised it was already shut since I was too small to do it. I told her Grandpop had did it. That summer several times he came and shut the window before a storm. After that my mother wasn't surprised when she came in and it was already done. About ten years ago my father died. I live in the house where I grew up. Had moved back here to help him a few years before he died. Sometime in the first year after he died, I was at the computer in the living room with my back to the hallway. All of a sudden I heard his loud.. Hey.. It was how he always greeted us. My mother died before him and that was about the same time I kept feeling her around when I'd talk about her. Smiles. Guess he wanted to make himself known too. My mother and I learned when I first moved away from home that we could do the mental messages to each other. If one wanted the other to call, we'd just think of it and they would get the message. Then I started doing it with my aunt and later my best friend and I would do it. Still do it with my aunt and best friend. Friend lives across country and we don't talk often, unless one of us sends 'the message'. To this day I always can tell when my mother is around because we smell the cigarette smoke. No one has smoked in this house in twenty years at least.

that is just wonderful...love it...thanks for sharing! V. ps.. is there a waiting list for ms claus? cause I could sure use her about now :-)

And I still pop in occasionally!! I'm still in York, as well. I still collect the Booker, but just didn't get round to listing it on here last year. Next year, promise. But you're right, Vee, my life doesn't have quite so much in the way of books these days. To be honest, since I've retired, I've not had so much spare time. Visiting and entertaining family and grandchildren (five), and looking after an old house and larger garden takes up a lot of our time. Then there's holidays, hobbies... I wonder sometimes when I had time to work, I really do :) But it's nice to see there are still a few of the old crowd here.

OK - here is the original one at last! My apologies for the delay. It's been edited so it reads a bit better, but I've made no attempt to correct scansion or spelling! The Night Before Christmas - RP - 2004 'Twas the week after Christmas And all through the house Are half-eaten goodies.... I feel like a louse! The black bags of rubbish are put out with care In hopes that the dustbinman soon will be there. (PS: for US readers substitute "garbageman" for "dustbinman"; for PC US readers substitute "environmental recycling operative") But long before then the cats and the foxes Have scattered the bottles, tins, paper and boxes And all the street knows of your horrible vices The beer, and the wine, the chocs and mince piecis. And still under the tree from both Santa and me are mounds of toys for my girl and my boy. While I in my kerchief and he in his cap Would love to settle down for a long winter's nap, But the neighbors have put their decorations away And I don't think Santa will be back with his sleigh. So up to the housetop my dear one has gone While I'm in the living room having a moan As I undo the tree, the mantel, the tables; Must *not* stop to read all the Santa Claus fables. Then from the teen's bedroom there came such a noice Of a thumping of bass and a wailing of voice; I ran to the foot of the stairs with a frown And shouted in rage, "Turn that bl**dy thing down!" "No," screamed my teen, and my face turned red. I stormed up the stairs to knock sense in his head. But before I reached the top of the flight, I heard a crashing sound in the night. Old St. Nick on the roof top, I wondered, No, 'twas a burglar. We were getting plundered. As I drew in my head at the sound of the crash My head hit the window In a bone-splitting "SMASH!" It wasn't a burglar As I had suspected Just our least favorite son Who was feeling rejected. Where's your spirit of Christmas?! I heard myself bellow... We've been waiting for a week You ungrateful fellow!!! Behold! At the sight of him, I stared and I shook! He was clean, shaved and pressed! A right spiffy look! I couldn't believe how well he was dressed! Hi Mom! He greeted me, And grinned ear to ear. His look had defeated me Then he told me with cheer... MY drug test was clear and my parole officer loves me, My grades are all stunning and and Dad doesn't bug me. I knew in a moment this must be a trick. this kid's been a problem since late '96. More rapid than relatives Returning my gifts, He insisted he'd changed And would heal family rifts! But I had decided to paint the town pink And dressed in my diamonds, my thong, and my mink... The town's hottest night-spot refused me admission So I sat at the roadside and wrote a petition . . Be careful with asking, my inner voice said; (Believe me, I'm wishing they all would drop dead!) When what to my wondering eyes did appear? But a...