It seemed like boo hoo, not hee hee</p><p>This season of joy was not merry to me</p><p>For this holiday no lights did I hang</p><p>And oh how I hated those carols they sang</p><p>Why Christmas was to be merry and jolly,</p><p>And the giving of gifts, not this cancer folly</p><p>Not driving to radiation and to chemo</p><p>Frowning, with my thoughts deep adrift</p><p>I looked like a scrooge mid a hum bug</p><p>Sad, worried, my spirit needed a lift...</p><p>Then quickly it sprang to my mind</p><p>Which was so full of emotional clutter</p><p>The real true reason for the season</p><p>Was not the tinsel and all the fla-dutter</p><p>What I needed the most lay right before me</p><p>The birth of the Christ, that wonderful story</p><p>What I needed was peace</p><p>And it is God who gives it</p><p>That's the secret of Christmas</p><p>For those who will receive it.</p><p><b>Eddie</b></p><p>There are few people in town that you can say just a first name and everyone knows who you are talking about. Such a man was Eddie Cordeiro. I always said that Eddie could have sold ice to Eskimos, bet he did, and everyone knew if he had tickets to sell, you would buy them. How could you say no to Eddie? I know I never did. Those devilishly twinkling eyes, his quick wit, his endless supply of jokes, his boyish charms all combined to make him irresistible. Eddie lived life with a passion and lived it to its fullest, squeezing every moment of joy he could out of this gift. How fortunate we all were to know him.</p><p><b>More December birthdays</b></p><p>There was a special birthday celebration held for Evelyn Beneditino at Espa&#241;a's attended by many friends. It was good to see Grace Mello looking so well after recovering form her surgery. </p><p>Happy December birthdays to Sylvia Lowrie, Pauline Parreira, Melinda Riley, Wallean Biederman, Jenny Allen, Lorinee McKnight, Gari Steinbaugh, Christine Brandi, Mary Louise Cotta, Donna Nunes-Croteau, Elissa Amaral, Beverly Brown, Nancy Carter, dear Alice Parreria, Jean Smith, Maria Norton, Diane Campbell, Sharon Connell and Robin Westrope.</p><p><b>Thoughts and concerns </b> My prayers go out to Linda Allegretti and her family with the serious illness of her beloved father, Babe Royer.</p><p><b>Thank you's and you and you</b></p><p>I am seldom in the office but today Lara and Jessica are taking my Ron to Santa Clara for radiation treatment and I get to write you a few brief words. I have not been able to get off thank you notes like I would normally do, but wanted to thank those who have shown such kindness since Ron's recent diagnosis. Thank you to the Soroptimist for the yummy lasagna dinner, Sandy Lemas for the Hot City BBQ, Diana Pfitzer for the clam chowder, Rhoda Garcia for the minestrone, Jessie Stoddard for the pecan pie, Sharon Chandler for the pork chops and rice dish, Nikki Smith for the spaghetti sauce, Lucille Latronica for the wonderful cake, and to the Stietz for the lovely poinsettia, and to Lou Vierra and Judy Diedrich for their numerous calls and cards. I appreciate how generous and understanding those at The Enterprise have been with me as I will be so sporadic with my column. Their support is appreciated.</p><p><b>A tale of two small miracles</b></p><p>With most of our time spent headed over the proverbial hill, and then when returning with complete exhaustion, decorating for the holidays was just not going to happen this year. Lara had helped me put a few things up stairs for Ron, but these halls were not going to be decked. Last week Ron and I returned from a full day of doctor appointments and treatments, we turned toward our stairs when I caught the glimmer of colored lights out of the corner of my eye. We both gasped to see a fully decorated Christmas tree complete with red velvet skirt and stockings with our names spelled out in golden glitter. What magical elf had snuck in and done this wondrous deed? A card on the table told the story. Our son-in-law, Brett Barrow, married to our daughter Leslie who lives in Santa Cruz had conspired with Lara. Brett had taken the day off work, driven the two hours over, picked up the key from our office and did his magic and left before he knew we would return. Sigh.</p><p>Tale two. Ron has a beautiful classic old Triumph motorcycle, he loves that bike. But since his strokes of several years back has not ridden it and had let it get rather shabby and not rideable. It became part of his regrets as he spoke to our daughter Lara and son-in-law Bryan Olson. How he wished he could ride that bike at least one more time, but knew its condition. Enter super Bryan and Lara who worked fiendishly to get the bike to its traditonal glory in a time rush to be ready for our family gathering planned for December 19 at their home. All the family showed up from Lemore to Santa Cruz to San Jose and Ron enjoyed hours on the sofa and the corn bread and sweet potatoes this southern boy loves. Then it was suggested we walk to their garage and as we let Ron enter first he saw his bike, fixed, shiny, helmet aready. Ron grew a broad grin, we all cried, Bryan kick started the motor and Ron climbed on. Ron made a lap around the block with Bryan on his bike as an escort, returning short of breath, but smiling. Oh the happiness that can be had in a moment and how special a memory can be. I am putting that one in a safe place with our magical tree, knowing we are blessed with family who love us, and so are I am sure all of you. Merry Christmas to all, and until next year, may all your news be good news.