DECEMBER 15, 2023 'TIS THE SEASON I'm dreaming of a colorful Christmas the colorful clothes people wear. The kids' toys are colorful and the adult toys are colorful, too. I love colorful Christmas decorations and decorating the inside and outside of buildings with pretty colors. Christmas music is beautiful, too. DENISE SHEARER Groundcover vendor No. 485 I love everything about the winter holidays except for winter, ice and snow. I love everything about the winter holidays except for the homeless and hungry people suffering. I love the winter holidays because it's a celebration of Jesus. I love to see adults and kids laughing and happy. It’s a time when people are nice and give each other presents. It’s also a time when good food is shared between friends and family. It’s a time when people who usually don’t get to see each other much spend time together. It’s a time for adults and children to get the presents they always wanted. It's a time when kids get toys for Christmas; adults like toys, too. My favorite colors are green, purple and yellow, and I think those are Christmas colors. I love It sounds so good, fun and relaxing. My favorite Christmas songs are “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” “Santa Baby” and both versions of “Joy to the World.” This is a sad but funny song — he says he’s getting nuttin' for Christmas because he’s been nothing but bad — I don’t know what the name is. I like the song “Silver Bells,” too. Another thing I like about the winter holidays is that churches have special things. Full Circle, Fresh Start and Groundcover do nice and special things for people, too. Peace House, Mercy House, Delonis and all the places people gather do special things for Christmas and winter holidays. The Christmas holidays are a time to celebrate God and Jesus, whether you get what you want or not. I think the winter Christmas holidays are all about love and Jesus' birthday. I think it is a joyful, loving time no matter what present you get. PHILLIP SPINK Groundcover contributor It is absurd callousness, A bleak ostracization, That there is not reliably at least a bed in a dormitory Closely available for every homeless person in our nation. We say we are kind, with some perhaps thinking that by denying people beds And at times leaving them in cold torment and peril We are only doing what we must To encourage all to look for work. But I think we are more deep-set on being punishers Than conscious thought admits, Of those seen as shiftless, Or daring to be different dancers. People can seldom be pained into working: Certainly not when they are touched by insanity, And still more not when they have chosen To be drifters in the wind, Whose fealty to dust, and sky, and wandering, Likely irks many souls more dully settled in place. We choose to believe that the homeless are spirits in dissolution, Yet it is likely to some extent jealousy— Discontent within our cages— That turns us meanly judgemental. Theorizing away compassion Our boards and committees building newfangled shelters, Often with a quite small number of beds for hundreds in need. Even those caring most can be drawn in, Turning their heads towards a temperate face of the same dark ignorance Which keeps people passing cups, and hats, and cardboard signs of Veterans, Without the drop of a dollar or dime, Or even a moment of time for kind pleasantries. Evolution of my Christmas Christian variety (gifts, goodwill, birth of Christ and the family Church Mass.) As an adult, my celebration JAMIE CAMERON Groundcover vendor No. 612 depended on how much money I had, buying gift cards as presents and getting together with family most of the time. As I'm growing older, and my disAs a child I was spoiled; Christmas was all about the Sears holiday catalog and a page-long wishlist. In my teens, it was about a few desired things, but more about family and the holiday dinner, taking part in food prepping and/or later doing dishes. Christmas has two varieties: the pagan, heathen variety (tree trimming, gifts and feasting), and the abilities are likewise growing and I have no income, it's more about love, family and what I can create — helping to trim the tree, assisting in wrapping presents, creating my gifts, dining and spending time with family. A few resolutions can't hurt, either. As I'm doing daily reading of the entire Bible, I'm keeping Christ in mind as my top priority. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! You matter, and thanks to all of our supporters! It sometimes seems as though through some strange reversal of reason, We feel we will be damned If we do not struggle to ignore and to keep Those not within some condoned and stamped parameter In misery. GROUNDCOVER NEWS Cold winds in America 9
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