American Holidays

By Alfred Colo

Herein are distinctly American holidays, excluding Christmas and Easter, which are global and more universal in nature, and much too expansive, requiring broader strokes than this shorter treatise can contain in its restricted space.

Holidays remind our nation of Gods miracles: in His plan to fortify us all for lifes daily struggles. At Christmas, do our thoughts revolve around presents mostly? Is Easter only a warm anticipation of Spring, and is Thanksgiving, the quest for family reunion and a delicious meal?
Remembering the spiritual origins of such special occassions affords us worship opportunities for Gods goodness to us, and to our families, friends and to our nation; through them we may reflect upon our blessings, while celebrating His greatness and bounty.

Bearing in mind what holidays and vacations mean to our general well-being, let us exercise our down-time wisely as we each year of U.S.A. holidays, either head out or from the comfort of home, trade places without GPS-s, high gas, or air travel pat downs. Do come along then, for a free ride down some of my winding roads of personal experiences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469184852

Alfred Colo

Alfred Colo, a former singer-songwriter, has immersed himself in full-blown poetry from creative love lyrics he honed his craft on when he realized that his passion for words lay beyond mere expressions of amour. His initial attempt at self-publishing with Xlibris Corporation in 2008 is a nature lover’s view in poetry through the four seasons, entitled Inside Looking Out. Reluctant at first, not offering too much material at once for reasons both pragmatic and artistic, he later ventured to expand his theme with residual material not included in his first book on four seasons alone. As his appetite grew, he knew that there was more he had to say in his accumulated poetry since 1984, which begged inclusion of more poems on the related twelve months of a year beyond the four seasons. After years of creative writing, learning and perfecting his art, he felt it was worthy enough and the right time to make public what eventually has become this collection. He trusts that his reading followers will concur that it was indeed worth the effort to have written a “companion book” to its predecessor, Inside Looking Out. Alfred lives in New Fairfield, Connecticut, after compelling circumstances led him here to exit the Big Apple. Including this one, he has authored twelve books pictured with others to follow. An active octogenarian, Alfred pursues his prolific outpourings on a variety of subjects at a still-going-like sixty white-heat rate. See if you can keep pace with a poet determined to make a mark and to leave a legacy to be proud of. He captures the spirit of his works by suggesting wholly or in part what the cover design will look like on both front and back. From his New Fairfield, Connecticut, home, author Alfred Colo finds inspiration in the abundant wild life he observes and includes in his writing. Other favorite creatures he depicts are angels, nativity scenes and yes, even Santa. Colo’s writings, are rich in detail and luminous in depth and like much of his work, it transcends its confines to achieve a dimensional reality infused with spiritual peace, whimsy, originality and creative imagination, singular cheer and good will. “I relish re-creating scenes of simple, uncomplicated faith,” Colo adds. Responding to an inner childhood calling, the author has created a succession of works as a diverse poet of impressive stature, rivaling his predecessors and role models. He is enabled to keep-fresh the approximately two-thousand-year gap from BC Bethlehem to the current beliefs in Christianity in his re-creation of this advent Christmas story of Jesus nativity.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Alfred Colo.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2012905433

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4691-8484-5

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4691-8483-8

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4691-8485-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

110096

Or Alfred Colo directly by phone at 1-(203)-746-2218

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements And Credits

About The Author

Preface

Destination Spa

Down Time

CHAPTER ONE

The Resting Tree

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

Creation Celebration

A Place Of Pilgrimage

CHAPTER FOUR

Abba, Father

Father’s Day History

A Father’s Thoughts

The Bad Dad Of Baghdad

Crisis In The Gulf

Be There

Coming Of Age

Discipline

Every Inch

Family Circle

A Father Can Dream

Father Of Our Spirits

Prayer

Father’s Day—Its Beginnings

A Father’s Lament

Father’s Prayer

Fatherhood

It’s A Boy! You Have A Son!

But, Daddy…

How To Raise A Violent Boy

Limbo

The Longest Day

Praise The Lord

The Promise

Viagra

Unconditional Love

What Fathers Are All About

What Is A Man?

Where A Man Belongs

CHAPTER FIVE

Groundhog Day 02.02.02

CHAPTER SIX

A Smiling Face

CHAPTER SEVEN

Heritage

An Indian Prayer

Prayer For The United States Of America

Happy Birthday, America!

Letters And Opinions

The New Colossus

A Citizen Of The World

CHAPTER EIGHT

A White Man’s Commentary On A Black Man’s Dream

CHAPTER NINE

School Days

Memorial Day—A Tribute…

CHAPTER TEN

Memorium

Covered In Glory

Anywhere U.S.A.

Thanks For The Memories…

All’s Not Fair In Love And War

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They Call Her Blessed

Motherhood

Lullaby

Mother’s Day Memories

A Profile Of Joan Johnson…

A Single Mother

A Litany For Mother’s Day

An Attic Of Dreams

An Empty Cradle

The Apple Of My Eye

Assets In Your Attic

Be There

A Bouquet For Mom

Failure To Launch

Here She Is, Mom

How Sweet It Is!

If Truth Be Told

Life’s Little Instructions

Memory’s House

Mother

Mother Love

Mothermagic

Mother Mine

Mothers’ Day Special

The Most Precious Love Of All…

Motorcycle Mamas

O Morning Star (Mary’s Lullaby)

Our Mom

Our Patient Mom

Sweet Dreams

They Said

Was My Mother

Yo’mama’s Holiday

Your Borning Cry

Yours, Mine And Ours

CHAPTER TWELVE

Happy New Year

Application For A New Year

The Big Apple Drop (A New Year Song)

Century 21

Happy Birthday, Me

I Resolve

A Joyful New Year’s Well-Intended ‘Noise’ Letter

Last Night/First Night

Looking Back To Look Ahead

May I Never Forget Christian (Resolutions—Year 1991)

Midnight

The Morning After The Night Before

New Year’s Dust

Ring Out The Old

A Sad Soldier’s Dream

(The Shape Of Time Is The Time You Shape)

Who Knows What The New Year Holds?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

St. Patrick’s

For The Love Of St. Patrick

(An Attitude Of Gratitude)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Abundantly Blessed

The Bounty Of Your Gifts

Dead Is

Dreaming Of A White Thanksgiving

Get Ready For Thanksgiving

—Giving Thanks—

God’s Bounteous Love

A Harmony Of One

Harvest Home

Harvest Of Blessing

Health And Harvest

Lord Of The Harvest

Open Your Spiritual Eyes

May All The People Praise You

Praise With Thanks Our Giving God

Psalm 103—(Of David)

Remember What Continues Forever

The River Of God

The Source

Thank You

Thank You, God

Thanksgiving And Praise

How To Celebrate Thanksgiving In 10 Languages

A Thanksgiving Prayer

Things To Be Thankful For

This Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving Song

The Voice Of Thanksgiving

Wherever You Fly…

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

My Funny Valentine

Fair Game

Everybody Wanna Be Loved

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Lament For The Drifter

DEDICATED TO

No one in particular, but to fun lovers everywhere,

whose quest for change and relaxation includes observation of

all the holidays we hold dear and the famous persons,

whose lives and contributions we pause to celebrate.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND CREDITS

Credit is due to other authors than I, whose choice contributions to this work, only enrich my own. If I have failed to acknowledge them in this regard through oversight, certainly not by intention, please forgive any omission. In the risky business of self-publication, the devil is often in the details and in its pressures to shape the outcome. God help me!

Front and back cover designs are realized with Xlibris staff help, through instructions of this author’s vision and with thanks for their patience and artistry. Also, thanks extend to all personell, whose diligence, tirelessly strives to realize the author’s dream on the printed page. Serving others’ needs too, can be daunting and will not go unnoticed by my collaboration with all of them, from sales to promotion to finance, and extending to the many, too-numerous-to-mention functions comprising production of an attractive, inviting, saleable, final product to be proud of. Once again, thanks for your time, and even though it is your job, I recognize the importance of each contribution with heartfelt appreciation. Well done!

Alfred Colo, the author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Octogenarian, author-Alfred Colo, celebrated his eighty fifth birthday in December of 2011, with the completion of this, his ninth self-published work with Xlibris Publishing Co., expected to become available in early 2012, after signing a four-book deal with optimism.

His early origins as a singer-song writer, have come full circle from modest, creative love lyrics, to full-blown, mature poetry-writings, with a passion for words extending well beyond the mere expressions of love. With an ever growing appetite, Colo knew that the time to go public was now or never, and worthy enough to share before the flame of his torch was extinguished.

Alfred took up permanent residence in the growing, smallish town of New Fairfield, CT., after a set of compelling circumstances led him to exit the Big Apple, where he spent the greater part of his formative years, to taking on a new role as companion-caregiver to a long-standing friend, victim of a stroke.

The author currently pursues active completion of his prolific outpourings on a wide range of subjects, outlined in (Other books by the author)—found on the rear cover of this book. While still going like sixty at a white-heat-rate, he may put other writers, half his age, to shame.

His yet unpublished collections, grown over years of maturation and perfecting, are only now expected to be laced in book form, wrapped in ribbons, and garnished with final trappings of publication’s bows. Colo’s quest to finalize as much of his life’s legacy as possible, has, he states, kept him alive, longer than any expectation he allowed himself even to conjure. Late fame, alas, may arrive postumously, though most assuredly without the fortunes of success in this world! You can’t take with you what can’t be spent beyond the grave. Far greater, however, are the riches, other than noteriety and fame, he expects will endure through generations of time to come.

PREFACE

Every year the Great Escape parades America’s tradition to unwind, renew and to reach out in multi directions in an effort to recharge our sluggish batteries and to venture forth for long overdue distant visits with loved ones, in an attempt to strengthen the ties that bind the fabric of love to the absent, longing heart.

Snow birds may hear the call South, when frigid weather begins to rear its discomforting signs of seasonal change, whether on holiday or not; lucky ones who can afford two homes, may enjoy the best of all possible worlds year round, without having to endure the severities of winter. Global warming with its ensuing reversal of North and South poles may soon become a distinct reality. i.e. the Big Apple might disrobe in a tropical climate, while the tropics might see disturbing icebergs floating in surprisingly unprepared harbors. Another ice age with polar bears and penguins reversing habitats is a not-too-distant future possibility. Meanwhile, American creatures of habit will tend to follow ritual patterns of behavior, and search for any provocation to: get out-of-a rut, sport a fresh suntan, and indulge in splashes and warmth, only the sea world enjoys, without seeking changes on dry land.

Herein, I’ve included distinctly American holidays, excluding Christmas and Easter, which are global and more universal in nature, and much too expansive, requiring broader strokes than this shorter treatise can contain in its restricted space.

Holidays remind our nation of God’s miracles: in His plan to fortify us all for life’s daily struggles. At Christmas, do our thoughts revolve around presents mostly? Is Easter only a warm anticipation of Spring, and is Thanksgiving, the quest for family reunion and a delicious meal? Remembering the spiritual origins of such special occassions affords us worship opportunities for God’s goodness to us, and to our families, friends and to our nation; through them we may reflect upon our blessings, while celebrating His greatness and bounty.

Bearing in mind what holidays and vacations mean to our general well-being, let us exercise our down-time wisely as we each year of U.S.A. holidays, either head out or from the comfort of home, trade places without GPS-s, high gas, or air travel pat downs. Do come along then, for a free ride down some of my winding roads of personal experiences.

DESTINATION SPA

But a short out country drive

from the stress and pull of town-

life’s churn and frantic pace,

awaits a unique sanctuary,

Beckoning in the lavendar mist

one watches over the sunset seen

in a reservoir below, as if

ensconced in a cloud,

Harkening hills, wrapped in

twinkles of starry skies,

reconnect—you with nature,

in a surround of designs—

To awaken in you, respite and stillness,

and a sorely-needed-sense of peace.

Discover more, not in how far away

you go, but in how far away you can get

to the closest you are to being.

Alfred Colo—2010

Return to nature

Escape

Get-away…

DOWN TIME

DOWN TIME

is hard to come by—

so make each moment count.

If you are to

draw some get-up-freedom

from down time’s account;

To choose well—

to live well—

in comfort and in ease.

When you are ready

to call it a day,

give me a head’s up please ‘n’