Dear Santa – Charlie Brown

I’ve composed letters to Santa Claus from a few familiar holiday characters. It’s never too late to believe. You are loved. Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa,

Oh, good grief.  Where to begin?  I grew up.  I still try to dread only one day at a time!  I enjoy life enormously. 

Yes, Snoopy is still with me. Kind of. Technically, he’s Snoopy the 5th but he looks and acts and smells just like Snoopy the 1st.  Good dog. 

Woodstock passed on long ago.  Good bird. 

I’m a pastor now at a non-denominational community church in North Carolina.  I love it here.  The church youth group has a history of selling pumpkins on the front lawn every October and everybody calls us the “Pumpkin Church.”  Lots of pre-school groups visit the patch and I sneak out when I can and tell the story of “The Great Pumpkin.”  It keeps me in touch with my childhood. 

In case they don’t stay in touch – Sally and Linus got married.  Didn’t we always know they would?!?!  Linus teaches third grade and Sally volunteers at about 25 different places.  They really love each other. 

Schroeder went to Julliard and now he teaches at Indiana.  My famous friend!  He and Lucy are still dating.  Can you believe it?  One of these days – it’ll happen. 

We get together every summer at the beach. The whole gang. Our neighbor, Mr. Schulz, was really good to us. He left money to pay for college for each of us. Schroeder got a full ride for piano so he took his money and bought a house on the Outer Banks. That’s where we gather. Good times. It was one of those trips I fell in love with North Carolina. So, here I am.

The reason I’m writing – one little thing bothers me and maybe you can help.  Every time somebody talks about an ugly Christmas tree… too small or too crooked or not enough ornaments or something – they call it a “Charlie Brown Christmas tree.”  I gotta tell you – that hurts.  I really don’t mind the comments and the jokes.  Being Charlie Brown has its moments.  But – enough with the Christmas tree.  “Aaaggghhh!”  It’s true – some nights I lie awake and wonder, why me?  And a voice answers, “nothing personal.  Your name just happened to come up.” 

Dear Santa, can I please have a great big, beautiful Christmas tree this year?  Please. You don’t have to bring it.  I just want to be able to find it.  If you could “make it appear.”  That’d be neat.  Really neat.

Fondly,

Pastor Charles Brown

The 12 Days Of Halloween-October 31

It’s here. We’re done. We can finally go.

Turn on the candles, it’s time for the show!

I’ve hope you’ve enjoyed these few, brief notes,

If not, well then, please – go jump in a moat.

The pumpkins are carved, black cats are hissing,

We may even see two skeletons kissing.

I’m off on my broom, I’ll be back next year.

Eat lots, drink much and be spooky, my dear!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(‘Twas fun. Be well. And keep looking over your shoulder.)

The 12 Days Of Halloween-October 30

Counting 1 more day til the feast can begin!

Who eats the most toads will assuredly win.

Wolverine snot in abundant supply,

The Graveyard Crew shouting “my, my, my!”

Food will be cooked, right in “Hell’s Kitchen.”

Chef Ramsay will say “you donkey, quit b_tch_n.”

For dessert I expect we’ll have crème de la swine,

Topped with a glass of arsenic wine!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(Tasty treats abound. ID’s checked at the door.)

The 12 Days Of Halloween-October 29

A mere 3 brief turns till the party begins,

Loud music and laughter and she-nan-i-gans.

Today’s a bit hokey, for the children at heart,

Yes, ghosts like to tickle and burp and fart.

May you each get your favorite in a trick-or-treat bag,

With hundreds of chocolates, that will make your butt sag.

No bedtimes, no rules, no time-outs, no chores,

If you’re good, we can meet by the fire and make smores!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(Don’t let a grown-up steal the best candy. They will…)

The 12 Days Of Halloween-October 28

4 more dawns between me and the day,

See the moon cast my shadow on bales of hay.

Can’t wait to see Mummy, looking good in off-white.

He’s easy to see on a dark, stormy night.

I hope Frankenstein can visit again,

He loves to eat soup made with eggs and shark fin.

The gang will be back, together once more.

To terrorize all, from mountains to shore.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(Embrace your inner monster. Make it work.)