Merry Christmas 2009

…May Your Holiday Season Be A Happy One

Here’s a family Christmas photo of happier times featuring my mother, Audrey; my sister, Janet; my brother, David; me; and father, Artie “Jack”. No date on the photo but I think it must have been in the early 1950s. Anyone remember?

Hope everyone has a safe, warm, very pleasant and happy holiday. I’m going to try and not eat too much but I never reach that goal and that’s a good thing, all things considered.

On This Day In Family History

…My father and uncle joined the American military

One day following December 7th, 1941 —now infamously known as Pearl Harbor Day—my father Artie ‘Jack’ Cotner and his younger brother Bill (pictured above) did what so many Americans did, they enlisted in the U. S. military to fight in World War II against the Axis powers of Germany, Japan and Italy. Their other brother, my uncle Mitchell, was not eligible for military service because of his employment on the railroad—a necessary element of the war effort. My uncle Bill was a Navy man and found himself stationed in the Aleutians and my father--Army Air Corps--went off to eventually serve two years in the Pacific Theater stationed in Australia, fighting in the Coral Sea Battle and others before spending two more years in Europe, stationed in Great Britain as part of the enormous and deadly D-Day Invasion.

Tis' The Season

…Warning! Proud Grandfather Sharing Granddaughter Story!

This week, my granddaughter, Adelinda, went with her mother and grandmother to visit with Santa Claus. Up on his knees and more than a little bit wary of the jolly white-bearded fellow, she sat quite proper while her picture was taken with him. Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she replied, “I’d like a black doggie stuffed animal.”

“Is that all you want?” he asked.

She replied, “Yes.”

“I think we can do that for you,” He smiled and started to lift her down from his lap but she stopped him.

“Santa?” she asked, “You think you could bring my pet doggie, Mr. Darcy, a present?”

“Sure. What would Mr. Darcy like for Christmas?”

“Well, he’d like a frog,” she said in her most serious voice.

“Yes, I think I can bring Mr. Darcy a ball,” he said, having totally misunderstood Adelinda.

She was stunned but before she could correct him, he set her down from his lap and turned his attention to the next child.

Later that evening at home, Adelinda was sitting on the couch with her mother and Mr. Darcy when she said, “Mr. Darcy, I went to see Santa today and I told him you wanted a frog for Christmas but I think you’re getting a ball instead.” There was a pause, as she hugged Mr. Darcy tightly, “Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Darcy, I did the best I could do for you.”