Here at the frontier, the leaves fall like rain. Although my neighbors are all barbarians, and you, you are a thousand miles away, there are still two cups at my table.


Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

~ Wu-men ~


Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas.



" Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him. He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!"

9 comments:

walt said...

"His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him."

So, here's to laughter!

Merry Christmas, Rick. Thanks, for all your fine posts throughout the year.

Rick Matz said...

And thank you for coming by and reading them.

Merry Christmas.

Zacky Chan said...

Merry Christmas!

I woke up and found under the tree two wonderful books I learned about through you:

"The Unknown Crafstman" by Soetsu Yanagi, and,
"Disputers of the Tao" by A.C. Graham.

That's some definite spreading of Christmas cheer. Thank you and happy holidays.

Paul said...

...a belated Merry Christmas! Unlike the pre-dream Scrooge of one Dickens - I headed for the parties...and the mid-night Mass, sharing with others, worldly as well as spiritual joys. The Carol of Ray Charles is...simply brilliant, thanks for sharing. You made my boxing day so enjoyable!

Rick Matz said...

... now I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Bernard Kwan said...

Happy new Year!

Rick Matz said...

Happy New Year to you as well.

Compass Architect said...

HNY

Rick Matz said...

Happy New Year to you as well!