At the Stroke of Midnight

I will stay awake tonight. I Will stay awake tonight. I'm going to do my best to be awake one more time to hear ...

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
in days of old lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

The Scottish poet, Robert Burns, penned these lines in 1788, although the sentiment was borrowed from other earlier writers. It was paired with a Scots folk tune and was sung off and on at New Years thereafter, due to the sentiment and the rhetorical question -- should we forget old friends, or should we remember them?

In 1929, the era of mass communication and radio, cemented "Auld Lang Syne" as the song for the stroke of midnight when the Canadian band leader Guy Lombardo played it at the nationally carried live broadcast from the Roosevelt Room in New York City. Thereafter, from 1930-1976, it was nationally broadcast from the Waldorf Astoria.

Old acquaintances. Those of us in our "maturity" have many acquaintances which we have acquired over the years and, even though we may have not seen them for decades, we carry them in our minds; some, we carry in our hearts.

This week, Joan and I visited a cinematographer that I worked with in the 1960's. We had not seen one another in 30 years, and yet it was as if that were yesterday as we recalled fun times together and consoled each other over tragedies in passage.

How precious and delicious that process is -- revisiting, recalling, remembering, laughing, crying -- together.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

May you and yours, Dear Reader, have a joyous and prosperous new year, for auld lang syne!

Cheers!!!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

"Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

This poem (full verses below) was written in 1823 and published in a New York City newspaper, becoming an immediate hit. Its author, Clement Clarke Moore, did not confess ownership until 21 years later in 1844. Mr. Moore was a professor at Columbia College (now Columbia University) and he preferred anonymity, but finally relented due to family pressure.

Mr. Moore's family was a prominent one at the time. His father had been the Bishop of New York City and officiated at the inauguration of George Washington as the first president; his mother was famous for her rabid anti-monarchy views in pre-revolutionary times. Clement himself, married Catharine Elizabeth Taylor, a direct descendant of the powerful Dutch family, the Van Cortlandt's. Together, he and his wife owned 160 acres on the western side of Manhattan which they called Chelsea; the area they owned is still called Chelsea today.

"A Visit from St. Nicholas," as his poem was called, established Santa Claus and his image, as well as the reindeer, their number and names, the way the "jolly old elf" gets around, and the idea that Santa brings gifts to children. Prior to 1823. there were many ideas about St. Nicholas, but none like this.

While many of us have read this to our children, we also recognize the great gift that was given to all -- the gift from God of a baby in a manger who would grow to become the fulfillment of the prophesies of the Old Testament. From the latest Gallup Poll ...

• 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas;
• 51% say the day is "strongly religious" for them;
• 93% of Americans exchange gifts on Christmas;
• 88% put up a Christmas tree;
• 62% attend religious services on Christmas Eve or Christmas.

Following a tradition established when I was born, 68 years ago, I will be in church tonight. Yet the duality of the celebration is brought home simply by hearing sleigh bells.

A joyous holiday season to all. Merry Christmas to you and yours, "and to all, a good night!"

"A Visit From St. Nicholas"
by Clement Clarke Moore, 1823

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Hymns of the Season and Their Stories

Ever wonder what a Carol is? Or what "Nowell" ("Noel") means? Or what many people think is the most often piece of music sung in churches? If you are in the West Chester, PA area, plan on attending this event to find out..

Hymns of the Season and Their Stories
Ronald D. Giles, Baritone -- Joan E. Giles, Accompanist
First Presbyterian Church, West Chester, PA
Wednesday December 15, 2010, 6:30pm
The Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990

1. “People Look East” – Text: Eleanor Farjeon; Music: French Carol
Verse 1 – Ron; Verses 2 & 5 – All in Unison

2. “Comfort, Comfort You My People” – Text: Johannes Olearius, 1671
Music: attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551, arranged by John Ferguson
Verse 1 -- Ron; Verses 2 & 3 – All in Unison

3. “The First Nowell” – 17th Century English Carol
Verses 1 & 2 in parts

4. "Away In A Manger” -- Text: Verses 1&2 – unknown;
Verse 3 – McFarland, 1887 ; Music: Wm. Kirkpatrick and J. Murray --
Tunes: Mueller, Normandy, Cradle Song; arranged by Mark Hayes
Hymns 24 & 25 Verse 1 – All in Unison; Verses 2 & 3 -- Ron

5. “Silent Night” – Text: Father Joseph Mohr, 1818; Music: Franz Gruber, 1818
Arranged by Mark Hayes and Joan Giles
Verse 1 - Ron in German; Verse 1 -- All in English; Verse 3 -- Ron

6. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – Text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1863;
Music: John Babtiste Calkin, 1872
Verse 1, Ron; Verse 2 All in Unison;
Verse 3 – Women; Verse 4 – Men;
Verse 5 – All in Unison

7. “Joy To The World” – Text: Isaac Watts, 1719; Music – L. Mason/G.F. Handel
Verse 1 -- Women; Verse 2 -- Men; Verse 4 -- All in Parts

Hush, Hush, Somebody's Callin' My Name

By the time Christmas rolls around, will it be anti-climactic? Will it be just another day of "Ho,Ho,Ho" and Burl Ives singing "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas?" Will I be so numbed by the rush of gift buying or parties or rehearsal/concerts that when December 25 comes, I will be empty?

It seems like I ask myself these questions each year. Part of it must be that our children are not here on Christmas morning, wide-eyed and excited, checking whether the carrots were nibbled by Santa's reindeer or the cookies half-eaten by the jolly old elf himself.

Joan and I used to put the tree up after church on Christmas Eve, after the children went to bed. Seeing the words "some assembly required" at 1:00am after the tree was decorated was not a welcome sight on a Big Wheel, or a bicycle. But what's another three hours without sleep when the effect on our two children was so amazing? (Alright, the slide whistles in the stockings that were opened at 6:00am were not a good idea and I got a little testy in my bleary-eyed state. Everything can't be Currier and Ives all the time.)

So, now the tree goes up early with Sounds of the Season from cable channel 436 in the background. The house and the lamp posts get decorated and our neighbors nicely bring over a cheesecake, and we talk. Joanie bakes her cranberry bread and I get out my "Noel" tie. Its all special but somehow, not heartfelt.

Maybe, I should build in some quiet time -- no computer, no radio, no books, no TV -- just quiet. The kind of quiet that comes during and after a deep snow. A quiet that allows one to listen -- to your own heartbeat, to the melting snow, to the cry of a baby in the distance... the cry of a baby, in the distance.

Touch Now!

December 1, 1977 -- the launch of QUBE, the first interactive TV experiment in Columbus, Ohio, by Warner Cable. -- and I was there, 33 years ago.

Five months earlier, I had been in Cincinnati at WCPO-TV as the Executive Producer of Programming, a position I had held for three years. In my office at Channel 9, I was reading the July edition of Broadcasting Magazine, when I noted under equipment purchases, that Warner Cable of Columbus had purchased nine studio/portable RCA cameras.

The article piqued my curiosity so I made a few calls and became aware that an old acquaintance -- Ron Castell -- was involved. Through him, I met with Mike Dann, a CBS legend of programming, who was involved in QUBE, as was Dr. Vivian Horner of Children's Television Workshop, and Steve Carlin, the creator and Producer of the 50's game show "The 64,000 Question." Someone had assembled a stellar cast of Television luminaries for this project, and I wanted to be involved as well.

Cable Television, at that time, 1977, was confined to rural areas and the suburbs, but the real money for cable companies was to be made in the cities when the number of family units per mile was a 20-100 times what it was in the tree-lined single family dwellings on the outskirts. QUBE was Warner's way of demonstrating to city governments that Warner had the star power, the technology, and the stamina to be the choice for the long run.

Over some mild objections from my wife, we moved to Westerville to become a part of QUBE. (Her objections to my relocation would get stronger and stronger after this, our third house.)

As a Producer-Host for "Columbus Alive," a live two hour talk show, December 1, 1977 was the start of a series that I would be a part of for the next two years. QUBE lived up to its hype by developing interactive programming -- game shows, talk shows, "You-Call Football," kid's shows -- pay-per-view programming, a remote control, 15 or so specialized channels, including one called Nickelodeon and another that would grow to become MTV. And -- get this -- a weather channel.

Another by-product of QUBE, was that it produced a deep and intense level of friendship among the 300 or so who were there -- unlike any staff relationship at any TV facility of which I have been a part. Reunions, phone calls, lunches, Facebook, emails, all serve to keep the contact and camaraderie going.

WOULD YOU BE A PART OF QUBE TODAY?

1. Yes

2. No

TOUCH NOW!

(Touching 1)