My ‘moment’ of this or any other year.
****
Wishing all you lovely people a wonderful Christmas, but especially thinking of TODers who lost loved ones this year and for whom Christmas will be a time of loneliness.
Nine years back, I lost my Dad a few weeks before Christmas and I thought it would forever be a time that would only remind us of the pain we felt. But you push on through, and you do get to the point where you can celebrate a life, rather than be consumed by the pain of its loss.
I filmed my Dad a couple of years before he died when he was watching a game on TV, it was hilarious, his range of emotions was rollercoaster-ish, and he was rather rude at times :-) He introduced me to the one true faith that is Manchester United, took me to my first United game when I was 12, I’m kinda relieved he’s not around to endure the misery that is the life of a United fan these days (shut it Nerdy and LL).
I couldn’t watch that video until the other night, and I laughed my way through it - it felt good, I was finally at the stage where I could celebrate him, and not be left empty by his loss.
I hope TODers who have endured the pain of losing loved ones this year will reach that point one day too. Until then, we’re thinking of you, we offer you all the love and comfort we can muster. It will take time, a lot of time, but you will get there.
Happy Christmas TOD, thank you for being the people you are, love ya all.
****
President Obama with Malana Pinckney, daughter of the Rev Clementa Pinckney
****
{{Beau}}
White House.gov
Happy Christmas, dear Chips!
And now I shall read your heartwarming post, Chips.
And the very same to you, {Jacqueline}
Please join me in sending a warm Christmas Eve greeting to our friend CanadaBarb tonight, with her husband in Las Vegas for the holidays, winning big! Or, at least, keeping it happy!
Ha! I hope she isn’t under funded.
Waiting to hear what’s up on that!
Was just thinking of CB4O this morning!! <3
Chips - I had no idea your post was about your personal experience, losing your Dad. I am sending you a very large hug, and I’m so glad you shared your story.
We lost my Mother at 4:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, 2005. She departed this good Earth the way she wanted - at home - surrounded by three generations, coming and going, for the several days prior. That night, my son stayed with us, and was the one to have to wake me up and tell me, although it was expected. He then had to go to his home nearby and - after they woke up and had opened their presents - tell all of his kids that their dear “Gram” had gone to heaven. They had all said their goodbyes, the night before. Then he told them, and I’ll never forget it, that we were all going to carry on with the day, as planned, “because Gram’s the one who taught us all how to celebrate Christmas!” Later that afternoon, we gathered to send up balloons to the heavens, to let her know we’d never forget her. My youngest granddaughter, now 12, who barely remembers her since she was only 2, told me this year she’d remembered hearing about the balloons, and thought we should all do that again on Christmas, in her honor, “to keep the tradition.” We’re scattered over the midwest and southeast at Christmas, but will forever be joined through big family love and fond memories. And thank God my son is well enough to be enjoying Christmas, this year, with hopes for improved health after his surgery in 2016.
Chips, I’m glad you have your video of your high-spirited Dad! Watch it, enjoy it, and - again - know we’re all sending you the Christmas hugs! You are a very, very special person, and, if you’re anything like your Dad, turns out he was, too. <3
Merry Christmas jc.
Merry Christmas, YA! Won’t be long, now.
I hope my egg nog holds out.
:) Fingers crossed for ya!
Ha! Not to worry. The “small stores” are in divine order.
Love your use of the word “divine” there!
<3 JO'B <3
<3 MP <3
Sending you best wishes, and hugs,for Christmas, J’OB! I hope your son continues to mend! May your dear Mom Rest in Eternal Peace! I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but I always find your comments and your poetry so full of life and so inspirational!
Awww, thanks so much for all of that, nath! Merry Christmas right back atcha!
{{{{{ Chips }}}}}
{{{{{ J’OB }}}}}
{{{Dudette}}}
A beautiful story to share, as was Chips’ remembrance of her dad.
I lost my brother December 5, 2000. He was my best friend, and Christmas was so magical for us. I have not been emotionally able to put up our massive c two room Christmas village that we created together, but our Christmas tree is full of ornaments we collected together and have to each other. The tree is like visiting with him, bringing him close as well as all the doggie babies who are no longer with us.
What a sweet, sweet story, 57 - makes me wish I’d had a brother (like him), even more! I hope someday you’ll be able to put up the Christmas village - sounds magical. He’d want you to do just that, I’m thinking!
Happy Merry Christmas my dear dear Chips. Your story touched me and I would LOVE to see the video of your Dad watching a game. :-) <3
Merry Christmas Mamacita.
Merry Christmas to you Yardarm 🎄
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO. :-)
Dear TOD family… May you all have an awesome,blessed and peaceful holiday season.
Miss CHIPS, thank you for all you have done in creating this space. You are one of a kind.
Having Barack Obama as our President is one of the best Christmas gifts that we all have gotten.
Love you all very much.
Dear Chips,
I don’t know quite what to say. I’m glad your pain has lessened. I’m glad you were able to watch the tape of your Dad again. I wish you a serene Christmas.
That clip from the Eulogy for the SC massacre victims is for me one of the years highlights and a kind of landmark that is bigger than I can grasp.
Transcendent. Heavenly.
To everybody at TOD, I wish us all a Merry Christmas and a New Year that is better than we all expect.
Love to all the TOD BTs, commenters and lurkers.
Oh (((((((Chips))))))) you stated it all so beautifully and compassionatey ~ thank you. I lost my brother 30 years ago.. time is exactly what it takes. Merry Christmas to you, your mama and your Danny
Beautiful post, Chips. Thanks for this and everything you do every day. Merry Christmas, all TOD friends.
Merry Christmas, Kat!
Dear Chips, thanks for sharing your story of your Dad. I lost my Mom 8 years ago and still have not been able to watch
a video I had made of her. I now feel encouraged to do so and will probably do it after the holidays.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New year to all at TOD.
Thank you Chips. Merry Christmas to you & yours and a big Wooofff!!! For Danny Boy.
And to all the TOD Family have a peaceful holiday 😊�?��?🤗🎄�?�
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
When White Supremacists Go to See “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Some final thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I should be recording the podcast discussion of the movie with Bill the Lizard either tonight or tomorrow for inclusion in this week’s episode of the show. Mark Clark, author of the great book Star Wars FAQ also has a review of the movie that can be read here. Mark is cool folks and has also been a guest on The Chauncey DeVega Show. Joe Scalzi, super famous sci-fi author and all around interesting guy and lover of animals, has a review over at his site Whatever. He basically agrees with my thoughts on the film. It feels good to be in such esteemed company.
I often joke about my habit of going to white supremacist websites in order to get a sense of how they read and interpret political and cultural events. I am never surprised or amazed at how white supremacy is a type of political psychopathology and the ways that it damages the cognitive, emotional, and critical thinking skills of too many white people. Reading white supremacist websites has been very helpful in other ways: Donald Trump is their spawn; they mapped out his electoral strategy years ago.
White supremacists are obsessed with the “culture wars”. Like movement conservatives, men’s rights types, “anti-social justice warriors”, and other assorted scum on the American Right, they have a deep concern with “cultural Marxism”-of course they do not fully understand critical theory-and how popular culture does some type of secret ideological work to attack, demean, and indoctrinate “white people” into “anti-white” attitudes and beliefs.
Star Wars is a global phenomenon. I was very curious as to how they would respond to the new Force Awakens movie. As I wrote about here, there is much going on in terms of race and gender in that text. I, and I am sure others, will be deconstructing and writing a great deal about race and gender in the new Star Wars movies.
What follows are the thoughts of some white supremacists on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Star Wars films in general, and other movies as well. This is funny stuff. It should also give you pause when you realize that these attitudes and beliefs are more common than many people would like to believe in this “post racial” era.
http://www.chaunceydevega.com/2015/12/when-white-supremacists-go-to-see-star.html
Merry Christmas, Everyone :)
Well Chips, I’m shaking as I type this. I just laid down away from family because my heart is so heavy this Christmas. See, I lost my dear Dad last Dec. 29. He was my best friend. Sad for a grown woman, but there it is. He was that special. I’ve been barreling through these holidays only to end up on my knees tonight. You can’t know what your words have meant to me. I’m so sorry for your loss, but please know your message of hope is now a great comfort for me. I’m not alone. Thank you from the bottom of my still broken heart. Happy, happy Christmas everyone �?��?.
Merry Christmas to Chips and all of my TOD friends.
{{{{{ kathleenp444 }}}}} In the first year after someone we love Crosses Over, each anniversary, holiday, birthday holds a bittersweet memory. With the first anniversary of your Dad leaving, this must be a tender time for you. He is near you, all the time. Many blessings, kathleenp444. Light all around you and your Dad.
We were lucky to have all of them for as long as we did, weren’t we, kathleen? It’s a tribute to our very much missed loved ones. Hugs to you, tonight. <3
My mother died 18 years ago in the middle of summer. My husband moved out then too. As Christmas approached my good friend told me to plan something completely different for the holiday, so my son, daughter,and I would not just sit in my house thinking how different this Christmas was. I arranged a trip to Turks and Caicos. I’d never done anything like it before or since. It was made possible by a small inheritance so it was like her last Christmas gift to us. We had a beautiful time, staying in a small hotel with bougainvillea and hummingbirds around the balcony. It got us through the first year. I miss her still and when something happens at school or with my children I have the strongest urge to call her up and tell her. About a year after she died I had a dream about her. I was standing in the upstairs hallway in my old house. At the top of the stairs there was a window looking down into our little backyard, filled with the roses she had planted. I felt a presence behind me and a hand drew back the curtain and invited me to look down. There was my mother, sitting at a little table in the rose-filled garden, having tea with a gentleman. A voice behind me said, “You see? She is happy and at peace.” It’s the only dream I’ve ever had about either of my parents. The sharp hurt and loneliness go away, but the love and longing are always there.
Beautiful, maryl1, and it wasn’t a dream, I think, it was a gift to glimpse the Other Side, to bring us a sense of peace and eternal life. <3
I know you’re right, MP. It gave me a deep sense of peace and the message that I could let go of mourning because she was at peace herself. Thank you for your comment.
maryl1 - The “hummingbirds” in your story caught my eye - my Mother’s favorite - and she always loved to plant roses.
One thing you should remember, and I’m thinking you do already. The fact that you could have faced that loss and that trial, one on top of the other, and then gotten the strength to take your son and daughter off for such a nice holiday that year … showed a fine example to your children of what moving forward in life, and not falling backward, is all about. They will always have that as a role model in courage and perseverance, and the love of a parent toward them, in their own lives.
Many of us learn, even though we don’t want to, that “love and longing” for those we’ve lost are actually the gifts they gave us and the gifts they left behind. To have that love from them, and to be able to love back … enough so that we still long for them … to me, that shows what wonderful parents they were. Lucky us.
Thank you, Jacqueline. I actually hadn’t considered it from that angle. But I do always think that the pain we feel when a loved one dies is the measure of our love for them and theirs for us. The love is always worth the pain. You’re right, they are the final gifts and we are very lucky.
{{{{{ <3 Chipsticks <3 }}}}}
Pope Francis in his Christmas homily denounces materialism
Pope Francis has warned the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics not to be “intoxicated” by possessions in his annual Christmas homily.
He called for more sobriety in a world obsessed by “consumerism and hedonism, wealth and extravagance”.
The Pope was celebrating a Christmas eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in front of about 10,000 people.
Later on Friday he will deliver his traditional Christmas message from the central balcony of St Peter’s Square.
Celebrating Mass, the Pope said Christmas was the time to “once more discover who we are”.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35178228
Ms. Chips, there are no words I can say that will capture how much your expression; “thinking of TODers who lost loved ones”, mean to me. As you know, my Mom, went home to the Lord on November 6, 2015. We immediately experienced Thanksgiving without her. The her Birthday was Tuesday December 22nd and now we are experiencing Christmas without out Ma-Dear.
Thanks so, so much for your encouraging words. �?
So sorry for your fresh loss, RanMan!
God bless you and your family, RanMan.
Thanks so much Chips for the precious gift of this community of caring people celebrating the age of Obama. We found out my 93 year old MIL in going to spend Christmas in the hospital. Not sure what is really going on but feel sad for her and my brother in law with Down Syndrome who was expecting to spend Christmas with her. Life throws curve balls, but they hit you harder at holiday times.
Happy Christmas to my TOD buddies!
Judith, thanks for your condolence. I’m sorry to hear about your MIL and BIL. I hope you are blessed with strength and the spirit of encouragement.
Merry Christmas, Chipsticks, creator and giver of the glorious 24/7, 365 day, ever-higher-climbing community and connection HQ that is TOD. Your memories of your father moved me so much. Thank you for sharing him here, and I am so sorry for your loss. I needed your reminder of how hard, sad, and leaden days of celebration can be when we must endure them without people who made them shine and matter for us. Thank you for these poignant and precious images, and for the reminder of how much compassion, eloquence, and wisdom our great and mighty POTUS has blessed us with year after year and especially this year. Thinking of the families of the nine saints whose lives were taken from them this year, and how our President stepped up to comfort the families, honor their memories, and give us all strength and kindness in those moments. Prayers and good wishes for comfort in good memories to all in this precious TOD family who go through this holiday season with heavy hearts. What a deep rich gift it is to be able to come here. Christmas Eve greetings to all who celebrate, and love and light to everyone who comes here and loves and supports the best President this nation has ever known.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Everyone! 🎄 🎅�?�
Tonight is a Very Merry Christmas Eve because Chips Started ‘The Obama Diary,’ NW, LL, LP, AMK, Zizi, and the others who help, especially ‘NerdyWonka.’ Thanks To VC, JO’B, Bob, Meta, and others, who share their thoughts daily, and keep the Blog going strong.
“Merry Christmas!” 🎄& “Happy New Year!” 🎉 to Everyone who posts and share Tweets, (Bob), Meta, and others who contribute Everyday to TOD. The blog is a very special place for those who Love and Respect President Barack Obama the First Family. 🎄 ⛄�? �?��?🎄 �?��? 🎅�?�
I’m watching midnight mass from Rome … The creators graces lives in each our hearts via Allah, Messiah, Jehovah, God. May Peace be with you all.
Merry Christmas Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone, and I will see ya in the morning for sure!!! :)
Merry Chistmas, TOD!
Thank you Ms. Chips for such a beautiful reflection of love.
This has been a rather challenging year for me due to the acciddent that happened while on vacation. I am sure others have gone through major challenges as well.
I thank God for all of you here for helping me get through some of the darkest sleepless nights I have ever experienced.
The love that overflows in my heart knowing that after prayers, tears and more prayers and tears I could come here anytime of day and night truly keeps me humble and grateful.
Thank you all for just being here.
Okay, Chips, Merry Christmas to you and all the TOD gang. I’m very emotional tonight, turns out, in a good way - thanks, in part, to this post. I’m emotional for the ones I’ve loved, the ones I love, now, and the ones I hope to love in the future (maybe some more great grandchildren, for instance, if I live long enough).
Plus, let’s face it, you guys are all like family to me, as are the Obamas and Bidens!
And now I’m emotional listening to this, my all-time favorite Christmas song. So, I’ll say goodnight - and cry some more good tears.
Darlene Love Performs Christmas Classic on ‘The View’
Back safe & sound, but might still be speaking in tongues! Hey, but I guess so is everyone around me! :)
Anyhoo, here’s a take on an xmas song: pardon me, I’m all into JOY right now! :) Yessss!
.
This is my first Christmas without my beloved husband. We are doing totally different things. I am in San Diego with my sister. My son and family are in San Francisco and surroundings. Thanks to all of you for your care and encouragement.
Carolyn, hang in there, darling. There’s another, all encompassing joy around your corner. Just you watch! You’re so blessed to have family, loved ones around you. xoxo
Thanks for sharing your experience with grief and loss, Chips. As a therapist and a grieving father who lost a son, and lost both my parents, I know how sharp the pain can be especially at Christmas when we celebrate the family circle and must face the reality of the loved one who is no longer there in physical presence. After my son died I could barely put up a Christmas tree, and would melt when I put the ornament that was given to celebrate his birth. So even today, with my new grandchildren, the joy and the pain are sort of all intermingled that comes with the experience of loving in life. The important thing is to love. The pain of my son’s death through Leukemia has never left me even though it is more than three decades old, I have only learned to live with it, so that it is a part of me, and goes hand in hand with the ferocious love I have for him that never dies.
JENEÉ OSTERHELDT
DECEMBER 4, 2025 2:53 PM
Here’s what makes ‘The Wiz Live’ so good and so important
I showed up Thursday night with homemade Yellow Brick Road butter cake. Because “The Wiz�? deserved a celebration.
Our party had Munchkin Land streamers, witchalicious Evillene orange fizzy drinks, a gold carpet and neon pink Munchkin Land cake, too.
We wore silver shoes. Our cast of parents, aunties and cousins in this south Kansas City home sang, danced and laughed for nearly three hours during NBC’s wonderful “Wiz Live!�? broadcast.
There were little girls as young as 8 and grown women refined at 62. Some of them remembered seeing the 1975 Broadway musical starring Stephanie Mills (who returned as Aunt Em here). All of us had seen the movie with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. None of us were disappointed in the newest remix of this soulful adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.�?
“Look at all these generations in this room,�? said Nicole Williams, mama to 8-year-old Savanna, my gracious host. “We’re all here. This movie brought us all together.�?
………………………………
This was more than a live special, a nostalgic nod. This was a coming together for thousands of families and friends around the country — and in a south Kansas City den.
As soon as Scarecrow started singing “You Can’t Win,�? Savanna’s lanky 8-year-old arms soared in the air with excitement.
“He did that,�? she yelled, arms swaying like a choir soloist at church on Sunday morning. As I looked around her den I was looking at love.
Her auntie, Carri Ellis, 45, remembered the message she gained the first time she saw the play.
“I’m a child again,�? she told us. “As a girl, the play gave me confidence. It was all about disregarding the negativity, getting the garbage out of your mind and believing in yourself. I think this storyline is even more important today with all that is going on in the world. It’s important we are reminded to look inside ourselves, to rise above the bad and come together.�?
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/jenee-osterheldt/article48010335.html#storylink=cpy
MERRY CHRISTMAS :)
Chips and TODers, my heart reaches out to you, sending love and peace. This has been a hard year for me, too. But the love and grace and humor of this community, in praise of our POTUS, FLOTUS and each other, has meant the world to me. This is a place where I learn so much from all of you and where I know the brilliance and the kindness that is possible and real.
Chips, this is a most perfect post. Thank you. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Thank you, Chipsticks, for opening your heart to us and giving us a place of quiet thoughtfulness tonight. Those beautiful pictures, especially the little girl in the pink sweater reaching up with such hunger to President Obama. As RanMan always says, “Thank God Barack Obama is still our president.” and thank God we have this lovely place to come to as well.
Mahalo Chips for this beautiful, heartfelt post. Yes, we all come here for the love of our president, but we mostly come here because of you- you are our heart, and it’s warm generosity sustains us through so many rough patches. Best of everything to you and all your family this season, and all year, always. <3
Merry Christmas Chips! Thank you so much for posting this. On December 7th my dear sister past away. Ten days later, my cousin’s wife was killed in a car accident and her daughter and her two grand children were severely injured. Earlier, I had lost two of my other cousins. My sister tought music and in Church choir. One of her favorite song was “Amazing Grace.”
I hate it when my I-phone corrects my spelling mistakes incorrectly. My sister passed (not past) away! More importantly, Chips, I meant to thank you for sharing your grief about your Dad! May He Rest In Eternal Peace! I am so thankful that he, and your Mom, produced such a wonderful and caring daughter who has exquisite sense of humor !
Blessings Ms Chips - and to remind us of the wonders of nature - as the sun sets on Christmas down under - the most amazing moon has risen to shine above our home - need MP to tell me all about it
Thank you, Chipsticks, for many things, but long-time lurker that I am, especially for this post about your Dad. Could not have said it better, and we even lost our Dads around the same time. Sigh… But you did put into words the way I’ve felt for so long, and the reason I can keep going after the loss of my Dad, brother, Aunt, etc., within a year. It’s hard, but we are still here ! Okay, thanks for giving this long-time lurker a safe space to vent, and thanks for so many other things, too. Happy whatever to all y’all. Wishing for all good things for all those here.
xmas in india
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35173783
Such a beautiful post, Chips! Wishing you and all of the TOD family, a beautiful, joyful, wonder-filled Christmas! 🎄😘😃
I really love this rendition. Fun choreography and the arrangement sounds a lot like Maurice Ravel’s Bolero. 😉
I know, right?!?!?! :-)
Merry Christmas, Dudette!!!
Haaaaaaappy Christmas!
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/12/25/happy-christmas/
Merry Christmas to you Chips and the wonderful inhabitants of TOD community! May joy, peace and goodwill continue to dispel sorrow and sadness from our hearts.
School opened here in September with one of our most beloved early childhood teachers. I went to her school that first day and spoke with her; she was her usual effervescent and smiling self - a quality that endeared her to everyone, especially her little students. By the middle of the second week however, she passed away in England. She was only 36 years old. It was reported that she suddenly started to feel unwell, and was thereafter diagnosed with liver cancer. She was immediately sent to England for medical care, but it was too late.
I went to our Christmas service this morning and saw her mother. Her face was so sad as I greeted her; it was obvious that grief still held her in its cold palms. I came home feeling somewhat down because apart from missing my own mother who died over 50 years ago, I knew someone whose Christmas was not going to be as cheerful as it should be; a mother who was hurting because her first born was no longer around.
Then I read your post, and it filled me with hope; hope that time will dim the sorrow in our hearts, and that the pleasant memories of those who have left us will certainly endure. Thank you, and God bless you.