The Day After Christmas

The Day After Christmas

'Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurting, even the mouse.
The toys were all broken, their batteries dead,
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor, while
Upstairs the family continued to snore.
And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
Went into the kitchen and started to clean.

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

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.
The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said "U.S.Postman."

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
Bill after bill after bill they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:

"Now Dillard's, now Broadway's, now Penney's and Sears
Here's Levitz's and Target's and Mervyn's--all here!
To the tip of your limit, every store, every mall,
Now charge away, charge away, charge away all!"

He sprang to his truck, and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
"Enjoy what you got--you'll be paying all year!"

A Closing Thought

Even at a Mensa convention, someone is the dumbest person in the room.

* * * * *

Santa Claus Comes To Nanty Glo

An Act of Kindness

We can consider Santa's December 14 visit to Al's Pizza in Nanty Glo as one of those acts of kindness that except for a thank you from the person who organized such a happening, often go unnoticed. Well, not this year. Since I was on the scene for Santa's fifth visit to Nanty Glo, ( Santa has been coming to Al's since Al Farabaugh's daughter Tara was 5 years old.) I took the opportunity to ask Santa a few questions as to why he makes this yearly pre-Christmas pilgrimage.

The Santa who came to Al's that Sunday wasn't the real Santa of course. As we all know, this time of year, the real Santa is busy at the North Pole. He and his elves are checking his list of who was naughty or nice, packing his sack with toys, and making sure his sleigh and reindeer are sky-worthy and in tip-top condition for his around-the-world trip on Christmas eve.


As it turned out, "Santa" who wishes his name kept secret, was once a coal miner employed by Barnes and Tucker Coal Company in Barnesboro. However when the mining industry died out he was forced to find employment elsewhere and for the past 13 years has been a Corrections Officer at one of Pennsylvania's State Correctional Institutions. He's a native of what is now known as Northern Cambria, lived for a while in Twin Rocks and now resides in Loretto, having relocated there in April of this year. Santa's father died in 1966 leaving a widow to raise 7 children of which Santa was next to youngest.


Santa has been playing "Santa" free of charge for 30 years and although he says nursing homes for the elderly are his favorite places to visit, visiting them makes him sad. When asked why he performs this act of kindness year after year, he replied: " I do it because no one ever played Santa Claus for me." He's been known to check out back yards and if there are small children's toys evident, maybe...just maybe those lucky youngsters will get a surprise visit from St. Nick on Christmas Eve. Santa says;"A lot of time, kids don't know the true meaning of Christmas, and as a Christian, I try to help them learn the true meaning."


Santa says he has two red and white suits; one to wear, and a spare for "just in case." He says in all his years of playing Santa, no one has ever vomited on him or had a potty accident while sitting on his lap. And girls are no more afraid of him than boys. "It's about even," he says. Around the beginning of November Santa starts practicing the familiar "Ho-Ho-Ho" in the privacy of his pickup truck while driving to and from work. "It takes about a month to get it down pat," he says.



Playing Santa does have it's unusual moments. Santa said, one year when he was dressed in his Santa costume complete with beard and wig, he came across a stranded car which along with a husband and wife, contained several small youngsters. Santa offered them a ride home, and needless to say "those kids were speechless all the way home," he says. Santa is so convincing, not to mention covert, in his role as 'Santa,' that one acquaintance, whose home he once visited, didn't discover his true identity for 10 years. "I always wondered who that was," his friend said,"It was YOU!"


In closing, I asked Santa if he had any message for the people of the Blacklick Valley and he said: "You better be nice, and you better be good, 'cause Santa knows. And...he's boarding his sleigh and on the way. Ho-Ho-Ho!"

The Three Stages Of Man

He believes in Santa Claus

He doesn't believe in Santa Claus

He is Santa Claus

A Closing Thought

A Christmas Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, hear this Christmas prayer,

And if it be your gracious will, may joy be everywhere---

The joy that comes from knowing

that the holy Christ child came

to bless the earth at Christmas

for your sake and in your name---Helen Steiner Rice

Merry Christmas!

* * * * *

Tom Sharpe...the organizer.

Tom Sharpe is the driving force behind the very successful Blacklick Valley Pizza Parties. The first three Pizza events were held at Penn Gables Restaurant in Ebensburg, Pa. The first in 2005 was attended by 64 people. The second, a bit larger, drew 112 people. The third and final party to be held at Penn Gables was attended by 145 verified people and all indications pointed to the need for another venue for Pizza Party 4 which was held in Nanty Glo's VFW. Party 4 drew close to 300 people and the need for yet a larger location for 2009's reunion. Plans for Pizza Party 5 are under way, and as of this writing, will be held September 19 at the Nanty Glo Fire Hall.


When asked why he decided to initiate the Valley Get-togethers, Tom said: "It's a community service. I want to do things that keep us in touch with our roots. I've always liked to organize things and see a positive outcome. Because of my memories and love of the Blacklick valley and its wonderful people, I feel the need to draw out the same feelings, especially those of my age group; those born between 1930 -1943. Those born before 1930 are mostly gone, and those born after 1943 are baby boomers and the "boomers" have a different view of things and life in general. The Pizza party ides is...or was, a five-year plan to bring it to the Valley..to get my age group, or what's left of it, to rally to a cause. It could never be done by the locals only. It needs those from out-of-town also. The challenge, the execution, and the pleasure, that's why I organize them."



Tom is a 1955 graduate of Nanty Glo High School and a 1959 Graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He has held management positions with various companies and Hospitals from Massachusetts to New Jersey. Tom and his wife, the former Elizabeth O'Hara (deceased) of Vintondale, are the parents of three sons. Now retired, Tom makes his home in Williamsport, Pa. Aside from his willingness to take on the daunting task of organizing the annual Valley Pizza get-togethers, Tom volunteers his time at a Local Orthodox Christian Church. He helps with the making of Pieroghi which are sold to offset some church expenses.

** Video slide shows of Pizza Parties 3(2007) and 4(2008) can be seen via the video bar at the right or on YouTube. Search Highlandrose43.

Adam's Rib

When a woman applies for a job at a citrus grove, the foreman asks, "Do you have any experience picking lemons?"

"Well," she answers, "I've been divorced three times."

A Closing thought

It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving---Mother Teresa

Valley all-star Janet Toth

Janet Toth

A Nanty Glo native, Janet is a 1950 graduate of Nanty Glo High School and Windber Hospital School of Nursing. She's a 1984 graduate of St. Francis University, Loretto,Pa. with a degree in Psychology. She and her husband Bill have nine children and 19 grandchildren. She is a long-time member of the Nant-Y-Glo Tri-Area Museum and Historical Society.