34 Years of Christmas Poems: Christmas 1993

These next few years are a period in my life where I was preparing to to "descend into madness." Certainly didn't know it then but from the perspective of now, it seems fairly obvious to me.

The spiritual studies deepened as I delved into "A Course In Miracles." For me, this was an intense period as I was holding onto a considerable amount of anger within. It took a long time for me to even consider the forgiveness work contained within ACIM. I was "appreciative" of the help of my friends and guidance I was receiving. That's in quotes because I'm sure there were times that I must have been toxic to be around. Even though we are not together today, I still feel love and appreciation for them and what we shared.

As I read the '93 poem, there are no historical "outside" references at all; it's a 100% "inside job" of what I was going through then and for some time afterwards. It is still perfectly applicable today. I'm just a lot more willing to embrace the concept and be easy about it.

Christmas 1993

by

Richard Perrotti

What’s in a gift when you open it up

After shredding the wrapping and bows?

Is it joy and surprise at a well-thought out prize

Or “Gee, thanks. I need one of those.”

The gifts we remember from Christmas

Aren’t items so special or rare.

It’s the ones from the heart of our loved ones

And the warmth of the feelings they share.

But sometimes we feel people hurt us

And the pain takes on life of its own.

Nurtured and held in our memories,

‘till into a monster it’s grown.

How it hurts to hang on to old hatred,

And to keep it alive at all cost.

For the light you invest in that darkness

Is the light in your life that you’ve lost.

Reclaim your true spirit this Christmas

By giving a gift true and fine.

Give yourself the gift of forgiveness,

For remember, to forgive is divine.

The symbol of this joyous season

Is the light from a star high above.

Be kind to yourself and your brothers

And light up the world with your love.

December 1993 events:
1st - Northwest Airlink plane crashes in Minn, killing 18
2nd - A Websters musical "Sunset Promenade" premieres in LA
2nd - Dow-Jones hits record 3702.11
2nd - Houston Rockets tie NBA record of 15-0 start
2nd - Space shuttle STS-61 (Endeavour 5), launches
4th - Dan Jansen skates world record 500m (35.92 sec)
4th - Johann Koss skates world record 5K (6:35.53)
4th - A truce is concluded between the government of Angola and UNITA rebels.
5th - "Timon of Athens" closes at Lyceum Theater NYC after 37 performances
5th - 82nd Davis Cup: Germany beats Australia in Dusseldorf (4-1)
5th - Astronauts begin repair of Hubble telescope in space
5th - Melissa Mcnamara/Mike Sopringer wins LPGA J C Penney Golf Classic
5th - Newhart actor William Sanderson (47) weds Sharon Wix (39)
5th - Rafael Caldera elected president of Venezuela
5th - The mayor of Wien (Vienna), Helmut Zilk, is wounded by a letter bomb.
6th - Gunda Niemann skates ladies world record 5 km 7:13.29
7th - Henri Konan Bedie names himself President of Ivory coast
7th - Robert Goulet undergoes prostate cancer surgery
7th - The Long Island Rail Road massacre: Passenger Colin Ferguson murders six people and injures 19 others on the LIRR in Nassau County, New York.
8th - 30 killed at religious rebellion in Algeria
8th - 4th Billboard Music Awards
8th - Dow-Jones hits record 3734.53
8th - Storm hits West Europe, 11 killed in England
9th - "My Fair Lady" opens at Virginia Theater NYC for 165 performances
9th - Ivory Coast Premier Ouattara resigns
10th - Dow Jones hits record 3740.67
11th - 59th Heisman Trophy Award: Charlie Ward, Florida State (QB)
11th - Eduardo Frei elected president of Chile
12th - "Any Given Day" closes at Longacre Theater NYC after 32 performances
12th - "Kentucky Cycle" closes at Royale Theater NYC after 34 performances
12th - WAQX 104.3 (Q-104) rock format replaces WNCN classic format in NYC
13th - Deadline for Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, they don't
13th - Dow Jones hits record 3764.43
13th - Fire in textile factory in Fuzjou China, 60 killed
13th - Space shuttle STS-61 (Endeavour 5), lands
14th - Moslem fundamentalists murder 12 Kroates/Bosnians in Algeria
15th - C-130 flies into a Philippines hill & explodes, 16 killed
15th - Haitian premier Robert Malval resigns
15th - John Williams final appearance as conductor of Boston Pops
15th - Lee Aspen resigns as secretary of defense
15th - Y-12 crashes at Phonesavanh, Laos: 18 killed
15th - British premier Major/Irish premier Reynolds signs Downing Street Declaration concerning Northern Ireland self determination
16th - "Red Shoes" opens at Gershwin Theater NYC for 5 performances
16th - Shannen Doherty (Brenda) is fired from Beverly Hills 90210
17th - Bangladesh moslem call for murder of feminist Taslima Nasrin
17th - Kevin Scott skates world record 1000 m (1:12.54)
17th - Northern Exposure star Barry Corbin falls off his horse
17th - Tennis star Boris Becker (26) weds Barbara Feltus (27)
18th - Kevin Scott skates world record 1K (1:12.54)
19th - "Red Shoes" closes at Gershwin Theater NYC after 5 performances
19th - Guinee general Lansana re-elected president
20th - Donald Trump weds Marla Maples
26th - Antonov-26 crashes at Gyumri, Armenia, 36 killed
26th - Comedian Rodney Dangerfield (72) weds Joan Child (41)
26th - Floyd, Nicklaus & Rodriguez wins Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge Golf Tourn
27th - "Candles, Snow, & Mistletoe" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 7 perfs
27th - Actress Teri Garr (44) weds John O'Neil (42)
27th - Dow-Jones hits record 3792.93
28th - Dow-Jones hits record 3793.49
28th - Dutch Antilles government of Yandi Paula forms
28th - John Maclean passes Kirk Muller as all-time NJ Devils scorer (521 pts)
29th - Courtney Love sues doctors for leaking news of her methadone treatment
29th - Todd Bridges arrested for transporting methamphetamine (speed)
30th - "Candles, Snow, & Mistletoe" closes at Palace NYC after 7 perfs
30th - Singer Deni Hines (22) weds INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly (35)
30th - Vatican recognizes Israel
31st - Barbra Striesand does her 1st live public concert in 20 years
31st - Loveboat actress Jill Whelan (27) weds Brad St John (33)