34 Years of Christmas Poems: Christmas 1995

Again, no "outside" history in this poem but a comment on trying to remember to look within and reclaim what was and is always there. That was the practice I was going through as I wrote these simple, straightforward thoughts in verse.

This was the year that for my 39th birthday, I traveled to Nepal and Tibet for three weeks in April. I could not have done so without the incredible support of my wife because the trip was very expensive. As it turned out, over the next five years we would learn just how expensive it really was to us. It literally changed my life.

At this time I was also trying extremely hard to build a business (Amway) with the help of mentors. Talk about energetically pulling oneself in two opposite directions! I was all-in and the drama potential was set on max. It would tear me asunder in very short order; I understood that I did not understand during these years. But I kept on trying.

On this Christmas 2011, may we all remember who we really are and enjoy it here/now. That is a gift the world will utilize well.

Christmas 1995

by

Richard Perrotti

I don’t know who you were as a child

Nor the feelings this time of year brings.

But let’s awaken the innocent memories

As we look for the Christmas within.

We come to this world in perfection

Bringing with us all that we need.

But as our life story is written

That memory starts to recede.

We wear our complications and drama

Like a tired, old shop-worn regimen.

But it’s time to reclaim your true power

And simply choose to choose once again.

See it captured in the eyes of your children

Or in kindness randomly practiced today.

The love deep inside of us awakens

And increases when given away.

The Christmas within is so simple.

It’s traveling back to the start.

See the world and all that surrounds you

From the richness of an abundant heart.

December 1995; 5 years to the Millennium:
2nd - 17th ACE Cable Awards
3rd - "Company" closes at Criterion Theater NYC after 68 performances
3rd - "Holiday" opens at Circle in Sq Theater NYC for 49 performances
3rd - 84th Davis Cup: USA beats Russia in Moscow (3-2)
3rd - Beth Daniels/Davis Love III wins LPGA J C Penney Golf Classic
3rd - Jack Russell takes 11 catches in Test Cricket v South Africa, a record
3rd - Naeem Akhtar takes 10-28 for Rawalpindi B against Peshawar
3rd - Northwestern South Carolina begins using new area code 864
4th - Atherton (185*) bats for 643 minutes to save Johannesburg Test
5th - The Sri Lankan government announces the conquest of Tamil stronghold of Jaffna.
6th - 6th Billboard Music Awards
6th - Michael Jackson collapses will rehearsing for an HBO special
7th - NBA settles strike of referees, refs to return on Dec 12
7th - US space probe Galileo begins orbiting Jupiter
9th - 61st Heisman Trophy Award: Eddie George, Ohio State (RB)
10th - 1st meeting of NBA expansion teams, Raptors beat Grizzlies 93-81
10th - Kelly Robbins & Tammie Green wins LPGA Diner's Club Golf Matches
10th - Michael Slater scores 219 v Sri Lanka at the WACA
10th - Muralitharan takes 2-224 in Australian innings of 5-617
10th - Ricky Ponting makes 96 on Test Cricket debut (Aust v Sri Lanka, WACA)
10th - Worst snowstorm in Buffalo history, 37.9" in 24 hours (Starting Dec 9 at 7 PM, breaks previous record of 25.3" in 1982
11th - Thomas O Hicks buys NHL Dallas Stars for $84 million
12th - CBC announces Radio Canada International service to end on March 31
12th - Israeli PM Shimon Peres address both house of US congress
12th - NBA referees return to work after striking
12th - Amendment to make it illegal to physically desecrate the flag turned down by senate 63-36 (need 2/3 vote)
13th - Christopher Reeves released from physical rehab center
13th - US Federal Court votes that Cable companies must carry local stations
14th - "Les Miserables" opens at Cable Hall, Helsinki
14th - AIDS patient Jeff Getty recieves baboon bone marrow transplant
14th - Yugoslav Wars: The Dayton Agreement is signed in Paris by leaders of various governments.
15th - Playboy goes back on sale after 36 year ban in Ireland
15th - The European Communities Court of Justice hands down the "Bosman ruling", giving EU footballers the right to a free transfer at the end of their contracts, with the provision that they are transferring from one UEFA Federation to another.
17th - "School after Scandal" closes at Lyceum Theater NYC after 23 perfs
19th - Queen Elizabeth askes Prince Charles & Diana to divorce
20th - "Paul Roebson" opens at Longacre Theater NYC for 14 performances
20th - American Flight 965 crashes in Columbia, 159 die, 5 survive
20th - NATO begins peacekeeping in Bosnia.
21st - Martina Ertl of Germany wins her 3rd giant slalom world cup
21st - SF Giants announce plans to build a new stadium to open in 2000
21st - The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
22nd - David Cone signs $19.5 million 3 year contract with NY Yankees
26th - Muttiah Muralitharan no-balled for throwing (SL v Aust, MCG)
26th - Paul Adams becomes S Afr's youngest Test Cricket player, 18 yrs 340 ds
27th - Boon completes his 21st Test Cricket century (110 v SL, MCG)
30th - Carquest Bowl 6: North Carolina beats Arkansas, 20-10
30th - The lowest ever United Kingdom temperature of -27.2°C was recorded at Altnaharra in the Scottish Highlands. This equalled the record set at Braemar, Aberdeenshire on February 11, 1895 and January 10, 1982.
31st - "Danny Gans on Broadway" closes at Neil Simon NYC
31st - "Having Our Say" closes at Booth Theater NYC after 308 performances
31st - "Heiress" closes at Cort Theater NYC after 340 performances
31st - "Paul Roebson" closes at Longacre Theater NYC after 14 performances
31st - "Racing Demon" closes at Vivian Beaumont Theater NYC after 48 perfs
31st - "Tempest" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 71 performances
31st - 62nd Sugar Bowl: Virginia Tech beats Texas
31st - Cartoonist Bill Watterson ends his "Calvin & Hobbes" comic strip
31st - Matthew Elliott scores separate cricket century same day for Victoria