South America (Day 6)

March 9

As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is.  ~  Eric Sevareid

It’s Christmas.  So, Feliz Navidad.  We spent the entire day cruising at sea, heading for Puerto Montt (see map above).  Come to think of it, the Super would like to do that for the rest of her life . . . ~ Me

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.  ~  Charles Dickens

December 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS

When you stop believing in Santa, you get underwear! ~  Anonymous

[A gentleman with his morning coffee, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” . . . ]

Christmas is, of course, the time to be home – in heart as well as body (or on a cruise ship in South America ~ Editor).  ~  Garry Moore

[The grand staircase in the boat’s atrium, appropriately decorated for the season . . . ]

Our children await Christmas presents like politicians getting in election returns: there’s the Uncle Fred precinct and the Aunt Ruth district still to come in.  ~  Marcelene Cox

[A Christmas village of gingerbread homes . . . ]

Being a traditionalist, I’m a rabid sucker for Christmas. In July, I’m already worried that there are only 146 shopping days left.  ~  John Waters

[The grand staircase (no, I didn’t skip up or down) . . . ]

Godot is whatever it is in life that you are waiting for: ‘I’m waiting to win the lottery. I’m waiting to fall in love’. For me, as a child, it was Christmas. At least that eventually came.  ~  Ian Mckellen

[Those responsible for keeping us entertained, fed, and alive . . . ]

Let our religions unite us for human kindness rather than dividing us on what we believe. Merry Christmas. ~   Hockson Floin

[A lecture by someone whose face is turned and thus I can’t identify . . . ]

Abbie had survived exam week on nothing but strong coffee and homemade Christmas cookies – the kind that are 97 percent sugar.  ~  Dan Salerno

[It must have been a good one – the theatre was packed . . . ]

I’m a physicist, and we have something called Moore’s Law, which says computer power doubles every 18 months. So every Christmas, we more or less assume that our toys and appliances are more or less twice as powerful as the previous Christmas.  ~  Michio Kaku

[The cruise director gave daily briefings about events for the following day . . . ]

It kills me when people talk about California hedonism. Anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento. ~ Joan Didion

[Looking down the grand stairway to the pianist performing in the atrium . . . ]

There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~ Erma Bombeck

Tomatoes should be accorded with respect, for without them, Christmas stew wouldn’t exist. ~ Michael Bassey Johnson

[And with a photo bomber . . . ]

There’s never really been a real hood Christmas movie. ~ Ice Cube

[A fan of the pianist . . . ]

Don’t give me books for Christmas; I already have a book. ~ Jean Harlow

Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room. ~ Nora Roberts

[And that’s the ship’s staff and crew caroling . . . ]

I love Christmas. Frosty the Snowman, peace on Earth and mangers, Salvation Army bell ringers and reindeer, the movie ‘Meet Me in St. Louis,’ office parties and cookies. ~ Mo Rocca

I throw a Christmas party at my house. It’s not really a Christmas party, because I don’t want to call it a Christmas party. But let’s just say I put a lot of Christmas trees around the house, so it smells good. ~ Bill Murray

[Whom amongst us doesn’t enjoy a good yarn about bonnie King Charlie . . . ]

Christmas is a juggernaut, it rolls over most interruptions, potholes or side-tracks, and just keeps right on going. ~ Alan Camrose

[The king is a year younger than me, so I know he’s hurting . . . ]

Most Christian holidays were Pagan holidays first. Christmas trees and Easter eggs have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. They are Pagan symbols. Christianity is thinly disguised Paganism. ~ Oliver Markus Malloy

[Dr. Lawrence Kuznetz was a real hoot. He helped design the space suit for the Apollo missions and unsuccessfully tried to direct me to the Southern Cross . . . ]

The day you stop getting excited about Christmas is the day you become officially old. ~ Stewart Stafford

Life is short. Jingle your bells. ~ Eleanor Brownn (yes, two ‘n’s’)

This chap has the sort of old, lively face that one would wish for beside a cosy Christmas fire. ~ Vincent van Gogh

Real ballplayers pass the stuffing by rolling it up in a ball and batting it across the table with a turkey leg. ~ Tom Swyers

[Let’s see – what’s for Christmas dinner? As I recall the Super went for the Beef Wellington and I the Braised Halibut . . . ]

Like a sparkle of a thousand pearls; an angel touched my lips. ~ Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

[And what’s for Christmas dessert?]

Christmas carols always brought tears to my eyes. I also cry at weddings. I should have cried at a couple of my own. ~ Ethel Merman

[With apologies to Liz for catching her in mid-bite . . . ]

I had eight brothers and sisters. Every Christmas my younger brother Bobby would wake up extra early and open everybody’s presents – everybody’s – so by the time the rest of us got up, all the gifts were shredded, ribbons off, torn open and thrown aside. ~ Tommy Hilfiger

[As the sun sets on Christmas 2023 . . . ]

Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ~ Washington Irving

And so, I’m offering this simple phrase to kids from one to 92. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you. ~ Mel Torme and Robert Wells 

Up Next: Day 7 . . .