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Christmas 2000, photo by Bob Gentry ©2000 Stanyan Entertainment
A Thought for Today
You know the old saying, "Give until it hurts?" Giving never hurt anybody.
Merry Christmas. Here's a plan, if you live in North America and have a tough time getting to sleep tonight check out The Western Channel at
1:00AM. They are showing "Wild Heritage" which stars Will Rogers Jr., Maureen O'Hara and yours truly. That should sent you to sleep pronto.
LITTLE BOY GROWN TALL
Hi Rod, Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was out shoveling snow with my two-year-old daughter Molly, when the package arrived. "Molly, do you want to see a TV show with Daddy, when he was a little boy?" "YEAH!" So we dropped our shovels and headed inside. Molly, her brother Brian, my
wife Colleen, and I sat down and watched together.
What a hoot! I can't believe I was ever that young! And shy! My wife loved it, and Molly liked seeing Daddy, and watching the boys singing. I will give Mom her copy in her Christmas stocking. She will be thrilled.
Rod, it was so nice of you, particularly the warm regards you inscribed on the covers. You have again added something very special to our Holiday. From my whole family, and myself, I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Jack McMahon
(Editors Note: For those of you who have seen "Christmas in New England" Jack McMahon is the 'little boy' from The New England Boy's Choir I interview on the
show).
Dear Jack, If you think you were never that young, imagine how I feel? Pretty good actually. But, yes, you were really that shy; I have to laugh when I remember that to every question I asked you, you only offered a simple yes or no. Some conversation.
You owe me a Christmas card with a picture of you and your family. Don't you think I'm a little curious to know what you look like
today?
Love and Happy Christmas, Jack to you, your mom and your family. Luv, Rod
ISN'T LIFE & THE NET WONDERFUL?
And I thought you
were lost to us.... I've searched cyberspace for a glimpse of Rod McKuen since its public birth and had (almost) given up all hope (not even bothered to search for 2 years) - your voice and words a distant sound from some other time, some other Life.... a concert or two in the Land Downunder.... and then....whatajoyousgloriousdelightfuldiscovery!
All my books of your poetry and prose are falling apart from being loved too much.... the words as familiar to me as the body of a longtime lover... now I have new poems and new worlds to explore....
THANK YOU! especially for "Dangerous Liaisons" such gentle echoes of Rupert Brooke's "Great Lover".... isn't our world the most wondrous place? .... but then, you already know that.... as you must know what you have meant and continue to mean to all us 'Seekers' out here - so.... Thank You again, for the
sacrament of yourself....with fondest regards, Barbara
Dear Barbara, The Net and Life are both glorious. I've managed in the last several years to-connect with old friends and make lots of new ones courtesy of still being around to take advantage of all the newest technology.
Thanks for the compliment on "Dangerous Liaisons." It's been a long time since I dipped into Rupert Brooke and I'll have to make doing so again in the year ahead a project.
All the best to you, Barbara, and welcome to A Safe Place to Land. Warmly, Rod
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Hi Rod, Great news about your upcoming concerts! I won't comment on the fact that they're going to be a zillion miles
away from CA. Don't want to sound whiny....sob, sob, sniffle, sniffle, WAH, WAH. I'm happy for you.
Love from beautiful downtown Bakersfield (which is far, far from Wisconsin and Illinois), Ann
Dear Ann, It's no fun flying a band all the way from California to the Midwest without at least a preview in my home state, but such is concert life. No dates I know of coming up in California either. One of these days maybe. Cheers, Rod
BAH HUMBUG!
Dear Rod, Read your flight plan today and saw the title of a Christmas album you produced Bah Humbug - Music for Grinch and Grouch. Please!!! Where can I get a copy of this on CD?
I have a 75-year-old aunt, and Bah Humbug is her favorite
Christmas expression, she even has a black stocking with bah humbug written on it. In reality she is a wonderful person and brings a great deal of love and laughter to our family, Aunt Jane is truly one of a kind.....I would like to get this CD as a Valentine's gift for her.....trust me with her warped sense
of humor it would be just perfect!!
Wishing you Happy Holidays, filled with Love (lots), and joy and peace God Bless Laura
Dear Laura, Bah Humbug! can be ordered directly from Stanyan By Mail. In fact it was our number two best selling CD this year, right behind my own Christmas album.
There's some pretty funny stuff in that collection and you're right it will make a great gift for a feisty aunt. I refuse to take responsibility if she laughs herself silly. All the best, Rod
SNIP, SNIP
Dear Rod; The visit to the barber looks good on you. When we
(Sonja, Nan Ann & I) saw you in Nov. I thought then without
a beard you would look much younger. You and I are the same
age. Merry Christmas Keith Kidder
Rod, Thanks, again for you. For your sharing ... and thanks to you (and Bob Gentry) for The Christmas Photo! You and Santa do kinda'
favor beards - giving souls, love and sharing - yep, great similarities ... and a compliment to each! And, since I'll read/hear more from/about you than I'll be seein' Santa this year, well, Ho Ho Ho! to you.
Happy Holidays from me and my shaggy Hootie! dog, in snowy, teen-temped Atlanta...(and I thought we lived in the South!). Yes, careful, VERY cautious driving to all! Sherilyn & Hootie!
Dear Keith, Sherilyn & Hootie, I took quite a ribbing from Edward and Bob for trimming my beard back just before Bob started shooting the Christmas photos. Rod.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW ENGLAND
Hello Mr. McKuen, I would just like to say thank you for making your video available through "The Dusty Springfield Bulletin" . I received my copy today from Paul Howes. It's such a pleasure to see this show again, and I'm sure Dusty's fans young and old will treasure this video.
Have a very Merry Christmas, and thanks again. Karl Johansen, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dear Karl, Thanks for the kind words. By now it's no secret how much I've always loved Dusty, I met her way back during The Springfields days and we stayed friends right up
until her very untimely passing.
Over the years Dusty and I saw a lot of each other, both as professionals and as friends. Paul Howes will soon be announcing a new CD "The Rare Dusty Springfield" which contains two tracks from my BBC series. One is her only extant version of "People Get Ready" and the other is a five minute medley of train songs we did together which was cut because of time before the final broadcast. It's coming out on a new CD of mine too. The show itself will be mastered for video & DVD next year.
This is a good time to remind those who can't play VHS that the PAL version is available from
dustybulletin@aol.com . Happy Christmas to you Karl, affectionately Rod
AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY ADDRESS
Dear Mr. McKuen, Thank you for your Flight Plan Thought for the Day today (12/19), asking us all to remember the women and men serving our country overseas.
So many of them are young, and away from home for holidays for the first time. Especially this year after the validity of their votes was questioned in the Florida fiasco, I expect a lot of them feel pretty lonely.
You made me curious, so I browsed up the USO. They have a program called "Operation Dear Abby" that lists addresses to send cards/letters/whatever to our soldiers.
http://www.uso.org/news/dear_abby.htm
It's a little late, but tonight I'm going to pick up a box of holiday cards and mail them out. Thanks for the inspiration. Alan Nicholson, Pasadena, Texas
Dear Alan, thanks for following up on the thought and finding the above address. It isn't too late for any of us to send the greetings of the season to our Armed Forces or for that matter too early to start thinking about valentines for them.
Again, Alan, thanks for the address and I know lots of Flight Plan aficionados will join us in spreading a little cheer where it's needed most. Christmas cheer to you and yours. Rod
THE LAST WORD
And it comes just in time to set you straight about Santa's late night flight.
YOU KNOW COMET & DANCER, BUT RHONDA?
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Blitzen to Rudolph........had to be a girl.
We should have known......only women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night, and not get lost. (submitted by Wes)
May all your Christmas dreams come true and my holiday wish for all of you is a safe, sober, responsible holiday season so you'll be with me again every day next year. Sleep warm.
RM 12/24/2000 Previously unpublished
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