tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post2029928459625627795..comments2023-10-28T09:25:39.790-04:00Comments on The Atavist: Presents or PresenceThe Atavisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12529157597486952484noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-67515200240499009582007-12-29T20:13:00.000-05:002007-12-29T20:13:00.000-05:00I perpetrated the too much at Christmas with my ki...I perpetrated the too much at Christmas with my kids. We were so poor when I was little, that my brother and I received few gifts. But, we celebrated with the much more wealthy family next door. So, I tried to make up for what I thought was my loss, with my kids. I now wish I had done it differently. I think there is far to many adverse emotional expectations involved in the holiday.luckyzmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04176703683321469118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-58129710810932750012007-12-24T09:46:00.000-05:002007-12-24T09:46:00.000-05:00My dad and his family, as were many Germans who li...My dad and his family, as were many Germans who lived in Poland during the run-up to the first world war, were exiled to Siberia and were forced to stay there until after the war was over. They were sent, in the middle of winter, via cattle cars in a train, in a journey that took a stop-and-go six weeks. They were dumped and left to fend for themselves. Mennonites nearby took pity on them, helped them through the first winter, and allowed them to build sod huts to live in during the next summer.The Atavisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529157597486952484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-61298567383402951162007-12-24T07:53:00.000-05:002007-12-24T07:53:00.000-05:00Didn't know your father was from Siberia. I, too,...Didn't know your father was from Siberia. I, too, hate the commercialization of Christmas. Here in Santa Fe, N.M. it is the opposite of commercial NYC. The change is welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-43381868317043834542007-12-24T05:06:00.000-05:002007-12-24T05:06:00.000-05:00A voice of sanity in an age of mechanistic amuseme...A voice of sanity in an age of mechanistic amusements. In another time this would have gone without saying. Progress is a wonderful invention,eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-68509584440674173442007-12-23T17:58:00.000-05:002007-12-23T17:58:00.000-05:00Thanks, Jean... As for what I want: warmer weathe...Thanks, Jean... As for what I want: warmer weather. <BR/><BR/>Lin: I had thought about it and in fact hope to do it some day when I have more time.The Atavisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529157597486952484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-36616568589825653932007-12-23T00:35:00.000-05:002007-12-23T00:35:00.000-05:00That is an amazing story about your family's livin...That is an amazing story about your family's living conditions in Siberia what wonderfully tough people! Have you ever thought about taking your son there to do a dad/lad family history tour?Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100999113439449482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931353.post-61104580677737228142007-12-20T20:47:00.000-05:002007-12-20T20:47:00.000-05:00My opinion... you have the right perspective for t...My opinion... you have the right perspective for the holidays.<BR/>Wishing you and yours all the best of everything you want!<BR/>Merry Christmas.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02099808690177823190noreply@blogger.com