LOOK, I'VE BEEN BLESSED THIS YEAR IN SPITE OF THE STROKE. MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS ARE ALL WELL AND HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED. SO YESTERDAY I WAS READING THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT HOW THE ANGEL TREES PUT UP BY THE SALVATION ARMY WERE LAGGING IN PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP. SO MY WIFE AND I WENT TO A LOCAL BANK AND PICKED THE REMAINING TAGS OFF THE TREE. THEN WE WENT TO TARGET AND SPENT THREE HOURS SHOPPING FOR TOYS AND CLOTHES FOR TWO THREE YEAR OLDS, A FOUR AND THIRTEEN YEAR OLD. LOTS OF WALKING AND THINKING GOOD THERAPY FOR THE LEGS AND MIND.

WE ALSO TOOK THREE TAGS FOR FOOD, SO A FAMILY OF OF NINE AND TWO FAMILIES OF THREE WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER. THE CERTIFICATES ARE MARKED "NO CIGARETTES OR LIQUOR", SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.

TONIGHT WE SAT ON THE FLOOR AND WRAPPED EVERYTHING. GREAT EXERCISE FOR THE FINGERS AND ARMS. TOMORROW WE DELIVER ALL GOODS TO THE SALVATION ARMY.

I WISH I COULD BE A FLY ON THE WALL IN THOSE HOMES ON CHRISTMAS DAY. MY FAMILY WILL GET NO GIFTS THIS YEAR BECAUSE EVERYTHING GIVEN IS IN THEIR NAMES. THE TWO LITTLE ONES MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT EVERYONE ELSE DOES. I MAY NOT BE CHRISTIAN, BUT I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS HOLIDAY IS TO SO MANY PEOPLE. TOO BAD SO MANY HAVE SO LITTLE AND SO MANY OTHERS CAN'T LIVE IN PEACE.

MARTY