It’s a tradition here in the Joe Zone to welcome the December solstice, when the winter invades the Northern Hemisphere. Yesterday, December 21, was that day. Excuse me while I cover my ears to protect me from the shrieking – mine, I mean. Many people love to complain about the weather. I know I do; […]
The Christmas Bicycle
When I was twelve, my Christmas present was a brand-new J. C. Higgins 26” Flightliner bicycle. I was probably more surprised than Ralphie was when he got his Red Ryder BB gun. Money was not abundant growing up, and we kids didn’t expect lavish gifts. But Christmas morning, there it was in the downstairs hallway, […]
The Night the Christmas Tree Fell
Inside Scoop from Joe: An earlier version of this story appeared in December 2013, and a slightly modified version previously appeared in a magazine. But this is my favorite incarnation of one of my favorite reminiscences. Merry Christmas from the Joe Zone to your zone! Christmas memories capture some of the most cherished moments […]
The Night the Christmas Tree Fell
Christmas memories encapsulate some of the most cherished moments of our childhood. We remember warm family gatherings, presents that delighted us, church services celebrating the Infant’s birth. Often, however, our memories also include grim tableaus seared into our brains by events gone horribly awry. These are the exclamation points rising above the landscape of periods; […]