It ain't worth nothin'.

 

                         China White pigs; they are mean.

Life on a farm can be unforgiving. This usually happens when the sow will reject the piglet(s) at birth if it seems frail in any way. Joining the herd frail or too small meant life or death.

Life was life, and things died—all farm children know the harsh facts. 

 

But, one cold winter day there was a lone piglet that was different. 

Love me for my brains!

He had been rejected by the sow because clearly something was wrong with him.  He had a huge tumor on his left hind leg.  My brother Robert looked down at the piglet in the box as I uncovered it and examined his poor leg.  “It ain’t worth nuthin’.  Should let it die.”

“Nuthin’…that’s what we’ll call him.”  Over the next days and weeks, Robert and I took turns feeding Nuthin’ first from a bottle, and then from a dish.  Nuthin’ grew, and we kept him in a pen in the breezeway until spring came.  By then, Nuthin’ was almost the size of our beagle dog Tuffy, and they played together in the yard.  We called his name, and Nuthin’ came as fast as his crippled leg allowed him.   

 

Spring was moving into May, and Nuthin’ was getting too big to let roam the yard.  Animals reaching adolescence are just like humans; they aren’t the same sweet little kids anymore.  Dad said we had to put him in the barn lot with the three milk cows.  We could still visit him, but playing with him wasn’t an option.  

 

That was when we noticed the tumor on his leg growing.  Day by day, we could see Nuthin’ slowing down, and not eating as much.  One day Nuthin’ lay down, and no amount of convincing could make him move.

The next morning Nuthin’ had disappeared.  No one said much about that, because all farm children know the harsh facts.

 

 First published: Susan Kane  22 March 2011 Robert and I have talked about good ole' Nuthin.over those years since. I had some fond memories, Robert not so much.

Santa! Oh, Santa, you ornery rascal!

Santa and Satan

The year 1959 was a year of change for my family.  We moved onto a farm where we would live until 1995.  So many adventures and so many memories arise from that time.

But, here is one memory that we were fortunate to miss.  I never knew that side of Santa Claus’ life, which apparently originated from Mexico. “Santa Claus”, produced in 1959, and translated into English.  

Synopsis:

Santa is preparing for his yearly journey at his Toyland Castle in space.  While children helpers from all over the world sing,

collinwatchesmovies

Santa plays the organ while leering at the screen. 

Merlin the Wizard does a little hop-dance to check stuff out at his magical telescope, fitted with a creepy blue eye.

Santa and Merlin the Wizard

Mechanical reindeer

 

When he needs help, Merlin the Wizard gives Santa a special powder to induce sleep and a magic key to open any door. Vulcan provides Santa with mechanical reindeer.

Nothing goes well or holds a modicum of possible logic.

YouTube trailer

YouTube in its entirety. 1 hour and 34 min. 

The movie is thoroughly ridiculous, Santa Claus is totally creepy, to the level that it feels like someone should report him.  You may watch the film in its entirety on YouTube if you are a glutton for punishment.  Fast-forward would be essential here.

So why did I post this?

We saw this at the theater in RiffTrax presentation. Movies of this lack of quality are narrated by the three guys from Mystery Space Science 3000. They bring a level of satire to this movie.  This is why I pulled this one out of my vault of Christmas movies.

Plus, Alex Cavanaugh recommends the RiffTrax movies generally because they are ludicrous.  I trust his judgment implicitly. 

P.S. On-screen text must be narrated immediately before "The End":

Blessed are those who believe

For they shall see God...

PEACE ON EARTH...

GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Go figure.

Creased, folded, photo in hands of memories

Great-Grandma Annie Praul Shive Johnson
A creased and tattered photo--
Held, shown, and stored in a shoe box for decades.
Hard evidence of a life lived
and remembered

Around in a circle on Christmas morning at Grandma's house, that is snapshot where I still see my family, frozen in time.  Photos have a way of capturing the smiles and memories that cannot be stored on a chip, flash drive, disc, cell phone...

A photo brings back sounds of laughter, of dishware placed onto the stretched out table.  Then it would have said the table was a mile long and the browned turkey as big as the sun. Lots of children noises filled the room, children laughter and some tears.  Just a quickly as they started, they stopped when grace was said and dishes filled.

A photo inhales wafting mashed potatoes with gravy cascading down the mountain and onto stuffing.  Creamed, buttered, fragrant, never-ending--amazing food, enough to feed entire towns. 

Then pies.  Queens of homemade pies, that's what Grandma and Mom were. Name any filling and these queens could whirl to place perfect pies, steaming hot, crust golden brown on the table.
  

 Front row: Robert, Bill, and me (with my new doll)
Don, Mary, Dad and Mom Christmas 1959

A photo can be held, placed lovingly an album, where smiles and bright eyes will look at it, talk about that day.  Remember...Mom nearly spilled the gravy...apple pie was...

A photo is taken of people of people frozen in time. "Hold still. Bill, stop it..." Click and wind. Click and wind. Then the roll of film would be put in an envelope, sent off, and returned. Open the envelope. And Christmas is re-lived over and over.

Food and family without end

A photo will travel across decades to find its way into hands of one who calls back that day with all its senses.  One who will caress faces of those long gone, saying, "I know when this happened."

Grandma and Grandpa Cardiff at home

A photo kept safe for decades in a box emerges into my hands. I can still smell the pies and feel the love all around us.

Can one do this with a digital? Can one hold the photo and feel all that?

F is for Far, Far away

You are in the right place.

My sister Mary and brother Bill, about summer 1959 on our farm.

“Mama!  Me an’ Mary are runnin’ away!”  Billy exclaimed, holding up Daddy’s lunch pail.  “See, and we gots everything we’re gonna need!”

Mama peered into the pail.  Some little panties, two pair of Billy’s socks, a jar of pickles, and little Dolly.

“Well, Billy, where are you and Mary going?”

“We’re goin’ far, far away!” Billy closed the lunch pail.

“Far ‘way, Mama!” Mary echoed.  “I gots Dolly with me, so’s I sleep good.”  She nodded seriously.

“Where abouts is far far away, Billy?”  

“Way over there, Mama!”  He pointed to the barn.

“Over there!”  Mary repeated.

She gave them each a kiss, and they set on their way. 

As she walked back to the house, Mama heard Billy call over his shoulder. “Be sure to call us for dinner, ‘kay?”

Those memories are so precious to me.  Hang onto your own!

Oh, Santa.

Santa and Satan

The year 1959 was a year of change for my family.  We moved onto a farm where we would live until 1995.  So many adventures and so many memories arise from that time.

But, here is one memory that we were fortunate to miss.  At least until I was grown with grown children. I never knew that side of Santa Claus’ life, which apparently originated from Mexico. “Santa Claus”, produced in 1959, was translated into English.  Apparently, it received the “Golden Gate” award for family films. This is not necessarily a good thing. 

The movie is thoroughly ridiculous, Santa Claus is totally creepy, and the three actors who commentate as the film progresses are brilliant.  You may watch the film in its entirety on YouTube.  Fast-forward may be essential here.