Many years ago three other US soldiers and  I were spending Christmas Day on an outpost in Korea. The bunker was on the forward slope of a mountain overlooking a valley dominated by Chinese lines. A blizzard during those days added to the misery of our isolation, compounded by a type of cabin fever which had us harboring intense dislike for one another. The temperature was extremely cold and we were startled to hear a voice crying out to us from the communication trench to the rear, our only link to our lines. It was a Chogie, a Korean worker who had been wounded, treated and released to return to his work unit, but in the storm he had become lost and ended up on the trench to our bunker. We had no option but to take him in and in the course of two days, trying to communicate in languages neither he nor us mastered, we managed to create a Christmas celebration where each one of the five gave something to the group. When the blizzard was over, our headquarters came looking for us, investigating our communications line which had been ruptured with an enemy round; they took the Chogie to his unit. It was a memorable Christmas.  Rene F. Cardenas

I can remember being in Puerto Vallarta and going to midnight mass in a small, simple Mexican church. We had to stand in the doorway because it was so crowded. It was mostly Mexicans observing Christmas mass. The carols were being sung in Spanish. The children were all dressed in their finest clothes, and I thought it was one of the most beautiful, simple, religious celebrations.

Barbara

Happy Holidays to all at ITMI and may your New Year be prosperous.

Kenneth Hordge

My Dear Friends at ITMI!

Two years ago, I took a group to India.  In Udaipur [the Mediterrean of India], we took the group to one of the oldest Hindu Temples.  In Hindu architecture, there are always very steep steps to climb to get to the Temple itself.

Anyway, on the tour I had a wonderful gentlemen, named John from Virginia Beach, VA.  He was a retired medical doctor.  Because he had a bum knee, I carried a cane to use on long walking tours.  When he saw the steepness of the steps to the temple, he told me that he would wait for the group to come and re-join us.  I told him that we’d be back down in about 30 minutes and to wait for us.

After I got to the top of the steep stairs, as custom dictated, I began to remove my shoes out of respect.  After I removed my shoes, there was JOHN standing next to me!  I said, “John, I thought you were remaining below for us.”  I will never forget his reply, “Steve, I was going to wait for all of you; however, I observed a young Hindu boy WITHOUT any legs push and pull his way up those steep steps to worship. To myself, I thought how blessed I was in relationship to the young boy!

So I decided to join you.”

So, Ted & Randy, we all are blessed in many ways.  But sometimes, it takes us to travel outside of our own comfort zones to made aware of how blessed as TD’s we all are!

Happy Holidays and I am sorry due to economic circumstances I am not able to join you for your Symposium.

Steve Jolis

When I met my wife, Yahel, in Mexico more than 4 years ago, I asked her where she would like to go on vacation.  Prior to that, she had never vacationed outside of Mexico because she had always been denied a visa to the U.S. and Canada.  She said, Canada, because of the beautiful trees, mountains and the bears.  Weeks, later we visited British Columbia and Alberta for two weeks.  This was the trip she had always dreamed of.  At that time, she said that one day she would like to live there.  Earlier this year, I received a job offer from a very large resort developer to work in Whistler, British Columbia before, during and after the Winter olympic Games to take place this February.  Howefver, ain Jukly of this year, Canada passed a law requiring all Mexicans to apply for a visa prior to entering Canada. Today, we both live in British Columbia and enjoying the beautiful scenery that Whistler has to offer.  This is her first Christmas ever with snow and cold and Christmas lights and Christmas cheer.

Incidentally, the other day as she was walking the dogs, she encountered a bear only ten feet away from her.  Scared, she ran with the dogs into the house.  Be careful what you wish for.

Wayne C. Robinson

Ted, et al,

Here’s my holiday contribution:I recently got off a disabled veterans river trip. Being able and priveleged to get those men and woman so far away from the threat of a war zone, and to watch them smile, laugh, stare silently and peacefully at the river or canyon walls, made me smile, made me cry. For two very peaceful weeks, they were safe, happy, far, far from “the maddening crowd”.

Merry Christmas.

Steve Lonie

Merry Christmas to all with blessings for 2010!

Marva Motley

I spent 7 years overseas during Christmas .It is hard to get into the Christmas spirit away from home.My most memorable Christmas was when I was working in Saudi Arabia.M y family had joined me .We opened our home to some of our co-workers of 3 different mationalities( American British and Filipino ) ,I can not remember the details of the get together,but it was an experience of a lifetime .

Merry Christmas Everyone

George Pritchard