SPLINTERS
TENNESSEE VALLEY WOODWORKERS DEC
1989
OH THOSE SONGS OF DECEMBER.. .MUSIC TO MY FROZEN EARS:
YES, THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL; THE CHILL OF THE SHOP IS SPITEFUL.
OH, THOSE SCRAPS OF WOOD FOR TURNING; THEY FEEL MUCH BETTER BURNING.
WOULDN’T THE OLD SHOP, BE MUCH NEATER IF WE ONLY HAD A HEATER.
OLD SANTA’S ELFS WOULD BE SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE IF THE WEATHER WAS AS WARM AS JUNE.
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO THINK THOSE THOUGHTS OF MAY
WON’T THE CHILDREN STAND IN AWE AT THE SIGHT OF MY BRAND NEW TABLE SAW.
OH, I COULDN’T BE PROUTER OF MY BRAND NEW ROUTER
YES, IT’S DECEMBER AGAIN, AND TIME TO WRAP UP OUR ANNUAL “Toys FOR TOTS” PROGRAM. BRAVE THE CHILL OF THE SHOP, AND BRIGHTEN UP THE HOLIDAYS FOR SOME LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN.
AS USUAL, WE’LL BE COLLECTING UP ANY TOYS, SHOPMADE OR STORE— BOUGHT, AT OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GATHERING. ( MORE ABOUT THE
PARTY LATER ) JUDY DAVIS AND SUSAN CHURCH WILL BE DISTRIBUTING
TO THE TOYS PROGRAMS IN FRANKLIN AND COFFEE COUNTIES. PLEASE
BRING YOUR TOYS IN CARDBOARD BOXES IF POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE
DISTRIBUTION MUCH EASIER.
THIS TRADITION HAS BECOME ANOTHER MEMORABLE PART OF THE CHRISTMAS
SEASON. ANY SIMPLE TOYS ARE WELCOME. DON’T FORGET THOSE GIL TOYS TOO.
CHRISTMAS
GATHERING
THIS YEAR OUR GATHERING WILL BE AT THE FIRST CHURCH OF THE
NAZARENE FELLOWSHIP HALL IN DECHERD. [ SEE ATTACHED MAP ] NOTE
THAT WE WILL BE STARTING AT 6:00. A HALF HOUR EARLIER THAN
USUAL. THAT’S TUESDAY EVENING~, DECEMBER 19. THIS WILL BE A
COVERED DISH—POTLUCK EVENT. IF IT’S ANYTHING LIKE THE PICNIC, MY
APPETITE IS READY NOW. FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND SPOUSES ARE
ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. LONG LOST MEMBERS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO
COME SHARE THE FELLOWSHIP. THERE’S NO NEED TO BRING A TOY, JUST
JOIN IN THE FUN. THE CLUB WILL BE PROVIDING PAPER PLATES,
UTENSILS, ICE AND DRINKS AND HAM. OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO RICHARD
GULLEY FOR ARRANGING THE USE OF THE FELLOWSHIP HALL. WE’VE JUST
GROWN TOO LARGE FOR THE HOUSE.
SPEAKING OF FUN.. .WE’LL BE JOINED BY PAUL PYLE AND THE AWALT
RAMBLERS. THIS IS THE SAME FINE GROUP OF ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIANS
THAT PROVIDED US WITH ENTERTAINMENT LAST YEAR. DON’T MISS
IT...WE’LL BE LOOKING FOR YOU.
December 14, 1989
By: Jan
Moye
‘Twas
the night before Christmas and out in the shop,
Bill
was a stirrin’
and had me on the hop.
The
Christmas orders were filled, but the kids sleds.we FORGOT!
Chips
were a flyin’, our patience grew thin
with
sawdust in our hair and paint on my chin.
Bill
was in his nail
apron and I had my eye on the clock!
The
children were nestled all snug in their beds
while
visions of sleds of red and green danced in their heads.
The
paint needed stirring; with the clock it was a race
And
I literally saw red as it spilled all over the place.
“Fret
thee not. We’ll make it yet!” quoth Bill
as
he tossed a nail set my way.
“Not
with help like mine.” I grumbled in dismay.
“The
nails on my two left thumbs are all I’ve set today.”
It
was cold and frosty, our teeth were a chatterin’
When
out in the driveway we heard such a clatterin’
We
rushed to the window wondering, “Who’s here?”
When
what to our sawdust
-- filled eyes did appear
but
4 pickup trucks and 3 cars all filled with tools
and gear.
It
can’t be, but it is -- helpers galore,
Why,
there’s Jack and Tom and Susan, Phil, Gina, Ricky and a score more.
Oh,
it’s wonderful, fabulous, marvelous, of course,
that
the Tennessee Valley Woodworkers turned out in force.
Straight
to the workshop, swiftly they came.
Thankfully,
we greeted each one by their name.
Just
like elves to the rescue, lively and quick,
they
bailed us out before we got sick.
Such
hammering and sawing and sanding you’ve never seen.
And
in no time at all, there sat two sleds of red and green.
Along
about midnight, quiet as a mouse,
So
as not to wake the children, I crept into the house.
Out of
the pantry and down from the shelf
came
cocoa and sugar and cookies I had baked myself.
Back
out to the shop with the refreshments I flew
and
we all enjoyed them an hour or two.
Then
Bill wondered aloud about how they knew;
I
told him this story, wonderful and true.
Earlier
that evening the telephone rang,
It
was Jack Townsend himself, one and the same.
“Merry
Christmas!” He said. “How are you folks tonight?”
And
sadly and quickly I told him of our plight.
Though
my poem is fiction, I applaud this troupe,
For
it personifies the loving and giving spirit shown by this group.
You’ll
hear us exclaim as we drive away this night,
“Merry
Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”