In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it can sometimes be easy to overlook the simple things, the important things in our lives that mean the most to us and define us as a people: friendship, sharing, community…offering a helping hand, saying please and thank you, doing things with no expectation of getting something in return…saying “I love you”, showing appreciation, enjoying the company of friends and strangers alike.

These are the things that matter most, not how many presents are under the tree or who spent the most on who. Christmas is a time of fellowship and love, a time for reflecting on who we are and where we’re going, and for being grateful for what we have.

I remember when I was a kid, maybe 10 or 11, and I saw “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for the first time. I thought it was a cool cartoon at the time, but it took many years for me to realize that a little, bald, round-headed kid and his thumb-sucking, blanket-toting friend probably knew more about what Christmas should be than most adults. It remains one of my favorite Christmas shows to this day, and I share a portion of it here with you now:

To all our family, friends, colleagues, customers, clients and everyone else too, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

A Christmas Message from Harriman Real Estate

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

There, I said it. 

Over the past several years, there has been a inexorable movement away from the holiday-specific “Merry Christmas” towards the more general and politically correct “Happy Holidays”. Proponents of this give many reasons why they do this: they don’t celebrate Christmas, it’s offensive to them, Christmas is a pagan holiday, their religion observes a different holiday, yada yada. Whatever.

It’s rare nowadays to go anywhere during December and hear a heartfelt “Merry Christmas”. I even heard a mall Santa Claus say, “Happy Holidays” recently. He just didn’t seem as jolly to me after hearing that. When I was a kid growing up in Maine, you couldn’t go anywhere without being met by friends and acquaintances offering a good old, “Merry Christmas” and a wave or a handshake, or even a kiss and a hug. Happy Holidays was rarely seen, or heard. No one would even consider saying it, because it was Christmas, and we went out shopping for Christmas gifts to put under a Christmas tree, a real tree, smelling all piny and oozing sticky sap that got on your hands when you put it up. Your parents always had the obligatory party on Christmas Eve and you gathered around the old, out-of-tune upright piano and sang Christmas carols until your voice was hoarse, or Aunt Ethel couldn’t play any more because of her arthritis or the six cups of spiked Christmas eggnog she drank.

You went to bed that night with dreams of the new bike or sled waiting for you under the tree, and you got up on Christmas morning and ran downstairs, yelling “Merry Christmas” as you whizzed past your parents on the way to a skidding stop beside the pile of presents under that shining tree. Later your Mother fixed Christmas dinner and you waited for Dad to say Grace before you hastily said “Amen” and then plowed into a heaping mound of mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and turkey. You went to bed that night stuffed, but happy.

Back in the day, you said “Merry Christmas” to everybody, and nobody was offended even if they didn’t celebrate Christmas, because they knew what you meant when you said it. It didn’t mean you thought you were superior to anyone else or had no respect for them, it was simply a way to say you wished the best for everyone, regardless of race, creed, skin color or religious persuasion. It brought people together and brought out the best in people, no matter what their own situations might be, and no one was offended.

So much for the old days. But, I still want to go out on a limb and risk offending someone, throw caution to the wind and political correctness be damned. I will, therefore, close by saying the same thing I said at the very beginning:

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

A Christmas Message

Giving Thanks in Thankless Times…

Thanksgiving usually brings people out of the woodwork posting lists of things they’re thankful for: family, friends, a roof over their heads, clothes on their back and food in their stomachs are all mainstays of these lists, and deservedly so. We’re thankful for all those things, too, and many more that could fill a book.

This year we thought we’d do something a little different. Many of us are always on the lookout for ways in which we can make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate than ourselves. Donating clothes to the Salvation Army, volunteering in a senior center or spending time as a mentor are all ways you can help. Donating time, money or goods are time-honored methods of giving back to those in need, whether they are in your community or halfway around the world. So, we’d like to present our list of favorite charities and causes that we’ve either personally donated to or highly recommend. Some will be familiar, some maybe not so much, but they’re all worth a look…

5 Familiar Causes…

1. Make-A-Wish Foundation: Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation’s mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish^® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.
2. Habitat For Humanity: Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends.
3. American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.
4. World Wildlife Fund: For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
5. National Council On Aging: The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
   • NCOA is a national voice for older adults – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged — and the community organizations that serve them.
   • NCOA brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults.
   • NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors live independently, find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities

…And 5 Not So Familiar

1. Email Our Military: eMail Our Military’s founder is a military wife, the daughter of a veteran and an avid troop supporter. We’re volunteers from all walks of life who understand that regardless of our political views, our military service members deserve our respect, support & encouragement.
2. Pillows For Soldiers: Our simple purpose: Send pillows to soldiers, vets and to families of fallen soldiers to say “Thank You For Your Service” and offer them a little comfort.
3. Skip1.org: Skip1.org taps into the world’s wealth to bring food and water to children and families in need around the world. Skip1.org is a promotional division of Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) which was founded in 1992 and seeks to alleviate the suffering of needy children across America and around the world.
4. The Feed Foundation: The FEED Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds to ensure nutritious school meals for all children as a first step to improving the global food system. In partnership with FEED Projects, LLC, the FEED Foundation has provided over 50 million school meals to children in the developing world through the United Nations World Food Progam school feeding operations.
5. The Hole In The Wall Gang: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, in collaboration with its associated camps in the United States and abroad, provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions a camping experience of the highest quality, while extending year-round support to their families and health care providers.

So, there’s our list of ways to show thanks this holiday season. This list is by no means an exhaustive one; there are scores of other, worthy causes that you can donate to, all as deserving as these. These just happen to be some of our favorites. If you have a cause that’s especially dear to you, we invite you to leave a comment to let us know what it is.

In closing, we would like to say that, in addition to all the traditional things we are thankful for, we’d like to add one more to the list: YOU, our readers, clients and friends. Without you, we would have no need for this blog. We thank you for taking time out of your busy days to stop by and see what’s going on. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you may be.

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

This Veteran’s Day, The Harriman Team would like to take this opportunity to stop a minute and thank all the veterans, past and present, who have helped keep this great country free. As we have said in the past, we have a close connection to the military: I am a Viet Nam veteran, Pat was a military wife, and we have children who either are now or have been in the service. For all our veterans do for us, we owe it to them to take a few moments out of our busy schedules to thank them for what they do for us. The sacrifices they make, the hardships they endure, and the courage they display all entitle them to our respect, esteem and admiration.

Also, our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in the recent shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. It’s bad enough to lose someone close to you in military combat, but when unfortunate circumstances such as those at Fort Hood happen, they can only serve to draw us closer to the ones left behind, and focus our attention on the trials and tribulations they go through every day. May they take comfort from those whose love and support surrounds them, and may those who lost their lives rest in everlasting peace.

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Veteran’s Day 2009

Monday, May 25th, is Memorial Day this year.

Pat and I would like to take a moment to remember all those brave men and women who gave their lives so that we may continue to live free. Being a veteran myself with 2 kids in the service and another who recently left the service, this day holds special significance for us. Some people think of it as just a holiday away from the drudgery of work, which it is, but it is so much more.

Please take a moment this weekend to give thanks to those honored souls who sacrificed everything for their country. We hope and pray that, someday, men and women will not have to die in war in order to live in peace.

With Respect,

Pat & Wayne Harriman

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Remembering Our Veterans

The Harriman Team would like to extend warm wishes to our friends, family, customers, clients, vendors, colleagues and everyone else who celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday. We are so very grateful for the friends we have made from our forays into Facebook and Twitter; the help and camaraderie we’ve received from them has been much appreciated.

We are grateful for our family, spread out as they are over several states and soon another continent as well. We give thanks for our beautiful grandchildren: Ilissa, Shelby, Nathan, Matt, and Lilly, who bring so much joy into our lives. We give thanks for the health and comfort we enjoy, and the love we share.

And we give thanks for living in the greatest country on Earth, and for the protection of our servicemen and women all over the world who put they’re lives on the line every day to ensure our freedom.

We hope you’ll join us in wishing everyone you know a Happy Thanksgiving, and peace and joy the rest of this holiday season.

Update: Our hearts go out to those in Mumbai who have endured a most tragic and reprehensible attack, and we hope that they may recover quickly and that those responsible are swiftly caught and brought to justice.

Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne Harriman

Happy Thanksgiving!