A Wild West Christmas...twelve days long

Currently reading: The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith
Just finished: When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber A++++

Merry Christmas!

What? That's like, five days ago.

But did you know Christmas has long been celebrated for twelve days afterward, until the Feast of the Magi, or Epiphany, on January 6? I'm so happy the Hallmark Channel is still showing Christmas flicks this week and our cable system's "Sounds of the Season" is still belting out carols full force. So much better than the Los Angeles station that started playing Christmas music mid-November, non-stop, 24/7...only to cease cold turkey at 12:01 a.m. December 26. Grrrrrrrrrrrr. And all the marathons of White Christmas, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and A Christmas Story stopped then too.

In fact, if you want the true meaning of the Twelve Days (it is NOT those twelve gimmicky shopping days beforehand), get on over to my recent blog at Petticoats and Pistols to learn the secret, sacred symbolism behind all the French hens and those maids a'milking.

That blogging day, I asked readers to help me re-write the classic Christmas carol, and here's what we composed: (No symbolism; we just had fun.)

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...a roadrunner in a pinon pine tree.

...Two blue jays squawking,
...Three crows cawing,
...Four calves a-bawling,
...Five jangling spurs,
...Six cowgirls roping,
...Seven tumbleweeds a'tumbling,
...Eight pioneers a camping,
...Nine broncos bucking,
...Ten cowboys singing,
...Eleven roosters crowing,

And I just couldn't decide on the last one. Take your pick. They're all great.

Twelve stallions leaping
Twelve Texans twanging
Twelve riders riding
Twelve fillies rhyming
Twelve coyotes howling.

Point is. It's still Christmas!

Tanya Writes About the Lunar Module

Current read: Cranberry Hearts Anthology, Barbour Press
Just finished: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe. Grade B+

However, the module is a woman!

Now, I agonize over names. Nothing named by me, whether child, pet, or fictional character is done lightly. So I have a great interest in the names selected by other people.

When his daughter was born forty years ago on the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon, Eddie McGhee celebrated in full and named her Module. Yes, Module. Not Edwina after Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin or Michaela after Michael Collins. Not even Eagle, for "The Eagle Has Landed."

Module.

A mother and special education teacher, Module claims she's always loved her name, and as far as I can tell, she never shortened it.

"My name has opened the door in some places," says the Columbus, Georgia, resident. It's even helped in job interviews in giving prospective bosses something different to talk about.

Her dad felt her name was appropriate for the historic event. Truth to tell, he wanted to name her Lunar Module McGhee, but her mom pooh-poohed it. It didn't quite sound right, mama said.

I remember Moon Unit Zappa calling herself plain Moon. Lunar could feminize it to Luna...and Module could have nicknamed herself Maude. Or even a more timely Mod.

But then she wouldn't have the most unique name ever!

Hmmmmmmmm. A romance heroine named Module? Could open some doors!