December 27, 2006


Adopted by the OC on 3/28/06

We will restore, protect, promote and ensure a clean,
healthy, flowing San Bernard River for the sanity and
enjoyment of present and future generations.



Memories...... and Farewell to 2006
The song, "Auld Lang Syne," , is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days.
 
It is time to say farewell to 2006 . What a year it has been. The original Organizing Committee's dream, the vision, of creating a united group of people, with the same idea of preserving and protecting our beloved San Bernard has become a reality. We have gotten to know each other, to care about each other.
We have truly become :
 
"Friends Of the River"
 
We are thankful.
 
We are looking forward to great things in 2007.
 
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
 
Happy New Year to all Friends Of the River
San Bernard




Christmas Memories

Darrell Powell  F.O.R. San Bernard /Webmaster
 

When I was growing up in West Texas we would spend one Christmas with my Dad’s family in Paducah. The next would be with my Mother’s family in East Texas.   At Christmas when I was 5 or 6, we were at my Papa’s home in East Texas.  He lived on a farm about 8 miles from Winnsboro.  My grandmother always had a beautiful Christmas tree.  I remember that she had lights filled with liquid that would bubble after they warmed up. When I awoke Christmas morning, I went running to see what Santa had brought me. 

It had snowed during the night and Papa said he had something to show me.  As we went out the front door, he told me to be careful where I stepped. The walkway had footprints going into the house and back to the end of the walkway.  At the end of the walkway were tracks of what looked like sleigh tracks and 8 sets of reindeer tracks.  There were not any other tracks in the yard.  That was at a time when I was starting to think that Santa wasn’t real, but that changed my mind. There really was a Santa. (Papa never did tell me how he did it.)
 

 

 

 
 

Gloria Powell  F.O.R. San Bernard Member/Volunteer
 

When I was a child, Santa always came to our house on Christmas Eve.  My twin, a younger brother and I were the last half of six children. The other three were considerably older and driving.  When my parents gave the cue, my older siblings would load us in the car - in search of Santa. We would take a drive into the fields of Friendswood.  We would swear we could see Santa racing across the night sky.  We would return home only to discover Santa had come and gone.  Strange we were not wise to my parent’s antics.

My father worked for Humble Oil and Refining Company (later became Exxon) and the Christmas Eve drive was through Exxon’s Beamer Field in Friendswood.  Little did I know that as the years passed and the area grew, Darrell and I would buy a house and live there for most of our married life.
 





Teresa Schlumpberger F.O.R. San Bernard /Board Member
and Mother, Ann Butler

 When I was 8, my parents built a most beautiful house in  Sweeny.  While doing this Mom managed to find the time to make this neat "cutting board"  and crocheted a doily. Turned out it was a super bed for Barbie and a throw rug...for under the couch  (made of cardboard cigar boxes) JUST like the one she had re-upholstered herself.  It all MATCHED!!!!  She did it right in front of me and  I never knew!   She may have decided to take a different tactic after I "discovered"  the boot box of Barbie dresses hidden in top of the closet a couple years earlier.  (Mom made them all while I was at school.) 
I remember Mom and Dad sitting on the couch while my sister Jeana and I  proudly showed our new Yogi and Flintstone slide shows...on a sheet tacked to the wall.  They were spending time with us and loved it.  It was Movie Night! 

In my adult life, Mom and Dad continued to carry on Christmas traditions.  Christimas Eve became the evening to get together.  Santa Bob (Dad) came home tired after a season of sharing--but always walked in with a smile.  I think I sat on his lap every Christmas Eve.  (Pretty sure by now his legs were tired..but not too tired for me!)

The memories are so many--good and happy.  I hope our children can think back someday to those special Christmas Days.   I was just wondering today...Think it will snow this year?   That was our first Christmas together as a family.  I remember...
 Merry Christmas to all - Teresa
 



 

Janice Edwards  F.O.R. San Bernard /Board Member/P.R.
 

I know I had memories of Christmas as a child, but one of the most moving was the night it snowed on Christmas Eve at River's End on the San Bernard River. It had been cold that afternoon, and then right at dusk, the first few snowflakes began to fall. Then the snow fell in fits. Roy and I did not think it possible that the snow would stick or last - but the fact that it was snowing on Christmas Eve made us feel like kids again.

 As darkness fell, it was more and more cozy sitting by the fire and watching the snow fall - more heavily then. It covered the yard like 7 minute frosting on a cake - light and fluffy. It fell on the river and melted, joining its flow. Roy and I fell asleep in the living room alternately watching the snow and the fire. About 2 in the morning, the house shuddered ever so lightly like the beating of a heart. We both woke to a sight which was more than what we expected. There coming through the falling snow was a barge being nudged along by a pushboat all decked out for Christmas. There were lights around the edge of the pushboat, and a lighted Christmas tree on the back deck. The spotlight on the river meant to light the way, became a spotlight for the snow dancing through its boundaries. It was a Christmas present from the river which will forever warm my heart.




Thank you for sharing your memories.

*web posting will resume next week
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
 
 

 

 

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