The woods were filled with many sounds that day: birds singing, leaves rustling, squirrels moving around.

I was painting a picture beside a stream in the late morning. The stream flowed around many large boulders. This view of rocks and water is what attracted me to this place.

Suddenly, everything was quiet. I mean absolutely quiet. Even the water became quiet.

Everything became unexpectedly still. A great hush came over this place. You could hear a pin drop. And so it continued for about 2 minutes. It reminded me of how it is right before a storm.

Inspired by visiting Tickled Pink in Seymour CT (www.tickledpinkshoppe.com) .

In the local valley, with a backdrop of towering mountains and clear lakes, there is a small boutique nestled among rows of antique dealers. To me, this is more than a store. When one steps inside it, it is like being transported to a place of wonder and beauty.

Tickled Pink offers a magical, ambient setting that truly makes one forget daily concerns. It is like its own world, an enchanting, compelling, truly breathtaking realm.

Introduction

This song too was written during the first gas crisis during the 1970’s Carter administration. I had fun putting these new gas shortage lyrics to these beloved Christmas standards, And as I say them you will be able to figure out by the nature of the song which Christmas song I carol out.

   The actual song itself is available only in spoken form, as requested by Philip.

Introduction

My wife really loves Christmas. The spirit of it, and everything about it. So, I wrote her this song.

   The actual song itself is available only in spoken form, as requested by Philip.

Response from John

The last GEM you just listened to was titled A Carousel Christmas Ride by Phil the Wordsmith.

I wish you were in the studio with us. He nearly broke a tear 2 or 3 times in the performance of that poem. And these are really not poems -their songs.

I am drawn to where the past lingers on, like Sturbridge Village Museum in Massachusetts, where people dress up in yesteryear clothes and character. It is truly amazing how these people fit their parts so well, as if being transported back 300 years.

Seeing the farmer in a long coat shepherding a flock of sheep thru the village green.

Seeing the potter casually spinning a clay pot.

Seeing the tinker making a lantern of tin or a candleholder of pewter.

Seeing how they cook in a hearth with an open fragrant log fire.

One day I was working on my mother’s finances with a calculator, with lots of detailed questions. I was thinking, “Why me? Why do I have to do this?” I took a deep breath, sighed, and just happened to look at the calculator.

There were the numbers 4444. I know I didn’t put that there. Any calculation like that, I would have remembered.

So, I googled what 4444 meant. It means, “The angels are with you.” Hmmm. Really interesting.

So, I started learning a little more about numerology, because it was being waved blatantly right in front of me.