Race you!
I’ll count , you go hide.
I know everyone is familiar with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But how many know the “Back Story”. I was sort of familiar. It was there in the back of my memory but until my sister sent me an email of the story I hadn’t thought how the true story is as much of a fairy tale as the familiar Christmas story. In case, like me, you had forgotten it or maybe you had never heard it, here it is. It brought tears to my eyes. I hope you enjoy it too.
The True Story of Rudolph
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.
His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob’s wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?” Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob.
Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in Sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember.
From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.
Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined to make one – a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.
Who was the Character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The Character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give It to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there.
The General manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to Print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major Publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.
In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned
all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and
marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family,
became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter.
But the story doesn’t end there either.
Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a
phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.”
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on
returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the Lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.
Snow, Snow, Snow! We’re heading into the home stretch for the shopping rush. Yup. Only one more weekend to get out and spend, spend , spend and that snow storm the Northeast just had surely put a damper on things.
Down in southeastern Mass. we missed the bullet. Temps climbed overnight and the snow turned to rain. By Sunday morning it was mostly slush but now it’s going to freeze… ice skates anyone?
As I was poking through my boxes of Christmas (yes I said the terrible word, not the PC Holiday) ornaments I thought it was a shame not to use some more. For years I just had my little table top tree (when the cats would allow it) but now I have all these other ornaments from the years we decorated at the office.
So I thought why not set up the side board. I packed up all my everyday things and spread the fake snow blanket. Oh I had everything from Santa on a boat to snowmen to Christmas Trees. No rhyme or reason to it, just using “stuff”. When it was done it wasn’t too bad. Maybe next year I’ll organize a village. But the best part… the cats were paying no attention! No helping paws!
For about a week the only thing I had to protect was the tree and we all know now how that went.
I’m not quite sure when the Kitty tornado blew through my tranquil holiday collage. I didn’t turn the lights on every night but I did look at it fairly regularly. But today I noticed it looked like a major storm blew in. Trees down, Santa knocked over, even the snowmen and Christmas mouse were flattened.
I just finished setting things back up and heard a “Bump”. I think I know the culprit now.
Rocky you’re off the hook on this one. Looks like Buddy gets to take the blame.
Happy Snowday everyone. 
(Yes for those of you in warm climates…New England is getting snowed on right now)
Wow, that was quite the honor yesterday, to be nominated for a blogger award. I truly appreciate it but the required post went way over my daily limit. 1500+ words instead of my usual limit of 400-500. I hope I haven’t used up all of my brain cells.
I’ve noticed my most popular posts are travel related or pet related, mostly the antics of my 3 cats, unfortunately I don’t think I’m original enough to post regularly with just those two subjects. It’s not that there isn’t enough material but rather my story telling has limitations. So I’ll just keep muddling along and hope you bear with me.
How’s the Christmas season turning out for all of you? I am so far behind I can’t even begin to describe it. I haven’t gotten my Christmas cards created much less addressed. I mean really, I sell cards. I can’t go to the store for them.
I have to use my own products. I have one more client photo session that has to be done fast so I can get their cards to them and then I can work on mine. Not sure I’ll make the deadlines but maybe they’ll be New Years cards instead. Whats’ the story about the shoemaker’s children..something about them being shoe-less?
How about resolutions? Anyone started thinking about making any yet? I have 2-3 in mind and that’s probably the most I can handle. Not going to share yet. It’s too soon
My 2014 Interval Catalog came yesterday. Yippee! That’s the book of time share exchanges outside the ones that are free exchanges. These have a fee to swap but usually lower points. Maybe I should write a post on how that works. In the meantime I’ll be able to dig in and see what places I can consider for my 2014 vacation. Williamsburgh VA has been high on the list of possibles but I noticed more places near Jackson Hole listed so maybe I can go back to my original plan and go to Wyoming.
Well Rocky just came over and sat on my keyboard. That’s a pretty good sign that I need to wrap this up before he deletes it.
Nothing beats the feeling you get when a peer offers you praise. The blogging community as a whole is a great community. There are bloggers that I count as friends even though I have never met them in person. They are the ones that show up everyday in my “Likes” on my blog, even when I know a post wasn’t up to standard.
Now one has included me as one of her nominees for a Blogger Award and I feel grateful and not sure if I’m really worthy. But I won’t let a little self doubt stop me. I have been very lucky in the world of blogging. I have been Freshly Pressed twice, and awarded Versatile Blogger once. Now I am honored to add The Liebster Award. Thank you to my Blogger Friend, Patty Ross of http://learnmoreeveryday.wordpress.com/
But to accept the nomination I have to answer a few questions for you so HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED TO ANSWER:
1. What’s in a name? Tell me about the name of your blog and what/who inspired it?
The name Dusty Roads came from the dirt roads that surrounded the ” homestead” where I grew up. Whenever the family piled into the car for a road trip a plume of dust would billow behind the car. I added the “around” to imply that I travel around. Sadly progress has reached my old family home and most of the roads are now paved so no more dust plumes.
2. How do you quickly describe your blog to others? You know, the elevator talk for your blog.
Hi, I’m just an everyday person, northing special and I write a blog about my experiences. It’s not heavy reading so if you have time, I hope you’ll check it out.
3. Do you have any tricks or tips that help keep you writing every day/week/whenever? If so, please share some advice.
I worked up to posting daily (or trying to anyway) slowly. I started out trying to post weekly, then built up to 3 times a week, then 5 times and now I try for daily. When I’m planning a trip or just returned I have lots to post and can usually get 30 or more posts out of a trip by keeping the posts short. Little bite sized pieces. Between trips it gets a little harder. I look for inspiration from the news, especially animal news, mini adventures, and the antics of my cats who are forever entertaining.
When I am really at a loss for words I fall back on photos…Wordless Wednesday and Mystery Monday are two themes I sometimes employ.
4. When not blogging, what do you do?
I keep busy, that’s for sure. I search for attractions in my area that I can experience and write about. I love photography and try to get out for photo shoots a couple of times a week (goal for 2014 is a daily “mini-shoot”). I love reading novels and magazines and I have a few blogs I try to keep up with… oh and did I mention that I work full time for a real estate company?
5. One way I try to find balance in my life is to keep a gratitude journal. It keeps me focused on the good around me. How do you maintain balance/sanity in life? Share some advice for the rest of us!
I confess that since my job change in May, I haven’t had a good balance. I’m still adjusting to a 5 day work week instead of 4 days. It’s still 40 hours but somehow it just seems longer when spread out over 5 days. Time in the field with my camera always relaxes and settles me which is why I have a goal for daily mini-shoots starting in 2014. I also keep a journal where I jot down ideas and thoughts good and bad. Once I put something in that journal I can move on. It gives me a clean slate.
6. What is your favorite or least favorite book, and why?
My favorite book to this day is a child’s book. Although I always liked to read, a book called The Snow Filly, was the book that changed books from something to do to something to experience. I can close my eyes now and see the illustrations and remember the way that book made me feel. I love fiction and now for me to like a book, it has to let me step into it, not just read as an observer. I forget the name of my least favorite book but I can tell you it was about ghosts and legends in Massachusetts. The writing was poor and disjointed and the stories poorly researched. It was work to get through it.
7. What is your favorite or least favorite movie or television show, and why?
I seldom go to the movies. I think the last one I saw in a theater was one of the Star Wars movies. It would be easier for me to give you genres rather than specific movies. I do not like war or horror movies or shows. I love children’s movies, like Disney or Pixar. I also like animal shows. I watch PBS and Animal Planet, Discovery and the Learning Channel. I am sick of reality TV like “Keeping up with the Kardasians” or “Here comes Honey Boo Boo” although I like “Alaska State Troopers” and “Wild Justice” oh and “Swamp Wars” about South Florida.
8. What was your favorite or least favorite birthday present, and why?
Another hard question as I don’t get many birthday presents but I can tell you that one of my most moving birthdays was my 60th. My co-workers celebrated with me for a month! They really embraced that milestone and made me feel very special.
9. What is your favorite or least favorite food, and why?
My food choices change. I love lobster tails…not Maine Lobsters but the tails like you get in Florida. I also love scallops and shrimp. My least favorite would be a toss up between liver and raw oysters.
10. What is your favorite or least favorite animal, and why?
How can an animal lover chose just one? The least favorite is without a doubt, a spider. I have heard that tarantulas make great pets but they are my worse nightmare. As for favorites, I’m kind of known as a cat lady and I do love my kitties, but I also like dogs, big ones, little ones and hamsters and ferrets are cute and funny. I love horses but can’t really have one in a 1 bedroom apartment. I thought about a bird too. I had a parakeet when I was growing up. I’ve had fish tanks and turtles so picking just one is hard.
11. What is your favorite or least favorite anything, and why? You know, keep this mini-series going.
My favorite thing is photography. I love taking photos and trying to improve my skills. I even enjoy the editing process, a big part of digital photography.
My least favorite thing has to be housework. It interferes with everything else I’m trying to get done. If I ever win the lottery the first thing I’ll do is hire a housekeeper! the 2nd thing is to move to a bigger house. I need a separate room for an office instead of the corner of my living room!
HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS MY NOMINEES ARE BEING ASKED TO ANSWER:
AND MY NOMINEES ARE: (envelope please) In no special order
There are others that I drop in on from time to time but am not currently following. Several that I did follow seem to be gone now 
At least the links aren’t opening. So I’m afraid I don’t have 11 nominees.
PLEASE, VISIT THESE BLOGS TO EXPAND YOUR BLOGGING COMMUNITY.
WE ARE PART OF GREAT COMMUNITY! WE ARE SO LUCKY!
Special thanks again to Pattie Ross of http://learnmoreeveryday.wordpress.com/