Goodbye Old Blue

Posted on December 27, 2019 by vanbraman

Today I said goodbye to Old Blue.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayFor the past couple of weeks Old Blue has been parked at the curb waiting to be picked up.

I plan on writing a post about who I donated Old Blue to, and the story behind the decision.

However, today I am just going to say goodbye to Old Blue.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayI have driven Old Blue for 12 years and for a lot of miles. The final mileage for Old Blue was 184,647. I was thinking of holding out for 200,000 miles, but decided it was time for a new car. See: Introducing Bluey

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayThis morning the tow truck came to pick up Old Blue. I was surprised when I walked out as the tow truck looked full. Where would Old Blue go?

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayOld Blue was hooked up behind the tow truck. It was interesting to watch the tow truck driver and see how it was hooked up.

It was a bit sad to sign the paperwork for the donation and see Old Blue get hooked up. Old Blue has been with me for a very long time and I have a lot of memories of the places we went.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayThe tow truck driver took one last picture of Old Blue and I together. He told me that this is very common especially with people who have had a car for a long time. One person had a car for 32 years before donating it.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayFinally Old Blue was hooked up and the truck pulled away.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayThe tow truck swung to the left to make the turn at the first corner and soon Old Blue would be out of site.

Old Blue, Cars, Pontiac, Donation, Old Car, Towed awayHere is my last view of Old Blue as the tow truck rounded the corner. 😦

Now all I have are the memories of Old Blue, but hopefully someone else will also get their chance for some memories.

Goodbye Old Blue…..

Steven

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Not a Christmas Carol?

Posted on December 26, 2019 by vanbraman

Many of you may remember singing the carol Good King Wenceslas when you were in school along with other carols. But, is Good King Wenceslas a Christmas carol?Good King Wenceslas - Traditional English Carol - St. Stephen's Day - Feast of Stephen - ChristmasGood King Wenceslas was written in 1853 by John Mason Neal who was an Anglican priest and hymn writer.

The carol was originally published in Carols for Christmas-Tide.

Good King Wenceslas - Traditional English Carol - St. Stephen's Day - Feast of Stephen - Christmas

Good King Wenceslas is not a Christmas carol, but is a carol that was written for St. Stephen’s Day.

St. Stephen’s Day is an official public holiday in many countries and honors Stephen the first martyr. You can read more about it a post that I wrote about St. Stephen’s Day and Boxing Day.

Red and White Flowers - Feast of St. Stephen - Good King WenceslasNow back to the carol

Good King Wenceslas looked out

on the feast of Stephen

when the snow lay round about,

deep and crisp and even;

Brightly shone the moon that night,

tho’ the frost was cruel,

when a poor man came in sight

gath’ring winter fuel.

Who was Good King Wenceslaus? During his life Wenceslaus was not a King, but was just a Duke. He was posthumously given the title of King by the Emperor Otto I. He lived from about 907 to 935 in Bohemia.

feast of st. stephen, wenceslas, carol, song

Wenceslaus was the Duke of Bohemia and was known for his good Christian deeds. He was known for going around barefoot giving alms, even in the snow in winter time.  This came at a time when Christianity was still contending with paganism as the official religion in Bohemia.

good King wenceslas, bohemia, St. Stephen's Day Carol

Wenceslaus was murdered by friends of his brother who was know as Boleslaus the Cruel. His brother then became Duke of Bohemia. There is some question as to whether he was murdered for his Christian beliefs, but he is considered a martyr and a Saint by the Catholic Church.

His brother did support Christianity in Bohemia. One of his sons was educated as a clergyman, one daughter became a nun and another married Mieszko I Prince of Poland.

Mieszko I was baptized bringing Christianity to Poland as the official religion.

The history of Bohemia is an interesting study. Boleslaus the Cruel is an ancestor of many of the European Royal families.

There is much more intrigue in the story of Wenceslaus and Boleslaus, but for now I will leave you with just the few facts above.

Now I know a bit more about the background of Good King Wenceslas and will have a better appreciation for the carol when I hear it sung.

Steven

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