It's a Wonderful Life: The Real Bedford Falls

Ted Koppel takes us to the town that may have inspired the setting of that wonderful movie.

I think it not so much as a Christmas movie as an inspirational one. Your Head Trucker saw this movie in the student union theater during my first term at a big university, nearly half a century ago. Mine was not the typical college experience:  I was broke, friendless, and terribly homesick for a place I could never return to. But the quiet inspiration of Frank Capra's magnum opus gave me comfort and lit the way ahead; it was the grace of God that I needed in that lonely time. I am still grateful for that.

When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on tight.  When you come to the tunnel of despair, go through it - and at the other end, you will find Hope.  Keep on; do what you can.  

Your life matters more than you know.

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Sunday Drive: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Emmanuel means "God is with us."

The ancient hymn as performed by Enya in English and Latin, with stunning choral effects:

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Fourth Sunday of Advent

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Waitin' for the Weekend

"Just Got Eyes for You" by Clint Collide:

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Dick Van Dyke at 100

A bit of happy news: the indefatigable Dick Van Dyke turned 100 on Saturday, still full of life and good cheer. Bless him.

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Sunday Drive: The Magnificat

Also known as The Song of Mary, as performed in Latin by Il Volo in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, last September:

English version from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer (1979):

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

My spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

And has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

For he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers,

To Abraham and his children for ever.

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the 

Third Sunday of Advent

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Waitin' for the Weekend

"Love + Support" by Clint Collide:

You can save time by pausing the video and right-arrowing through the pics.

N. B. -- Strange to say, the two guys by the water keg in the thumbnail photo look just like my junior-high phys ed teachers.  But they were not friendly, and did no education.  They just handed out balls at the beginning of the period and told us to go play, while they sat in their air-conditioned office.  In my day, P.E. teaching was just a stepping stone on the way to becoming principals.  They took no notice of whether anyone did well or not.  

Your Head Trucker was one of the guys who was always last to be chosen for teams, and was routinely mocked and scorned by the other guys.  I hated it.

I'm sure many of my truckbuddies can relate.

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Growing Old as Gay Men

Is it okay to be gay and over 30?  A 2008 documentary explores gay attitudes to aging, featuring several notable gay writers and activists.  I may add my own thoughts later.

Warning:  contains some NSFW language.

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Old Gays Look Back

Apparently, the Old Gays were pretty famous on social media a few years back, but your Head Trucker was out of the loop - typical - and just came across some of their vids last week.  The first one below was made in January 2019 and has had over 9 million (!) views on YouTube.  Here are a few of their videos; I can relate to much of what they say.

Bonus:  The group appeared on the Today program in November 2023, plugging their new book:

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Sunday Drive: In the Bleak Midwinter

James Taylor sings the poignant Christmas carol writen by Christina Rossetti:

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Second Sunday of Advent

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Waitin' for the Weekend

"Timeless Whispers" by Clint Collide:

In a hurry? Just pause the video and right-arrow through the pics.

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Sunday Drive: Once in Royal David's City

The famuliar carol, as performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge:

The Lessons Appinted for Use on the 

First Sunday of Advent

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