The True Story of Rudolph

Hello,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone! :) Happy Holidays,have a fun
but safe one. Best wishes for the new Year for you all. I think that 2010
will be a great one for us all. I certainly hope so. I am glad this one
will be over soon,has been an extremely challenging one,one thing after
another: first,lost one of my front crowns,had two oral surgeries before
that was all done. While that was going on, was ill with sinus infections
and pneumonia.
In the fall,we changed platforms at work and I had access issues. I am
still on a learning curve with the office application.
and,if that isn't enough, just yesterday made the final decision to retire
my 10 year old Golden Retriever Guide dog Douglas . I love Dougie very much
and looking for a home for him. I want the perfect place for him. He
deserves the best.:)
Tomorrow,I am having another test,a bronchoscopy. I have had two visits at
the Mayo Clinic and the results are inconclusive.
So,having this surgery tomorrow morning. The test itself will not take
long,about 30 minutes but does involve,IV,local anesthesia and a few hours
of being in recovery at Mayo Clinic Phoenix Hospital.
Within a couple days we should have results and finally, I should,hope I can
get my health on track.
Well,need to do some housework,drink a ton more water for the IV and get to
bed,will be up at 6 to go to the Hospital.
Hope you enjoy the messages I am posting here,the Mountain Wings,the Nethug
messages,Heartwarmers,petwarmers and this special one about Rudolph.
I love this,a wonderful,special story. It was sent to me by Darrell. he
received it from a mailing list he is on .
Take care and stay well. I hope while I am off the next few days that I
will be able to compose a KDd. I wonder if it would be easier to write,while
still in a bit of a brain fog after Tomorrow's procedure? :) lol
Again, I am sure the above MountainWings as well as this post will make
you think,smile and laugh. Until then
**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.

Bobs 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 he 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 a make one - a storybook! Bob had created a
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 solong 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.

*MERRY CHRISTMAS 2009 *