The story of Rudolph ... Thx friends of Garret S and Gary as well.!

From:"Paul and Nan Stephenson" <paul.nan.stephenson@gmail.com> Date:Thu, Jan 1, 2015 at 11:04 AM Subject:Re: Rudolph >> >>>> 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 MontgomeryWards 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-NosedReindeer” 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 agrowing 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 DinahShore , 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. >>>>    MERRY CHRISTMAS >>>> >>>> Enjoy life...  it has an >>>> >>>> expiration >>>> >>>> date! >>> -- >>> James G. Moore, PE >>> PO Box 572 >>> Piketon, OH  45661 >>> Tel:  740-776-6500 >>> Mobile:  740-370-8203 >>> > > -- > James G. Moore, PE > PO Box 572 > Piketon, OH  45661 > Tel:  740-776-6500 > Mobile:  740-370-8203 >

Friends of different species ... Thx Nana and Marge R!

These photos are so wonderful and lovin'!       A black swan feeding fish at a public park.         After a devastating forest fire, fire rescue ran out of crates for the animals saved from the blazes.   This fawn and baby bobcat were placed together in the office. Hours later, firemen noticed They'd taken a liking to one another and cuddled for the duration they were kept together.         A duck and house cat raised together by a family. Supposedly the duck hates water and hasn't   Figured out yet that it can fly.         A wild life park in China adopted two tiger cubs, which were soon adopted by a worker's dog   That happened to be in the pen frequently.         The Fernandez family adopted a tiger cub after he lost his family. He's been raised with the family   Dog since youth and they are inseparable.         A five week old boar plays with Candy, the jack Russell terrier in Ehringhausen , Germany .         Humphrey was a house pet that became too large and was moved to the Rhino and Lion Nature   Reserve in South Africa , where he was safe but lonely. Cameroon Pygmy Mountain Goat climbed   Humphrey's enclosure fence and befriended him.         Sobe the iguana and Johann the cat were both rescued by a woman in Brooklyn , NY . Every day   When the iguana is let out of her cage, she seeks out Johann for play time, along with a rabbit also   Kept as a pet.         Everyone knows who Koko the gorilla that speaks sign language is. For her birthday one year,   She signed to her teacher that she wanted a kitten. Koko's teacher wasn't surprised, as Koko's two   Favorite books were about cats. They adopted one from an abandoned litter and Koko showed it   Tender care and gentleness.         A lioness abandoned by her pack decides to adopted a baby impala after killing its mother. Several   Times, she tried to leave the baby in the company of other impalas, but ended up having to take the   Baby back under her wing after the adult impalas were frightened away by her         A giraffe and ostrich form an odd friendship at Busch Garden 'S in Florida ..         A baby impala was left behind after the rest of its group ran away from the cheetahs. Instead of   Preying on the impala, they played gently with it a bit before simply getting bored and leaving it.         Owls that hatched at a hawk conservatory were adopted by the park keeper and became friends   With his pet dog.             After a family took in this stray cat, she grew fond of their elderly dog. Realizing the dog was blind,   The cat took on the responsibility of leading the dog to his water, food, shade, and toys. She would   Follow closely under his chin to guide him.         A stray cat wandered into this Asiatic bear's enclosure at the Berlin Zoo. It's been coming back   Frequently for 10 years to visit its friend.         This pair have been seen together for over a year in Lake Van , Turkey . They were first spotted by local   Fisherman who witnessed them sharing a fish and playing together.         At the TIGERS institute in South Carolina , a chimp raises tiger cubs after they were separated from   Their mother.         A photographer witnessed a wild polar bear coming upon tethered sled dogs in the wilderness of   Canada 's Hudson Bay . Instead of devouring the dogs, they played and cuddled. The polar bear returned   Every night that week.         Other examples of strange and improbable animal friendships:                                                         Hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I did as they are priceless.  I try to figure out why adults and countries cannot get along like animals!       Maybe we just have to re-learn our need to love one another no matter the species.

People (5) kanzurem