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Hi Jim,

That was on the news over here when it first started happening, the first person paid off $500 worth of layaway for other people, then someone else paid off $2,000...I don't know if more happened since then, it was days ago. That Plainfield Kmart is a few miles up the road from me, I worked there when i first moved here in 1985! The mall around it closed several years ago and Kmart was the anchor store that stood the test of time.

More people are using layaway again, it was out of style for a long time since so many people were using credit cards, but then a lot of people went into deep financial problems and lost credit ability.

More recent Michigan shopping news: The Grand Rapids owner of a large midwestern chain store called Meijer for around 50 years, that's one of our big ones, just died at age 91 on Black Friday. Fred Meijer was beloved, I think the city had some reaction to his passing, especially that it happened on the biggest shopping day, and also reacting to dismal economy here for a long time and it's trying to bounce back a little. We've been lucky to only have one inch of snow so far, so it's been good shopping weather. (The Walmart superstores copied from Meijer, which has been selling groceries AND everything else for decades, Meijer has been a full grocery store with deli & bakery and a full department store for a long time, we love it, also in several other great-lakes area states.)

Hi Jim,

9 minutes? I'll watch that soon!

Other great stuff has been happening in Michigan, more news about people who've suddenly decided to repay their shoplifting from decades ago. Someone who actually got away with walking out of a store with a $100 glass fireplace screen a long time ago, recently sent $200 to the store! There was another story, I forget what was stolen, but that person also made repayment of theft from a long time ago. Cool! They repaid by mail with a note, LOL...not in person.

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Hey Kathleen, Why is red the Color of Christmas,

Great to hear about stories like that and even better if you can be the "Secret Santa" don't tell if you were. RAKs are awesome.


I guess Wally World Super Center idea had to come from somewhere. I spent time in Ohio, in Lima, and Celina in the early 80's so I am familiar with those Meijer stores. Sorry to hear the founder has passed. Now the answer to my unrelated question http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=toE3Vo6BBwk

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Hi Jim,

That was on the news over here when it first started happening, the first person paid off $500 worth of layaway for other people, then someone else paid off $2,000...I don't know if more happened since then, it was days ago. That Plainfield Kmart is a few miles up the road from me, I worked there when i first moved here in 1985! The mall around it closed several years ago and Kmart was the anchor store that stood the test of time.

More people are using layaway again, it was out of style for a long time since so many people were using credit cards, but then a lot of people went into deep financial problems and lost credit ability.

More recent Michigan shopping news: The Grand Rapids owner of a large midwestern chain store called Meijer for around 50 years, that's one of our big ones, just died at age 91 on Black Friday. Fred Meijer was beloved, I think the city had some reaction to his passing, especially that it happened on the biggest shopping day, and also reacting to dismal economy here for a long time and it's trying to bounce back a little. We've been lucky to only have one inch of snow so far, so it's been good shopping weather. (The Walmart superstores copied from Meijer, which has been selling groceries AND everything else for decades, Meijer has been a full grocery store with deli & bakery and a full department store for a long time, we love it, also in several other great-lakes area states.)

That was a great video, Jim

I didn't know some of that info.

Maybe we should use all-red Christmas lights for decorations. (More Michigan recent happenings, in the rural town of Hudsonville yesterday or maybe it was Thursday, lots of residents received notes in their mailboxes from an anonymous person that decorating with lights is a pagan UnChristian ritual...well, after a day of thinking about it, those residents decided to just ignore the notes and have a great holiday week with their Christmas lights as usual!)

I often wonder about Jesus's decision, if I'd give up my life to save everyone in the world, when sometimes we feel that a lot of them are an eyerolling situation. I've realized that taking the small things into account really helps a lot.

Small stuff that's very important: When a relative or friend or neighbor just asks, out of the blue, if you're okay. That's nice. Jim, are you okay? :)

Recently I was in a small Mom & Pop store, buying a few things and they didn't have any tape, I asked where it was, they didn't have any on the shelves but the owner found a half-roll of tape she'd been using behind the counter and just gave it to me, that was nice.

...and the owner of the new BBQ delivery place actually makes the deliveries himself so he can meet all his customers, that's nice, and he also took an entire day yesterday to deliver coupons to all customers he's had so far in his first 2 months since opening, even to those who didn't order anything yesterday, that was great, it was a very cold windy day and he had a list (and checked it twice?! LOL) and drove his BBQ "sleigh" all over this side of town to make sure we can all save on our next order and to meet all his customers again. Actually he gave out entire coupon books that are good for lots of places, with the page opened to the 4 coupons for his place. Wow! I said I already had one somewhere in the house but he gave me the booklet anyway. Then I told him I have his entire menu and I'll make copies of it and give it to other people. Did I ever say I love Grand Rapids? This is a small-town feeling within a city.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah's and Good Tidings. Remember the reason for the season is to celebrate New Birth. Which means Good Tidings for a New Year.

Credit: Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622