"Happy Holidays" has been a seasonal greeting since way before I was born.  My parents had a recording of Bing Crosby singing "Happy holidays.....happy holidays...." This was an acceptable greeting long before anything was politically correct, and in fact, lots of stuff was politically incorrect.  There is no reason why "Happy Holidays" should be offensive.

Yet, some Christians are offended by it.  According to them, the proper term should be "Merry Christmas," since that is the "main" holiday we are celebrating (at least in their eyes.)

Actually I find it interesting that many Christians are upset about the idea of Christ being removed from Christmas...when Christmas was never a holiday He asked us to celebrate for Him, anyway.

Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to celebrate Christmas, or the birth of Christ.  In fact, many Christians don't even celebrate it.  Why? 

Because, in their eyes, Christmas is nothing but a string of pagan-rooted traditions that have been Christianized...never mind the greed and materialism bred by this holiday.  The Puritans refused to acknowlege Christmas; to this day there are different sects (including 7th Day Adventists and various fundamentalist believers) who do not observe Christmas.

I am not one of them.  I like my Christmas tree, and I don't worship it, and I could do without it (it's rather a pain to put up, decorate, and take down...).  I enjoy giving gifts to family and friends. 

I like the lights, I like the decorations.  I even like Santa Claus.  We never taught our kids to believe in Santa-from-the-North-Pole-who-delivers-presents-to-good-kids (but we also taught them not to rain on someone else's Santa parade...)  I always felt sorry for the poor children who were very good but never got much from Santa. (Thankfully, we have the Marines filling in for Santa, but still....)

Anyway, I like "Happy Holidays" because it IS inclusive.  I do not know many people who celebrate Hanukkah, but I'd like to wish them a happy holiday anyway.  I don't know of anyone who celebrates Kwaanza, and I really don't know much about the celebration, but I'd like those who celebrate it to be included in my greeting.

And I'd like to think that when others say "Happy Holidays" that they are including Christmas in that greeting as well.

That's enough for my soapbox for today.  Enjoy the show I put together.  I call it "Happy Hawley-Days!"

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Do you have a home in Pike or Wayne County PA to sell? Email me and learn about my innovative marketing plan which will be personalized specifically for your home. Are you interested in Pike or Wayne County PA homes for sale? Visit my real estate website to see all the property for sale in Hawley, Honesdale, Greentown, Lackawaxen, Hamlin, Lake Ariel, and the entire Lake Wallenpaupack region of Northeast PA's Pocono Mountains. Registration is NOT required to search the Pike/Wayne MLS. You may create an account to save your searches and keep track of your favorite listings.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Poconos. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

I'm Sorry, I Thought Your Home Was FOR SALE © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - as "How Not to Sell Your Home"

I just finished creating this real estate show for this Saturday's "Fall Festival" of Open Houses at Wallenpaupack Lake Estates.

Stop by and see us (12-4pm) - we've got some new listings since our July Open House Extravaganza. I'll be the host at 5 Beaver Lake Drive - a brand new, lakeview chalet!

Here's a map in case you don't know how to get to WLE - someone will meet you at the West Gate (corner of Lakeland Dr. and Goose Pond Road) to give you directions and a map. Hope to see you there!

Here's another Karen's Friday Five line up - this time we're focusing on things for families to do within 20 minutes or less of Lake Wallenpaupack.

1. Claws-n-Paws Wild Animal Park. This "Zoo in the Woods" has a petting zoo plus all sorts of animals to look at. Tigers, panthers, parrots, oh my! Not far from Lake Wallenpaupack, just off Ledgedale Road. I remember the kids and I were totally amazed at how LOUD the lion roars!

2. Costa's Family Fun Park. This place has everything from batting cages to water slides to go-karts. Even ice cream and snacks! Located on Route 6 - just before Lake Wallenpaupack office.

3. Triple W Horseback Riding - for the equestrians visiting the area, Triple W has pony rides for young children and various levels of trails for riders with varying levels of horseback riding experience. They even have some camping trips, cowboys for hire, and more! Only a few minutes from Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack.

4. Stourbridge Lion Rail Excursions/ Train Rides - young and old alike love trains. Honesdale in Wayne County is the "Birthplace of the American Railroad" and here's your chance to "hop aboard" and ride the rails! Click here for schedules, fees, and special excursions.

5. Fun-n-Games Family Fun Center. Sometimes, you've had enough of the great outdoors and need someplace cool to hang and just chill for a while. Fun-n-Games has provided an indoor fun place here in Wayne County for many years. Web City is a humongous indoor playground. In addition to Web City, there are: miniature golf, bumper cars, simulated rock climbing, and all sorts of arcade games (many of which dispense tickets that can be exchanged for prizes). Plus, there is complimentary coffee for the parents! Located near Honesdale's Cinema 6 and across the hall from Pizza Hut, it makes for a perfect "rainy day" activity - or any day activity! Great place for birthday parties, too!
No website, but here's their phone number. (800) 253-9111

Lake Wallenpaupack is a great place to bring the whole family; there is so much to do in Northeast PA - not just in Pike and Wayne County, but in the entire Poconos region.

©2008 by real estate agent Karen E. Rice. 5 Fun Things for Kids at Wallenpaupack. All rights reserved. This article was originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com.

Since my previous "personal" blog was a bit on the melancholy side, I thought I'd post something more inspirational. Does it have anything to do with Pike or Wayne County real estate? Not really - but this does have a bit of a snapshot of Wayne County living. *smile*

I posted this on my strictly personal blog, but thought my ActiveRain friends may like it too. This is part one - the message I wanted to convey was too long for one post, so part two will come tomorrow.

TIGGERING MY WAY THROUGH LIFE, PART 1

The other night The Man About the Place and I took the kids out for dinner. It was a spontaneous decision, and we headed to Newfoundland, planning on some pasta or something from Napolitano's.

Dang, it was closed. The Man and I did not want to go to Scranton, nor did we want fast food. We settled on Kay's (after convincing The Boy that it was NOT KFC) in Lake Ariel. Had a nice time, nice atmosphere, nothing fancy schmancy, just very nice. Good food.

My husband probably wishes that he drove home.

Upon leaving Kay's parking lot, instead of turning left to go home, I made a right and said "Let's see what's up this road!" As a real estate agent, this is what I do - drive around to see what's around the bend. The Man, a woodworker, was pleasantly surprised to discover an establishment that offers kiln dried wood. Interesting.

See, if we would have just gone straight home, he'd have never known it was there.

We follow this road to its conclusion, then go down by Lake Ariel and admire the stately old mansions on the lake... and end up on Golf Park Road. We turn right. Well, now the fun begins.

I'm silly from eating too much pasta I guess, because we come across a herd of cows. I did the natural thing; I rolled down the window and "MOOOOOOed" at them. The kids giggled.

The Man remained poker faced but I think I made him smirk, anyway. Then we all got to laughing at how funny the cows looked, just staring at us. We came up with things the cows might be saying or thinking.

A bit further down the road, we saw some deer. We pulled over and talked to them too. Silly...I suppose. I see deer all the time, usually with gritted teeth hoping they weren't about to jump in front of my Honda.

Tonight though, we stopped and talked to them. Well, I talked, the kids laughed, and The Man probably wondered if we were going to get home before midnight.

Tigger would have been proud of me, I think.

Stay tuned for Part Two - Living the Last Lecture.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Wayne & Pike County and the Lake Wallenpaupack region is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.