PAX Centurion - November / December 2014

Page 24 • PAX CENTURION • November/December 2014 617-989-BPPA (2772) BPPA Retired Patrolmen’s Division News Directors of the Retired Patrolmen’s Division of the BPPA: John Murphy David Mackin Joe Vannelli Joe O’Malley Billy Flippin The BPPA Retired Patrolmen’s Division and Santa Flippin Wishes a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All Active and Retired BPPA Patrolmen & BEMS and their families! BPPA RETIRED PATROLMEN’S DIVISION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Date:_ ____________________________________________ Name:____________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________ City, State, Zip:_ ___________________________________ Home Phone:_ ____________________________________ Cell Phone:_ ______________________________________ Date of Appointment:______________________________ Date of Retirement:________________________________ Email:_ ___________________________________________ Annual Dues are $24.00. The year runs from March to March. Please mail this application and $24.00 annual dues to the: BPPA Retired Patrolmen’s Division 9-11 Shetland Street, Boston, MA 02119 Yes, Virginia, there may be a Santa Claus! Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The PAX, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia Virginia, T here is no easy answer for this letter. Where are your friends from? The neighborhood, school?What is their ethnicity, their religion? Do they say Happy Holidays? Let’s tackle these issues 1 by 1 and see if we can’t answer your query – that means question – I forgot you’re only 8! If you’re fromMarshfield, you’ll be getting this on Holiday Break, despite hundreds of parents petitioning the school board to change it back to Christmas Vacation. This change was brought about because one selfish par- ent complained. If there is a Santa, someone’s getting a lump of coal. If you reside in a liberal school district, you could be on Pause for Winter Solstice. But let’s assume that you’re on Christmas Vacation – which is also the name of a very funny movie, too – the squirrel scene will make you laugh, even if you don’t get all the jokes. If your friends are from the neighborhood, finding out about Santa is easy. Check to see if they decorate their home. If there are lights outside, that’s a Updated for modern times by Jay M good sign. If they have a tree, even better – unless they call it a Holiday Tree. Run away as fast as you can, don’t even stop for gingerbread persons, or Fair Trade Cocoa. If they have a U-shaped candelabra with nine candles, it’s not for your next birthday. Those neighbors celebrate Hannukah. It’s kind of like Christmas, there are presents but no Santa. The tree should only be called a Christmas Tree. If they call it that, you’re almost there… How do your friends greet you? Do they say: Happy Holidays? If they do, be careful. It’s not a sure thing, but you’ll have to keep an eye on them for other signs. Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noel, Boas Festas, FroheWeihn- acten, Bon Pasco, even Shnorhavor Sourp Dzunount all point to Santa. Do your friends go to church on Sunday? They may be Christians, all of whom celebrate the birth of Jesus. As a matter of fact, that’s where the word “Christ- mas” comes from. It’s a shorter version of “Christ’s Mass.” So, let’s recap: Happy Holidays, Holiday break, Holiday tree = coal Christmas Vacation, Merry Christmas or any of its variants; Christmas Tree; Gingerbread Men; Festive Lights outside and/or inside = Church. You can rest assured, a fat guy in a red suit will be paying you a visit. Tell Uncle Joe – “Merry Christmas!” Listen kid, Santa IS real, and he only has one request – Be Nice. Don’t listen to the liberal teachers, know it all fourth graders, and miserable news paper men. If you still don’t believe me hop on your iPad and “Google” it.