M*A*S*H MOMENTS 2009

Another radioMASH for the archives and history books. Our biggest yet and therefore, our most successful attempt. Over 5,000 Brazos Valley families (not INDIVIDUALS) were serviced in a year that we had every reason to suspect a shortfall. There are, as always, no adequate words to relay our gratitudes. Here are some brief recollections I collected:
For me, the highlight of every year is seeing some of the same staff and personnel that operate this function every year. Not the radio station peoples - they come and go - but rather The Intangibles, Civic, Service and Business organizations (Sam's Club), and just regular folks. It's always good to meet alums who were once on our list and now make contributions to The Toy Drive.Specifically this year I liked talking with the teacher from Bryan High. His students did a "5 for $500" collection, begging, borrowing, just-short-of-stealing change from fellow students through five days worth of lunch periods with a goal of Five Hundred Dollars. Plus they volunteered at the Toy Tent over the weekend. And it was all THEIR idea.
Also this year it was fun for me to be Santa Gene (at least for the kids who weren't scared). Elizabeth Martinez' daughter kept hugging me every time I got in her vicinity. I spent a lot of in-between-break and after-shift time standing on the Mall Hill (The Grassy Knoll as it's known to Conspiracists) waving to and at traffic. Observation: BCS needs to PUT DOWN THE CELL PHONE AND DRIVE.

Saturday, the most climate-friendly of our days, was the best time to be Santa Gene (aka, Tex Kringle), except for the early day cold temperatures when I was buzzing around the heater like a moth to a flame. I was talking with Toy Queen Liz in the KORA tent when she said "Somethings burning". A statement, not a question. It was me. Or my boot, anyhow. My borrowed boot was smoldering and flaming. After quickly extinguishing the Yule Tide Blaze, I began formulating some good story to tell Julie from The Chamber who graciously provided me with the Claus Accouterments. Maybe I'll be buying her a new outfit. Will those be on sale AFTER Christmas?

One last thing: Snow. We've had monsoon rains, wind and ice storms, but I don't think we've ever had SNOW. An estimated 38 flakes fell on the compound Friday and two of the flakes were JUST ALIKE. It could only happen during MASH.

Holidazed and Confused

Happy December. Right smack in the middle of the official "Holiday Season". Thanksgiving just passed where I did multiple friend/relative visits. I spent time at four feasts and coulda made it to five if my pudding would have hurried up. I have one signature dessert dish that I generally tote to the Holiday gatherings: Sugar Free Banana Pudding. I use the old-fashioned cook and serve pudding (instead of instant), so it takes longer to make, stirring constantly for about an hour. Anyhow, I found these little pastry shells (that were DEFINITELY NOT sugar or carb-free) and filled them with banana, vanilla pudding and low-fat cream cheese. This will surely be on future menus, but it threw off my schedule to go to North Zulch where my friend TOW invites me to dinner every year. One year I shocked her and actually showed up. That was the year she didn't invite me. I was planning to put in a live appearance this year, but for the cook and serve pudding and the fact she lives just outside of Egypt in relation to my other stops. So I hadda make do with a phone call.
Stopped in at The Garrett Ranch for a pre-meal, pre-game pep talk; then to my stepdaughter's house (where we have been main-mealing for several years and she had prepared...sugar free banana pudding! Just for me!), then to Grandbaby Mama's house to visit and pick up RG3, my grandson, and make a final stop at my son's place. The noted chef RG2 wanted to prepare the meal. We had more food than table space and more butts than places to park them. Our radio show friend, David Decker - the Fiddlin' Financier - provided us with pheasant (mind the buck shot). I like when all three Gene Generations get together. And a great time was had by all.

Although next year, I think I'll choose one location to stay throughout the whole day.

Remind me to tell you about the return of the Roy Gene Christmas Light Show, half completed this weekend as well, after a three year lay off.

Up next: Radio M*A*S*H #26 begins Thursday at Post Oak Mall. See ya then and there.