Roger G Cam

Roger G Cam is my last name spelled backwards. I tell you this because it might give you a sense of who I am. Not that it matters. The story doesn't even really matter. I believe what matters is that this humble offering allows you and a loved one a reason to share some time together. I can't take credit for this story as you will see, it is just a different take on what we already knew. Nothing has changed, just a whimsical take on what the back history could be to those old standby nuggets we have known.

Now, as I listen to radio interviews with authors I realize the question that gets asked in one form or another is "What gave you the idea for your story?" The authors usually have problem with this, but my response is clear and easy.

I used to be a Leader in the Boy Scouts. It was the last meeting before Christmas and we had made cookies. The idea was for the boys to then decorate them and take them home. Simple.

During the clean up a small group came over to ask me "How many reindeer are there"?

Of course I knew, but the twinkle in their collective eyes made me wonder what they were up to.

"You mean in the song", I clarified"?

"Yes", was the answer emphasized by the nodding of heads".

"Nine" I said. I could tell that I had it wrong by their grins. They asked if I was sure, and to name them. So I did.

They hammed it up good. They shook their collective heads and informed me that I had missed one. I walked right into it and insisted that they name the tenth one.

God bless them, they even sang it "OLIVE! Olive the other reindeer..."

Quicker than it will take to type this I knew my Scouting career would be over if I didn't immediately top that. For once they havesomething over you, you will never win. So in my panic I said, well then you missed one... and I sang Glee! As they shouted out with Glee". They were not impressed, but I think it was my singing.

For a long time I wondered about Olive, and Glee and when I went to write about what I knew about Christmas, growing up in a logging camp in the 60's and 70's and about a life that would be considered unique by those who know not of such things. I couldn't do it.

Olive and Glee needed to be dealt with first. I had to write "History As I Know It" which I should have called "Glee"except it was more than her story, just to get it out of the way.

Once I accepted what I had to do, the other questions just kept popping up. Why was Samuel Clement Moore surprise at the eight reindeer, and was the point that they were tiny significant? Rudolph nose glow, why would it be needed with those Christmas light, or was I missing something? The bells on the harness, I never have heard them. What did they do with them, and why? What is Christmas without a tree? How did that come to be? Then there is "history".

"History" I blame on my sister who revealed that she always heard the songs ending as "you'll go down and "HIT A TREE".

This story is only way I know how to rectify all of my life's questions...about Christmas. I do not consider this the end though. No, I hope it is just the beginning and you, with your imagination will find more to add and make this a part of your family's Christmas tradition.