I just wanted to share with you my friends, a family tradition. Around each Holiday Season our thoughts go to John Denver, of course. We write POEMS for him, say PRAYERS for him, and make PROMISES to him. Instead of a Christmas tree, we put our John Denver autographed acoustic guitar on a stand and wrap it in lights. At the top of the neck of the guitar we don’t place an angel or a star, but a little white v-winged aircraft. We write letters to John as well. These letters read: Dear John (not Santa), we’ve been good all year long. We’ve recycled our trash, cleaned the local river and learned to scuba dive. Would you please bring us a new fiddle, some aviator sunglasses, a flannel shirt or two and oh yea, please feed the world’s poor, clean up the oceans and create world peace? We’ve been really good and listened to all of your albums. Love, Bo and family. We send the letters to Aspen, Co.. On Christmas eve, I dress like John Denver and surprise the children with songs and gentle stories. Instead of saying “ho ho ho” I proclaim “FAR OUT” again and again. The kids just love it. Some years we get a volunteer from the local raptor rehab center to bring birds to our house. Just picture an eagle and a hawk as they fly from room to room of our house. (we have learned to lock the cats away on those nights). They don’t get to really “soar”, but it’s pretty cool and nobody’s been hurt yet. As the evening winds down, we light 47 candles beneath a benevolent picture of John. After the children have gone to bed and made their silent last minute wishes to J.D., we leave a treat for John, near the holiday guitar. We leave on one plate a loaded peace pipe and some matches, on the other we leave cookies of course. He does get the munchies you know. Thank you for letting me share with you my finest holiday memories. Happy Holidays and FAR OUT FAR OUT FAR OUT.

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