We always hear about the big cuddly Santa Claus but usually, when men are that successful, we really need to look at the woman behind them. So, let’s take a look at Mrs. Claus.  Did she exist?  Who was she?  And what do we know about her?  Well, apparently, it was a James Rees who founded her in 1849 in a book he wrote entitled ‘Mysteries of City Life.’  In the book, Rees looked the Christmas legend and through this developed the persona of Mrs. Claus, who he called Gertrude.  Since then however, she has been lovingly known as Jessica.

So it seems, Jessica, Gertrude, aka Mrs. Claus is worthy of a mention.  Over the years the woman behind the man has made a variety of literary appearances including in the very well-documented and famous Yale Literary Magazine.  As well, if you look through the archives you can find her Good Housekeeping as well as Harper’s Magazine.

We say keep it coming.  It’s all very well Santa goes down many chimneys to deliver presents to lots f little kids but it’s Mrs. Claus who has to make the dinner at home and wait for her hubby to return – hopefully in one piece – to join her for their best holiday of the year!

It truly is wonderful that so many individuals and companies try to get into the holiday spirit and, in the upcoming weeks and days to Christmas, really give back to those in need.  For example, the Great Clips hair salon chain – around Northwest Indiana and Chicago – is going to be making a real difference for the charity of Ronald McDonald House in the region.

The chain is asking its customers to purchase basic household items from the charity’s online gift registry (RMHC-CNI, which will be adding to Edward Hospital’s new Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital as well as the Ronald McDonald House located near Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago. As well, people can donate soda pop tabs to the recycling program.

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Sudz – the Great Clips mascot – will be going with Ronald McDonald to the Palaos Park Salon a couple of days before Christmas.  Further, the salon will be offering free haircuts to those with a valid coupon, Christmas Eve.

So it really is a special time for everyone. So many kids are left without toys on Christmas – the season of gift-giving – as their parents cannot afford them; this is a great way of giving to those in need so that they do not feel deprived during this time.  Good job McDonalds and Great Clips!

Santa Claus has been very kind.  He went to Kmart last week and paid off a bunch of bills for them.  This story was featured in the “Making a Difference” segment of “Nightly News with Brian Williams.”  There were other news stories on this segment of random acts of kindness.  The Secret Santa in Plainfield Township paid off Mary Chapin’s layaway last week and she was sincerely grateful, attributing it to the best gift she ever received, as it really was the “gift of believing in people,” showing her that there really is good in people, which one does not always see.

And as they say, one good deed often results in another.  After the initial donation of $500 was given, a couple of days later another special giver donated $2,000 anonymously, which settled an additional 13 layaway bills. The following day a further $1,000 was given for the same cause and within no time at all this trend spread across the country.  Indeed, in California thereafter, Kmart received $5,000 to pay off layaway tabs and then the same thing happened in Montana at the value of $1,000.

It really is the season for goodwill and charity.  Once one person shows generosity, it becomes a bug and lots of people want to do the same.  Giving makes people happy and receiving – when one is really in need – is the best present one can get over the holiday season.

When Chaim Weizmann took office as the First President of the new State of Israel, he had many people to thank. First securing a future for Israel on November 29th, 1947 with the Partition of Palestine, Israel then became a recognized state on May 14, 1948.

Prior to serving such an esteemed role in the development of the Jewish State, Weizmann was a spokesman of the Zionist cause in England, where he helped to get the Balfour Declaration passed in November of 1917. This declaration then set the stage for the Mandate over Palestine which was given to England by the League of Nations in 1922.

As a leader of the World Zionist Movement, and then as Israel’s first president, Weizmann worked tirelessly for the Zionist cause.

He met with President Harry Truman in March of 1948, urging the American President to understand how important the establishment of the Jewish State was. This meeting, and his tireless campaigning undoubtedly helped America to vote for the creation of the Jewish State.

Weizmann was elected as the first President of the State of Israel in February of 1949 and was sworn in on February 16th in Jerusalem. Only four days later, on February 20th, he wrote a letter to President Harry Truman’s aid, Clark Clifford. In the letter, which the Shapell Manuscript Foundation is featuring as part of its “Between the Lines” program, he wrote,

“Our mutual friend… has kept me informed of doings in Washington, and especially of your magnificent cooperation in many critical situations. In these days of struggle and readjustment we are desperately in need of understanding friendships, and it is good to know that we have in you a genuine friend of our cause. I assure you, and I wish you would in turn assure your great Chief, that we desire nothing but peace and amity with our neighbours, and that we have no aggressive designs on any of them. We shall always be mindful of the Biblical injunction: “Zion will be rebuilt in Justice”.”

He included a copy of his book, “Trial and Error” with the letter featured with the Shapell Manuscript Foundation and he signed off warmly by saying, “With kindest personal regards and best wishes.”

President Chaim Weizmann understood how pivotal America’s support had been in the establishment of the State, and he took the time on his first official day in office to make his appreciation understood.

A seal pup ended up on Annette Swoffer’s couch last week.  The seal named Lucky (given that name because he always crosses streets and doesn’t get hurt), ended up sleeping on Swoffer’s couch.  He found a cat-door in her house through which he snuck in.  Swoffer thereafter called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals which contacted the Department of Conservation that was already aware the seal was missing and had been on the lookout for him.

Lucky has disappeared more than once.  This is not the first time the Department has had to go out on a search.  Indeed, the seal has been dropped back into the sea already twice before and no doubt it will happen again.  Still, it was definitely something cute for Swoffer!

Tommassino – an Italian cat – who started off on the streets – just inherited close to £10 million (nearly $16m).  Maria Assunta – his wealthy 94-year-old Italian owner – passed away, leaving all her wealth to him.

Ms. Assunta’s wealth spanned an extensive property portfolio, being the owner of various villas and homes throughout the country as well as quite a few large bank accounts.  The lawyers – Anna Orecchioni and Giacinto Canzona – were unable to find any living relatives.  Assunta wrote the will leaving the fortune to her cat two years ago.

Tommassino Denied Cash?

However, there is an issue with the law that may prevent Tommassino from inheriting his great fortune.  But in her will, Assunta also requested the large sum of money be donated to a “worthy animal association, if one could be found.”  Various organizations made requests to get their grubby paws on the cash but it seemed none were deemed suitable.  So in the end, Stefania – the nurse who took care of Assunta and loved animals (especially cats) – was given the task of administering the money.  She was shocked – she had no idea her charge was that wealthy.