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A Moving Poem sent by a listener this week. You may have heard it before...but, well worth the re-read.

Dec 21

Written by: Bobbi Maxwell
12/21/2009 6:08 PM 

A New Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine.

The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. Service men and woman.  Pray for them daily.  God bless you. 

 

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2 comment(s) so far...

Re: A Moving Poem sent by a listener this week. You may have heard it before...but, well worth the re-read.

This is the first time I saw this poem. How quick we are to forget the bravery of our men and women who serve to protect our freedom. Why does it seem like we only think of them when something bad happens? We should thank God EVERYDAY we have such brave and courageous human being to defend us.

Thank you Bobbi for leaving this on here so maybe more will be able to read and remember why we are free.

By Rena La Rusch on   1/8/2010 8:57 AM

Re: A Moving Poem sent by a listener this week. You may have heard it before...but, well worth the re-read.

Thanks Bobbi for sharing this poem. I have a copy of this poem that I read to my sons and their families every year at our Christmas
dinner. Just a reminder of why we have our freedom. Our service men and women get way too little credit for the sacrifices they make. We pray for them daily. I hope everyone will. Thanks again.

By Joyce Abner on   1/10/2010 12:00 PM

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Bobbi's Bio

Bobbi Maxwell is another of the "home-grown" members of the WARM 98 Airstaff. Having grown up in the West Chester area, she attended the Lakota School district, where she made the early decision to get into the broadcasting field after seeing an "easy credit" opportunity by taking the high school's Radio Broadcasting I course. Little did she know the microphone would become her bread and butter as well as music her passion.

Bobbi also briefly attended Miami University/Middletown, but not long enough to become a full-fledged Redhawks fan... her closet is instead filled with UC Bearcats logos...after being a long-time season ticket holder, even through the lean years!

She is also a single mom of two daughters, Dana and Hannah, and resides on the east side of town.

Bobbi's time away from the station is usually spent with her girls, her extended family of eight brothers and sisters, or with her yellow lab puppy, Marley and cat, Lucky !

Bobbi also loves to read, garden, go to yard sales, concerts and movies, as well as travel and of course, listen to music! 

Twenty Questions with Bobbi Maxwell

1. What’s your most embarrassing moment in radio?
About six months after I had Hannah (now a teenager), I did a station event and a listener came up to me and asked when the baby was due! Instant diet!

2. What do you love the most about Cincinnati?
It’s heritages…1st team in baseball, German beer and food, Eastside-Westside clashes, etc.

3. Where is the furthest that you have ever traveled?
Costa Rica in 2005 with one of my best friends! It was truly a “Thelma and Louise” road trip around this breathtaking country!

4. What song makes you get us and dance?
“Dancing in the Dark”—Bruce Springstein—Courtney Cox was so lucky!

5. What is your favorite season?
Absolutely FALL! I love wearing sweaters, football games, low energy bills and frizz free hair days!

6. What is the college sports team that you cheer for?
I’m a UC fan…but it’s been a rough few years!!

7. Who is your celebrity crush? 
Weird...they all seem to be dark haired/dark eyed actors! Matthew Fox (Lost),  Dermot Mulroney, The "Rock", Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, John Mayer....do I need to go on?

8. What is the first concert you attended?
Early 70’s—Donny Osmond at the Cincinnati Gardens. I think I was sure he was singing “Puppy Love” to me!

9. What are the top 3 TV shows you must watch?
“Desperate Housewives,” “American Idol,” and “Lost.”

10. What are your pet peeves?
Two-faced people, people who talk during movies, and “name throwers” who are trying to impress me.

11. What is your biggest quirk at work?
I won’t eat certain foods before or while I’m on the air. Most dairy foods change the tone of my voice!

12. What foods do you despise?
Sweet potatoes, radishes, and cranberry sauce

13. What is your favorite way to relax?
Reading a good book/magazine curled up on the couch with no one else home

14. What is the place that you want to visit the most?
Italy, France and Scotland…its where my ancestors are from.

15. What are your phobias?
Running into a spider web, fear of falling (ever since my horse accident)

16. What is on your Ipod?
Lots of dance songs because I usually only use it to workout!—Beyonce, Madonna, Justin and lots of 80’s!

17. What is one item that you wish you still had?
My teenage figure!!

18. What is your favorite place to shop?
Anywhere that my mom, 5 sisters and I decide to make a “shopping” weekend…Gatlinburg, Amish Country, etc.

19. What is your worst habit?
Worrying what others think of me! But the older I get, the less I care!

20. Tell the Warm 98 listeners 5 things that they do not know about you!
1. I dream every night…including a recurring dream I’m in a tornado.
2. I have a slight clothes shopping addiction!
3. My family (brothers, sisters and their spouses & kids) is a biological and adopted mix of Caucasians, black, Chinese, Peruvian, and Polynesian! We make quite the international family photo!
4. Normally, if I see you cry, I cry!
5. I left home on my own at 17 for Las Vegas to pursue my radio career. My dad said I’d be home in two weeks. And although I was homesick, I stayed out west for two years to prove him wrong! Don’t ever challenge me!

Bobbi Maxwell is another of the "home-grown" members of the WARM 98 Airstaff. Having grown up in the West Chester area, she attended the Lakota School district, where she made the early decision to get into the broadcasting field after seeing an "easy credit" opportunity by taking the high school's Radio Broadcasting I course. Little did she know the microphone would become her bread and butter as well as music her passion.

Bobbi also briefly attended Miami University/Middletown, but not long enough to become a full-fledged Redhawks fan... her closet is instead filled with UC Bearcats logos...after being a long-time season ticket holder, even through the lean years!

She is also a single mom of two daughters, Dana and Hannah, and resides on the east side of town.

Bobbi's time away from the station is usually spent with her girls, her extended family of eight brothers and sisters, or with her yellow lab puppy, Marley and cat, Lucky !

Bobbi also loves to read, garden, go to yard sales, concerts and movies, as well as travel and of course, listen to music! 

Twenty Questions with Bobbi Maxwell

1. What’s your most embarrassing moment in radio?
About six months after I had Hannah (now a teenager), I did a station event and a listener came up to me and asked when the baby was due! Instant diet!

2. What do you love the most about Cincinnati?
It’s heritages…1st team in baseball, German beer and food, Eastside-Westside clashes, etc.

3. Where is the furthest that you have ever traveled?
Costa Rica in 2005 with one of my best friends! It was truly a “Thelma and Louise” road trip around this breathtaking country!

4. What song makes you get us and dance?
“Dancing in the Dark”—Bruce Springstein—Courtney Cox was so lucky!

5. What is your favorite season?
Absolutely FALL! I love wearing sweaters, football games, low energy bills and frizz free hair days!

6. What is the college sports team that you cheer for?
I’m a UC fan…but it’s been a rough few years!!

7. Who is your celebrity crush? 
Weird...they all seem to be dark haired/dark eyed actors! Matthew Fox (Lost),  Dermot Mulroney, The "Rock", Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, John Mayer....do I need to go on?

8. What is the first concert you attended?
Early 70’s—Donny Osmond at the Cincinnati Gardens. I think I was sure he was singing “Puppy Love” to me!

9. What are the top 3 TV shows you must watch?
“Desperate Housewives,” “American Idol,” and “Lost.”

10. What are your pet peeves?
Two-faced people, people who talk during movies, and “name throwers” who are trying to impress me.

11. What is your biggest quirk at work?
I won’t eat certain foods before or while I’m on the air. Most dairy foods change the tone of my voice!

12. What foods do you despise?
Sweet potatoes, radishes, and cranberry sauce

13. What is your favorite way to relax?
Reading a good book/magazine curled up on the couch with no one else home

14. What is the place that you want to visit the most?
Italy, France and Scotland…its where my ancestors are from.

15. What are your phobias?
Running into a spider web, fear of falling (ever since my horse accident)

16. What is on your Ipod?
Lots of dance songs because I usually only use it to workout!—Beyonce, Madonna, Justin and lots of 80’s!

17. What is one item that you wish you still had?
My teenage figure!!

18. What is your favorite place to shop?
Anywhere that my mom, 5 sisters and I decide to make a “shopping” weekend…Gatlinburg, Amish Country, etc.

19. What is your worst habit?
Worrying what others think of me! But the older I get, the less I care!

20. Tell the Warm 98 listeners 5 things that they do not know about you!
1. I dream every night…including a recurring dream I’m in a tornado.
2. I have a slight clothes shopping addiction!
3. My family (brothers, sisters and their spouses & kids) is a biological and adopted mix of Caucasians, black, Chinese, Peruvian, and Polynesian! We make quite the international family photo!
4. Normally, if I see you cry, I cry!
5. I left home on my own at 17 for Las Vegas to pursue my radio career. My dad said I’d be home in two weeks. And although I was homesick, I stayed out west for two years to prove him wrong! Don’t ever challenge me!