Going Home

Do they know it's Christmas?

'Twas the night before Christmas in the old neighborhood,
But to look around, you would think nothing good.

Few lights were hung, no dollars to spare.
Most houses were gone, others were bare.

The children who remained stuck in this place,
Dared not dream of presents or futures to embrace.

[More:]

Why would Santa come here when fear kept others away,
Even on this occasion, the year's holiest day?

No matter what the calendar says for the rest,
The kids here on Dobel just hope for the best.

And what that means for them, is something different for you.
It's hard to comprehend what they're going through.

Imagine waking up on a cold winter's night,
Looking out your front door at this God-awful sight.

The house to the right is burnt-out to the eaves.
The one on the left is all gone like fall's leaves.

The park down the street, once shiny and vibrant,
Is now broken-down, rusted like an old fire hydrant.

The neighborhood school and gym, former places to gather,
Are closed to the children as if they don't matter.

Worse yet, when there's a clatter in this part of town,
You know it ain't Santa, you dive for the ground.

In years gone by singers beckoned this call:
In Africa do they know it's Christmas at all?

What I ask of you on this Christmas day,
Is to think of kids a lot closer than Zimbabwe.

They live a short drive from you, perhaps a 10-mile spread.
They see no visions of sugar plumbs and have plenty to dread.

Their home was ours once, only it was filled with dreams then.
With our prayers and love, maybe, just maybe, it can be that way again.

Audio slideshow: Do they know it's Christmas?

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Jim Morey(Kustarz) [Member]

Very good Mike, if we got a 1/4 of the people that visit the blog to offer up their good will,all the kids in the neighborhood can have a great Christmas

Permalink 12/19/07 @ 00:35

Comment from: jajajoe [Member]

'Just now learned that the Freep is doing a 5-part series entitled Driving Detroit and is now doing a 2-hour live chat via http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/NEWS05/312250001&theme=DRIVINGDETROIT122007

Permalink 12/19/07 @ 15:19

Comment from: dennis [Member]

d. butki
yes my brother john(stumbo) hung around with greg b.
rick rathnaw is married, last time i seen him he was part owner of OUR DAD'S over on 10 mile & van dyke in centerline, that place is closed now, i have not talked to him in awhile i dont know what he is doing now. yes rick's mom, mom kope did live on the corner of almont & gilbo. i graduated in 68
sandy sidebottom is married living in white lake twp. seen her & her family at her sister rose's daugher's wedding, they are all doing good.
greg barone passed away a few years ago, he commited suicide jumped from the bridge at belle isle, that was so sad to hear he was a nice guy
i cant believe all the names iam seeing now this website is great
mike q. you lived on buhr st off school by davidson & van dyke, did you know the bottles family? or genero's on the corner, plus my cousins, steve, tom, paula & maryjane furman lived at 7474 buhr.

Permalink 12/19/07 @ 19:48

Comment from: dennis [Member]

hey jim morey
yeah that festival with the bubble coming off the police car, i remember well, that was my brother john stambolia who did that one, they told him to put the bubble back on, well the police put it back then john took it back off, i remember them hitting rob rebant with their stick, put him in the hospital, which was a load of crap cause neither him or my brother did anything that bad. my brother ended up in jail with grand theft, i had to go down the next day for his court date which my mom was to upset to go, the judge laughed & said grand theft for what taking off a bubble on the police car, the judge made it a misdeameaner & gave him a $50 fine, that was uncalled for as far as rob rebant getting a beating like that, dont know if he ever tried to sue them or just let it go.
i remember my brother had his motorcycle there & rick rathnaw bringing the bike home for him, he was walking it down gilbo that was funny, poor rick at the time didnt know how to ride the thing.
my cousin paula steve's sister does keep in contact with kathy genero even though paula is living in seattle now but her daughter does keep in contact with kathy's son & when they are here her daughter & son do go out with him.

Permalink 12/20/07 @ 06:40

Comment from: Mike Quinn [Member]

dennis - I remember Paula Furman, she lived a block closer to VanDyke than me. Paula was a good friend of my sister Sue! We lived at 7140 Buhr, between Cliff and Carrie. I vaguely remember the Bottles name, but I remember Tony Genero. I remember your brother John very well, he was a good guy, I think he was in the Scouts also wasnt he? What I remember about John is how quiet and shy he was(probbly worse than myself!), then one day Mr Moser had us hitting mush balls in the gym, and John was CRUSHING every pitch! Everybody stopped and watched! John didnt even know he could do that! I see from this blog that he went on to be a great hitter, and I am not surprised, and glad to see that! I hope he is OK these days! I thought that I read that he was diabetic now... He probably doesnt remember me, but tell him hello for me! Paula too, from Sue and I!
Merry Christmas!
Mike Quinn
meq911@gmail.com

Permalink 12/20/07 @ 18:51

Comment from: dennis [Member]

mike quinn
i will tell paula you & your sister sue said hi, she will be in town in january with both her kids well they are grown now
my brother john does have some health issues, is diabetic, had quadtruple bypass & a diphilbator, also having problems with his eyes cause of being diabetic, so he dont drive anymore this happened 3 years ago, he is getting laser treatments on both eyes, the right is worse then the left eye, hopefully with the treatment he will be able to see alot better john was in the scouts, & an alter boy at holy name, gee's but got mixed up with the wrong crowd & did some drinking, & whatever else, but he's getting along i will tell him hi that is his favorite sport baseball, he watches the tiger's faithfully never misses a game.
have a great Holiday
donna s.

Permalink 12/20/07 @ 19:41

Comment from: d.butki [Member]

To everbody on this web site. Wishing ever one a Very Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!$

Permalink 12/24/07 @ 17:05

Comment from: bigdwis1 [Member]

Merry Christmas from the Wisniewski brothers, Dennis and Al, big and little moose.

Permalink 12/25/07 @ 20:23