Ron & Jen’s Great Escape – Dec. 21, 2022 – Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien, contributing writers, commentary

A KIND GESTURE

The other day I was going about my daily business and something wonderful happened. I received a card in the mail from someone I know but hardly expected, a gift for Christmas. I love the family and the person who sent it. I was shocked. Here’s my text to her when I opened the card.

“Sue!!!! I cannot believe that you sent that along to me!!! I don’t even know what to say except… some days I get so sad when I look out at the world and all the people hurting and the crazy things going on. Today you reminded me there really are good and kind people floating around in all that madness. It really touched my heart. Thank you and Gary and Zoe Zoe….I am very grateful.”

See. Really kind people still exist out there. 

Thank you for being Sue and Gary….

Merry Christmas everyone – Jennifer

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BELIEVE

A recent Ipsos poll of more than one thousand adults found 21% of respondents said they believe in Santa Claus. Whether or not those responses were tongue in cheek or the product of too much rum in the eggnog remains to be seen. 46% of those polled said their kids are believers. Unfortunately, the poll also found three quarters of adults think most Americans have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. To that we say HUMBUG! Americans said the most annoying and overplayed Christmas song is Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” No argument there.

THREE SIZES TOO SMALL

A character from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” couldn’t keep an Arizona driver on Interstate 10 near Phoenix from getting ticketed. The Arizona Department of Public Safety says the woman driving in the HOV lane had an inflatable Grinch in the passenger seat when a trooper stopped her car. The DPS said “while we appreciate the festive flair, this is illegal & the driver got a citation for the HOV violation.”

SCROOGE-O-METER

There have MANY versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL over the years. So, who was the best Scrooge of all? Everyone has their fav but Jen and Ron both agree the 1984 HALLMARK HALL OF FAME production starring George C. Scott is tops. Interestingly enough it was directed by Clive Donner who served as an editor for the 1951 film SCROOGE starring Alastair Sim whom many feel was the best portrayal of  Charles Dickens 1843 classic character. Both flicks are certainly worth your viewing time.

A CHRISTMAS DREAM

“A Christmas Dream” is a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and  Tim Rice strangely enough for the 1974 movie The Odessa File. It’s lyrics contain the following:

Crazy things, said and done

Every single day but one

Every night should, I believe

Be the same as Christmas Eve

Nights should all be silent

Days should all slow down

An end to the hurry, the noise, and the worry

And I hope you believe that too!

It’s Christmas

Remember?

Does no one remember?

From Ron and Jen’s Great Escape, we hope all your Christmas dreams come true!

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted look at the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering each Wednesday and listen to Ron and Jen’s Great Escape call in radio show Friday afternoons 2 til 4 on 101.1 FM, 1540 WADK and streaming everywhere on WADK.COM.

Go here to read all Ron & Jen’s columns: https://rinewstoday.com/ron-st-pierre-jen-brien/