#OurXmas: The Greatest Twitter Extravaganza in The History of This or Any Other Planet (With updates)
December 23, 2011 by William K. Wolfrum
I should be in San Francisco right now. The plans had been made, tickets bought, room and board at the ready. A family Christmas vacation awaited. But then, life got in the way.
It got in the way in the form of a tiny, old Boston Terrier named Max. My wife got Max before we were together and at the tender age of 22. He’s been with her through the ups and downs of life. While we have other dogs and always will, Max is the dog of her life. And now, at the age of 14, Max is winding down. He has congestive heart failure, and has been battling a sinus infection that won’t go away. He still has a lot of life in him, enjoys his normal routine and attacks food. But the fact is, he could leave us at any time and needs care.
So, my Christmas present for my wife this year was to stay in Brazil with Max and take care of him. My wife could never have enjoyed the trip with her family without me here, as she’d have been worried the entire time about how he was and how the caregivers we’d have to pay for were treating him. I’m happy to do it because I love my wife, understand her deep connection wit Max, and I love the little man myself. It has not been a sacrifice. It has been life.
What this means, however, is that I’ll be spending Christmas alone this year. This is not such a tragedy, mind you. My wife will be home in a week and we’ll have our own festivities. But it made me think of all the people who will be alone this Christmas, or are left out of it because they don’t celebrate that holiday for whatever reason.
Which why I - with the help of Barracks O’Bama (@P0tUS on Twitter) - have come up with a plan - tentatively and humbly titled:
#OurXmas: The Greatest Twitter Extravaganza in The History of This or Any Other Planet
Here is the plan: Using the hashtag #OurXmas on Twitter, we invite everyone to come and enjoy a day of fun, laughs and love on Twitter or on participating blogs. It will be a chance to connect with others, enjoy some humor and just have some fun. To sum up simply, it will be about inclusion, humor and holiday cheer.
Here are the basic ground rules:
1) While this has been started for those who will be alone on Christmas or don’t celebrate it, all are invited to be a part of it.
2) Keep religion and politics out of it. You have 364 days a year to make your political and philosophical leanings heard. Let’s make an effort to make everyone, regardless of ideology or belief system, feel included.
3) I will not be policing anyone. That’s just not my thing. Enjoy the spirit of the day and the concept.
4) Have fun.
As for the tweeting aspect:
1) Use the main hashtag of #OurXmas on applicable tweets. (Note: Using “Xmas” in this hashtag is not a statement of any type. It is being used to save characters.)
2) Use “Sub-Hashtags” such as #memories for Tweets reflecting on Holidays past, or #Stories for favorite Twitter stories, or #jokes for Christmas humor. This - like most of the event itself, will be open to creative license.
3) Be as silly or serious as you want to be. As I see it, the main focus should be - as the kids say - Lulz. Have some fun, make some people laugh, and maybe connect with followers you wouldn’t have otherwise.
4) I will post other blogs to collect people’s stories and memories if they want to share them in more than 140 characters. Also, if you have a blog and want to be involved, please feel free and ask me any questions you have. We’re getting the ball rolling, but this will be a team effort.
That’s about it. I have some ideas on humorous and fun topics and memes and would love to hear other people’s ideas. Think outside the box. But mainly, just know you have people to be with this Christmas.
I will be adding updates to this post to help clarify things and add ideas as we get closer to the event. The festivities officially begin at the stroke of Midnight (EST) on Sunday, Christmas Day (but hey, if you want to start now, get to it.) If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in comments, or write to me at @Wolfrum on Twitter.
We hope to see you there.
(Update 1: Out of the blue, The Washington Post decided to join in our extravaganza.)
-WKW
Like @Wolfrum, I’m supposed to be somewhere else on Christmas. Or, I should say, with other people. Namely, my sons, ages 17 and 14.
To explain: Three years ago, I was divorced after 20 years of marriage, 15 of which were great. It was time. It was the right thing. We’re all better off. But… my ex and I share custody, and it’s her turn to have the boys with her during Christmas. Which means I’ll be alone on Christmas day. Which sucks.
However….we’ve been gifted with the ability to communicate with people all over the world, which is pretty damn cool, and it’s amazing the friendships that can be built with people who we may never meet in person.
Much of my interaction on Twitter has been in the realm of snark… more than occasionally drifting into extreme cynicism and downright meanness. I’m not always proud of that, so when I saw @Wolfrum floating the #OurXmas idea, I figured I’d climb on board.
We invite you to join us to share whatever you’d like. At least for one day, we’ll all be friends. And… maybe longer.
Best Regards,
P0TUS
This is a wonderful idea and lovely thing to do. I will probably have time to join in given I am spending Christmas day - happily - with my elderly parents who, much like Max, still attack many things but don’t quite move smoothly anymore.
I will add that after reading about Max, you and your wife, I am now in love with all of you!
Merry Christmas.
Aurora
And a Merry Twismas to you all!
I hope Santa brings Max a bucket of bacon or barring that a few slow, clawless cats.
Ah, Wolfie, you old softie! I KNEW it! Best wishes for the Greatest Twitter-Gather ever. Oh, and have a Merry Christmas and an even merrier week later.
Mona
This sounds wonderful
This is my 64th Christmas, the boy and his wife are at the Seahawk-49er game until late tonight, grand-daughter is going off to ice skating with the in-law grand-parents and cousins shortly. Tomorrow morning will be presents from under the tree and then off they go again for rounds of food, drink with family and friends and I am hoping all that is fun about the holidays. I will be staying in alone and not mind at all. I will eat what I want, turn my music up loud, miss people and cherish the memories of those who are no longer here and plan for the future. It’s all good.
Oh yeah, and after trashing my bow and ribbon box the 8 year old tells me, “Grandma you really need to clean that Bows Box up” Yes beautiful girl, I’ll get right on that…
To all my twitter friends I wish a peaceful day, we deserve it.
what a lovely idea…( oh this is @watergatesummer of twitter), and to both wolfrum and potus I say thank you for coming up with it…and I love that you wolfie are taking care of the amazing dog for your wife,….that is true love…the real thing..you have no idea how inspiring that is to hear…..and Potus….bless you for loving your boys so much and I hope you get to see them soon….and to all others here..have a very Merry Peaceful Christmas….
As I am in recovery from amputation surgery,I will be alone for most of the day as I am unable to leave my home,due to my inability to walk.My only company are my 3 dogs(Sally,Lucy & Marcie all are Chihuahuas)
#OurXmas ~ I can’t wait to see if Twitter Santa follows me back and, or, if he finds a chimney to climb down, at my house… don’t have one. I made a fresh pot of dégustateur coffee for him (the gourmet stuff), but I drank it; it’s early, yet.
[...] For those that have inquired about our little Boston Terrier Max, he’s doing well. He’s comfortable, gets in some solid napping and still attacks food [...]
[...] beloved Boston Terrier Max died of complications on Jan. 24, following a strong battle against congestive heart failure, liver [...]
I think it is so sweet that u would stay with max. I understand how much our animals can mean to us and become a part of the family. I have a horse named hank, he is 33 yrs old ( same age as me). I have had him 1/3 of my life ,and love him dearly. He is old and I have spent many hours rubbing him down with muscle ointment and giving him shots for his pain ( my vet gives me the shots since I have some medical backgound.) I know I may not have much longer with him as he grows older and I love him dearly. He lives for little debbies, and groomings, our dog also loves him too they spend many hours each day together in the pasture. So sorry to read on about max. Our animals always find a place in our hearts. Wish they could live longer