1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:10,119 Calarugashawk Media. Hey I Am Johnny Mack. Now through Christmas. On Monday 2 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:14,839 and Wednesday its normal episodes, and on Tuesday and Thursdays its five Good News 3 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:21,120 Christmas Stories. Here's Astor Ireland. One year, the Canadian airline WestJet brought 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,800 to life a holiday fantasy for passengers flying to Calgary. With a digital Santa 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,440 Claus set up in the airport, The travelers were asked to share their Christmas 6 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:34,840 wishes as the flight took off. WestJet employees embarked on a shopping spree to 7 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:40,759 fulfill these wishes. Upon landing, passengers were greeted with their desired gifts awaiting 8 00:00:40,799 --> 00:00:47,520 them at baggage claim, ranging from simple necessities to grand electronics. This grand 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:53,159 gesture was not WestJet's first foray into spreading holiday joy, as the airline had 10 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,640 previously delighted passengers with a flash mob and gifts on a late night flight, 11 00:00:58,159 --> 00:01:04,400 reinforcing their commitment to create unforgettable holiday memories for their customers. Nell has become 12 00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:08,719 a cherished figure in her Bend, Oregon community, renowned for her commitment to 13 00:01:08,719 --> 00:01:14,599 supporting local families during the holiday season. Her journey began when she discovered the 14 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:19,879 potential of Oregon's bottle drop program as a means to gather funds. Inspired by 15 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,840 the prospect of using this method to provide for a family and need, Nell 16 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,560 reached out to her neighbors and nearby businesses, offering to collect and donate their 17 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:34,239 recyclable bottles and cans. Nell takes a personal approach, visiting the grocery store 18 00:01:34,239 --> 00:01:38,920 to purchase a complete holiday meal for each family, along with essential groceries and 19 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:44,519 a new kitchen towel. Overwhelmed by the generosity she witnessed, she expressed her 20 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,359 deep emotions, saying, I have never in my life been so moved by 21 00:01:48,359 --> 00:01:52,799 the kindness and actions of so many. The people in this community are amazing. 22 00:01:53,719 --> 00:01:59,840 Her story stands as a testament to the power of community spirit. Last 23 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,079 March, on a historic Friday, marking one hundred and eighty years since the 24 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,240 Fateful Day, Charles Dickens chose to eternally memorialize a name in a Christmas Carol. 25 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:14,240 Members of the Dickens lineage came together with kin of the real Jacob Marley 26 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Mark Dickens, alongside Lucinda Hawksley, descendants of the renowned author encountered Christopher Marley, 27 00:02:21,319 --> 00:02:24,919 who shares blood with the story Doctor Myles Marley. The name Marley was 28 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:30,280 borrowed by Dickens in eighteen forty three to craft the character of Jacob Marley, 29 00:02:30,759 --> 00:02:36,319 the lamenting former associate of the notorious Ebenezer Scrooge. The true Doctor Marley, 30 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,719 an Irish resident of London, once hosted a Saint Patrick's Day celebration attended by 31 00:02:40,759 --> 00:02:46,599 Dickens. A conversation about unusual last names led to Doctor Marley's comment on the 32 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:52,080 rarity of his own, prompting Dickens to vow that Marley would become well known 33 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:58,039 before year's end. Indeed, Marley became synonymous with the quintessential Christmas narrative, 34 00:02:58,439 --> 00:03:02,639 a Christmas Carol. Doctor Marley passed away in Port Isaac, Cornwall in eighteen 35 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:08,360 fifty four. Now their progeny, including Dickens's great great grandson Mark and great 36 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:14,719 great great granddaughter Lucinda, have reunited. Even the venue for this meeting was 37 00:03:14,759 --> 00:03:20,120 significant, the same eleven Cork Street in London where Dickens and the original Doctor 38 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:28,719 Marley first met on December fifteenth, nineteen fifty nine. At the age of 39 00:03:28,759 --> 00:03:32,759 seventeen, a young individual enlisted in the Army. Within five days, a 40 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:38,000 decision loomed return home for the holidays or remain at Fort Carson, Colorado to 41 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:43,639 endure fifteen days of k P duty. The recruit, alongside a comrade, 42 00:03:43,759 --> 00:03:46,159 yearned to go home, but lack the funds for the bus fare. Thus 43 00:03:46,199 --> 00:03:51,400 they embarked on a daring eleven hundred mile hitch hiking journey to San Antonio, 44 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:57,000 Texas a gateway to their respective homes, one bound for Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 45 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,879 and the other for Aransaw Pass, Texas. Their first leg concluded in 46 00:04:00,919 --> 00:04:06,080 Trinidad, Colorado, where they spent a night sustained by cafe coffee. The 47 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:11,639 following day brought a stroke of luck. A semi tractor rig offered them passage 48 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:15,720 to Amarillo, Texas. There they faced a weary trek across town to resume 49 00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:20,000 their quest for a ride. As the day waned and the chill of snow 50 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:25,879 set in, their prospects dimmed. However, hope arrived in the form of 51 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,920 a Volkswagen Beetle, its interior a cozy den for a young family and their 52 00:04:30,959 --> 00:04:35,480 shaggy canine. The driver, generous and kind hearted, invited the soldiers into 53 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:40,519 the warmth of his vehicle, promising them a direct ride to San Antonio. 54 00:04:41,399 --> 00:04:45,600 In that crowded beetle, with a makeshift bed replacing the back seat and the 55 00:04:45,639 --> 00:04:50,120 family's full entourage aboard, the soldiers found their path home for Christmas. The 56 00:04:50,199 --> 00:04:56,439 family extended their generosity beyond the confines of their car, providing meals, and 57 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,920 in an ultimate act of benevolence, purchased the bus tickets for the final stretch 58 00:05:00,959 --> 00:05:04,480 of the journey. The soldiers were left with an indelible impression of kindness, 59 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:10,480 a memory to cherish and recount with gratitude, hoping that the same goodwill would 60 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:25,519 forever be returned to their benefactors. Liz, a seasoned dog trainer, was 61 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,839 well acquainted with the unexpected moments of humor pets can bring into our lives. 62 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:35,399 This was particularly evident during her annual Christmas celebration. Her Australian shepherd Riker, 63 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:41,879 known for his impeccable behavior and his role as a certified therapy dog, usually 64 00:05:41,959 --> 00:05:46,319 spent the party away from the guests, a precaution to prevent over indulgence in 65 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:50,920 treats and to avoid underfoot mishaps. However, on one occasion, at a 66 00:05:50,959 --> 00:05:56,839 guest's request, Liz decided to introduce Riker to the gathering. He was met 67 00:05:56,879 --> 00:06:00,319 with affection and attention, reassuring Liz that he would maintain his good manners. 68 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:06,600 Yet, in an unguarded moment, Liz noticed Riker's attention shift. The sugar 69 00:06:06,639 --> 00:06:12,800 cookies temptingly placed on the coffee table had caught his eye. In an instant, 70 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,519 defying his well trained nature, Riker plunged his snout into the cookie bowl, 71 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,519 scarfing down the sweets with zeal. When Liz managed to interrupt his feast, 72 00:06:21,959 --> 00:06:27,720 Riker emerged, his face hilariously adorned with frosting, sugar and sprinkles. 73 00:06:28,439 --> 00:06:32,839 Overcome with laughter, Liz found herself unable to scold her ordinarily disciplined companion. 74 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:39,040 We've reached the end of our Christmas good News round up for today. I'd 75 00:06:39,079 --> 00:06:42,120 like to thank Johnny Mack for the chance to guide you through these stories. 76 00:06:42,959 --> 00:06:46,759 I'm aster Ireland, leaving you with wishes for a wonderful day ahead.