A Ghetto Christmas Eve

This description of Christmas Eve has a slightly different view of one of the most joyous days of the year. It is a period when love, joy, peace and happiness is flowing through the air. Most children look forward to two days during the year, their birthday being one and Christmas Day, after receiving new toys and gifts on Christmas Eve, is the other. Each day brings much joy to the children as well as the parents. However, this view of Christmas Eve is not the typical view but it brings humor, laughter and joy to the young and old alike. Christmas Eve is Christmas Eve, but there's nothing like "A Ghetto Christmas Eve"

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Durel is the son of the late Ralph Patterson and Mable Anderson Patterson. He earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1986. He and his wife Barbara are the proud parents of one daughter, Daphne Rhondel Patterson. Durel retired from the U.S. Army in March 2007, at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving thirty-six years. Durel is currently a member of St Stephens Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he serves as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Wednesday morning Bible study instructor, member of the male chorus, Magnifi cent 7 (Gospel Group) and president of the St Stephen brotherhood ministry. Durel is also a published poet with some of his works published in past issues of Treasured Poems of America and The American Poetry Annual. He is also the author of It's Just The Way I Feel and It's Still The Way I Feel. Durel currently has several works in progress: I Know I've Been Changed, The Afro-American IDIOT and 122 Trap.