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10 Stories to Brand Your Christmas Merrier

As nosotros come to the close of one of the worst years almost of united states of america have experienced I thought you'd enjoy the gift of laughter as a small respite.

Here are 10 stories about Christmas that are found in Pat's story collections.

  • "A Brief History of Giving (1942-89)" in Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!
  • "Christmas Over Like shooting fish in a barrel" in The Horse in My Garage
  • "Christmas Shopping" in The Horse in My Garage
  • "Letter to Santa" in Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs
  • "Mean Gifts" in The Good Samaritan Strikes Over again
  • "The Christmas Hatchet" in Never Sniff a Gift Fish
  • "The Gift" in They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
  • "The Magic Tree" in The Bear in the Cranium
  • "Tin Gunkhole" in The Behave in the Attic
  • "Why Wives on Christmas Mourn" in The Grasshopper Trap

If you observe you're missing whatever of these books here is a complete list with links where you tin buy them. I've likewise fabricated this list bachelor equally a bookmark to help y'all keep rails.

Share some laughter with your loved ones and please stay safe!

If y'all're anything similar me, each 24-hour interval is covered in a blanket of unease and nervousness, feeling like there's nix I can do. But of course I am doing something to aid the situation. Keeping apart from anybody right now is the best affair any of united states of america tin exercise, but it doesn't feel similar much.

Then I did what I commonly do when things are stressful—I turned to Patrick McManus. I read a story this morn with my wife. "Hush-hush Places," about Pat and Crazy Eddie'southward science experiment in the rafters of the Muldoon'due south garage. It did both of our hearts good to laugh. (It's plant in the books Real Ponies Don't Go Oink! and Never Cry "Arp!")

Here are a few stories that should aid accept your listen off things, at to the lowest degree for a little while:

Mean Tents

Patrick describes the various tents that have tormented him throughout his life. In particular, he tells of shooting arrows through Cousin Cadet'southward new tent, and the fourth dimension he and Crazy Eddie were mistaken for a mummy late one night in the Muldoon's kitchen.

The Grasshopper Trap

Camping In

Camping out is a lot meliorate if y'all tin can do it in a camper. It keeps yous off the cold, hard basis and protects you lot from assorted wildlife, including Sasquatches.

Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!

Scritch's Creek

As kids, Patrick and Retch Sweeney discover a fishing pigsty so wonderful it may never have been fished before. So they find the reason it hasn't been fished—it's on the property of Ketchum Scritch, the meanest codger anyone'due south always met.

The Night The Bear Ate Goombaw

The Grasshopper Trap

Finally, i of Crazy Eddie Muldoon's ideas for a contraption actually works. With Rancid Crabtree's assist, they build a grasshopper trap that works, in some means, fifty-fifty better than they imagined. In other ways, not quite.

The Grasshopper Trap

The Blue Dress

While Rancid Crabtree was pond in the creek on a hot summer mean solar day, his clothes were stolen by the Skragg boys. Pat and Retch Sweeney are sent to a nearby house to find some apparel, simply all they're able to bring back is a blue clothes.

How I Got This Way

Cubs

Mr. Tiddle offers to take Mrs. Slocum's Cub Scouts on an overnight outing. His Boy Scouts, Attila and Lucifer, lead them on a near-death march to the military camp. They get the sweetest revenge when Mr. Tiddle goes skinny-dipping in the icy lake.

The Skillful Samaritan Strikes Again
and Never Cry "Arp!"

What stories accept helped you during these by few weeks?

Stay safe friends,

Lauren

Nosotros all have our favorite McManus stories. For me, simply off the height of my head, some of mine are Hunting the Wily Avid, The Grasshopper Trap, The Bush Pilots, The Night the Conduct Ate Goombaw, Snake, Pigs…hmm, information technology seems the more I proper noun the more I keep remembering. I don't know if I could limit all my favorite stories to a top ten kind of listing.

But what I tin do is tell you the ten nearly requested stories I've been asked to aid people find on the McManus Index website. I've helped over five hundred people notice their favorites.

These are the ten most requested stories from the by seven years. Grab your copy of each ane and read along; you'll accept a solar day of laughter.

10 – Whitewater Fever/Shooting the Chick-a-Nout Narrows (institute in the books The Night the Conduct Ate Goombaw and A Fine and Pleasant Misery)

I know it'south 2 stories, but when people ask about riding the rapids and the Chick-a-Nout Narrows the two stories are inseparable.

9 – Silent Just Deadly (found in the book Kerplunk!)

This is the one where Pat's dog, Strange, slurps upwardly the leftover Thanksgiving gravy, bloats up like a ticking gas bomb, and hides in the backseat—ruining his date with Olga Bonemarrow.

8 – Gunrunning (found in the book The Grasshopper Trap)

Obviously a lot of yous need this refresher about how to sneak all those guns by your wife.

7 – Poof! No Eyebrows (found in the book Never Sniff a Gift Fish)

As kids Pat and Retch Sweeney piece of work their manner upwards the caliber range with their black-powder experiments until they try to burn a croquet ball from a sewer-pipe canon.

6 – Mean Tents (found in the book The Grasshopper Trap)

Pat and Crazy Eddie try to slumber out in the Muldoon'due south lawn. Unable to withstand the onslaught of darkness, and unable to untie their gunnysack tent, they barge into the kitchen, terrifying the dog and Mr. Muldoon, who had been listening to a scary radio program about a mummy.

It's interesting to meet how the details change in people'south minds. Sometimes it was a mud hut in the rain, and the radio show was most aliens.

5 – Secret Places (found in the book Real Ponies Don't Become Oink!)

All summer long Pat and Crazy Eddie had been conducting a science experiment involving canning jars and urine, just to have it come to an unforgettable end when Mr. Muldoon accidentally discovered their secret hiding identify.

iv – Common cold Fish (constitute in the book They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?)

Always trying to avert annihilation resembling work, Rancid Crabtree and Patrick rig a sheet to their ice-line-fishing shack to make it easier to move across the frozen lake. It worked ameliorate than they'd hoped, until the wind really picked upward.

3 – Sequences (constitute in the book The Nighttime the Bear Ate Goombaw)

A task or goal may seem simple plenty, but unless y'all're careful you will be sucked into an endless vortex of sequences. It'south usually best to merely go fishing instead.

ii – My First Deer and Welcome To It (institute in the book They Shoot Canoes, Don't They? and also the story titled "The Deer on the Bicycle", constitute in the volume of the same name)

When hunters get to telling well-nigh their first deer, they tend to exaggerate until one can scarcely believe the tale. For instance, one night down at Kelly'due south Bar & Grill the stories were becoming so unbelievable that Patrick stepped in to give an unvarnished account of riding his bike to get his offset deer.

1 – A Good Deed Goes Incorrect (found in the book Real Ponies Don't Go Oink!)

This story really contains 2 that are tied together. Pat and Crazy Eddie build a toboggan run and Rancid Crabtree offers to exam it for them. In the aftermath Rancid ends upwardly with a broken leg. To ease their guilty feelings, Pat and Eddie decide to do a good deed past giving Rancid a route-kill bobcat. Of course, their skillful deed goes incorrect.

Terminal weekend I gave the survivor talk for our ACS Race for the Cure-and I told them about the wonderful effect humor in the grade of Patrick McManus had on my recovery!!

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer phase IIIB, and was terrified out of my mind. This is a section of my talk.

When the diagnosed of cancer was official, I was terrified.

  • My brain and my ears could not sympathise the words they said,
  • Neither could I read any of the words in the stacks of literature they handed me.
  • What I could finally deduce was that the cancerous mass was also big to remove surgically, and then they would begin loftier dose/rapid infusion chemo, and iii weeks after treatment began, my hair would be gone.

One day my husband, Roger, and I were invited to dinner with extended family. During dinner different family members asked me the gentlest possible questions nearly my cancer and treatment.

I could not answer fifty-fifty one of their questions.

After dinner when we got in our car I said to Roger–"This cancer business is not just about me, is it? It involves our whole family, doesn't it?"

Roger said "Aye. "

I realized I needed to make meaning changes in my thinking.

I of the commencement thoughts that came to mind was: "A merry heart does adept, like medicine" from Proverbs 17.

My eye had not been "merry" for a long time.

Immediately I told Roger almost a volume I remembered by Dr. Bernie Siegel who conducted research on the effect of laughter for terminally sick Cancer patients.

We made a determination right then to devote time every evening to laughter and we knew simply where to turn. One of our favorite authors when our kids were little had been Patrick McManus, a humor writer for [Outdoor Life and Field & Stream] whose books were a collections of his stories. His best stories were memories of his antics with his babyhood friend Crazy Eddie Muldoon and an onetime woodsman named Rancid Crabtree! When we read his stories we used to laugh until we cried!

Then our kids grew upwardly and moved abroad taking our McManus book drove with them! So that evening Rog drove to Barnes and Nobel and bought ten new McManus books for our library.

Lou and her husband, Roger, reading Patrick McManus stories together.

At home that night we read one of our favorite stories, "The Nighttime the Deport Ate Goombaw." We laughed until tears ran downward our faces and joy began to replace fearfulness in our house!

The next twenty-four hours, in response to five requests from friends, we opened a CaringBridge business relationship (which is a free not-profit website that helps connect patients with family and friends).

In CaringBridge we wrote our story. Our family & friends responded.

Every bit the first words of encouragement, prayers, and Bible promises arrived in my computer, I plant my mind lifted above my fear, and for the first time later diagnosis I felt peace. The low-cal and joy from good books had started us on this journeying toward peace, and I found that the words of friends and family gave me a confidence that I was not alone and that God was with me.

Thank you Patrick McManus and publishers!

Editor'southward note: this post has been edited from a longer post, focusing primarily on Pat'due south stories. For the original post, click here.

I'thou sad to denote that Pat McManus died on Midweek evening, Apr 11, 2018. He retired from writing several years ago, and his wellness was declining. He passed away in a nursing facility in Spokane, WA.

His humor and stories have brightened the lives of millions of readers over the class of his writing career. I take received many emails from fans expressing their gratitude and telling how his stories have helped them in dealing with PTSD. Many fans tell of the bonding experiences of their families over generations as they read his stories together. Sharing his stories has been a favorite part of my own family'southward gatherings for many years.

On the Quick-Notice a Story folio, Andrew asked:

"I have a question:  what happened to George S. Irving?  He was the all-time voice ever and I can't even inappreciably mind to the sound any more with the new guys being used. Is there any way to get a hold of the originals of audio?"

If you search on Audible.com for Pat McManus stories you lot will see they are narrated by quite a few different people—none of whom are George S. Irving.

I accept frequent inquiries about George South. Irving. Sadly, he passed away last December (2016). Here is the obituary.

For those interested in tracking down the sound cassettes of Patrick'southward stories read by George S. Irving, here is the most helpful info I can provide:

  1. Here is a link to all Patrick'south books that can exist found on Amazon.com.
  2. When you click on a book championship and get to the Amazon page, under the title info you'll run across a link that says "All formats and editions."
  3. Click "All formats and editions" and you'll see if in that location are audio tape versions available. They are from third-party sellers since they have been long out of production.

Downloadable versions of George Southward. Irving's recordings are non available. I've been trying to enquiry how I might notice them but the visitor that produced the sound cassettes has gone out of business and I'd have to rent a lawyer to track down the rights and permissions. Someday when I'chiliad richer I plan on tackling that!

Over the years I've had McManus fans enquire me to pass on to Pat their gratitude for his stories and how they have impacted their lives.

In difficult times in my own life I've turned to his stories to lift my spirits, and I knew I couldn't be the only 1. So I was glad to hear from a Vietnam war veteran who told me Pat's stories helped him through periods of PTSD.  I had already created this design and information technology's skilful to know information technology resonates with his fans:

I wanted to share with you a recent e-mail from one of our McManus fans:

Dear Mr. McManus,

You don't know me. Only I grew up hearing your stories. My name is Chris Blotevogel, my begetter Eric was a Royal Ranger Commander (a Christian Boy Sentry group). He read your stories not only to me and my brother, only to countless young boys across the state of Oklahoma.

I'm non sure if you read your fan mail, but wanted to permit you lot know that my begetter was one of your biggest fans. If I had a dollar for every tear he shed reading "the night the carry ate goombaw" or "cigars, logging trucks and know-information technology-alls", I'd be a rather wealthy homo.

Words can't limited how much joy and happiness I saw in my father's optics when he read your stories from his death bed, information technology was a Fine and Pleasant Misery.

I'm not certain how much it's worth, but I'd like to thank y'all. Your artistic stories have brought laughter into many homes, including my childhood abode and at present the dwelling house I raise my ain children in.  I'm sure I bore my children even now when we're on route trips and they run into me break out a paperback book. Keep up the amazing work, I expect forward to your emails.

Sincerely, Chris. B

It's a Dominicus morning as I write this, dainty and quiet, and now it's time to go and read a few McManus stories…

From fourth dimension to time I have fans limited their gratitude and love for Pat's stories and ask about him, wishing him well, and wonder if there are going to exist any more books coming out. I forward your letters and emails on to him. Here is the latest information I have.

In 2014 Pat appear that he would exist retiring from writing and public life and his official website would no longer exist maintained. Up to that fourth dimension it was managed and maintained by i of his daughters, with both Pat and his married woman, Darlene (or Bun as she is known in his stories) writing monthly blogs. They also offered items for sale and links to sites of interest to his fans—including The McManus Index and the one-man plays based on his stories past actor Tom Behrens, equally well equally lots of information for writers. Before the website closed they mentioned a desire to compile and publish the weblog posts, but I haven't heard anything more well-nigh that.

Pat stopped writing the "Exit Laughing" column for Outdoor Life in 2011 and devoted his writing efforts to the Sheriff Bo Tully mystery novels, the last of which appeared in 2014.

Likewise in 2014 there were a couple new stories printed in Outdoor Life, but beyond that it's been quiet equally the McManus'due south are hopefully enjoying their retirement and return to private life.

I know a lot of you are experiencing early stages of cabin fever with the heavy wintertime storms, because I've been getting several requests to assistance people find that story "most cabin fever and playing Monopoly."

Here is a listing of other winter stories to hopefully lighten up these cold, bleak days.

2-Man Tent Fever

Found in the book Never Sniff a Gift Fish
The fever associated with cabin fever comes in many forms, merely by far the worst is two-man-tent fever.

A Really Nice Blizzard

Found in the book Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs
When school gets canceled because of a blizzard, Rancid Crabtree shows Pat and Crazy Eddie Muldoon the proper way to ride an upside-down truck fender wearing a parachute.

Common cold Fish

Constitute in the volume They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
Winter fishing is just every bit crazy equally it sounds. In contemplating this malady Patrick also remembers the person responsible for exposing it to him: Rancid Crabtree.

Cry Wolf

Found in the book Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs
For six-yr old Patrick entertainment was hard to come by in the dead of winter. Except for Tuesday evenings when they braved snow, ice, and wolves, to heed to the radio at the nearest neighbors.

The Snow Cave

Institute in the volume The Conduct in the Cranium
While Pat and Bun were taking a shortcut through the mountains in a blizzard, Pat was reminded of the time he and Crazy Eddie Muldoon congenital a snow cave during a blizzard in their youth.

A Big Chill

Constitute in the volume The Comport in the Cranium
While Pat was playing hookey from school, Rancid Crabtree stops by and takes him water ice fishing. Rancid falls through the hole in the ice and they build a fire to dry his clothes. Things were going as well as could be expected until some helpful neighbors come up along and assist Pat fire the former rags he had found.

Journal of an Expedition

Establish in the volume They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
Patrick presents his journal of a wintertime trek with Al Finley and Retch Sweeney to Tuttle Lake.

The Human Fuel Pump

Found in the book The Grasshopper Trap
When the fuel pump goes out in Retch's new pickup, in the mountains, in a blizzard, Al Finley heroically fills in.

With Valentine's Solar day coming up we could e'er use a little inspiration to show that special someone how much they mean to u.s.. Along with those flowers and chocolates, read them a Patrick McManus story and give them the souvenir of laughter as well.

There were several girls in Patrick'south young life, some he had romantical feelings for. Unfortunately nosotros can't count the girl from a neighboring farm, Valvoleen Grooper, as she was his nemesis (retrieve "The Tin can Horn" in The Nighttime the Behave Ate Goombaw?).

Most of his learning-of-dear lessons were at various times between Melba Peachbottom and Olga Bonemarrow. But Patrick likewise learned the art of wooing from watching others—his friend Crazy Eddie Muldoon and mentor Rancid Crabtree.

Here are some stories guaranteed to warm the cockles of your heart:

Backseats I Have Known

Found in the book Never Sniff a Gift Fish

Backseats have long been known as the trysting identify for young honey, but for the outdoorsman it was his emergency shelter, gun rack, larder, and then much more.

Cupidity, Depict Thy Bow

Found in the book The Dark The Bear Ate Goombaw

Patrick remembers his outset honest-to goodness date with the radiant, shiny new Melba Peachbottom.

Silent But Deadly

Plant in the book Kerplunk!

Just prior to Patrick's appointment with Olga Bonemarrow, Gram feeds the leftover turkey gravy from Thanksgiving dinner to the family canis familiaris, Strange, with disastrous consequences (of grade).

Muldoon in Honey

Found in the books Safe Legs and White Tail-Hairs, Never Cry "Arp!" and The Deer on a Bicycle

The lovely Miss Deets's tenure as third form instructor was a brusk one. Her sick-fated idea of Show and Tell began well plenty, but when the poor kids brought in their "most interesting possessions," the end was not far away.

The B'ar

Constitute in the book A Fine And Pleasant Misery

Rancid Crabtree has a bear in his brush pile and asks Patrick to help go information technology out. With farther assistance from feisty Ginger Ann, they all become more they expected.

Not Long for This Whirl

Plant in the books Rubber Legs and White Tail-Hairs and Never Cry "Arp!"

In the muddy jump of Pat's sophomore year of high school, Retch Sweeney stops by with Mrs. Peabody. Retch is taking her to her friend's house and Pat asks to proceed and be dropped off at Rancid Crabtree's shack. They get stuck in the mud and Mrs. Peabody suffers the indignity of Rancid'southward rescue.

Faint Middle

Found in the volume Into the Twilight, Endlessly Grousing

In tertiary grade, Pat'due south teacher, Miss Deets, told the students they had to bring their fathers in to tell the grade about their occupations. Since Patrick's male parent had died, he convinces Rancid Crabtree to come instead.