| "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time." Not sure why but I can't get that song out of my head. This may be the poorest I've ever been moving from one year to the next, but I seem to be in this almost manic melancholy stupor. Smiling almost uncontrollably. Maybe it's the fine IPA I was given to try last night, or the friends who shared a few laughs with me as I strolled looking for stories to tell and sipped my beer? Or the folks who gave it their all to carol around the city of Franklin despite the cold wind and not really being able to carry a tune? Or maybe its that in the dark of winter we put out colorful lights that memorize? Whatever it is, if I reflect enough everything seems ok and doable in these nearly 56 years on this spinning rock. It's true, I think of Christmas a little different than most. I was obsessed last week wanting to be sure I finished a story about a place that provides warmth during the cold harsh winter nights. I thought of this as a Christmas story. And in a lot of ways it is, especially if one thinks about the meaning behind why the day is celebrated by christians. The sense of humanity looking after one another as family. That feels like Christmas to me. |     |
That story isn't festive, but it is important to note. And even those of us who spend time with family and friends, who have opulence of some sort or another, we likely know someone in need or dealing with a family crisis of one sort .
Some times are harder than others to feel thankful or blessed and I often find myself realizing this even more during the holidays. Not because I've ever personally had a reason to feel this way. I am a very lucky son -of-a-gun. Perhaps it is because I covered a community Christmas dinner in Meadville nearly every year where several people who were obviously struggling in some way another got to have an hour or two of warmth and a free family style meal.
But I often wondered what they were doing as I returned to my quiet work where I was getting paid and able to stay warm in an office with colleagues who had become family to me?
Those of us who are lucky enough or are able stay ahead of the fray in a sometimes tough world are truly blessed and maybe that is where my stoic happy-go-lucky feeling this year stems.... I am blessed. Thank you friends and family for your love and support.
Merry Christmas.
Some times are harder than others to feel thankful or blessed and I often find myself realizing this even more during the holidays. Not because I've ever personally had a reason to feel this way. I am a very lucky son -of-a-gun. Perhaps it is because I covered a community Christmas dinner in Meadville nearly every year where several people who were obviously struggling in some way another got to have an hour or two of warmth and a free family style meal.
But I often wondered what they were doing as I returned to my quiet work where I was getting paid and able to stay warm in an office with colleagues who had become family to me?
Those of us who are lucky enough or are able stay ahead of the fray in a sometimes tough world are truly blessed and maybe that is where my stoic happy-go-lucky feeling this year stems.... I am blessed. Thank you friends and family for your love and support.
Merry Christmas.
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