So Much, So Little

Friday, December 30, 2011

What Are you Doing New Year's Eve

I love oh so many things about this, the ukele!, the tiara!, the tie!, two of my favorite people!, the song!

So much magick in both this friendship and song.

And it leads to the inevitable question: What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Sunday, December 25, 2011

December 25 - The Meaning of Christmas

Merry Christmas. May your day be filled with joy and love.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

December 24 - What Christmas Means As We Get Older

What Christmas Means As We Get Older

by Charles Dickens

Nearer and closer to our hearts be the Christmas spirit, which is the spirit of active usefulness, perseverance, cheerful discharge of duty, kindness and forbearance! It is in the last virtues especially, that we are, or should be, strengthened by the unaccomplished visions of our youth; for, who shall say that they are not our teachers to deal gently even with the impalpable nothings of the earth!

Therefore, as we grow older, let us be more thankful that the circle of our Christmas associations and of the lessons that they bring, expands! Let us welcome every one of them, and summon them to take their places by the Christmas hearth.

Welcome, old aspirations, glittering creatures of an ardent fancy, to your shelter underneath the holly! We know you, and have not outlived you yet. Welcome, old projects and old loves, however fleeting, to your nooks among the steadier lights that burn around us. Welcome, all that was ever real to our hearts; and for the earnestness that made you real, thanks to Heaven! Do we build no Christmas castles in the clouds now?

Let our thoughts, fluttering like butterflies among these flowers of children, bear witness! Before this boy, there stretches out a Future, brighter than we ever looked on in our old romantic time, but bright with honour and with truth. Around this little head on which the sunny curls lie heaped, the graces sport, as prettily, as airily, as when there was no scythe within the reach of Time to shear away the curls of our first–love.

Upon another girl’s face near it—placider but smiling bright—a quiet and contented little face, we see Home fairly written. Shining from the word, as rays shine from a star, we see how, when our graves are old, other hopes than ours are young, other hearts than ours are moved; how other ways are smoothed; how other happiness blooms, ripens, and decays—no, not decays, for other homes and other bands of children, not yet in being nor for ages yet to be, arise, and bloom and ripen to the end of all!

Welcome, everything! Welcome, alike what has been, and what never was, and what we hope may be, to your shelter underneath the holly, to your places round the Christmas fire, where what is sits open– hearted!

In yonder shadow, do we see obtruding furtively upon the blaze, an enemy’s face? By Christmas Day we do forgive him! If the injury he has done us may admit of such companionship, let him come here and take his place. If otherwise, unhappily, let him go hence, assured that we will never injure nor accuse him.

On this day we shut out Nothing!

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 23 - Why I Still Believe in Santa Claus and You Should Too

I have a confession to make.

I am 22 years old, and I still believe in Santa Claus.

I promise, I'm not delusional.

No, really, I'm not.

I no longer leave out cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. I've been giving my Christmas wish list to my mom for many more years than I mailed it to the North Pole. I've heard the stories about my parents putting together legos and other toys in the middle of the night, while their little ones were nestled snug in our beds.

But, I still believe in Santa Claus.

I believe that every year, during the Christmas season, Santa Claus makes little guest appearances through acts of pure selflessness and kindness.

This year, there were the Kmart Layaway Angels. People in different areas of the country were inspired to help families pay off gifts for their children.

Santa Claus.

The Pottstown Mercury's Operation Holiday raised over $52,000 to provide gifts for 601 children and food for 230 Pottstown-area families that needed a little extra help this year. Many of those donations were $50, $100, or even $1,000 donated by individuals, many anonymous.

Santa Claus.

A million and one small acts of kindness and gratitude happen each day. A dollar (or diamond!) in a Salvation Army kettle. A kind smile and a jolly "Happy Holidays!". Bundles of toys donated to Toys for Tots. A thoughtful note for someone who is having a bad day. Having the "Pay it Forward" attitude.

Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is the personification of the Christmas spirit. The mere idea that a man devotes his entire life to giving to others without any sense of prejudice; to work endlessly towards making sure children have toys and know that they are loved without expecting anything in return (except maybe a few cookies), that is a person who can inspire the same sense of selflessness and kindness in others.

It's evident every year around this time that people are reminded of that spirit. You see it all around, in something as small as a smile.

I believe that it is important to continue to believe in Santa Claus. He reminds us to be selfless and kind to strangers, family, and friends without expecting anything in return. He reminds us to be like him.

So, yes, I am an adult, and I believe in Santa Claus, and I think you should too.