It’s almost here.  The day that most kids eagerly anticipate and adults often have mixed feelings about.  Those who are burned out by the shopping and the commercialism of the Christmas holiday season should have been in the audience last night at Flagstaff’s Doris White Playhouse when Theatricos presented the classic tale of Scrooge “Christmas Carol”.

Since my business is gift baskets and Christmas is the busiest time of the year, it’s all too easy for me to get so engrossed in filling orders that I don’t take the time to appreciate the season itself.  This was a busy year for my business but time spent organizating it over the past year resulted in a less stressful season with more time to “smell the roses” or in this case–the live cedar and fir wreath that my daughter Melissa sent to us for our front door. 

For the first time in several years, there is snow on the ground. Even though the air is cold, the sun is shining and a full moon is casting shadows on the snow. 

Last night, the doorbell rang and a very grown-up ten-year-old grandson, Nathan, dressed in his Sunday church  clothes, was standing there waiting to escourt me to the car where his mother waited.  The three of us had an early dinner at Hunan’s on 4th Street in Flagstaff.  The food was good and the service was excellent.  The young lady who waited on us couldn’t have been more attentive.  She truly deserved the tip she received.

Afterwards, we went to the threatre and watched the story of Scrooge’s transofrmation as a result of a visit from The Three Spirits of Christmas.   It was a familiar story — one that I’ve seen many times.  But each time is a reminder that nothing is as important as family, the spirit of giving, and the celebration of the reason for the season. Even for those of you who don’t recognize the holiday as the birth of Christ, it is still a time to give thanks and just to give.

So Merry Christmas to each and every one of you.