Skip to main content

What Christmas is All About

Ok, I must be getting older. No Norelco commercials this Christmas season, strangely enough, I miss them. Have you noticed how fast time flies as you get up in years? Wasn’t it just a moment ago that we were seated around our Thanksgiving table enjoying family, friends, and the feast Lori so lovingly prepares for us each year; it sure seems like it. Or was that last year? It's obvious I've totally lost track of time. It's already Christmas Eve and Yes, “Christmas - is - just around the corner.” Admit it, growing up you heard that phrase all the time - well, I did anyway.

Those commercials, along with the Coca-Cola Santa, always graced the television airwaves at Christmas time, not anymore. Now Santa is trying to sell you a luxury sports car.

 As a youngster I was convinced - just around the corner - meant Main Street; Marshall’s Hardware - Santa Land. My brothers and I would make the short trip to town to see all the holiday decorations and toys we wanted Santa to bring. There was no Christmas tree lot that I can remember in Cuba. We had one of those fake aluminum trees, no needles, no sap, and no mess. Waiting for Christmas, seemed like an eternity. Today, just around the corner means; in the blink of an eye, the holidays will have come and gone.

 The toys have morphed somehow, instead of a Red Rider Daisy BB gun, now its electronic gadgets, jewelry, tools, clothes, iTunes gift cards, iPads, Smartphones, and home repair items. Whatever happened to those commercials with Santa cruising down the snow-filled slopes on his triple-head Norelco electric shaver? YouTube - of course.

Come to think of it, how would Charles Schulz have written A Charlie Brown Christmas today? “I suggest we try those searchlights (Google), Charlie Brown,” would have led Charlie Brown and Linus to The Home Depot tree lot with its woven wire fence, trees wrapped in netting and the sweet smell of freshly cut trunks as trees are trimmed for customers. I haven’t seen a “Great big shiny aluminum Christmas tree” - in years, have you?

It’s hard to believe that the program first aired when I was nine years old - Christmas 1965. It’s still one of my favorite holiday programs and I make it a point to watch it every year. Indeed, today, Linus would have launched the Home Depot app on his smartphone to check price and availability between the large home centers before leaving the auditorium. And, walk to the tree lot - are you kidding - he would have texted his mother to bring the SUV; even though the nearest home center is less than three blocks from most people's houses.

 Things have changed a lot over the years but the commercialism that Schultz and others portrayed still exists today more than ever. Now the statement, “Christmas is just around the corner.” is accompanied by “Have you finished your Christmas shopping?” – No, have you?

Yes, Christmas - is - just around the corner; if you still think it’s about shopping till you’re broke, think again. Please take some time this holiday season and listen to Linus’s melodic voice as he recites from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2 verses 8 through 14 from the Authorized King James Version:

 "Lights please."

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”

 . . . “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Tapestry of Truth

In this episode, The Tapestry of Truth . . . Imagine a tapestry woven with the threads of countless experiences. These threads are the stories we encounter, the lessons we learn, the relationships we cultivate, and the environments we inhabit. Each thread contributes to the intricate pattern of our beliefs, values, and interactions with truth. Philosophers have long debated the definition of truth. Bertrand Russell defined truth as "the correspondence between belief and fact." Essentially, a statement is true if it accurately reflects reality. Consider Galileo Galilei's observation of Jupiter. Through his telescope, he observed celestial bodies orbiting the planet. Initially met with resistance, this observation revolutionized our understanding of the solar system. Statement: Jupiter has moons orbiting it. Reality: Galileo's observations accurately reflected the reality of Jupiter's moons.  This demonstrates how truth corresponds to reality. Despite initial oppos...
1 comment
Read more

Golf Evolving

In this episode, TGL–Golf Evolving . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, I want to share what Lori discovered on ESPN about professional golf: the NEW TGL league. You see, golf has evolved over the centuries. The game has always adapted from Scotland's windswept links to Augusta's manicured courses. But what if I told you that the most significant change in golf history isn't happening on a sprawling 18-hole masterpiece but inside a building? Inspired by Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story," we’re about to tee off! Good morning, Americans! Today, we're talking about golf—a sport as old as time yet as new as tomorrow. Who hasn’t heard of Tiger Woods, the golfing phenom? Also, if you’re a golf fan, you've probably heard of Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish star. But have you heard of their brainchild? It's called TGL–turning the golf world on its ear. TGL stands for TMRW Golf League. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports in partne...
1 comment
Read more

Quantum Computing

In this episode, Introduction to Quantum Computing . . . Welcome back to On the Fly, the podcast where we delve into fascinating and occasionally complex topics that pique curious minds. Today, we’re exploring something that sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie: Quantum Computing. Don’t worry if you’re not a tech expert—I promise to keep it simple, fun, and full of real-world analogies. So, let’s start with this question: Have you ever been stuck in traffic and wondered, “What’s the fastest way to get to my destination?” You open your favorite map app, which calculates the best route in seconds. But imagine if it could consider every possible route, even ones you never thought of, all at once. That’s similar to what quantum computing can do—but on a much larger scale. Classical vs. Quantum Computing : To understand quantum computing, let’s first discuss the computers we use every day. These classical computers process information in binary—ones and zeros. Think of it like a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Starry, Starry Night

In this episode, Starry, Starry Night . . . Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, we're exploring the basics of astrophotography. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what's really out there? I’ve discovered a way to explore distant galaxies–without a telescope–or leaving my backyard. Consider this: each night, when the skies are clear, a breathtaking display unfolds above us—a cosmic dance of light and color. When you step outside, you notice the moon and perhaps a few stars. However, you can open a gateway to the universe with a camera, some adjustments, and a tripod. Suddenly, faint whispers of light transform into vibrant galaxies, swirling nebulae, and star clusters that shimmer like diamonds scattered across black velvet. That fuzzy patch you thought was just a smudge becomes the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest galactic neighbor, an astonishing 2.5 million light-years away. You're capturing light that has traveled millions of years to reach your came...
Post a Comment
Read more