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.”