“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” Calvin Coolidge
I write today knowing that the Jolly Ole fat man is just days away and NO, I am not speaking of myself but Good Ole Saint Nick! I trust that your holidays will be spent in quality time with family and friends.
It has been an extreme conflict for me, in writing today, knowing that the holiday spirit is upon us and trying to make sense out of the horror that consumes all of us over the shootings in Connecticut. There is nothing that can be said to explain or give solace to the families. My one wish for this Christmas is that we, as a nation, stop excusing the issue and come together to find solutions. My heart and prayers go out to the families that lost loved ones.
As I indicated last week, I do love driving around the city looking at all the holiday decorations. Huntsville comes together as a community and embraces the vibrant festive nature of this time of year with all of the bright lights that make the city shine.
One of my fondest Huntsville Christmas memories was the annual lighting of the “largest Christmas tree” in the south, the Saturn rocket decorated with an abundant string of lights at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It was a Holiday attraction that brought visitors from near and far to the city and it was always a visual pleasure to see and to capture. Times have changed and that tradition, like others, has moved on but there is still this feeling I get seeing the majestic beauty of the Saturn Rocket standing tall and brightly lit. Though the USSRC “Christmas tree” is a wee bit smaller these days, the setting is still something to behold!
On one other note, as most were weighing their day concerned with the 12-12-12 once in our life time experience that occurred Wednesday, you may have missed Mother Natures answer to the prophecies of doom for that day. She some how always steps up to the plate and provides us those rare moments for reflection.
Moments such as these always brings to mind one of my favorite quotes:
“ONCE YOU HAVE TASTED FLIGHT, YOU WILL FOREVER WALK THE EARTH WITH YOUR EYES TURNED SKYWARD, FOR THERE YOU HAVE BEEN AND THERE – YOU WILL ALWAYS LONG TO RETURN”
…………………….. Leonardo da Vinci
Happy Holidays to you and may God Bless us ALL ……..
dK
