Christmas spirit

I was having a good day for all that I had been through in the last week. I had put my personal problems aside and donned my Merry Christmas hat, the one I have had for many years. It is rather unique and always brings comments, adding to the atmosphere of the season. I headed out to help a friend before breakfast after he called for help. When I had finished there I decided to treat myself to a breakfast sandwich at the local deli, something which is not in my usual budget.

I am not sure where it came from but all at once I was bombarded with a question which sounded a lot like an accusation, It was about the tree which had been cut at the library. Not even a hello, just a loud outraged voice asking me if I knew who would do such a thing. I had not yet heard about the tree and said so, when I asked when it happened it got even more heated. I really do not know where the animosity came from but it certainly seemed to be aimed directly at me. In fact as I was leaving I asked them if they thought a local would do such a thing and was told just as harshly that they wouldn't rule out anyone.

After I left the store, I tried to regain my Christmas spirit but the thought of how I had been treated was far to overpowering. I began to think what the other people in the store must have thought hearing that angry booming voice directed at me in that fashion. It made me feel about 2 inches tall. Weather it was their intention to accuse me of this act, or weather they really thought I might somehow have information about it and not say anything was very degrading.

I have been a part of this town since 1964. I grew up here, I raised my son here, I buried my wife, daughter, brother and mother here. I have always been there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it and although I may not be wealthy I give more than most of the wealthy people I know. It may not be in a monetary manner with pomp and circumstance but it comes from the heart. Sometimes it is the little things that no one notices, that ease the worry and help people feel good inside that mean the most.

This Christmas will be a quiet one in our household. What money I have has gone toward heat and repairs. A few modest presents on a small table and a good meal in a warm dry house. We may not even get a Christmas tree but there will be music and laughter and love. This is what the season holds in store for us, and at the risk of being politically incorrect, I would like to wish everyone the simple joys of a Merry Christmas. After all, isn't that what Christmas is really all about?