The most wonderful time of the year
Christmas dominates all other holidays—it’s a mix of joy and joy and joy. I can only think of one Christmas that didn’t bring joy, when Vertis and I spent it in Libya without friends or family and only a shortwave radio to listen to the BBC. The next Christmas, when we were with our families, it made the reunion even better.
One of my earliest “wow” mem- ories is when I was around 12 and walked into the living room on Christmas morning, and under the tree was a Browning Sweet Sixteen shotgun. I knew all about those shotguns, and when I priced one at $120, I knew my folks could never afford to buy it.I don’t know how they managed, but they did, and I still have the Sweet Sixteen.
Big chain stores are barely letting Halloween pass before bringing out Christmas stuff. But I don’t care. I can look right through the glitter and see the manger with baby Jesus.
For our family, the weekend after Thanksgiving kicks off decorating for Christmas. Our living room has a 20-foot ceiling. A few years back, after watching our real tree wither and shed, we were in Walmart and saw a 15-foot artificial tree on display. It wasn’t for sale, but I managed to buy it.
It’s made up of five pieces, and each Saturday after Thanksgiving I have the honor of assembling and completely decorating it. My idea of a Christmas tree is that you can’t over-decorate it, and that goes for our yard and any building we have downtown.
Back when El Dorado’s downtown only had a pitiful smattering of Christmas decorations, Vertis led a combination of city, Chamber of Commerce, and downtown property owners to lavishly decorate the center of town. She brought in a company from Oklahoma to build some excellent displays, and they recommended large bulbs. Now, 20 years later, our downtown is a sea of red and green lights.
After I matured enough to get past the “What did you get for Christmas?” stage, I began to look forward to the sights and sounds of the season. Since red is my favorite color, my closet is packed with red sweaters, and I have a Santa hat I sometimes wear.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without music. I’m a bass choir member, and if our church choir sings the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, it makes the season for me. Usually, as the congregation is leaving after the Christmas Eve program, our pianist-organist Linda Whatley will play it. I stop in my tracks when hearing those first notes, and don’t move until she finishes.
Dec. 25 is just a guess at the actual date of Jesus’ birth. My date is midApril. “While shepherds watched their flocks by night …” That’s a springtime event, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is the celebration, and as choirs around the world sing of Jesus, maybe peace on Earth and good will toward men will slowly but surely change the world, one Hallelujah at a time.
Our choir once formed a living Christmas tree. The choir loft was changed into a tall evergreen reaching almost to the ceiling. It drew hundreds to see and hear the message of Christmas. Vertis was the angel that topped the tree. Even songs such as Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “All I Want for Christmas (is my two front teeth)” is a flag waving the message of the season. A couple of years back Vertis and I were in New York City, saw the lighting of the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, and later attended the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The Rockettes were wonderful, but the ending with the Nativity scene was the highlight, with camels, lambs, shepherds, kings and angels. It topped anything I have ever seen. So celebrate the season. If you get weary, listen to the Hallelujah Chorus; I guarantee it will pick you up.