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Soapbox Philosophy: Haven’t tried Christmas Past? A must!
Op-Ed · December 04, 2014
Christmas Past comes this weekend, and I am amazed some folks who live inside the city limits don’t make a point to attend, even though other people come from miles around to do just that.
It reminds me of Geraldine Estevez, writer and founder of TheWriteWoman.com, who back in April wrote a column that bore the headline, “I Don’t Want Children.” She writes about how she has not had the desire to have children, and gives her answers to a lot of the common responses to that statement, like “That will change,” or “Children are such a blessing!” and talks about peer pressure to “fit the mold.”
It seems like a strange thing to write about, kind of like a child writing a paper on why they don’t want to try eating new foods. The response is the same: You don’t know what you’re missing.
So back to Christmas Past: You’ve got to try it, at least once.
Trust me, the commitment level is far below that of having children.
So you’ve driven through neighborhoods with great Christmas decorations? It’s not the same as walking down the streets and seeing them up-close. You’ve heard just about every Christmas carol? Time to hear some live music again. No one can cook Christmas goodies like your mother? There’s something special about receiving great food given generously by strangers, or maybe just an acquaintance.
Just like there’s a difference between spending time with someone else’s children and spending time with your own child, you won’t know unless you actually do it.
The volunteers put in lots of hours preparing food, decorating, planning, shuttling around, setting up, making phone calls and more, all driven by the Christmas spirit to share their joy in their own special ways.
I’m not one of those people who can switch gears quickly. I’ve got to ease into the Christmas spirit.
The staff of the West Branch Times is currently going through a transition period, and there have been mornings where I could not think more than a few hours ahead. Oh, I could do planning weeks in advance, but the reality of those plans did not hit me until I was right on top of them. Like the cartoon character flattened against the front of the speeding train when someone suddenly slammed on the brakes, I flew into Thanksgiving Day without any idea of how I got there. What’s with the Christmas music on the radio?! I love Christmas as much as anyone, but wait! Really, wait! I’m not ready yet!
Friday I began writing the story about Christmas Past for this edition, though, and as I looked over the activities sent to us by Main Street West Branch, the City of West Branch and the National Park Service, my hesitations began to fade away remembering past years of this event.
I’m also one of those folks who is reluctant to accept that free piece of pie from Cornerstone Real Estate, to walk into a free concert at the Brick Arch Winery, to roast that free marshmallow from the Lions Club, to pick up a free fresh doughnut from the Boy Scouts, to ride those free horse-drawn carriages through the park, to take one of those free baked goods by the Gibson Trains, and so on. But something about the Christmas season tears down those walls.
That’s what I’m trying to get across: You don’t know what you’re missing.
I like to think I’m pretty good at writing, but I just can’t take you into that dream-like atmosphere that mixes cold air, a quaint downtown decked with greenery and twinkling lights, the giant Christmas tree in Village Green, glowing street fireplaces, the smells of great cooking, the swirling sounds of music from shop to shop, the festive window displays ... Thomas Kinkade should have set up an easel here.
You’ve got to try it for yourself, because Christmas Past will touch something different inside each of us.
And if you have kids, bring them. I’ll invite Geraldine Estevez.
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