Merry Christmas

The end of another year is once again upon us. Though our world seems turbulent, this is the time of year to observe and reflect on the more positive aspects of our existence. As you sit by the fireside and watch your family interact or just simply try to recover from the excessive consumption of turkey, pause for a moment and take account of all the things that you have to be grateful for. At times, we seem more preoccupied with the acquisition of material goods than we should be. In the end, it is the simple thing which should center your soul.

The meaning of family in America has become difficult to define. Oftentimes, families no longer coexist in the same town, county, or even state. Instead, families travel over the holidays in an attempt to maintain some semblance of familial unity. I spent the last two weeks traveling between Oregon, California, and Nevada. I was lucky enough to partake in a family gathering in Nevada. What a joy to watch three generations of a family devour a tasty yuletide dinner and listen to the constant jabbering as each individual jockeyed to be heard. To top off the evening, libations, a fire, and football were available as well. Events such as this, are what constitutes the formation of timeless memories.

Traveling through the Sierras and Cascades was a seasonal delight. The mountains were adorned with a thin covering of snow and the valley floors were frost covered. Cattle breath hung suspended in air as I drove by numerous ranches. Deer loitered in pastures, looking for easy forage in a furious attempt to fight off the winter chill. Waterfowl stood on frozen rivers, lakes, and ponds. For them, open water was at a premium. The landscape has adorned its winter mantel of cold, snow, and ice. Small towns with the names of Quincy, Portola, Chester, Susanville, Alturas, Lakeview, Silver Lake, Lapine, and Bend were alive with Christmas cheer. Decorations were everywhere and the soft glow of Christmas lights could be seen far off in the distance as you approached each small hamlet. Shoppers scampered along icy, snow covered sidewalks, searching for last minute gifts. People waved as I drove by, wishing me Christmas cheer. With the exception of Bend, these small towns are working class, low to middle income enclaves. They represent the very essence of America. They are all inhabited by unique individuals from different walks of life. For example, in Quincy I saw a VW bus driven by a couple of "old hippies", as well as, a logging truck driven by a dude in a cowboy hat. I'll bet that the occupants of each vehicle differed both socially and politically yet, they both claim residence in the same town.

At this time of year it is important to remember those things which unify us. We will have a judicious amount of time in the coming year to bicker over whatever our hearts desire. Be grateful for family, friends, a roof over your head, food, health, or any number of things. Above all, please remember the trials and tribulations of others. For myself, I will be thinking about an uncle recovering from cardiac surgery, soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the families left behind by the climbers on Mt. Hood.

De Oppresso Liber