Saturday Soapbox: A sprinkle of Seuss
A sprinkle of Seuss:
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, (the blessed with abundance and those who have none at all,) would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing. They'd stand, hand in hand. And the Whos would start singing!
Welcome Christmas:
Welcome, Christmas. Come this way...
Christmas Day is in our grasp,
So long as we have hands to clasp...
Welcome, Christmas. While we stand,
Heart to heart and hand in hand.
The real gift:
Is what you can do for others. There is no price tag on you, but you are invaluable. Bring out your best. Make every day Christmas for those around you.
For example:
When a reader saw a recent letter in Fence Post about a Lake County family's job loss, she was moved to act. “If they put that in a letter, they must really need help,” the reader said in a phone call to us. Thanks to this woman's neighbors and church, the family's Christmas will be a little merrier.
An indestructible spirit:
We're so buoyed by the wonderful spirit of Christmas at this time of year. Then along comes someone, like the vandal who destroyed the Michaels family's lawn decorations in Hoffman Estates, and it gives us pause. But the spirit of Christmas is something that can't be destroyed by Grinches — or vandals.
A pretty, little memory:
It was funny 44 years ago and still is funny today. Seated next to Johnny Carson, Sleepy Hollow resident Mona Abboud sang a novelty Christmas song about a lifelike doll. What came out of her mouth that night brought as many gasps as laughs and became a holiday standard now at johnnycarson.com.
Bring on the sunlight!
Will you suffer from post-Christmas letdown and winter storm weariness after this week? Well, at least we've passed the winter solstice and the days have begun getting longer. Springtime, here we come!
That's the spirit:
Holiday cheer to the Blackhawks for making it possible for Marine Lance Cpl. George Handley to fly home for Christmas with his family in Aurora. With his unit in Japan, he wasn't expected home until 2012. Well done.
Remember to count your blessings:
If you have a job, or money, and a home where you can keep warm; if you can put food on the table; you have someone who cares about you or someone to care about; and you can find happiness (in something like Dr. Seuss if nothing else), be thankful for your good fortune.
Historic gift:
The best sports gift ever isn't a new golf club, bicycle or jersey this year. Michala Johnson, a former Daily Herald All-Area basketball star for Montini, got to unwrap history Tuesday as UConn won its 89th straight game. The freshman reserve had a courtside seat and played three minutes. Hard to top that.
Remember the environment:
When you start to clean up from the Christmas celebration, be sure to give a gift to the environment. Determine what can be recycled instead of tossed in the garbage and sent to a landfill.
Finally, a word from Tiny Tim:
God bless us, every one!