Christmas 2025

 

As usual, I am the only one in the house ‘stirring’ at the early hour this Christmas morning.  I want to open the window and yell down to and call out to a passing young fellow as did a reborn Scrooge in Dickens' iconic tale. 

I could easily do that, but, alas, there would be no passing “boy in Sunday clothes.’  There is no Poulterer “in the next street but one, at the corner” with “a prize Turkey that was hanging up there --Not the little prize Turkey: the big one.”  It is after all the suburbs of Chicago and not the bustling streets of London in the 1800s.  I could stare out the window this morning for a few hours before seeing anyone pass by.  Even then, it is unlikely that it would be a lad dressed in his Sunday best.  It would probably be an adult in sweats, walking their dog.

I could still reenact the scene by myself.  I could go upstairs, as it needs to be a second floor window.  I could throw up the sash and yell out to the still and calm of this morning the Scrooge lines and someone would eventually answer… most likely my wife, rudely wakened by my thespian need to reenact this iconic scene.  She would, no doubt, recognize the lines and from whence they came and she would, with even less doubt, inquire with a well-founded air of stern astonishment, “What the heck are you doing.” 

As fun as that might be, just conjuring up the thought and beginning this annual Christmas letter with that notion is more than enough.

Why has this notion popped into my head?  Why ‘A Christmas Carol’ and why that scene?

Well… I do feel a bit reborn in the Christmas Spirit.  It has been a heck of a year and mostly a good year.  I have had both knees replaced, the left in January and the right in June, giving me more and better mobility.  While that has happened, I also realize, the rest of my body is 72+ years old.  I have seen a few good friends, musician friends, pass on this year.  I realize that this will only happen with greater frequency.   While there is the realization that this is most certainly part of life and this stage of life, it does have a certain sobering impact.  But is it is sobering in a good way that has me appreciating everything and everyone on a higher level. 

Another reason that scene was top of mind this morning was that I know four intelligent, remarkable, and delightful boys.  They are my four grandsons:  Aris, Vaughn, Sasoun, and Haig.  They are indeed intelligent, remarkable, and delightful lads though I am the first to admit my perspective is certainly biased in this regard.  I am also blessed with an intelligent, remarkable, and delightful lass in my life:  my granddaughter Lara.  None of them are with us physically today but are perpetually in our hearts and in my thoughts.  Through the magic of FaceTime, we will see them later this morning. 

We did have an intelligent, remarkable, and delightful lad with us on Christmas Eve.  Our two month old grandnephew, Massis, was with us last night.  Needless to say, he stole the show and was the center of attention as he was the grand kiddo of any kind at our Christmas Eve gathering.

It is no wonder that this scene from Dicken’s classic was on my mind this morning. 

Wishing on and all a very Merry Christmas and healthy, happy, and prosperous 2026.  If I could, I would have several remarkable, intelligent, delightful lads bring each of you a prize turkey and cup of good cheer.

 

From 'A Christmas Carol'

Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sun-light; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!

"What's to-day?" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.

"EH?" returned the boy with all his might of wonder.

"What's to-day, my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.

"To-day!" replied the boy. "Why, CHRISTMAS DAY.”

"It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!"

"Hallo!" returned the boy.

"Do you know the Poulterer's in the next street but one, at the corner?" Scrooge inquired.

"I should hope I did," replied the lad.

"An intelligent boy!" said Scrooge. "A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there?--Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?"

"What! the one as big as me?" returned the boy.

"What a delightful boy!" said Scrooge. "It's a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck!"

"It's hanging there now," replied the boy.

"Is it?" said Scrooge. "Go and buy it."

"Walk-ER!" exclaimed the boy.

"No, no," said Scrooge, "I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may give them the directions where to take it. Come back with the man, and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes, and I'll give you half-a-crown!"