December 24, 2008

Peace

Peace to you on this day before Christmas.

This photo was taken at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California...the Disneyland of cemeteries. Walt Disney is actually a permanent resident.

While running errands this morning, I was pleased to see a line of cars waiting to get into our local firewood lot. Selling firewood in the desert of Los Angeles must be one tough gig and so, with the incoming rainstorm due to hit tonight, the aroma of burning wood mixed with car exhaust added to my spirit of Christmas.

Everyone experiences the Christmas season in different ways. For me, despite not getting a Christmas tree nor decorating (I do have large white Christmas lights lining the porch year round), the spirit of Christmas still lives within. My daughter, son and wife still love and care about me. I am still alive and thriving in my ever emerging year-old fitness. All of us are healthy. I am the luckiest man in the world to have them. We have a warm home, a weather-tight roof over our heads, food in our tummies and the list could go on forever.

All in all, the spirit of Christmas for me, comes not from a religious context, but from loving family, warm feelings of gratitude and contentment, giving in small, personal ways to other people, listening to my hundreds of Christmas songs played year round, a few candles glowing in the house at night or a solitary candle providing a soft glow balancing the harsh glow of the computer monitor, the simple $10 Trader Joe's holly/pine wreath on our front door (I would have gotten a tree if I'd found one for $10...I did search these last two days). But after rejoicing in seeing forests of them in the high country, I've come to believe it's best and "green" to enjoy trees in their natural environment anyhow), a lone walk midst the bustling metropolis, and my mini non-tradition of getting up at sunrise on Christmas morning to go for a walk on the Manhattan Beach Pier to watch the dawning of a new day...a new day (I hope of many) for which I am eternally grateful!

Peace be with you.

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