Now that the celebration of Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, we turn to some more serious observances in the month of December.  This began with the first Friday this year on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. In my family, it has been nine years since my wife Anne was released from her failing body to go to Heaven – my firmest belief.

Sadly, the march of time is rapidly claiming the end of life for the survivors of that opening salvo of the United States’ entrance into active participation in World War II, the year being 1941.  If memory serves correct, one survivor now lives in Tulsa, one having moved to California to be with children earlier this year.

My memory of that day is still clear. On a Sunday afternoon, my attention was on my studies in preparation for upcoming finals of my junior year.  As usual, I studied with the radio on to a now-gone show of big-band swing music, a very calming background sound.  Suddenly, about 2 p.m., it was interrupted with a news announcement that “The Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.”

My immediate reaction was to go to the head of the stairs and call down to the folks, and their guests, to tell them the news.  I was told that I was crazy – so my reply was to turn on the radio.  On my return to school, to an all male K-12 course in January, we found that we had added military training to the course of studies.  Some made jokes but it did serve to be beneficial in the long run.

Already this year, our Jewish brethren have begun their “Festival of Lights” or Hanukkah to observe a time when there was only enough oil for the Temple lights for one night, but they continued to burn for a week.  Another of the miracles of God.  For we in the Christian faith, the festive part in the form of light decorations have already begun. Also, announcements of Santa Claus coming to appear for children to tell him their wishes for gifts.  The stores and electronic vendors are becoming unbelievably busy with hectic shopping for gifts.

In all of this, the true reason seems forgotten which is the glorious gift from God of the birth of his Son to grow up as a human and live as one of those of the day to provide a path for us to be given a direct route into Heaven when our earthly efforts are ended.

To that end, my best wishes for the most merriest of Christmas seasons this year.

Then as this is written, a more somber observance of the passing of PRESGB-41 at the age of 94 and the longest lived president in the history of the nation.  After lying in state in the Capitol, his body was flown back to Texas for burial at the Bush Presidential Library in College Station, also home of Texas A&M University.  He is only the second U.S. president to have a son (George W. Bush) become president, the other being the second president, John Adams, or in my efforts, PRESJA-O2. His son was John Quincy Adams.

Unfortunately, going through all this there seems to be no let up, and maybe even an increase in the nastiness and falsification of news in the general media against the current occupant of the White House, PRESDT-45.  To the credit of the decedent, he specifically stated he wanted President Trump to be present at the Washington services in the National Cathedral, in strong contrast to the earlier departure of Senator John McCain who specifically disinvited President Trump and wanted him excluded.

We should all remember those who have lost family members in this time as it is a particularly lonely time without their left members presence.

All in all, again my most sincere and strong wishes for all to have the most glorious, blessed, and joyful Christmas and also carry over into the next year.