A Silent Night Surprise in Times Square | #LightTheWorld

Now, this would have been something worth seeing in New York's Times Square, and I wish I had been there. It's just beautiful.

Ignoring the News

It's nine days before Christmas, and I find I'm starting to ignore the news.

While I'm fully aware that the country, not to mention the world, is a hot mess, I don't need to be continuously reminded of it during my favorite time of year. So, I'm concentrating on Christmas with excessive diligence this year.

One thing that helps me do that is the huge Nativity scene on display near my church's main entrance. I drive past it almost every day. The parish decorates to the hilt every year; below is a photo from last Christmas. The display is visible from blocks away, and it really can put one in a Christmas frame of mind. It certainly works for me.

My advice is to take a step back from the depressing scandals and sordid stories in today's news and find your own ways to focus more fully on the beauty of the season. Before you know it, in little more than a week, you'll be having yourselves a merry little Christmas.

Stamped Out

Scrooge & Grinch Inc. seem to have taken over Christmas this year. Gov. Gavin Newsom has canceled the California State Christmas tree lighting ceremony out of supposed fears for "public safety" after threats against the event from pro-Hamas protesters. He's lighting the tree "virtually." That means he'll be safely indoors, possibly behind a drape, so he doesn't get booed. 

Never mind that the annual tree lighting has been a tradition at the state capitol since the 1930s. It's a community event that includes a holiday market of local businesses for all to visit. Newsom isn't interested all that personal interaction and neighborly goodwill. As most Californians have figured out, Newsom is a fraidy-cat who protects his own carefully cultivated skin at all costs. The man is a completely gutless wonder.

Closer to home, I've been trying to buy Christmas stamps for the past month. Either they haven't arrived at the post office yet, they are sold out, or they only have the reindeer/Santa hat variety. I'm hard-core old school. I want the Madonna and Child or the Magi on my Christmas stamps. I'll even settle for just the Christmas star shining in the sky.

Today was my third effort to procure Christmas stamps that actually show the meaning of the holiday. Oh, we're out right now, but we're getting more on Monday, I was told. I'm starting to wonder if there were ever any Christmas stamps ordered this year, outside of elves and gingerbread men. The postal clerk offered me flower stamps. Excuse me, it's the middle of December. Save the tulips for April.

I'm a practical person, and at this hectic time of year I really don't want to expend any more time or effort on stamp procurement. So, with some trepidation, I asked if the American flag stamp was available. You never know. America is in mortal danger of being canceled at any moment. Flag stamps could be a serious crime by now.

Fortunately, I was able to buy the flag stamps. It seems that America and Christmas do still go together, at least this year. Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Seriously??