A night with Santa

As the blue lights of the escort police car moved through the lights, the anticipation and excitement rose... Santa and Mrs. Santa came down into the crowd of children. As he stood by the tree, the lights came on and the official Christmas of downtown Springfield had begun.

http://compasspaper.com/december-th-p2164-158.htm                                  December 9th, 2010          Lee Johndrow           Thu, Dec 09, 2010          A night with Santa          On Friday night I "talked" my wife, Tina, and daughter into "braving" the cold. Earlier I had gathered up Jacob and brought him and Tina out for our french fries and chocolate milk. After that we headed back to the house to hang out. He ate his usual "mac & cheese" as well as dipping grapes in ketchup and telling Tina "yummy!" We got our warm clothes on and headed down to the downtown Springfield plaza. Why? Because the community was gathering to celebrate Christmas. As we walked across the street with Jacob holding my hand, strains of Christmas carols by the Springfield Community Band were being heard. As the little song books were handed out and voices joined in the singing of carols, the air had a feeling of expectation. As I looked around at the city buildings, windows lit up with colorful lights(Yes, they probably should have been white but who's counting? !), I thought about the years we had stood with others like this. How fun it had been. How many were not there? The mixture of emotions were over in a second as my grandson asked to picked up. And then as we came close to the time where Santa was to show up and children of all ages began to appear, I could hear the sirens in the distance. As the blue lights of the escort police car moved through the lights, the anticipation and excitement rose. Jacob began to yell excitedly and the crow pushed to the edge where Santa's "sleigh" parked and Santa and Mrs. Santa came down into the crowd of children. As he stood by the tree, the lights came on and the official Christmas of downtown Springfield had begun.          I took my grandchildren over to the library where refreshments were being served and met some old friends. It is tough when you realize you don't see some people more than once a year. And then Santa showed again. And when Jacob climbed up onto his lap and had his conversation. "I am Jacob. You are Santa!" I was pretty okay, until he said "thank you for my mouse," at the end. And I realized whatever our future, it involves standing up for our children.          Our beliefs in Christmas cross many lines. And what we believe, Santa or no Santa, tree or no tree, I have found there is something "magical" in this season through my evolution as a man. As I walked up the sidewalks and admired the light and the decorations, I worked to see things through Jacob's eyes. He was less impressed by some of the decorations and more impressed by going in past the windows. Hmm. Must be the adventurer in him. We got in the vehicle and I decided to drive him around and show him Christmas lights at various homes and businesses. Finally, it was time to get the little one home to Mom.          I think we need to restore some of that "little kid" in us.          Last night as I "hunted" Christmas lights (I found one "electronic"display with radio music in Springfield on Dewey Street and of course took them to see the lights in Claremont.) with the kids, I had the opportunity to explain the "spirit of Christmas" to the children. (But, please send me your light locations or upload pics on to our website!) And let's be honest, it takes a lot to explain not only the "reason for the season," but the goodness the season should contain.          Life is changing faster than I care for these days.          It is clear that what we thought in so many cases is coming to pass. Our economy is on life support, our trust in our nation clouded by things like "wikileaks" and our livelihood and life styles injured by rising unemployment and prices from fuel to food. And so we have added pressures, increased responsibilities and decreased down time. I hate to say it but I think we are in for rough ride. My family would tell you once I accept the reality of a situation I am quick to move on it. I think the truth of it is there are no magic bullets.          In our business we are finding many being slow to make decisions regarding their business and the promotion of it. Those that know, know there is a need to get through this time. It is clear that not everyone will be a survivor, short of miraculous intervention. But, shy of that it will come down to folks like you and I, saying "enough is enough" and like Popeye standing up and saying "I canst take anymore" and doing something about it.          What can we do about it? I think just believing that on an individual basis we can do what we can do for us and those immediately around us. For my wife and I, we have 5 adult children, 2 daughter-in-loves and 3 grand children. (Sounds almost like the 12 days of Christmas-Did you know 12 days would cost you almost $100,000. Trying to buy the 364 items repeated in all the song’s verses – from 12 drummers drumming to a partridge in a pear tree – would cost $96,824, an increase of 10.8 percent over last year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management. See below.) I have encouraged my family to be prepared.          Part of that is perhaps returning to the simpler things of life.          It's funny as I read the columns of our writers. They all very similar. Folks who care about their communities. Care about their neighbors. Frankly, why would you go anywhere else! These folks are bringing you what is going on in your communities. And we all seem to think that the neighbor is important.          Before our home was destroyed a few years ago, one of our neighbors had cancer. My son felt compelled to carry over part of our meal on more than one occasion to help this gentleman who often had difficulty getting food prepared due to his illness.          I think that is what our holiday season is looking like. Helping others. He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. That is what one of the verses says in the book of Proverbs. Because you read our paper, you are perhaps one of those already in that giving mode. And if you haven't switched to that gear, I hope you will consider it.          Like many, I feel the squeeze of the prices climbing. I feel "squeezed." I think we are in for some more of that squeezing. And with that squeeze, I think the result will be what our character is. It will also show how far we will go to make things better.          A real question is where will you be when the squeeze is on? I already am not happy with some of my own responses. Like many I worked too hard and came too far, to have to deal with this! On the other hand I do not want to be like so many, aware of the latest "conspiracies" and sitting around, kvetching about the government and all that we have suffered. I want to do something about it.          The reality of it is, how much can a small, local paper do? I am not sure. We give what we can to our communities.          At a time when so many are suffering how can we let up? We must persevere to see our communities bettered. No one from Washington is going to show up on a white horse to make our communities better. (Frankly, them not showing up is probably better for all of us!)          It is your small business owners that are going to ultimately hire the people back into the work force. So, when we buy from them, we are supporting our communities. Here are a couple of good reasons for buying from these smaller shop owners.          Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. (It is said that as much as 70% or more of your dollar stays in your community with small business owners.)          Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.          I know the temptation of buying from the larger retailers. (Have you seen our 30% off gift certificates?) But, in the end run our attempts at saving now, may well be costing us later.Preparing for the holiday          When I was a child, my mom had many "old fashioned" advent cards, with glitter and pictures and all the little windows that opened as we counted down to Christmas. Even today, I remember those and think about them. (Unfortunately, my "advent" count down is on my Android phone, but I have got my grandchildren into the countdown mode!) There was so much to do. I feel that way again. There is so much to do!          As you travel around our communities, I hope you will stir up the spirit of Christmas as you go about. There is certainly a lot going on in our communities and this is the season of visiting others.          Costs a-rising          Prices of items in the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” according to PNC Wealth Management: • Partridge, $12 (last year: $10)          • Pear Tree, $150 (last year: same)          • Two Turtle Doves, $100 (last year: $56)          • Three French Hens, $150 (last year: $45)          • Four Calling Birds (canaries), $600 (last year: same)          • Five Gold Rings, $650 (last year: $500)          • Six Geese a-Laying, $150 (last year: same)          • Seven Swans a-Swimming, $5,600 (last year: $5,250)          • Eight Maids a-Milking, $58 (last year: same)          • Nine Ladies Dancing (per performance), $6,294 (last year: $5,473)          • 10 Lords a-Leaping (per performance), $4,767 (last year: $4,414)          • 11 Pipers Piping (per performance), $2,356 (last year: $2,285)          • 12 Drummers Drumming (per performance), $2,553 (last year: $2,475)          Online: http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com