A toast to my blog friends – those who have passed through my little corner of the world and those are remained. To friendships, to good people, to kindness, to respect, to dreams, to happiness, to good health, to a brighter tomorrow, and to love.
Happy New Year!
Which version of Auld Lang Syne to you select?
Singers
Singers and Bagpipes
Bagpipes
To me, the December holiday rush is about the season of goodness. Some see it through a festival of light, others through a Nativity scene, others through the secular side of a Christmas tree, others through darkness of nature and Yule, and I’m sure other ways exist. Whatever the perspective, this is the season for joy, light, renewal, and hope.
I know that Christmas is a Christian holiday. Although I am a Christian, so my thoughts will cause some skin to crawl, but I also see this holiday time as the season of goodness that goes across humanity regardless of religion. A season of goodwill to all – l season of gratitude and appreciation of others – a season …. And at the head of the holiday parade is Santa Claus – the Spirit of Goodness.
Santa is for Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, Naturalists, Christians, and anyone and everyone else believing in a positive humanity. Yes, Santa is for everyone!
For me and to many others here, it’s Merry Christmas – but for others its’s Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Happy Solstice (or Yule), or simply have a blessed holiday. In my final Christmas post in my little corner of the world, and being one believing the majority of the world is good, I wish everyone bountiful goodness during this holiday season with the greeting that suits them.
Below are some of my favorites for the season. For me, the gift of music for you is me. Whether you watch all or some, please let me know your favorites.
Christmas Canon (Trans Siberian Orchestra)
Silent Night (Placido Domingo and The Piano Guys)
As a ballroom dancer, I must include the light-hearted Christmas Waltz featuring a variety of clips from holiday movies.
In the spirit of the Winter Solstice, enjoy A Fire For You (John Boswell).
Ever since I saw this performed live, I love it – a Nigerian carol by the Morman Tabernacle Choir.
O Holy Night (piano solo with beautiful images of deep space).
Silent Night (Mannheim Steamroller – a long-time personal favorite arrangement featuring images of nature)
Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the US, so many families will gather for a bountiful meal.
Thanksgiving is a day that begins the holiday season.
Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate the harvest.
Thanksgiving is a day of happiness and gratitude.
Thanksgiving is a special day to give thanks – to consider our blessings. Although that is something that people (including me) should do more often. Then again, others struggle on this day for a variety of reasons: especially loneliness and health. Let us be thankful for our blessings and keep the troubled in our hearts.
With this being my last Thanksgiving in my little corner of the world, I am thankful for the many good people I’ve encountered on these pages. I feel very blessed – and an extra special thank you to my regulars today and in the past.
A Thanksgiving blessing to all!
As the waves come ashore to wash away 2018, the year officially moves into our memory bank. A year that marked 10 years in my little corner of the world here on WordPress. A good year of writing, memories, and interactions with many good people.
A year featuring of 158 posts (I think) included 24 more beach walks, a tour to notable US national parks, and an outstanding tour in Eastern Europe. A year when Pronouns awakened the sleeping giant known as blog musicals. Some of my favorite topics to post included religious liberty, common good, buying food in Venezuela, a teacher’s day, a 4-part series about the US as a Christian nation, 1968, containers, my career of 2 halves, lead & follow, ballroom connections, and several attempts at fiction. Remember any of those?
If all goes well, 2019 means more beach walks, more travel, another musical, and the introduction of the aFa Weekend Concert Series (which starting this coming weekend). For the inaugural event, it doesn’t get any bigger than The Beatles.
Sometime in 2019 will deliver the 400th weekly edition of Opinions in the Shorts. New posts in final preparation include Oreos, shopping carts, race music, samba, water, shadows, dark, a look at me during my college days, and a toast to 66. 2019 could deliver visit #400,000.
As we say farewell to 2018 while greeting 2019 with open arms, Happy New Year to you … and may goodness continue to shine! Enjoy The Tenors.
On these pages I have stressed this point many times: “I believe the majority of the people in the world are good.” Regardless of the bad news we receive on any given day from any given place, I continue to maintain that statement as an important mantra.
Not only to I believe the majority of the people in the world are good, I also see Santa as the Spirit of Goodness because it is that spirit that touches all.
It is the season of Christmas across Christendom – and yes, Christmas is a religious holiday – and yes – I am Christian – and yes, I embrace Christmas a secular holiday for all.
Whereas some Christians (and I believe the minority) complain about the commercialism while proclaiming, Put Christ back in Christmas, I say there is plenty of room for everyone in a secular Christmas because Santa – the Spirit of Goodness – is for everyone. Santa is for Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, Naturalists, Christians, and anyone and everyone else.
During our recent trip to the Czech Republic, were told (multiple times) that the vast majority of Czechs today do not identify themselves as religious – let alone associated with a religious community. Yet – they embrace Christmas. I’m confident the Czech example if not unique – but rather very common because they embrace the Spirit of Goodness that the season brings.
Mannheim Steamroller’s version of Silent Night is one of my favorites. Below are different videos to the same song. I hope you pick one (and let me know).
May the Spirit of Goodness be with you not only during this holiday season, but throughout life.
The original
Beautiful painting of the season and live wildlife
Featuring the Aurora Borealis
More religious
A Frank Angle 