Well friends, that was a Christmas or Channukah or general celebration to remember. For all persuasions, all around the world, we have a little something to remember. The days around this time of year will take on extra significance in each of our private histories. Grandmas and Grandpas will have stories to tell, “Remember that Christmas we were so broke?” (Auntie Mame) I am given to understand that winter solstice is a pagan celebration, that Christianity hijacked the celebration, that Channukah is usually a minor celebration in the Jewish calendar, that Ramadan only sometimes occurs near mid-December, that Kwanzaa and other events may not be high holidays or occur near the solstice. I don’t even know what the Hindu do? Whatever it is that we do separately, whatever it is we usually do, we all did it but we did less than in previous years. We cooked less, we ate less, we bought and gifted less, we drove less. We flew less. I can imagine that only a few folks put on sack-cloth robes and gathered at the Stone Henge. There were fewer turkeys sacrificed, a couple of pigs lived to wallow another day. There were latkes left over to put in the freezer.
It was not a bad time at all. Each of us made it through, or we didn’t. That is the way of it. At every juncture the whole of our existence there are the same conditions. Some of us make it through, some don’t. There is plenty to eat or there is not. There are many people dead, there are many survivors. I glow today. I am feeling odd today. I am feeling that this is the way of life, that no time is better, no time worse…we only have different times.
This winter solstice was different than most. In one huge wave, we flowed sort – of together. For one moment, one season, one year…the entire of human beings were slowed down together. It is world-wide and synchronized. We each had to stand clear a bit, stay home a bit, keep distance and do less…a bit. There were fewer planes, fewer cars, fewer horse or ox-drawn vehicles. The skies were clearer, the moon brighter? Nay, probably not that much. There was, though, less of everything and it was universal. Interesting. We have proven that an advanced creature can work toward the common good, once, for a brief time. It’s a win. A small win. Infinitesimal but a win.
I had a good time, this late December and I hope you did, to. I ate less, traveled less, saw way fewer people and treasured the time all the more. I guess I was pretty lucky.
Robert On The Air 