A double dose of Christmas writings

Hello friends! Trusting that your Christmas celebrations were splendid! These might be better late than never, but I wanted to share my two stores that I wrote for the Christmas holiday. We'll go with some humor first and then get a bit more serious. I hope you take time to read them--this first one came out on Christmas Day!

Fantasy and Reality: a closer look at Christmas
By Belinda Serrano, Staff Writer

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" asked a little block-headed boy in the 1965 classic carrying his namesake, A Charlie Brown Christmas, by Charles M. Schultz.
 

Ask anyone this question and you will probably get a different answer each time. But the timeless holiday movie shares what we hope Christmas to be, what it has become and what it really is about.
 

As the film begins, the Peanuts gang is ice-skating in the snow. Snoopy is up to his silliness once again, while the pile of dust follows Pigpen. And while the sight conjures up the dreams of cocoa and fireplaces, snow is something we in West Texas rarely enjoy during the holiday.
 

Unfortunately, our main character is plagued by the Christmas blues--something that may happen to a family member or friend during this season. But as any "good friend" would do, the all-demanding Lucy van Pelt encourages Charlie Brown to get involved and direct the local program, even if she wants to run the show herself (and crown herself the Christmas Queen).
 

The kids gather, and Schroeder tickles the white ivories playing the all-too-familiar Peanuts theme song (wonderfully composed by the pianist Vince Guaraldi) as the regulars and a few other faces (because when else have we seen Shermy, that other little boy, and the twins with the purple shirts?) dance with glee. The music and dancing would be just fine in a normal Christmas celebration...but not in the middle of the Christmas play rehearsal.
 

Charlie Brown struggles to get the respect of his peers as he gets ready for the play, while Lucy manages to assign parts to the kids and even Snoopy, who takes on the role of the animals--which he thinks includes a vulture. And on top of that, Charlie Brown is aware of the commercialism that comes with Christmas, which doesn't help to quell his depression.
 

Snoopy participates in the lights and display contest just so he can win the top money prize. Even Charlie Brown's baby sister Sally has fallen victim to the greediness of the season, when she asks her brother to help her write a letter to Santa Claus asking him to send her money for her Christmas gift.
 

Lucy loved the idea of making money as she counseled Charlie Brown, and even concedes to the concept of commercialism in Christmas. But the play's director says no, and to steer in the opposite direction he goes out and buys a Christmas tree--a small, scraggly wooden "tree".
 

Just as he takes pride in his accomplishment, the cast has no problem sharing their disappointment in Charlie Brown and ridicules him as well as the tree. Thus, he's thrust back into the throes of depression and confusion.
 

Linus is also aware of Christmas being too commercial--even "dangerous", but he has an answer to Charlie Brown's question. It's the one many of us are familiar with, where December 25 is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus.
 

The boy who is inseparable from his blue blanket quotes the account found in the Gospel of Luke--chapter two, verses 8 through 14--in the King James Version of the Bible:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

After hearing the story, Charlie Brown is committed to defeating commercialism; the tree will be just fine. He also takes a stab at Christmas decorations, taking a red ornament from Snoopy's first-place winning decorations.
 

But in his hopes of bringing Christmas spirit, the tree flops over and he says he "ruined it". And as the kids come, they love on the tree and decorate it--redeeming Charlie Brown in the process and everyone realizing what really matters.
 

So as we all spend this Christmas day with family and friends...enjoying presents from Santa and the decorations, unwrapping presents and singing Christmas hymns and carols...may we not forget the reason for the season--the simple answer that Linus gives to his friend's question.
 

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

And here's the second one--a column I wrote that came out the Sunday before Christmas...

In Memory Of...
By Belinda Serrano
 
When I began writing this article toward the end of November, my intention was to be transparent when so many times during the holiday season, a simulated form of joy is thrown into people's faces whether they like it or not.
 
I was going to tell you about a person I knew who passed away right before Thanksgiving and its sudden shock (because there was no illness present, etc.) and almost-disbelief.
 
"And if I was feeling that surprised," I wrote, "then I could only imagine--or perhaps I couldn't even fathom--how the family was feeling."
 
But I never imagined that something like Sandy Hook would ever happen, changing the course of something small like this column and more so, the mindset of America.
 
This year, some babies aren't with their families. They're gone. Senselessness took over on that fateful Friday the 14th, gunfire rang out and innocent blood was shed inside the elementary school.
 
When everything unfolded that day, my Twitter feed was blowing up about a shooting in Connecticut. I didn't know the details, because as social media has advanced, sometimes the facts and information can't all get crammed into 140 characters.
 
It's a weird thing, social media. With the speed it harbors yet short information, I found myself glued to it. But right before I left my desk to cover an event, the tweets were coming in that most of the victims...were children in an elementary school.
 
Later when I went home and planned on getting some laundry done, I turned the TV on. ABC News was in a special report, and in those two hours I watched, I couldn't get anything done.
 
Here's one of the many reasons I'm torn over this: most of the little lives lost were around six years old, first graders. I take that to heart because my little nephew is that age, and I hurt to think that people lost little boys and girls who, if they're anything like Cameron, are so full of life and humor and full of love.
 
And for one of those little victims who was buried on Monday, I ache because he was a twin and his twin sister survived. I'm a twin too. We twins carry a special and unique bond, so I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to be separated from someone who's been with you since birth.
 
So (going back to my original column) when I think about it...the people who have lost a loved one during the holiday season--whether in Newtown or here or wherever, my heart goes out to those families. The joyous atmosphere and family traditions are almost marred by the remembrance of a loved one lost, shaping the entire occasion for these families.
 
To those who have experienced loss during the holiday season: I hope that you cling to what is good--the memories, the traditions, the joy. Please know that, for one thing, you're not alone. Others know what you've been through and what you're going through. And on top of that, God's hand of comfort is always there to reach out to you when you need it.
 
And for those of us who don't know what it means to suffer loss during this time of year, remember these people. Reach out to them through prayer, or words of affirmation, or service...any way you can. Remember that when your best-laid plans for the holidays are messed up because of a shopping snafu or food fiasco...for others, that is the least on their minds. They're trying to make it through one more holiday without the person they loved.
 
Let's put things in perspective this Christmas season. As we gather with family and friends throughout the holiday, remember those in need as we recall the birth of the Savior.
 
Merry Christmas to all of you, and--if I don't write a column between now and then--have a Happy New Year.