Two weeks to the Big Day. Hope swells in the hearts of children young and old. A Christmas Story is one of my favorites for the Holidays. Ralphie dreams of owning a Red Rider BB Gun. His mother informs him that he will shoot his eye out. What a quandary.

There is the Major Award for the Old Man or the Leg Lamp. A fine art object of rare beauty and unique curves Ralphie discovers. Suddenly it falls and breaks…all seems lost…along with Bumpas Dogs eating the turkey… Christmas is over. Yet there is the Chinese restaurant with a cooked goose with the head attached. Where there is a will there is a way. Christmas is saved!

So it goes. Reversals happen daily. Life is unique, with its twists and turns, as we often learn. When care is getting you down a bit, stop awhile, but don’t quit.

I remember when Neva J swore she would not cook Christmas dinner on a cold December 25th. She announced we would eat out at Two Tony’s Smorgasboard. In those halcyon days, two were in West Frankfort and Carmi, Illinois. Early advised that most restaurants closed on Christmas Day. Neva J would hear none of it. She was on a crusade for Christmas Dinner served to her…all you can eat…

We drove to both of the Two Tony’s where a sign in the window proudly informed that the staff was home with their families enjoying Christmas Dinner. We drove over Southern Illinois with no room in the Inn.

Poor Boys saved Christmas for us. A market in Harrisburg was open. They had ground chuck by the pound. Neva J fried it up and we had some delicious Christmas Burgers.

Earl’s brother Denny invited us over to his luxurious home in Eldorado. It was decked out for Santa. Beautiful Christmas Trees and Christmas Ornaments. Hot chocolate and apple cider with Christmas music playing.

A bit of Grand Marnier is good at Christmas. The orange Holiday flavor adds to the season. MJ and I were in St. Charles, Missouri Thursday and our favorite restaurant had been sold. They no longer had my traditional Grand Marnier. I have corrected my loss this afternoon.

I remember when a BB Gun was a big deal! I recall when a Big Swinger Polaroid Camera seemed unattainable. I remember when I had to save my pennies to produce a dime to purchase a glass of whole milk at the restaurant on State Street.

Who can we bless this Christmas? How can we be the Angel of Christmas to someone forgotten…