‘I say it is a cold winter’s night,’ Chet exclaimed. ‘Winter may have just begun, but it feels like it has settled in for the long haul,’ Chet continued. ‘I remember Mom sitting by the window on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa Claus,’ Chet smiled. ‘Her dedication to Santa was complete,’ Chet noted. ‘My watching her by that window with the red candle in it caused me to know that St. Nick was the genuine article,’ Chet winked. ‘Our Christmas Tree could be seen behind her in the living room,’ Chet commented. ‘When I saw the red candle in the window, my heart was happy.. Mom was waiting for me to come home for Christmas,’ Chet reminisced.

‘Neva J loved the Christmas Lights of Eldorado,’ Billy B said. ‘Each year we would drive slowly through town and admire the festive glow,’ Billy B smiled. ‘Her face was the brightest light at Christmas,’ Billy B observed. ‘Neva J waited for me each day as I rode the bus home from school,’ Billy B recalled. ‘I could rely on her to be home to greet me as she rested before preparing supper,’ Billy B said.

‘Times are hard and things are bad,’ Jane said. ‘It seems the light has gone and we are foraging in darkness,’ Jane continued. ‘When Mom was here, I knew what to do,’ Jane said. ‘Mom had an unshakeable sense of place,’ Jane laughed. ‘When trouble arose, the warmth of the kitchen lights and the coal stove in the corner warmed the little table,’ I had many pieces of holiday coffee cake sitting at that table with Mom’s radiant, calm face,’ Jane beamed. ‘Mom caused worry to evaporate with her quiet, calm love,’ Jane whispered.

‘It is quite a slippery road we are on, and we slid onto a side road that I did not know was here,’ Billy B observed as the car abruptly stopped. ‘I see a red candle in the window and the glowing lights of a Christmas Tree in the background,’ Billy B observed.

‘The news on the car radio said that President and Mrs. Kennedy extended Merry Christmas wishes to everyone,’ Jane said with a quizzical look of happy lights in her eyes.