A Christmas Eve sentiment

The enchanted forest along East Washington Street here in Greencastle is merry and bright. Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

Fixing to getting some work done on this Christmas Eve morning, I have gotten back into the office after having a hearty breakfast at Bert and Betty's over in Fillmore.

I was happy to receive a bag of sweets as a gift from Jackie and Amanda, and I will be nibbling on them in the coming days. Some sugar is part of a complete holiday diet.

It made me feel good to give the girls, Daryl, Montica and Merlin jars of home-mixed cocoa powder. I got Jared, a general music nut, a gift card to Headstone Friends in Terre Haute, I hope he takes his kiddos to let them get a sense of what it meant to be cool in the 1970s. Nicole got some homemade chicken rice soup mix I made for her.

I was in the giving mood this year, and others are generous at least in character. A gentleman took the effort to catch up before I left the restaurant this morning to return my lip balm I dropped. And he did so still with a simple "Merry Christmas."

I keep going back to this year's Christmas Festival of Music & Readings up at Wabash, which I attended three weeks ago. I was thankful to have the opportunity to catch up with a good Delt fraternity friend I hadn't seen in a while, as well as professors and other acquaintances. It was much more about being involved and having a little faith.

The holiday spirit reached out to me in other ways. The Cloverdale Christmas parade was one of them. The office party we had last Friday afternoon was another. The Ferrand's enchanted forest provides some cheerful light along East Washington Street.

My family and I will be having what I've been told will be a tasty dinner, and we will also open our presents before dad has to go to work. Until 3 p.m. at latest, I'll be compiling our recap of 2019. This Christmas Eve will be productive in that respect.

All of these things keep reminding me of what the holidays should be about, and what it means for different people. This is despite the controversies - here and over in Washington, D.C. - which are still kept fresh in our minds and our attitudes. We can look at these different meanings objectively. However, it's the sentiment that counts.

I wish a Merry Christmas to those of you who follow this blog - including the haters - and to our loyal readers, and hope you can spend some quality time with your families.

I'll have the Beach Boys' Christmas spirit take us out. I have to get back to work.