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The holiday season has always been a series of contradictions. On the one hand, as you grow older, you have the memories of seasons past — visions of sugarplums, etc., if you will, along with toys and Santa and crunchy snow on the ground and hymns and midnight Mass and…you get the idea. Then there are the visions of hope…a "things are going to be better" syndrome, so to speak. Even if you’ve gone through the Bob Cratchit thing and lost your job, you express the hope that (maybe begrudgingly) old Scrooge will have a happy Christmas and prosper in the coming year. The holiday lights contribute to the spirit here, of course. And there seem to be more of those this year. Look at the Seddio House at Flatlands and East 93rd, which seems to be brighter than ever. Go just down the same street to Avenue J and you can’t help but marvel at the house and lawn display there. The shopping strip on Avenue L between Rock-away Parkway and Remsen Avenue looks just great; better than it has in years (those "Heart of Canarsie" banners are winners!). Not to be outdone, the Rock-away Parkway shopping strip, from Conklin to Far-ragut, is as bright as ever and crowded with shoppers too. As always, their lighting and the crowds, crowds, crowds are making the season bright — for merchants as well as shoppers. The contradictions we speak of are so very apparent when we think of Iraq and other areas of conflict. These perilous times make us want so very much to see our members of the Armed Services back home and out of harm’s way. Their journey over there in the cause of freedom is what leads us to the meaning of the season: peace. This is also, however, a time of joy, with the spirit of giving and happiness and, yes, thankfulness. We do indeed have a lot to be thankful for. They tell us the economy is getting better (yeah, that’s what they tell us!). Hopefully, the Everyman Bob Cratchit will soon be rehired by a Scrooge who is finding more profit in his business than he first thought possible. His investments are paying off and good will is finally the name of his game. Mr. Big Deal Saddam Hussein was finally caught, and that’s good news (to Republicans anyway) Yes, there are contradictions at this time of year, the good and the sad. We can all, therefore, look to the heavens and be thankful for the positives and then we can pray together for peace on earth to all men of good will. Have a Very Merry Christmas!
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