Editorial/Op
“Christmas Gift!”
By |
From as early as I remember, Christmas Day has begun with everyone in my family trying to be the first one to greet each other by saying “Christmas Gift!” before the other person could say it. This, of course, became a big game for us as kids, sneaking up on aunts and uncles, grandparents and parents, siblings and cousins, and blurting out loud and fast “Christmas Gift!”
The tradition is that the one who says it first receives a gift from the other person. I don’t think that has ever actually been enforced, but that is what it means anyway. As kids we had no idea what it was supposed to mean, only that it was fun and it was a part of our Christmas experience. The tradition started for me on the family farm on the Comite River right here in Central, where shouts of “Christmas Gift!” will again be heard next Tuesday. The tradition is now nation-wide. When I call my brothers in Virginia or Arizona or my niece in Pennsylvania on Christmas morning the phone will likely be answered “Christmas Gift!”
When I began publishing Central Speaks almost three years ago I had no idea how difficult and involved publishing a weekly community newspaper would be. I also had no idea what a wonderful gift the Central community was about to give to me…and to each other… as so many of you contribute your stories and share the joys and accomplishments of this community each week for us to publish. So I say “Christmas Gift!” …as you have already given us the gift of accepting and supporting us as your community newspaper.
To the pillars of Central who are still with us and to the generations before us that laid the foundations for this community, I say ”Christmas Gift!”…remembering that you have already given us the gift of Faith, Family, and Friendship upon which Central is built.
To the dozens of you who worked diligently for many years to incorporate the City of Central and create the Central Community School System, I say “Christmas Gift!” …knowing that you have already given us the gift of self-direction as an independent community and unequalled educational opportunities for our children.
To all of you who today give of your time and resources in our Churches, Schools, Civic Organizations, Charities, and even quietly in your own homes serving the needs of your families, I say “Christmas Gift!”…because you daily give your gifts to each other and to the Central community.
“Christmas Gift!”
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