Now it feels like Christmas...

          Since my early days as a red headed kiddo, I remember sitting with our family in front of the TV and watching my two favorite Christmas shows - "A Charlie Brown Christmas" & "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Last night, our two youngest grandkids sat with us as we watched them on DVD. I could see the look in their eyes - much the same magic as i felt as a child. An incredibly content feeling, cuddling with them and singing along. 


  Two scenes that have always struck a chord in my heart (one from each show) - 


The first is from "Rudolph...", in which Clarisse (Rudolph's young doe girlfriend) tries to console a dejected Rudoph by singing to him.

 For whatever reason, the tune "There's Always Tomorrow" always gets me tingling. After tucking the grandkids in for the night, I did a little research on Clarisse. A little known singer named Janet Orenstein was the voice that tried to encourage Rudolph  to see the bright side. What struck me is that Ms.Orenstein had passed away just last year, on December 30th. I would've enjoyed writing her a simple letter, thanking her for such a beautiful melody that has played in my head a myriad times since first hearing it in the 60's. I also took some delight in telling my wife about my discovery that CBS had just aired the show an hour or so before we had viewed it with the kids on DVD. Useless info, I know... but it tickled me... (and this, being MY blog....)  (I'm just sayin'...)


Clarisse singing to Rudolph...


The other scene that is near and dear to my heart is from Charlie Brown - poor Charlie Brown can't seem to do anything right, and is ridiculed for picking a seemingly pathetic Christmas tree for the stage play the kids are performing. Yelling in frustration, he asks, "...isn't there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about!?" Linus grabs his blanket, walks to the center of the stage & quietly explains the story, quoting Luke 2:8-14.  Seeing this played on public TV each year gives me chills.

 It would be enough for me to see a cartoon character explaining Jesus' humble beginnings & the story behind Christmas, but adding to my appreciation is the fact that Charles Schultz, the creator of the Charlie Brown characters, was upset with the network executives who were to air the special, who wanted to 'tone down' the biblical references, including the actual quoting of scripture. Schultz threatened to pull the show completely if it weren't allowed to air as written, stating "If we don't tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?"


Linus explains the true meaning of Christmas...


Thank you, Charles Schultz... in a day and age when there is a movement across this country to eliminate crosses and any reference to biblical scripture, you are a pillar among men. Your creation continues to send a simple message that the world so badly needs these days. 
I've strayed from the original intent of this entry... but to recap - 
* Thank you, Janet Orenstein and Charles Schultz...
* Despite the snow last week, despite putting up Christmas lights on 4 different houses, despite the music, and  the packed parking spaces at the mall.... it just didn't seem like Christmas until I watched my 2 fave shows with the grandkids...


Merry Christmas, my friends...may God bless your holidays! 


NOW it feels like Christmas...