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Commentary Too - Dec 20, 2004 - Printable Version
- Honey, if That's the Grinch Knocking, Would You Let Him in?
by Robin Buckallew
Yesterday, the most amazing thing happened. Some might even call it a miracle. And it happened right here, at The Faulking Truth. It caught many of us off guard. We got swept up in it. And the response was incredible. Yesterday morning, many of us were feeling grouchy, irritable, out of sorts. We were stressed by the season, and stressed by events that we are unable to control. No one can deny that this year has been one of high expectations and hard blows for all of us. It has been hard to feel too much cheer and goodwill, after all the letdowns and disappointments of the past couple of months. There is much fear and much despair in the world. Who needs Christmas? Who is really feeling like celebrating, anyway? But the world expects it of us, so we get in our car and head to the mall. We come back feeling even worse than when we left, wondering what it is all about anyway. So, the Grinch came knocking. The Faulking Truth let him in. (Actually, we welcome everyone with open arms, but some of them just don't seem to want to stay). To tell you the truth, I have been feeling the strain myself lately. For the past couple of weeks, I have been considering hanging it up, saying goodbye to Global Warning, writing a farewell column and moving on. It begins to seem sometimes like you don't get through, like you scream loudly and no one hears. But the Grinch heard. And he responded. (By the way, the Grinch needs a better press agent - he really is a very fine fellow. See the ode I composed to him below). After my article a couple months ago, "Don't Blame the Grinch", things just sort of drifted along, floating gently into the holidays, as each year is wont to do. Then, just when the season began to feel totally overwhelming, Down the Middle fired the first shot. If you haven't read his column, "And So This is Christmas", be sure to check it out. I posted a response in the guest book, prompting the editor, Mark, to finish a dangling article, "Three Simple Words". The guest book exploded. We heard from old friends, and from new ones. We attempted an exorcism on "The Ghost of the Christmas Present". And we began to seek the star.
It becomes evident in this commercial day and age that no Christmas star (or any other star, for that matter) could ever possibly be seen through all the glitter, neon, headlights, and streetlights. So, those of us at The Faulking Truth are going to turn off the faulking lights, for an hour, on Christmas Eve. We are going to look for the star. We are going to reflect on what it really means, and see if we can rediscover what is really important. In fact, some of us have already, since yesterday, rediscovered what is really important. And guess what? It isn't something you can get at the mall. Wal-Mart doesn't carry it. It can't be found on E-bay, or at Amazon.com. No, what is really important is all around us, every day. It is love. It is caring. It is cherishing the dear little things that each of us do that make us who we are. What is really important is my beloved soulmate with whom I shall share my quiet Christmas. What is really important is Kelsey Faulk and her dad. It is Down the Middle and To The Left. It is Ken Shade, who has been as dear a friend as anyone could ever hope for (thank you, Ken, for everything you have ever done and everything you have ever been). It is Lily and Leigh and Amber and Cecilia and Mike and Jimmy B. and Darren. Suddenly, without even turning off the lights, I am seeing thousands of stars, shining brighter than all the neon the world can provide. The Vegas strip has nothing on the Faulking Truth.
So, for anyone who has not yet joined in the promise to turn off the lights, consider this: Join us in the search for the brightest star. We will be sitting in the dark on Friday night thinking about each other, thinking about you, thinking about the Grinch. We will shut off the lights, 9:00 central time. Help us darken America. Help us darken the world. Help us move to a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps, if we will it hard enough, we will even manage to shut off all the neon. So, in the immortal words of Tiny Tim, "God Bless us, Everyone!"
DON'T BLAME THE GRINCH
Who stole Christmas?
It wasn't the Grinch.
When the Grinch took the tree,
He came through in a pinch.
Christmas was stolen by men with their ads,
Reducing the season to marketing ploys.
Christmas was stolen by men with the stores,
Hoping to see houses filled with their toys.
I don't blame the Grinch,
No, not in the least.
He did us a favor
When he stole the roast beast.
With the fooferall gone,
I can enjoy the sight
Of a very bright star
That now shines in the night.
You can't find Christmas inside a box,
You must look deep within your own heart.
Thanks to the Grinch, we now all can see
What should have been clear from the start.
(Editor's note: If you haven't read Robin's article "Don't Blame the Grinch" read it now. www.faulkingtruth.com/Articles/GlobalWarning/1014.html It's the perfect pre-holiday reminder of what should be important to all of us. And, Robin, thank you for everything. Our readership has grown every month for the past four months, so someone is paying attention We might never know what good we ultimately do, but we have to keep taking that leap of faith that we ARE doing some good. And I can say unequivocally that you HAVE made a difference. Please don't leave us! )
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