Dakota Beacon

Hello, friends and readers!  Merry Christmas!  Yeah!  Christmas is back!  Who’da thought?  So since we never know whether the next government will abolish it altogether, as in China or Iran, we should try to observe this in the most traditional and lovely way.  Let’s at least begin by greeting each other with “Merry Christmas”, and, perhaps, for those of the Old Testament, “Happy Chanukah”.  We have that right.  And so, I wish you both.  Oh, and please get together with your friends and family this year - you never know.  

One of the traditional ways we observe the birth of Christ is with gift giving.  In fact, sometimes the tradition which began with the Magi tends to dominate our attention.  Maybe this year presents will be fewer and simpler “due to C****-*9”, so maybe they need to be thought out carefully.  One of the best things we can do for our children is to give them the gift of our rich heritage of literature.  Find a non-updated copy of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn.  Find some other literature which emphasizes our Western values, even lighter works such as Nancy Drew (if you can find a classic edition).  The rousing adventures of Robert Louis Stevenson - Kidnapped or Treasure Island or for older kids, maybe some of his deeper works - The Master of Ballantrae or maybe Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Or a book of his poetry.  Other ideas might include American poetry, or maybe Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.  Please look for a non-updated version of any classic, by the way.  One never knows what has slipped into these “updates”.  Little Women, by the way, is a truly great book for anyone, although it is usually read by girls, it holds an important message of our American values, values which should never be thought of as “dated”  We actually are entering a period more like our Civil War (the setting for Little Women) than we have ever seen before or since.  For another idea, English in origin, is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  Again - look for a faithful edition.  This carries a lot of political fodder for conversation - re-read it yourself!  It’s accessible on many levels, but it is primarily written for an adult intellectual mindset.    Books on American history and biographies of great Americans would be great to receive right now.  We need to get this message to our kids.  And consider giving any kid old enough to read a copy of our Constitution.  Seriously.   Every American citizen of every age should have this.  I am giving a subscription of Epoch TImes to a relative.  You can support freedom of the press at the same time you give a valuable gift.  

Every birthday and Christmas I give each of my children a piece of silver for their respective dining sets - it is a custom begun by their father and me when they were very small and while they enjoy the beauty of each piece, it adds something else in terms of insurance.  There was a time a few years ago when only my mother's sterling silver saved her home from a tax sale.  Times change.  Silver is great, whether as a coin collection or as something to use every day and enjoy.  I recommend this!  You can take silver with you easily if need be.  Sometimes it has been their only gift - but they still have it today.  

If you are able and can provide the kind of home needed, consider adopting a pet.  Pets teach children to be kind, to be patient, and to take responsibility.  Somewhere there is a lonely kitten or puppy longing for a home.  Perhaps you can work on a project to feed wintering birds - look at your garden center for ideas.  

Also fun is ethnic food!  My brother sent me some interesting stuff from Florida and I sent him some Norwegian delicacies unavailable down there.  I'm anticipating some treats from my brother and sister in Mississippi too!

If you have a child who loves music, CDs of some great music, jazz, classical, or other genres would be fun.  And if your kid has a passion for music, maybe an inexpensive guitar and a set of DVDs by Frederick Noad on how to play it - a lifetime of joy is a great gift.  Or, if you have a keyboard or a piano, consider “Piano for Quitters” by Mark Almond, a DVD which will teach anyone, child or adult, or even senior citizen, how to play the piano beautifully and with pleasure.  

Take this valuable time together with your kids or nieces/nephews, to find out what inspires them - what they like!  Listen, do a little talking yourself.  Reassure them that we live in a great country even if it is going through turmoil.  Let them know that this is still a time to celebrate and tell them that life will continue and we all need to fight on for our freedom every day.  

This year we have a special phenomenon to witness - the reappearance of the Star of the Magi - an event that has not happened in 800 years.  Think of that!  What was going on 800 years ago?  Genghis Khan was living, and would for another seven years.  In England, Henry II was laying the first stone of Westminster Abbey.  Frederick II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Honorius III.  Maybe it has been 800 years since we have needed a reminder as greatly.  Let us at least all try to take a look tomorrow, Monday, at this amazing event.  And try to find hope in it for the future.  It will return in about 500 years, it is said.  Maybe we will need it then, too.

So, on that “note”, I will close with some relaxing (we need that!) holiday music.  I wish you a Merry Christmas and every good thing for the year ahead.   Pour yourself a glass of wine, warm cider or eggnog and sit back and listen. . . and think.  Merry Christmas, 2020.

Some holiday music to relax by and a fire, should you need one.  Please share!

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