Christmas 2019

Bea asked, “Anything in particular you want for Christmas, Harry?”

“Tina asked me the same thing. I can always use stamps. Otherwise, I’m open. I have you and I’m very satisfied.”

“Thanks, Harry. That means a lot to me.”

“What about you?”

There was a pause, long enough for me to wonder what was going on inside Bea’s head. Finally she said, “Harry, I love you and I’m glad we’re together. You are everything to me. The only thing I want for Christmas is a piece of paper that tells me I’m Mrs. Harry Gill Wright. I want to marry you, Harry. On Christmas Day would be wonderful, but any time will do.”

The above snippet comes from the novelette Bottom Line, which can be found in Trio in Death-Sharp Minor (Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries, Book 2).

It’s all about love. And where would we be without it? Love for our mates. Love for our parents and siblings. Love for our children. Love for our friends. And love for self. We mustn’t forget that. In fact, it all starts there. If we don’t love ourselves, how can we truly love others?

The Christmas story is one of love. And whether or not you believe the story doesn’t matter. Because the story is universal. The story expresses our deepest longings. That this world has meaning and our hope that things will get better until peace ultimately triumphs, along with human dignity.

Harry and Bea are two people with messed up love lives. Each is despairing of ever finding the one to spend their lives with. Then they find each other. Right in the middle of a murder investigation where Bea is a suspect. And their meeting is very nearly love at first sight. 

Perhaps it’s a bit unrealistic to think two people with wrecked marriages and broken love lives can find each other and live happily ever after, but that’s why we read fiction. Isn’t it? Besides, isn’t that the point of the Christmas story? There’s hope for those of us who’ve messed up our lives. There’s always the possibility of a fresh start and to live happily ever after.

This holiday season finds us with wars and rumors of wars. Horrible atrocities being committed in the name of God and everything else people can think of. 

Nothing is safe. Disney Plus was hacked and info from many, many accounts was stolen. Russian hackers can infiltrate a computer system in 18 minutes, the North Koreans in 2 1/2 hours, and the Chinese in 4 hours. That, my friends, is scary stuff.

Dissatisfaction with the 2016 US presidential election, on who won and who lost, is still in the news. In all of my 67 years, I’ve never seen the like. Which tells me people are growing more and more intolerant and abusive.

And in spite of the fact we are in very good economic times, with very low unemployment and a high GDP growth rate — there is fear and uncertainty everywhere. 

However, the Christmas story tells us there is a very real possibility for there to be peace on earth to people of goodwill. The story tells us there is hope all of our concerns and fears will vanish in a new age that will dawn bright and glorious.

The Christmas story is at its very base a story about how we see ourselves. The dreams we dream, and the aspirations we hold out for ourselves.

We have a choice: we can see the glass half empty or half full. Hope is what helps us see it as half full.

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, wrote: Life is opinion. Or in other words, life is what you make it to be. If we all practiced the Golden Rule; if we all treated our neighbors as we ourselves want them to treat us — then there truly would be peace on earth. That’s something to think about. Maybe that’s how we need to live in 2020.

Thank you for being with me this past year on my writing journey and letting me share a little of my life and interests with you.

May your holiday season be filled with joy and may you find peace, prosperity, and tranquility in the new year.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, may peace and joy fill your days!