Getting Into the Spirit

The world has been focused all week on the capture of Saddam Hussein in his spider hole outside Tikrit. It was the news to which we awakened at the beginning of this week; with everyone I know asking for a definition of spider hole. We heard the news in Washington, D.C. where we were for a visit with friends and a holiday party.

While we were at the party, we both were surprised by the fact that while Saddam’s capture was definitely important, it was not the focus of conversation. That still remained economic factors, company troubles, and pending layoffs. While we were all glad Saddam was in custody, what everyone seemed to want to know was when were we really going to see economic growth? When would companies quit lay offs? When would companies start hiring again so that everyone could quit working so hard?

The market has burst through 10,000 which is all very nice but when do we really begin to feel relief?

I am not sure how it is across the country but there has been, here in the east, a lack of holiday cheer. The lights are up this year but it doesn’t seem like the hearts of folks are in the spirit of the season. Instead of Ho! Ho! Ho! it seems the Grinch may just have managed to steal Christmas this year. At least at this moment it seems Scrooge before his visit from the ghosts is dominating the season. Bah humbug!

Tripp stopped at a department store earlier this week to pick up something but his purchase was delayed by a fracas between the store manager and a furious customer over an expired gift certificate. The customer was carted off in a squad car while the paramedics carried out the store manager on a gurney. Ah, joy to the world!

Saddam may be captured; the market may have topped 10,000 again but that news has not, at least to the people I know, relieved their underlying concerns. We are still feeling economically vulnerable and job deprived. Friends are facing the new corporate mantra: we’ll give you the same services but with fewer people. See our stock rise! Ho! Ho! Ho!
That has been the mantra of the MTA in New York to commuters: you won’t even notice that we have fewer people! It is the pain friends at media companies are feeling – continue filling those hours of programming while we continue not filling the open jobs. May be next fiscal year. Ho! Ho! Ho!

This is the season when we want to be singing “joy to the world” and as the Holidays close in upon us, we are, I think, searching in our hearts to find the joy of the season. I know I am.

While I am not as cheerful as I have been in other years, I suspect a good dose of Christmas music will help restore the magic.

At least I’m hoping so. I also know returning to Claverack will help as will getting the tree and putting on the lights and ornaments. These are the physical actions we rely upon to bring us into the joy of the season. While it seems to be taking more work this year to get there, I suspect we will. One year is ending, another is about to begin… Many of the world’s major religions are entering one of their holiest periods and believers are preparing to celebrate.

Downtown the unveiling of the plans for Ground Zero will happen, hopefully ending the dysfunctional feuding between the architects though we don’t really think so. We are, I think, actually beginning to enjoy the architectural soap opera. It is so completely a New York story that we can’t help but embrace the drama.

While Saddam has been captured and the market has broken through the 10,000 barrier, the real focus is upon this season and despite the humbug in our hearts we will, because we are human, rise to the occasion of the season and find hope in our hearts.

Happy Holidays.