Merry Xmas (or whatever you celebrate, just celebrate!)

[Brian Cordova <blessedbrian@yahoo.com>]

  "We see a lot of things in this profession Miss Mona.  But one 
thing I ain't never see, man nor woman, and that's a grownup."

  --Jewel the maid after Miss Mona complains of Ed-Earl being "a kid 
playing at being a grownup" in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 

  No matter what your thoughts may be of the film itself, I have 
always loved that particular line as I find it to be so true.  
Somewhere along the line, we decide that we are "grown up" and can't 
enjoy the things that once brought us much joy (facing the dementors 
seems to be a part of "growing up").  

  When I was little, I loved Mary Poppins.  Then I "grew up" and 
decided that it was just to corny and too much of a kids movie to 
enjoy anymore.  Yet something very strange happened to me in my mid-
thirties.  I saw it again only to realize (real eyes?) how much I 
still enjoy it.  Having no children, I did not have the excuse of 
only wanting the kids to see it.  I wanted to see it again!  Screw 
what anyone else thought (including my own fearful thoughts of what 
it meant to be a "grownup")!   I was rediscovering the slightly 
misplaced art of being a kid, no matter how old my body got.  I still 
had the responsibilities of an adult, yet was I learning that one of 
those responsibilities was to be true to myself.  And that included 
allowing the little boy in me to come out and play at times.  

  I had heard of the Harry Potter series for some time, yet passed 
them off as "kid's books" and never thought too much about them 
(although I did find some Christian fundamentalist's responses to be 
quite interesting).  I didn't see the first film at the theater 
(though buying the DVD unseen and thoroughly enjoying it) and it was 
at the request of a fellow employee at work that we saw the second 
one.  Something nabbed me this time and I immediately went out and 
bought the books (and have since been back twice to see the movie, 
not to mention having thrown on the DVD several times as well).  My 
best friend/roommate and I read them all within two weeks (and are 
now within our second reading).    

  So what can I say?  The best Xmas gift I can give today is the gift 
of enjoying the magic of childhood.  

  No matter how old this "child" may be.

  A magical holiday one and all!

  Brian:-) 

  "Those who can laugh at themselves will never cease to be amused."

  --unknown