91原创

Every December, traditionalists lament the latest challenge to Christmas. There are surely culprits in our politically correct world, but for this one, don鈥檛 blame the Jews. The truth is the Jews love Christmas.

Visitors gasp with wonder when they enter the Ross Bay Villa. 鈥淚t鈥檚 stunning!,鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 a trip back in time!鈥� or just, 鈥淲ow!鈥� they exclaim.

Of all the gifts we could give our kids at this time of year is an understanding of the importance of simple generosity of spirit.

I spent a big chunk of my morning moderating comments on this story . It was partly because when talking about sex, you have to mention sex, which triggers our language filters and flags the content.

To a parent, providing comfort and joy to a child can be the only meaning of Christmas. When a loved one enters what Shakespeare called second childishness, providing comfort is a challenge. Joy may be out of reach altogether.

For such a jolly fellow, Santa Claus sends a grim message: Get on my bad side and you鈥檙e off the gift list. At best, you鈥檒l get a lump of coal.

A friend recalled the great Jimmy Breslin鈥檚 concept of recounting people for whom he no longer had any time. It strikes me as a healthy, cleansing way to close out the year. So here鈥檚 a 鈥�2013 List of People With Whom I Am No Longer on Speaking Terms.

A friend rings me in December every year and warbles, 鈥淪anta baby, slip a sable under the tree for me.鈥� Her sometime-Eartha Kitt, sometime-Madonna Material Girl imitation morphs into one of a 10-year-old requesting a hippopotamus for Christmas.

At first glance, the National Energy Board鈥檚 thoroughness of the review the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project might seem comforting, but with conditional approval of the project, British Columbians have serious reason to be concerned 鈥� parti

Regardless of our faith tradition, this is a very special season of the year.