re you ready?

ID you get everything in
time? Are you ready for
Christmas?

Did you buy. that 1999 mega-4X4
truck with 0%. purchase financing up
-to' 48 mops? Did you save like
Scrooge om that $59. 99 CD
’ < Boombox? /How about the snazzy lit-
‘tie cellular’ phone offered. with 60
days free local calling? That'll look
just dandy dangling from a loved
= one’s belt, and junior will really be
smiling with those wickedly sweet fat

) Skis snapped to his feet.

_ Stop: Take a deep breath and count
your blessings: your family is heaithy-
and. relatively -happy. They really
don’t need more stuff, They’re acta- .
ally. drowning in “diversions and
entertainment ‘options. They just

y
But did you ‘manage to. “Bet those

iy tot

like op
metchants’ and. administration ‘for’ hosting the fourth ©
With. the: the. purchase ofa.

annual “Night of, Worldly Delights.”
Sit t unity’ affair: ir

ni
ani from India’ ey ignited
the lation of: the

VIEW POINT—

gift certificates for the personal fit-
a trainer? Did you buy the mini
binoculars for the sports enthusiast
on your list? Did you splurge on the
real chocolate bedy paints and the
luscious soaps and candies?

Have you decided to celebrate the
coming of 2006, new millennium or
not?

Are you sct up for the gala celebra-
tions for New Year’s Eve?

Is there any room ieft at the inn for
that last-minute getaway?

Have you prepared for the Y2K
bug bite come the dawning of Jan. 1?
And if it all proves to be a disastrous
fizzle, what will you do with all of

‘that canned food?

Step back.
“Will you give everything that
counts — love, encouragement, ||
empathy — in time?

.

CHECK UNDER.
RESING...
FRANKINCENSE

-—————————

WHAT ABOUT NE
SHIPPING: POES &
URS DELIVER To

TERUSALEM 7} :

(NRE...
MYRRH.

=} _...cow Lo

Tweet... — \y
on Z

Grump nets g grip on |

': THE Old Grump reached into
the cold night air and felt
around cautiously for the tex-
ture of Christmas. Ah, that
“.) -frust be its: velvety
“! and ced
_ Nor thar it was
exactly a material thing.
Ic was insubstantial yet
“peculiarly real: Between
thumb and forefinger. -
-he abruptly. couched the
discovery that he kad~
not much xpected.
Chri I

4 aye buy, b Y:
i: features pilwor

ni sized xtrava;
xclusive stores in:

téned knowledge th: ‘Mommy
Ose: gifts ‘and!

iy fad bon t
4 d them und ars the tree: lik

‘To say nothing ‘ :
from Chri eploring thar S. Ke hi

‘3 ;
in Santa Claus,’or’.
infancy. i

e

swarmed over J.C., the baby Jesus not .
only forgotten but deliberately obliterat:
ed from cards wishing “a happy holiday -
season,” alive to the sensitiviues of every .
race and religion and of course those of .
ecnvinced atheists, “*

mast rigid of all believ: |
ers. Instead of “Come, ,

all ye faithful,”: the
hymn wa: Let no, one.
-be offended.”

New, Year’s, othe

- ¢ustom Was sure: to™

: chatty advice
‘media ‘on‘how to pay,
off that huge bt:

“this: Indeed stich arbor had con=.

beted t naki Fe ek!

i irritating to him;

his.affections overro
inadequacies.
Ic was, mostly pcople:in th faceless.

_, abeerace who were sullen an oe