Merry Christmas
This issue is a little different than most typical issues of the Hillsboro Star-Journal.
That's because this week, we've been overrun by kids.
More specifically, we've been overrun by kids' Santa letters. It's a tradition that we enjoy carrying to another year.
Read these letters, and you'll see requests for all kinds of items, from Pokemon cards to Playstations.
We hope that you enjoy reading them as much as we did.
It's sort of strange to see pages and pages filled with these letters, but Christmas is the time of year when your ordinary schedule gets a little topsy-turvy. Things get a little weird.
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, here are a few recommendations.
— Eat what you want. Sure, for the rest of the year you'll count carbohydrates and fat grams and calories. But Grandma only makes that amazing divinity once a year. Auntie breaks out the mouth-watering pecan pie just for special occasions.
So dig in, and don't feel guilty. It's only for one day. A brisk after-dinner walk can help work that poundage off.
— Spend time with people you don't see very often. Sometimes we get into a rut — we talk to the same people at church after every service. We always sit by Cousin Betty at the dinner table.
Let the holidays be a time to shake things up. Send off a letter to that college buddy you haven't talked to in three years. Ask Grandpa how his golf game is — and really listen, don't just pretend to. Take the time to really connect with someone.
— Act crazy. Sure, you're a respected business professional 99.9 percent of the time. But that doesn't mean you can't play "horsey" with your 3-year-old niece or wrestle with the dog. Step out of your comfort zone and have some fun.
— Watch a favorite Christmas movie. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is always a good choice, even if you've already seen it 59 or 60 times.
— Remember the "reason for the season." Sure, that's a cliché, but it's an appropriate one. We celebrate Christmas for one reason and one reason only — it's the day of Christ's birth. And while you're remembering when and how Jesus was born, don't forget his ultimate purpose, which took place at the end of his life.
We at the Hillsboro Star-Journal wish every one of you a very merry Christmas.
— JENNIFER WILSON
