Happy Hol... err...Chris...err...Oh, forget it.

I received a sales add in my e-mail today offering a dictionary of politically correct terms. I thought, "wow. There is a need for an entire dictionary!"

Before I go any further, I want to say that I am all for considering the feelings of others and being all inclusive. But I think that, as we do with so many things in this country, we just take it too far. The trend seems to be moving away from being considerate to being fearful. And not only fearful but extremely possessive.

Plus it seems that being politically correct is only okay when it works for the one trying to enforce it. Like this whole Holiday vs. Christmas thing. 

Personally it doesn't bother me if some one says Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. I don't understand why so many get upset about it. It is the holiday season because so many holidays fall into this time of year, so it is just easy to say "happy holidays". Plus Christmas isn't the only religious holiday that is celebrated at this time.

So, I don't feel it's taking Christ out of Christmas, as so many argue, but including all religions that celebrate the season of love, forgiveness, and faith in their own way. Isn't that the point? Not just the point of being politically correct, but also in celebrating Christmas? Not just Jesus' birth but what he stood for? What so many believe he died for?

This season doesn't belong to Christmas alone. And I think if the big guy were here he would say something along the lines of "celbrate the purpose and the meaning not the title and commercialization". Let's remember what it's really about, people!

If we concern ourselves with being truthful, kind, and generous all the rest will fall into place and we won't have to worry so hard to about what and how we say things. Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but it seems to me, those who really care are those that don't want it to be a two way street.

No one is trying to take over Christmas. Santa has taken care of that. We want to commercialize everything then complain when it happens. We celebrate a fat old man more often than the actual purpose of the holiday, but get steamed if someone puts 'X' in place of 'Christ' in Christmas.

Bottom line, no matter what you call it, it's about love. Let's not forget that.

Dedicated in memory...

Today is a hard day. It is the anniversary of the day my brother took his own life. But that isn't all it's about. Today is the anniversary of so many things. I watched my parents try to deal with a loss that, as a parent myself, I pray to God I never have to experience. I watched the battle over the little baby girl my brother never got meet. The lives of my family were changed forever. We were ripped into a million little pieces with no idea of how to start putting them back together. Every year that passes by I am surprised at the fact that it never gets easier to accept. It always hurts. I have learned to cope. We all have. That is what we have to do, because no matter what tragedy befalls us, life goes on-- even when we can't see how it could.

I miss my brother. I am sad that I never got to know him as well as I wanted to. We were just beginning, you see.  We didn't get along very well growing up, but as adults we were finally starting on a path to possible friendship. Not just sibling love but actual friendship. You can love your brother and still not like him very well. I would like to think we would have been great friends. Every year it is my biggest regret: that we didn't take those steps sooner.

As time goes by, however, I am able to see this day as something else, something positive. I will always wish things had not gone the way they did August 31, 2003.  I will always miss my brother and swallow that hard lump when I hear his favorite songs on the radio. I know that my brother is somewhere beyond imagining where the concerns of this physical plain are inconsequential at most. I take comfort in that. I understand that the grief I feel is over the loss of him here, now. I believe that he is free and surrounded by love.

My wish for this day then, is that it serves as a reminder. Let it serve as an urging to take those steps my brother and I were unable to. APPRECIATE! Be Thankful! Because tomorrow, you might not be able to.  If we live each day with the intent to say what needs to be said and do the things that truly matter, then when the time comes you won't be left saying, "I wish we had only..." 

LOVE. Love like it matters because it does. It matters most.

 And FORGIVE. Forgive, because true love is not possible otherwise.

Dedicated in memory to my big brother, Ryan. Until we meet again...