By Editorial

Next Tuesday morning, many of us will be with our families and friends, our children frantically ripping open presents under the soothing glow of a lighted evergreen. Outside, the winter air will be still and an unusual quiet will pervade in the aftermath of yet another hectic shopping season.

Welcome to Christmas 2001, our traditional Christian holiday that beckons “Joy to the World” and “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Christmas may mean the holiday blues for some, but it comes as a welcome relief in a year that has been anything but joyous and peaceful. Between the Sept. 11 horrors and the onset of recession leaving thousands out of work, few will be left singing, “It was a very good year.”

However, silver linings are starting to emerge in our collective dark cloud. The stock market has shown some signs of a rebound in recent weeks, leaving economists optimistic about a recovery sooner rather than later next year. Our military forces are tightening the noose around Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network, or so we’re told, and the nightmarish reign of the Taliban in Afghanistan appears to be over. Now, if only HP could settle its family feud and Jason Giambi hadn’t signed with the Yankees.

In light of what’s happened, it is important for us to enjoy Christmas as usual. The reason to celebrate the birth of Christ has not changed.

So how will you spend your Christmas day? Walking off the big turkey dinner? Playing with the kids? Fiddling with the new gifts? Browsing the Web?

The children of Southbay Christian School are spending a portion of their Christmas day volunteering at the Community Services Agency in Mountain View. The agency will be doing what it always has been doing: caring for needy residents, many of whom are just scraping by, jobless, poor and often forgotten.

Some folks at Los Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center will be spending their Christmas alone and physically incapable of doing much more than passing the time.

Some of the groups supported by the Town Crier Holiday Fund will have a brighter Christmas because of community support.

As bad as this year has been, it could be a lot worse. For those in good health with family and a place to work, there is little about which to complain. For those who have these fortunes and live in Los Altos, there is even less about which to complain.

So as you get set to celebrate another Christmas, be very thankful for what you already have.

The Town Crier staff wishes all our readers a special blessed and peaceful first Christmas of the new century.