christmas

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Listen to the ramblings I make when I am alone. Tell me what you think of them, and I will forever be grateful.

Back

 After a long (unexpected) vacation from this site, I'm finally back. My PC's working fine (for now), and up to now I can't figure out what went wrong. Who knows, maybe it was a random fluke.

But anyway, I'm back, and I don't want to worry about that problem anymore. It still annoys the hell out of me, but since I can't figure it out, I'll leave it alone.

In any case, it's Christmas once more. It's the season of joy. It's that time of the year when everyone is a little nicer, a little kinder. It's that month where we pause and reflect on the past year.

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Christmas

 However, this year Christmas has not been the same. Last year people were all tuned to the ongoing impeachment of President Estrada, and the whole economy felt the drop of the peso. This year, Christmas is turning out to be one of thrift and pocket-pinching.

Personally, I've always liked Christmas. Every year, come Christmas-time, I would be at my aunt's house in BF Homes, Paranaque, with my family and my cousins and their family. We would have a sumptuous Noche Buena. Stories about relatives, friends, acquaintances would be traded. Opinions concerning hot issues would be passed back and forth, but not debate, definitely not debate.

Christmas is always magical. I have not regretted a Christmas in my life.

And I will never forget Christmas last year.

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A wondrous moment

 Last year, something happened. Something magical happened. It was one of those things that I can never explain completely. It was also one of those things that I cannot narrate, for personal reasons.

Last year, for a brief moment life was perfect.

Last year, for that brief moment, chasms were closed and wounds were healed. Past sins were forgotten, and we rejoiced because it was Christmas.

How I wish I could tell you what happened. But I can't.

What I can tell you, however, is the beauty I felt.

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Beauty

 Before you make that toast six days from now, before the clock hits twelve on Christmas Eve, remember that life is brief. There are certain moments that transcend time and space. These moments are those you keep. Sometimes— a lot of times— they happen on Christmas day. Because one moment transcends all Christmases. In that moment, the world was changed forever, my world and yours.

In that moment, a baby was born in humble beginnings.

Last Christmas, I remembered that. Christmas suddenly gained new meaning, as I looked on my cousins and my family. I saw the beauty, and the love, and the hope. I saw that Christmas was a powerful thing.

Last Christmas, a prodigal child returned. Last Christmas, a family was reunited, even for a small moment. Last Christmas, someone knew his family. Last Christmas, the world was a better place.

What would this Christmas hold for us? What would Christmas hold for me?

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