Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

There will be tears in many eyes this holiday season. Both tears of joy and some tears of sadness. However, if we weren’t human we wouldn’t be having those kinds of emotions. For kids of all ages the holidays can be the times great and lasting memories are made. Perhaps the first gift that you will remember the rest of you life was waiting for you under the tree. Maybe it was seeing some of your relatives you’d never seen. Maybe it was visiting Santa. What ever it is the eyes of children sparking with joy and anticipation is one of the highlights of the holidays for me. For more mature people with less unbridled holiday enthusiasm holidays can occasionally become a chore. Especially when the budgets are tight and the requests are mounting daily. Still though generally the holidays bring out the best in us and folks appear to be cheerful despite what apprehensions they may be having. So lets give the fun side of holidays to those who let them be fun without the bah humbug approach. On the other side of the coin the holiday season can often be a very trying time for some. In today’s world there are a plethora of scenarios that can put a damper on even the most excitable person. Employment woes, financial stress, geographical separations from loved ones, families that are split due to many reasons and other equally hard situations. This can sometimes be made worse by the gaiety and pageantry that comes with the holiday season; the TV commercials, the brightly lit stores, the scores of holiday movies that show the good life are but a few. It’s hard for many. However this year my heart goes out to several communities here in the Northwest.To the folks in Lakewood Washington who are hurting from the tragic and senseless murders of four of their police officers. Their friends and acquaintances and their own families that were shattered will forever be reminded during the holiday season of their loss. Hopefully they will find peace. Closer to home, both Florence and Yachats are hurting from the disappearance of two men who never returned from a fishing trip prior to Thanksgiving. Their families and friends and neighbors will also remember the holiday season as a tough time for years to come. These individuals were part of the communities they lived in. They knew people from the stores, the post office, the coffee shop, and the people they worked for and with. In other words they aren’t just statistics from some far away place. It’s hard to put into words but perhaps we should all say a short prayer for those we’ve lost and try to give support and kindness to those that we still have with us. Joy to the world indeed can be used in big doses right now. Enjoy the holidays and please be safe and thoughtful. To reach Rick Schultze email: yarick@pioneer.net