I vividly remember one Christmas...

Back in '69 when I lived in Front Royal, Virginia. Christmas eve and it
was snowing, snowing, snowing. My family and I were headed off to church
for the candlelight services. The snow was already several inches deep
and showed no signs of letting up, but that didn't stop my dad from
maneuvering the station wagon down the hill where we lived and into
town. I recall all the neighbors' Christmas lights twinkling through the
fog of snow.

The radio was tuned to a station that carried the official government
NORAD broadcasts of where Santa's sleigh was last spotted. I imagined
some NASA Mission Control-type room with radar screens and Air Force
guys all watching Santa make his way around the world. Rumors were
flying that year in Mrs. Barnett's First Grade that perhaps Santa was
not real; I was confused and didn't quite know what to believe. On the
one hand, Santa's hand writing looked suspiciously similar to my
mother's. But here was the North American Air Defense Command actually
reporting that they'd spotted 9 objects in the skies over the North
Pole. It must really have been Santa. It was the government, it was on
the radio, they couldn't do that if it wasn't true.

It was one of the few Christmas's I remember with such fondness. Quiet.
Expectant. Tense. Excited. Magical.

Several times today, I sat before my own computer screen, typing in
numbers, waiting for the results. Tracking an object from up North and
headed for me - and me alone. It's got 750 miles yet to go; right now
it's in Salt Lake City having arrived tonight at 8:49 aboard trailer
#288130 - kinda heavy too at 847 pounds. It left Harrisburg, PA on
Tuesday at 6:30 in the morning. That's making pretty good time. Before
Tuesday though, it sat in Harrisburg for almost 3 days. I'm glad I
didn't have the information at that time to watch it sit there day after
day. It all started the journey on the 28th in Toronto, which is pretty
near the North Pole, right?

Tomorrow will find me right back at my computer checking on #288130's
progress past the wheat and potato fields of Utah, Idaho and Oregon -
alongside the Columbia mile after mile - making it's way toward Mt. Hood
and Stump Town. Probably won't make it's way to the Chehalem Valley 'til
Monday, but I guess I can be patient for a few more days. Quiet.
Expectant. Tense. Excited. Magical.

We age. We tell ourself we're wiser; not as easily fooled; perhaps feel
our excitement with life's events have dulled over the years. But, when
it comes right down to it, that 7 year old never grows up; never lets
life chase away the anticipation and delight; just can't resist taking a
peak inside to feast upon what is to come.

--
Owen Lowe

Northwest Woodturners,
Cascade Woodturners,
Pacific Northwest Woodturning Guild
___
Tips fer Turnin': Pour your end-grain sealer into a clean, wide-mouth
clothes detergent bottle. The lid makes a handy dipping container for
your brush and the leftovers will drain back into the bottle when you
recap the jug.