i originally wrote this last year about this time, but it’s a new blog and i really like what i wrote even if it’s not that good. enjoy.

i watched “a charlie brown christmas” the other night. i can honestly say that it’s not really christmas until you watch that. i had a conversation with some friends about this. you can’t just watch it on a dvd or anything, you have to wait for it come on tv on its own and sit through the commercials and everything. then, and only then, can it really be the christmas season. it’s really funny too. it’s probably the worst animation i’ve seen and most of the voices sound completely unbelievable. but there’s just something about those little oddly proportioned characters, isn’t there? and who can’t relate to charlie brown thinking there’s something completely wrong with him for not getting into the christmas spirit when everyone around him is only interested in money and presents? i think it’s awesome that this thing was made almost forty years ago and it’s still so meaningful. it’s very easy to get caught up in the gifts and stuff. but then there’s that little ray of hope that there’s more to it than that. charlie brown yells in desperation if anyone can tell him what the real meaning of christmas is. then linus gets out in front of everyone and shuts them up by telling them what the real meaning is. right when he’s done with his little speech, there’s this brief moment where it’s completely silent. right then, if only for a fraction of a second and regardless of how they feel at any other time for the rest of their lives, i truly believe that during that silence everyone actually believes that God sent that most special part of himself to become a human baby and completely surprise the entire world. so thanks charles m. shultz. i’m sure he’s already told you “well done good and faithful servant”

song for tonight: “christmas time is here” by vince guaraldi trio