I turned 27 last week.
Several people (all older than me, mind you) have commented that that is still a remarkably young age, but I question that line of thinking. So much has happened in those 9,859 days, 236,250 hours and 14,191,200 seconds – and most of the memories made along this journey we call life bring me joy.
Without interjecting my personal opinion on the true meaning of Christmas, which I know varies wildly for many, I believe we can all agree on that three-letter word as the holiday’s premise – joy.
Joy is a hard word and feeling to define, but for me, many memories from past Christmases help bring me joy, a feeling that I try to carry with me beyond Christmas day into the other 364 days of the year.
One of those Christmastime memories involves the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, which is highlighted in this special publication. For several years during my childhood, my grandparents would take my cousins and I on one of the Driving Tour nights.
We’d ooh and aah at the lights and figurines, and take turns leading hilariously awful renditions of Christmas carols. I don’t know how my grandparents tolerated us. But, those memories are priceless, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
While you read more about our area’s wide array of Christmas events in this publication, consider the joy that attending these festivities could bring you and your loved ones. There is no shortage of opportunities in this area that I am privileged to call home.
I’d like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Holiday Season and Very Merry Christmas.
Morgan Bryce
Editor