It is that time of year again when we silence the telephone, turn on all
the Christmas lights, and settle back to enjoy the one and only TAGS
Christmas episode. We used to say that we wouldn't even allow the dog
to bark during this magical episode, but we no longer have a dog.
Still, after all these years, I cannot watch this show without tears.
It reminds me of a wonderful childhood in a small, Mayberry-like
community, and I am blessed by those memories. It is an era and a
world my descendants may never know or understand. And somewhere in
that great Mayberry Heaven above, my dear parents and grandparents are
celebrating once again, just as we did in the olden days. As Madeleine
L'Engle once said, "The great thing about getting older is that you
don't lose all the other ages you've been." How true! How true!
Our Mayberry memories live on forever, still alive and still fresh.
The past year has been very trying for us, including a very difficult
surgery, a few family issues, and the Great Flood of September that
wiped out 1/2 of our house. We lost thousands of items -- office,
computers, files and documents, family keepsakes, hundreds of priceless
photographs, antiques, Victorian reed organ, CD collections and stereo
audio equipment, audio and video recordings of the performances and
productions I've performed and directed, Brenda's extensive childhood
doll collection, her original Beatles records, documentaries and albums
from 18 exploratory journeys in Europe, and yes, even our trips to Mount
Airy and Mayberry Days and our conversations with a fellow Coloradoan,
Maggie Peterson (Charlene) . . . . and the list goes on and on. Thanks
to dear friends, family, community volunteers, and the Grace of God, we
are survivors, and we count our blessings. We look forward to a better
new year.
To all my friends at WBMUTBB and TAGSRWC, we wish for you a wonderful
and blessed Christmas, and a happy and healthy new year. God bless us
all, everyone.
Larry in CO
(Larry & Brenda Gillum; Longmont, Colorado)
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