[Northkeep] Happy Holidays

[Jerry and Teresa Herring]

Most Merry Salutations,

Kelandra and I wanted to give everyone of our Northkeep friends and family the very best wishes for a happy holiday season. Many of you lately have fallen on  hardship making this holiday season seem a little less festive than those in the past. We hope that this reminds you of  the most basic message of this holiday season, a message that can be offered no matter what your beliefs and that message is peace on earth, good will to all, and most especially a wish for holiday cheer. 

Tonight as we battled the traffic, the crowds, and the lines at stores for some last minute shopping things were getting really very frustrating it was at this time I remembered what Christmas is really about...and so when it was our turn to check out we got the same monotone greetings and asked if we found everything ok from the clerk at the register. My holiday cheer being a little lagging I tried to share it a little and saw this as an opportunity so I spoke to the cashier. Calling the clerk by name, at least the name on her name tag, I asked if she was doing okay and wished her a merry Christmas. I was rewarded with a smile (likely because she thought I was crazy) but still she brightened up and actually seemed to happier as she scanned our purchases. When all was said and done we received a wish for a merry Christmas from that cashier...something she had not said to the last three customers before us. Another opportunity came forth while setting at a toll both waiting for an uncomfortably long time for some one in a mini van to toss change into the machine (there was a least a minute or two pause) the people who were in the vehicle between us and the paused traveler looked even less enthused than Kelandra, and we all know how patient she can be. So I took the two quarters in my hand, exited my truck and tossed them in to the bin for the fellow wishing them a Merry Christmas as I dashed away. On my way back to my own truck the people ahead of me wished me a merry Christmas too. Since those two occasions I have been wishing people happy holidays, just random people, the clerk stocking shelves at Wal-Mart, the man smoking outside the restaurant, the store manager who had to tell us they did not know if there store would get anymore Transformer toys before the weekend. Every time you could see people brighten and I brightened too, although I was tired inside it really started to feel good.

So if you are a little down lately and just not feeling this Christmas season because of life then please just try doing some simple things like wishing people happy holidays, remember your fellow man for them things may be as bad or worse than they are for you and that one smile and warm friendly wish filled with Christmas cheer from you might be all the joy they get today. 

Again to all of you family, friends, and fellow folk of the SCA we offer our warmest wishes to you and yours for a happy holiday season.

Kindly,
Ian and Kelandra
Lord and Lady of Chemin Noir
Baron and Baroness of Northkeep