Christmas 2012

Throughout Christendom, tonight’s sacred commemoration is well underway. Christmas really doesn’t need any introduction nor does it need any defenders. It is a pure miracle and proof that we are unconditionally loved by God.

Of course, long is the list of criticisms of our society’s holiday observance: commercialization, too secular, divisive to multiculturalists, etc. There is also an oft-posited, but untrue, statistic that suicide occurrence is highest during this period. Actually, according to the Center for Disease Control, December sees the lowest occurrence of individuals taking their lives.1

This is not to say that there is any lack of yuletide emotion as family rituals evoke warm feelings and mourning the loss of loved ones seems more acute this time of year. Tears flow from joy, reunions, kindness, sadness, tiredness, sugar crashes, and the meltdowns from poorly chosen gifts for volatile tots.

I think about those who reschedule their holiday plans due to work, travel challenges, or other reasons. To the nurses, EMTs, police, firefighters, pharmacists, doctors, soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guard – to everyone looking after us – I raise a glass of thanks and offer whatever I can to help you have a fulfilling holiday.

There are those whose holiday is interrupted by commerce. Help desk workers, gas station attendants, over-the-road truckers, cinema staff, members of the media, power station workers, train-bus-airline personnel, and a broad variety of other tradesmen and professionals are away from kith and kin for our convenience and comfort. A second toast, to be sure.

There are accidental interruptions of holiday plans and there are those who haven’t options – and in all cases where people don’t find themselves happily planted, we send our encouragement and good wishes.

Of course, the least important part of Christmas is the calendar. I quote our thirtieth president, Calvin Coolidge:

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.2

I know I tread close to the familiar (perhaps banal) recriminations that some chest thumpers routinely and annually offer about the “true” meaning of Christmas vis-à-vis societal practice. Not my intent. I just want us all to cherish the miracle as well as appreciate the women and men whose holiday routine differs from the norm for so many reasons.

Have a great holiday . . . I offer two links to earlier Noel minded posts. God bless.

Luke 2: 1-20

A different sort of Christmas Story








1 - http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/holiday.html
2 - http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_christmas.html#4jtC9dr5XDgG87Xj.99
Christmas lights image reported to be in the public domain and available here:  Lights

Unfathomable is the new black

Details will unfold through the coming days and weeks related to today's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The victims will go from a collective of 27 to individuals with names, families and unrealized futures. While five victims short of the Virginia Tech massacre, this has its own special horror as 20 of these victims are reported to be between five and ten; apparently, they were killed with mechanical nonchalance one after another in two classrooms.

There is a new extreme in my mind’s spectrum of terror as I envision these frightened and confused little boys and little girls watching their friends’ murders before suffering their own.

We want to know why this happened and we want to know now. Many have already decided. Take your pick from the usual suspects: a perceived out-of-control prevalence of firearms; suspect video games that desensitize players who spray bullets at digital foes; perhaps the effect of early life bullying on the shooter; how about lax parenting or the allure of fame through 24/7 media coverage; it might be substance abuse; it's any of a cornucopia of emotional disorders, etc.

It sure would be nice if we could pick the reason, fix it, and forever be done with the problem.

I expect that since 1927, this sentiment has been a recurring hope in our society. I pick that year because in mid-May, 1927, Andrew Kehoe, a member of the Bath Township, Michigan school board ignited three bombs that killed 38 elementary school students, two teachers, and four others. This ranked as the number one deadliest non-military massacre in U.S. history until overtaken by Oklahoma City and 9/11. Let’s see, 9/11, Oklahoma City, Bath Township, Virginia Tech, now Sandy Hook Elementary in fifth place. The Aurora, CO Theater shooting and Columbine had twelve deaths each.

Most won't (and certainly I don't) remember Bath Township, but every other incident on this macabre list has happened during my conscious lifetime and I’m certain that most of my readers share this experience.

Does your stomach hurt tonight? Do you need to wave tears from your eyes? Praying? Hugging your children? I hope so – I hope we all are having an awful evening and that we are not getting desensitized nor are we leaping to (or trying to profit from) preferred or emotionally-convenient causation theories.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Bath Township details from here:  Bath Township

Image reported in the public domain and available here: Image 

Potato Leek Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

8 medium Russet potatoes
6 medium leeks
Half stick of butter
2 medium onions
8 cups chicken stock
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk (skim or otherwise fine)
Pound of bacon
Salt / Pepper
Sour Cream

Get a big ol' soup pot. . .melt butter in the bottom. . .

Add minced leeks and onions (I use a food processor) and saute for 10-15 minutes - until the aroma starts to make you crazy (or, onions are transparent);

Add shredded potatoes (again, I use food processor). . .or, slice/chunk them up. . . don't bother paring - but, it is a good idea to wash them;  Toss with onions/leeks/butter.
Add chicken stock. . .bring to simmer for 30-40 minutes.

This next part can be tricky.

After the potatoes are softened, you can use an immersion blender to puree right in the pot.  If you don't have said appliance, you can ladle into your regular blender and puree.  If you use your regular blender, you'll need to puree in batches - do NOT fill more than a third of the blender. . . otherwise, you'll have hot soup spraying around your kitchen.  Yes, I did.  No matter how you do it, get the potatoes mostly all pureed - some chunks are OK.

Cook for a while. . .stir, have a glass of wine.

Take off heat, let cool overnight.  Have more wine.

The next morning, make coffee, check your email, and put the pot on the stove over low heat.

Add the cream and milk - stir thoroughly.  Have more coffee.

Cut bacon into half inch chunks and cook over medium heat in your favorite cast iron skillet.  If you don't have a favorite, learn to commit. Do not burn!

Drain bacon - add drippings to soup. . .it does seem naughty, but it is well, well worth it.  Stir.

Reserve cooked bacon to garnish soup.

Cook for a while - stirring as you remember (low heat, don't burn). .. taste often and see if you need salt or pepper - most likely, you do.

Serve warm with bacon and sour cream garnish. . .  enjoy.







All images reported to be in the public domain and found at the following websites:  

http://publicphoto.org/vegetables/leek/

http://inspireandindulge.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/jons-homemade-bacon-basil-pesto/

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=8795&picture=potatoes