By Eric W. Schoen
I was looking forward to writing a very positive column for our Christmas-New Year combined edition this week. I thought we would all be gathering with family and friends which it’s hard to believe we haven’t done in close to two years. People freely traveling to visit their loved ones like any normal year.
But as I sat down earlier this week, all I could think of is that we all need a ‘Linus Blanket’ right now. Don’t tell me you don’t know what that is! If you are not familiar with the Peanuts comic strip, no better time to turn on your 75 inch television and watch ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ this week or next.
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz. The strip’s original run extended from 1950 to 2000, continuing in reruns afterward. Peanuts is among the most popular and influential in the history of comic strips, with 17,897 strips published in all. It is referred to as “arguably the longest story ever told by one human being”.
The phrase ‘Linus Blanket’ denotes an object, or occasionally a person, depended upon for reassurance and comfort. It was named after Linus van Pelt, a small boy who carries a blanket for comfort in the Peanuts comic strip. No one even Snoopy the dog in the strip can snatch away the blanket from Linus.
There’s a lot going on in the world today, particularly in the area of our health. I’m not going to go into the details. I’ve done it via these columns so many times. Not that you shouldn’t stay aware of what’s going on in the world. Pick up every newspaper, turn on every television and radio station, turn on your iPads, iPhones, Laptops, Desktops and you will find what you need to know.
But we all need a ‘Linus Blanket’ for reassurance and comfort. Things are going to be alright. Whether it be a physical blanket like Linus used, or just someone to talk to when we are feeling down. Many of us if not all of us are in a state of confusion. We don’t know what’s going to happen next not only with ourselves but with our families and friends.
If you have watched ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ you know Charlie Brown doesn’t have a big Christmas tree adorned with lights and bright bulbs and sentimental ornaments and tinsel like many of you have. He picks an unattractive Christmas tree to decorate. To Charlie Brown, The selection of the tree represents a protest against the commercialization of Christmas.
Yes, Christmas and Chanukah have become commercialized. Just this week I picked up a four foot Chanukah Menorah inflatable that will adorn my garden area next year. Did I need it? No. Have I lived without it for 61 years? You bet! But my hope in purchasing it is to share the joy of my holiday with others. And since this was the first time I ever saw one and it was on sale I thought I would buy it to have a little something new to look forward to brightening my holiday next year.
We have so much to be grateful for this Christmas and for the New Year. Things we take for granted and that many people in the world don’t have. We have food on the table, and that table will be full on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
If you read this column weekly like many of you do maybe we won’t have cream cheese to make a cheesecake this year, though friends tell me it is abundant in the market. Or to schmear on a bagel or maybe a slice of Panettone as some friends I have do when they get up Christmas morning. But there will be plenty of food on the Christmas table, whether it be fish on Christmas Eve or turkey and fixings Christmas Day.
We have great hospitals, doctors and nurses to care for the sick, and first responders whether they be EMT’s, firefighters, policemen and others to keep us safe. We have public works employees who keep our streets clean, and government workers who aren’t subject to be thrown out of office by a dictator or a tyrant. We have freedom to walk the streets!
How many people in the world don’t have a place to live. A roof over their head. We might not live on 5th Avenue but we know we can come home at night and not have to worry about the rain coming through the roof of where we live. Heat keeps us warm during the winter and air conditioning keeps us cool during the summer.
Look at the water we drink. Is there ever any concern for its safety? We can drink it, cook with it and cleanse with it not having to worry about contamination. How many people in the world don’t have the simple amenity of water readily available that they can consume without fear?
We have vaccines including the one we read and hear about everyday that keep us free from illness from birth throughout our lifetime. We have medications available to us and a government that’s helps when we cannot afford them.
As we prepare to enter 2022 we have much to be grateful for. We often take for granted what we have, moan and complain not thinking about those who are not as blessed as we are.
Yes we are going through a rough time right now. This, too shall pass. Sometimes our lives can be made better by simply turning off the negative news and putting on music to uplift our spirits. Taking a walk through our beautiful parks or simply going outside and enjoying the beauty around us. Children playing. A mother pushing her new baby in a carriage. A couple coming out of a church or synagogue having just been married. Or a couple walking down the street holding hands or simply sitting on a park bench in love.
Let’s lift our spirits this new year by trying everyday to do something good for someone else. Never forgetting to do something good for ourselves, children, families and the ones we love. Think about that everyday but just don’t think about it. Do it!
And find that Linus Blanket. It’s ok in these difficult times to depend on it for comfort and assurance. We all need it right now.
I thank you for welcoming me into your homes every week. I hope I can make you laugh, maybe bring up a reminiscence that will bring tears to your eyes, and for a few moments take you on a journey that will let you forget your troubles and come on and get happy! Forgive me if I make a mistake. The New York Times with a much higher circulation than these Rising Newspapers makes many mistakes. Special note of gratitude to Editor Dan Murphy who is a one man band putting the paper together and making sure it gets to you assisted by Bayan Baker.
Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and yours. Pray for people everywhere!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
