shHHHHHH! I think I hear Santa out in the living room!

I love getting up early on Christmas morning. Been doing it since I was an excited little kid, anxious to come out into the living room at the 6109 and see the Christmas tree all lit up, the manger scene all lit up, and everything else real quiet.

I have especially loved the peaceful quiet couple hours in my 20-something years as a Dad. There is a deep feeling of comfort and gratitude when you are a parent and the rest of your family is sound asleep in warm beds on a cold, snowy winter morning and you are sipping coffee and staring out the window at the fresh falling snow and just thinking about life in general.

I guess you morph and change and go through a bit of a progression in your life as to how you view Christmas. As a kid, it is just brilliant color - lights and presents, jingle bells ringing, church all lit up and festive and decorated. Red and green dresses, bright ribbons in your hair, starched white shirts, blue slacks, sweaters, shiny black shoes. As a teenager, a lot of those presents turn into clothes, money, in this day and age lots of ipod downloadable music, dvd's with the first 87 seasons of your favorite tv shows (note to parents: kids don't watch tv on tv's anymore, they watch it on computers, dvd's, hand held devices - weird, I know).

Then many of us come out the other side of childhood and teenager- on into young adulthood. Some of us come out kicking and screaming, trying to hold onto those days and those memories as a kid growing up as long as we can. The importance and focus of me, me, me, hey what about me? What did you get me for Christmas? kind of fades for many, and something inside you turns a bit. You start heading a bit more toward the true north of pondering and reflecting on what the spirit of the season really is all about.

Giving? Is it the season of giving? You see such inner kindness come out in people as they tromp out to the MOA's in their lives, the e-retailers, the little shops along Grand Ave (Tavern on Grand, Dixie's, Billy's, oop's sorry, I'll stay focused on shops on Grand that actually sell trinkets and Christmas presents and such, sorry), and of course the street vendors in Cali to find the perfect gift for the perfect someone in their life. You see people ringing bells in the cold outside the grocery stores for the Salvation Army, you see people singing Christmas carols at the nursing homes, you see people dishing up food for folks at the Dorothy Day Center.

And then for the grand finale, there is the human giving of oneself to another person, or for another person, or for a cause. We are an Easter people as we celebrate Christmas each year. As we morph into teens and young adults and not-so-young-adults (that's me folks!), and we have the true spirit of Christ and of Christmas stamped deep into our hearts from all those family moments and family gatherings, we look into the eyes and the souls of those same folks who raised us and gave us all those presents and all those brightly lit memories, and we give back the best and only gift we've ever had to give -- ourselves. We look into their eyes, and sit with them on the couch or out on the porch, or take a little walk, or write a little letter, and share a little laugh, and we ask them "how are you doing? What have you been up to? How is life treating you?" And we tell them a bit about our own lives, they love to hear how we are doing and what we are interested in, how things are going.

So I realize that Christmas day is only one day, and it's all over in a hurry... or is it? Can't you bottle it and pull it forward into the rest of the year? Into the rest of your life? I would think based on the natural laws that govern the heart and the soul that if the Christmas spirit has moved deep inside your heart that you could not help but carry it with you throughout the year.

Daughter located, right where we thought we left her

Daughter #1, the first lady of all things righteous in the world of math, sex in the city, John Mayer and Joe Mauer, is spending her first Christmas away from the homestead. Always a significant event in one's life, a key inflection point as children orbit out into a world and life of their own over time, usually takes place at some point in the 20's. I remember when I did it myself a few moons ago - 24 yrs young in the hills of Colorado, did a little skiing with a nice family that was kind enough to adopt me over the holidays.

So where did K go you ask? She matriculated down the left-hand coast line of Colombia, down along the Andes Mountains, stolen mango and all to a quaint little town called Pasto, she's almost to Ecuador for goodness sake. This girl has wings, literally. She has been to more countries already in 22 yrs of living than I've been in well, let's just say in math terms more than 2x that there 22. Like that's more than double to put it another way; like that's more than 22 plus 22 if you will. Sorry, trying my hand at teaching math there for a minute.

Wait a minute - she's going even farther away from the epicenter of Rad's Nation? Wasn't Cali far enough? Where next, the south pole to check on the penguins (no, not the hockey team in Pittsburgh Mario)? You would think that she would be traveling home at Christmas time. You would think that she would be with loved one's at Christmas time. Well my little Bethlehem friends, watch closely, because the hand is faster than the mind -- actually what I mean to say is the heart is faster than the mind. Some believe that a miracle actually happened on this day long ago - that somehow, someway, a savior was born, to a human being, to a beautiful young, incredibly brave woman named Mary (p.s. and please bookmark this - the Virgin Mary is one of my hero's and one of my most favorite people EVER - think Magnificat and you are there with me NOW). Do you believe in miracles? Really? No sense gettin' up tomorrow unless you believe. Cuz over here on Rad's street, just one street over from E Street - we will let you in on our little secret WE BELIEVE. We do, don't mean to get to heavy with ya' all, but Christ is kind of a big deal around here, he lives with us, in our hearts.

So who is Kristin with at Christmas time? Who are these pilgrims, these 3 kings on the road to see the newborn baby that were so gracious and so kind to take this traveling little girl in to their homes and into their hearts? We have never met them in our lives, but we know them. They are our brothers and sisters, they are pilgrims on the same journey we are - to live in peace, let me say that again, think LOUD - TO LIVE IN PEACE. Not war, not a police action, not a border skirmish, not arguing, not fighting, not bickering, no across-the-aisle yelling and screaming out there in Wash D.C. Isn't that why HE came? Wasn't that a big part of the message? Wasn't it something about do unto others...? Take care of your brother... where there are but 2 or 3 gathered in my name... there I will be. There but for the grace of God go I. If you want justice you have to fight for peace. Peace starts at home, in your own family. If you can't do it there, you can't do it in foreign countries with strangers. You can have Peace, BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. And you can't DO IT BY YOURSELF - YOU GOTTA HAVE HELP.

So that little geographic piece of magic I was talkin' about a few hundred paragraphs ago - Kristin is home for Christmas!!! Yep, right before your very eyes. If she can show up unannounced in NYC, she sure as heck can show up here for Christmas. See "here" is our hearts, see "here" is with other people, no matter who they are, no matter where they are, that are people tryin' to live a decent life, tryin' to help others along, tryin' to live the way Christ taught us. Being taken by that same Christmas miracle that little up the mideast a few thousands years ago a whole heckuva lot better than any darn missile or rocket or bomb could light it up today. He lit it up with PEACE, he lit it up with LOVE, he lit it up with HOPE. And that flame hasn't burned out yet, and here at Rad's Nation, we always keep the home fires burning (that's usually because Terese has a candle burning somewhere in the house....), and home is where the heart is. And in our hearts is our dear, dear, brave daughter Kristin. Guess what? She NEVER LEFT! She's been right here in our hearts all the time, she's just out being a disciple, doing her job, brining a little love to the people down south.

I'm going to close with a bang, forgive me if this brings a tear to your eye, but please know my intent is to put joy in your hearts at this very special time of the year. If you think that was something in the way of geographic slight of hand and magic tricks, there's one more that you should be aware of as you lay your heads down on your pillows tonight, as you say your prayers, and tuck your kids in, and squeeze them just a bit tighter than you usually do, and stare out into the beautiful, starlit night and all that fresh snow -- and you will realize that if you have the Christ child in your hearts, our dear and beloved friend, and one of the most spiritual, loving, caring beings I have ever been blessed to know -- Grandma Liz never left either. Yea she changed zip codes, I get that. But she never, ever ever left our hearts. Why would she? She was there already, helping us along everyday, making our way closer to God. And she's still doing that same work. Honor her, honor her memory by living in peace, and working for peace every day of your life. Don't you ever forget that. God Bless all of, and to all a good night.

Christmas Snow is the best

Now then, yes I have spent my time in the Mudville 9 doin' my share of complainin' about the weather in Minnesota - with a special more hostile diatribe reserved for the winter months -- that's typically approx Oct-May if you're scoring at home gang. One time back in '84 (knock it off, that's 1984, not 1884, I'm not THAT old, geez...) I came out to lots of snow on April 30th. I calmly said to myself as I brushed the large amount of very wet snow off my car, "that's it, I'm outta here". It took me a few months, but in late Nov/early Dec I packed up everything I owned (think: casette tapes, records, stereo, 2 pairs of jeans, 5 t shirts, most of them baseball related and a couple of really bad polyester suits) in my '82 Honda Accord and headed west (young man) by way of Iowa and Nebraska and touched down in my new home in Denver, Colorado. Many of you out there (who are still keeping score at home) are going "huh?", "wha? the Hel$??" I thought he said he did not like winter all that much, why didn't he veer south to Arizona or somethin', he stopped in snowy Colorado? What an idot, obviously geographically challenged.



Not exactly, I did not say I hated winter, I said I've spent my time complaining about portions of it. This morning here in the 651 we woke up to that beautiful, pure, stunning blanket of white snow to welcome in Christmas Eve. Just enough moisture in it (the Strib used the phrase "jacked up on Gulf of Mexico moisture" - god that's like beat poetry, what a line) so that it is hanging in the trees - I love it when that happens. I bought a pair of snow shoes a number of years ago exactly for these kinds of occasions. Tromp around in the woods with them once in a while, get off the beaten path - of both life and the path in the woods. Good for the soul. You ever notice how nice the snow looks when you do not have to drive in it? Don't have to get up early and go to work and fight it? Just sit back and relax and enjoy it? Peaceful, serene, Dickensian, stoned immaculate.

Gotta go shovel, get some bird seed out for the various critters in the backyard, thank goodness we have firewood, blueberry pancakes, coffee, red wine and chicken noodle soup on hand. We are well stocked, we are north country folks, winter is not a choice up here, you cannot opt out or test out. Nosirree bob. One must put the shoulder down and lean into winter, embrace winter -- it's easier if you have lots of red and black flannel clothes and hats with ear flaps and mucluck's and such. Listen to Dylan's Girl from the North Country on Nashville Skyline, listen to Winterlude on New Morning, liste to Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You - and think of winter in Woodstock in upstate New York circa '65, '66, '67 -- that will see you through.

Is there anybody REALLY ALIVE out there???

Well it's official, yep, uh huh, right. Check. Gotcha, I hear ya talkin, I feel ya'. I've seen the future of blogging, and this is probably not it. Papa Rad's hits the airways, comin' to you live from sin city, it's the first ever blog from a guy who has a lot to say, I'm just searching for listeners, for a captive audience.

I have been inspired by my daughter to hit the blog airways, she has put together a great blog, put it together a few months back as she boarded a plane and headed south, that's way south, to S America, to teach 8th graders about math, life, and the esoteric beauty of Joe Mauer's sweet swing from the left side of the plate.

Writing is amazing, more people should do it, just like more people should read. Writing is cathartic, it's a release, it's a chance to empty out your head ("I need a steam shovel mama, to unload my head"... who said that?) and get your thoughts, your life, your soul on paper. What could be more personal than to share a piece of yourself with somebody else? The greatest songwriters and poets and authors of all time have done this for a living.

So here we go, we're gonna leave the shore and head on out into peaceful waters, the peaceful waters of Lake Marie. Why the blog title? Thanks for asking. I thought about it for a while, took a shower, thought about it a bit more - you can really think good in the shower, good for singin' too - great acoustics, nobody's gonna give you any grief for singin' off key, as if I'd do that. Well, one of my passions is civil rights, one of my passions is justice, one of my passions is liberty. My heros are those people who have fought for justice and freedom, laid down their lives to help move things forward for groups of people, for individuals, for societies. Many others standin' on the sidelines, said "you're gonna die tryin'." They were right, many of them did, but they tried, and they did not give up, and they kept on marchin'. And when they were marching out in the streets, with teargas, and dogs and militia, and a lot of armed folks threatening them and yelling at them, the marchers sometimes sang, maybe just hummed, maybe just sang real soft and held hands and swayed their bodies back and forth as they kept marching forward, across that bridge in Selma... across that bridge in Montgomery... across that bridge in Birmingham... the road was kind of flat, but they were marching toward higher ground, it appeared that their feet were rooted in the earth, that they were human beings here on earth - but what lots of people could not see or feel, unless they were able to peer deep into their souls, unless they were able to peer deep into their collective hearts, that through all the struggling, and abuse, and sweat and blood --- they were really SPIRITUAL BEINGS on a human journey, and they were only here on earth but for a short while.

Oh, yea that's right. You was probably wonderin' what it was they were singin' real soft and low, holdin' hands, swayin' back and forth as they took another step forward. They were singin' "you can't stop us on the road to freedom, you can't stop us 'cuz our eyes can see... our eyes can see a better day... and we're on our way to GloryLand. Amen."