Sniffin: Christmas on my mind

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

By Bill Sniffin

As we all prepare for the biggest holiday of the year, it is perhaps a good idea to reflect that we are now living in the most interesting of times.
    Here in Wyoming we have much for which to be thankful.  Our economy is strong, and our state coffers are still brimming with energy tax dollars.
    But much of the rest of our country is not so secure.  
    On a personal note I have a brother who is in the vehicle-selling business who is losing his shirt (and possibly his business) in Minnesota.  Another brother in the computer industry in San Diego may be facing cutbacks. A son-in-law in Dallas could lose his job because of the national slowdown in the telecom industry.  
    Although we seem to be immune here, it does not mean that those people we love in other parts of the country aren’t going through difficult times.
    As we plan what presents to buy and what holiday activities to spend our money on, well, it is easy to take the position that maybe we should be cutting back.
And yet cutting back, in some ways, is what is slowing our national economy to a standstill.
As a long-time local newspaper publisher, I know what Christmas season means to our small town businesses.  Perhaps it would be an appropriate idea this year to not shop for bargains on the Internet or head for the big city malls.  Even if we are spending less, we should try to spend it at home.  
    As this column is being published, here in Lander a local committee has raised money for over 200 Christmas food baskets, distributed today to needy families.
    Even here in the quite prosperous Lander area, more than 200 families were identified as needing help.   This group raises $10,000 from the community. This money is spent on groceries, toys and books so that hard up folks can have a nice holiday.
Efforts like this are happening all across the Cowboy State, and we commend those folks who understand “the reason for the season.”  A surprise benefit to those doing this work is that they end up getting more out of it than the person on the receiving end. It does feel better to give than to receive.
    The mental state of people during this time of year is a cause for worry, too.
An incident that occurred here in Wyoming is heavy on my mind.  A friend of one of my adult children was found dead from suicide.  This person had had a problem with employment because of an accident on the job, was divorced and had recently been evicted because of no money for rent.  
As a virtual homeless person and staying with a friend, well, the lethal mixture of alcohol and a firearm ended a life. And perhaps the gaiety of the season may have contributed, too.
    Co-workers and acquaintances of the victim are feeling guilt and terrible regret.  Sure, they knew things were not going well for their friend, but who would have thought?
    And I guess that is the point.  
    Because this is such a busy time of year, it is tough enough to deal with your own problems, let alone be worrying about everyone else, too.  But concern for others truly is the reason, well, you know the drill.
    On a lighter note, so what do we buy for our loved ones this year?
    I am a big fan of books, and a few come to mind.  A huge picture book called Wind River Country by Bayard Fox is on our list of gifts. The introduction in it is by movie star Matthew Fox of the hit TV show LOST.  He is a native of Crowheart.
    Doug Osborn of Buffalo recommends Cheney, which is the definitive book about our homegrown Vice President. I have read it, too, and it is terrific.  Lynne Cheney’s book Blue Skies, No Fences is a wonderful memoir of growing up in Wyoming. No politics in that one, though.
    Wyoming recently lost a great photographic talent when Mike McClure died.  His book Artifact: A Cultural Geography of Wyoming is a classic.  A CD featuring Christmas music by the choir of Wyoming Catholic College is also available this time of year.
Anything by C. J. Box is also a good pick.
    And we might modestly suggest that quality bookstores have copies of two books by this columnist in stock, too. Happy shopping.

    
Check out Bill Sniffin’s columns and blogs at www.billsniffin.com.  He is a longtime Wyoming journalist from Lander who has two books that are available at fine bookstores. His email address is bsniffin@wyoming.com.


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