Dear Readers,

I love Christmas. Don't you?

There is just something special about this grandest of our grand holidays, a season where we spend much of our time thinking of others.

We send cards to friends and neighbors in far away places and to those we see every day at Hannaford's and in church. Some folks include little personal newsletters in their cards letting us know how little Susie is doing in school, or that Johnny got a new job. Sometimes they share not so good news, and we join their sadness.

We spend a lot of time trying to figure out the perfect gift for our loved ones and close friends.

We even ignore common sense advice that suggests those who have birthdays falling near Christmas should not expect two presents. That is right, explained my brother John, who was born on Dec. 23. Presents on birthdays. Presents on Christmas. It is only right and fair.

Each year, I love the idea of putting up a Christmas tree, although the act sometimes prompts a brief family disagreement with the house decorating committee.

Hanging bobbles and bangles on the branches brings to mind the friends and relatives who sent them to us years ago. A beloved sister-in-law used clothes pins as the base for a set of little characters from the Nutcracker ballet, and a neighbor knitted us a batch of tiny, brightly colored mittens.

Years ago, grandson number one made our all time favorite Christmas tree ornament. It is a raggedy and balding angel.

Each year, it perches on top of the tree, with a round mouth sending out a tuneful “Oooh,” as a prelude to the second verse of a familiar Christmas tune, like “Jingle Bells.” The raggedy angel just makes me smile.

For me, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas with out a nod to Walt Kelly's cartoon strip “Pogo,” that was carried in most newspapers from1949 to 1975. Kelly's characters, Pogo, a possum, Albert an alligator and the other characters sang their own version of “Deck the Halls.” Here are the lyrics.

“Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!”

In case you missed it, our Boothbay community got a pair of early Christmas presents this season.

The first came from an ad hoc group who worked with Paul Coulombe to save the Kenniston Hill house and move it across the street.

It is a special present for all of us, as it seems that in recent months we have seen our community affairs ruled by those who seem to spend much of their time being against this project or that proposal.

A special super volunteer, Susan Brackett, helped shepherd a group of diverse interests to save the historic structure. Along the way, they carefully avoided the back biting, petty jealousies and personal attacks that have seemed to color other controversial projects.

The second present under our community Christmas tree was sent here by the National Land Trust Alliance, which blessed our Boothbay Region Land Trust with their seal of national accreditation.

This was a five-year project, wherein the staff and board spent countless hours examining the details of the way BRLT conducted its business in the past, and making sure there were written policies in place to govern it in years to come.

This seal of approval tells us what we knew all along, that the BRLT business, conservation and ethical practices meet the highest national standards.

And it is a guarantee that the public will always have access to some of our most beautiful and scenic geography.

Merry Christmas to all.