Some thoughts

It's difficult to enter that "world" I lived in so many years ago. It would be nice to, just for a moment, re-live that instant at Rikes department store, when I entered their "fairyland" and got my first glimpse of that electric train display they had. I would stand there as long as I could watching those Lionels go through the paces. OMG that one "smokes," smoke actually coming out of the stack on the train, and that Blue Lionel actually has lights in all the cars, WOW. Oh, the wonder of it all, toyland, and being a kid. "Backward turn backward, oh time in thy flight, make me a boy again, just for tonight."

You have to admire the "retailers" though, they "pull" all the right strings. "Child" "Christmas" "Toy" ... these three words, combined with the right photographs, generates billions in sales. One toy drive will only take "new, unwrapped" toys. It would be interesting to know, and tough to figure out, the percentage of sales that are donated to the "fireman," Marines," and other groups who distribute those toys. My guess would be that half of the toys sold this time of year are donated and given away. "Every child deserves a toy, at Christmas."

That is about the only time you see the word Christmas, used. Other than that, no mention. Black Friday gets them out of the "Red" and "Holiday" shopping gets them in to, well, "happy land."

Mathis is still at it, has a new Christmas album out, in his late 70's, He has been my "favorite" for many years.