A good learning Christmas

Depressed is no way to be during the holiday season.

That's what people who have had more than half a century of Christmases say. They've seen the late December day during wars and recessions. A few have even seen it during the Great Depression. And even though we're in an economic mess with plenty of people without jobs and homes, there's no need to feel embarrassed for not being able to afford mountains of gifts for children and grandchildren.

"This is going to be a good learning Christmas," said Jacqueline Lupelle of Carpentersville. "This is a good time to show kids what Christmas is all about: family and hope."

She and her friends are elderly and members of the Dundee Township Senior Center.

They know from experience that people may allow fear, money and corrupt politicians to rule their minds and hearts 364 days of the year, but they can't on Christmas.

That rule stood even in the Depression, said West Dundee resident Betty Smith.

"I lived through it and I remember it. I was six years old. That was the year all I got were boots," she said. "At least I got something."

One secret to a tearless, fearless Christmas season is to remind children what they do have instead of what couldn't be afforded. Another is to show kids they have everything they need even though it may not have come in a wrapped box.

No matter what happens, Christmas still comes," said South Elgin resident Mary Kay Chalifoux. "We give it to Christ; that's his day and if we remember that, Christmas will always be joyous."

And that's no matter where you are.

Carpentersville resident Leonard Krasucki celebrated Christmas in 1942 even though he was hundreds of miles away from home. He was in an army barracks in Alabama, waiting to join the fighting in World War II.

Woodstock resident Don Soland knows what he went through. He spent one of his Christmases in the U.S. Navy in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Korean conflict. It wasn't his favorite, but it wasn't his last. So, he's thankful.

Both say Christmas isn't the day; it's the feelings that come on that day.

"It's a day of hope. When we give up that hope, the game is over," he said. "And that's a shame because the sun is going to come up tomorrow."

And on Jan. 2, the holiday season will be history along with Scrooge, the Grinch and all the letdowns of toys not received and lessons not learned.