Teen Accused In Beating Of Wilkes Student Is Freed On Bail 
Victim Of Attack With Baseball Bat Listed In Guarded Condition At Wilkes-barre
General Hospital.

Alleluia For Our Region's Stellar Musical And Cultural Assets    

By KASIA McDONOUGH kmdonough@leader.net
 Tuesday, December 19, 2000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 2<br><br>





I want to be one of those people who feels no need to splurge. I want to lead
a simple life. I want to be pure of spirit and free from materialist
encumbrances. I've know people, young and old, who exchange homemade gifts
year after year. Jellies and jams, hand-knit sweaters, crafts  conceived in
the imaginations of artistic individuals who not only have the inclination to
create but the time as well. I want to be one of those people. I long for free
moments during which I could learn to quilt. My mother and my aunts are
willing and able teachers but unfortunately, I'm not a candidate for
instruction. There's just no time. They stitch on Friday nights. Friday for
goodness sake. Is it possible to pick a more inopportune time? Of course, my
family would surely make an effort to move the quilting circle meetings to
another day if they thought it would matter. But, sadly it would make little
difference. Every day is chock-full of things to do. Don't be mistaken,
though. I'm not griping about too much to do and too little time in which to
do it. I'm just shocked to find another holiday season fast approaching with
my list of gifts to buy still growing. Every fall, I think, although
foolishly, this will be the year I do something different. This will be the
season I find perfect gifts for everyone. There are beautiful, powerful lines
from good books that I want to share with those I love. Hand-written notes
bearing a few of my favorite quotes would be so much more meaningful than the
commercial cards I hurriedly sign every Dec. 22. Small presents picked with
care would be treasured, I know, longer than the extravagant items I will
select for those I love. It's not that the nice leather organizer I found for
my sister won't be appreciated. It's exactly what she needs to keep track of
her own busy schedule, but it's not what I wanted to give this year. I wanted
something original. Something precious. I wanted to find something that
screams, "I think you're wonderful and I'm so glad you're part of my life."
But I didn't find that gift for my sister, or anyone else I know. Probably
because it isn't out there. The peace I'd box up and ship out this season
can't be ordered through a catalog. The joy I hope abounds in the homes of
those I love can't be found on sale at the mall. The little bits of kindness
and forgiveness I'd like to share with friends and family have to come from
within. Which is why, I guess, the wonder of Christmas never loses its appeal.
At some point, amidst all the hustle and bustle, the true meaning of the
season becomes clear. It's not the shiny packages, or what's inside them, that
matters. The presents, whether homemade or store-bought, are icing on the
cake. I often forget that and every year I learn anew: long after Santa Claus
has made all his stops, the real gifts endure.

All I Want For Christmas