I went to a candlelight Christmas Eve church service tonight, a special occasion for which I put on both pantyhose and heels. Growing up a Unitarian, my first exposure to the gospel of Luke was the Charlie Brown Christmas Special (the original one, not this new fangled one that’s just come out), so whenever I hear, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night,” it’s Linus’s voice in my head. I don’t remember much from Sunday school, but I remember that cartoon. I’m still waiting and hoping for a magical transformation like the one that happens to the sad little tree at the end. If we were all surrounded with love and filled with the true spirit of Christmas year round maybe we could achieve peace on earth and goodwill to all. Until then, I’ll struggle to not think bad thoughts about the people who hog the overhead space and talk loudly on the airplane when I’m trying to sleep.

A year ago, I wasn’t reading.