Greetings One and All,

I hope your Thanksgiving Festivities have been fulfilling. Grandma’s house was hot, exciting, and full of memories past. And as you are sitting on the sofa with your feet up, beer (or soda) in hand, watching the football games, the commercials remind you of how absolutely decadent the world has become. It does for me at least. Before the turkey has been fattened and it is still warm outside, there are Christmas commercials of “buy this; buy that; get this wonderful gift for that someone special, yada, yada, yada da di da di da”. And you ask yourself, “what has happened to the ‘spirit of Christmas?’” Where did the simplicity of Christmas Pasts go?” What can I impart on my children or grand-children about the true meaning of “giving joy and Joy to the World and Peace on Earth and sheer happiness of being alive”. I think, personally, a lot of that has been lost in the commercial madness of “big business”.

Santa’s Toy Shoppe still exists, as far as I am concerned. The true meaning of Christmas is not in how you can outdo last year’s gifts, buy the most “advertised” toy or coat, or ring, necklace or whatever tinker toy or bauble someone is pushing. The Spirit of Christmas is in spending time together and doing SIMPLE things in life that will stay with you even as Alzheimer’s disease sets in.

December 3rd is the day we have our “Christmas on the Comstock” parade and festivities on “C” Street. That’s right. All over America, streets have names after some mightier-than-thou person who thinks or feels they are something or someone more special than the next person walking next to them. Up here in Virginia City, there is no such thing. We name our streets, “A”, “B”, “C” (main street), “D” and so forth. We are all “equal” here. No one is more special than the next person. We are all on this Ship of Fools sailing on the same ocean of life. And in that frame of mind, we have our parade on this day – Saturday, December 3, 2005. We make our own floats, freeze the Bee Jesus out of ourselves, but it is all in the name of camaraderie and fun and sharing the JOY OF LIFE – giving only what we have to offer OF OURSELVES and taking nothing in return.

It may be a short parade, but it is a piece of the heart and spirit of The Comstock and humanity. It is not in the daytime. It is when dusk falls. So, come up early for dinner; get warmed up; gloves ON hands and enjoy the sights, floats and the people from the past who are parading in the present; everywhere you go and most of the sights you see are from a period long past and forgotten by the world but still alive and doing very well on Sun Mountain. You might even see me dressed in the Period of 1860 when it was truly the WILD, WILD WEST.

Now, if you come early enough, say, around 1:00 pm, you might catch David John and The Comstock Cowboys at the Bucket of Blood. Best country music outside (and maybe inside) of Nashville. R E A L western music - Tumbleweeds, Nevada, dust, Texas, the wind, campfires, horses, and, of course, love Makes your heart sing, feet pound, hands clap, and if you’re inclined, get up and do the two-step. Friendly folk all around that will be more than happy to show you how to dosey-do or will actually dance a set with you around the floor. (By the way, Slowdance is the best man at two-step). Yup, we all have nick-names up here. (Slowdance is a real person. Just ask anyone and they will be more than happy to point him out.). Most likely, you will step into the past because this is a great occasion for us to get dressed as they did 150 years ago (not that we don’t get dressed “in period” for no reason at all at any given day of the week, and especially on weekends).

So, if you want to savor the taste and spirit of Christmas Past and get a sense of what Christmas should be, take a short ride up the Grade (from Reno) or the Comstock Highway from Carson to Old Virginny Town (figure out what state highway this is – signs are still posted as such), and we will see you here having the time of your life. You might even see the Pony Express Riders in their finery in the parade – but you will see the most original home-made floats ever thought of; the warmest food you’ve eaten and the best people in the world.

Friends, one and all, I will be looking for you on December 3rd. Come one, come all to Old Virginny for “Christmas on the Comstock” for the best time of your life.

See you in a few weeks – and if not, then I Wish Ye All A Merrie Little Christmas. Happy and Safe Holidays to each and every one.

Grace