December 8, 2007

My Greatest Christmas Memory:

Ringing out the Old

By Stan Dyer

Christmas is a wonderful time of year, especially for children. I can still remember being a kid and the smell of the "real" Christmas tree at the top of the stairs at my school. I also remember the magic of the season through young eyes staring into a clear, December night sky and wondering when Santa would be coming. Nonetheless, through all the fond memories of the season, one stands out. It is the memory of engaging in the year-end family tradition of "Ringing out the Old".

There is a traditional Christmas song entitled, "Ring Out Wild Bells" that encourages people to ring out the old year and ring in the new. Each year, sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day, the whole family would come together in a group to share each other's memories of the passing year. We all took turns recounting our various accomplishments and our failures. We talked about the aspects we enjoyed and those we disliked. It was our way of putting a seal on the year, closing it out and getting ready with a new slate for the New Year. Then, as we raised a toast when the New Year finally arrived, it had real meaning and it marked our, new fresh start.

This year, I want to extend this family tradition to my YourHub family. Whether you know it or not, you are part family to me. Just like in a family, you don't have to like me and I don't have to like you, but we do share some common interests. Now, since this is my article and my idea, I get to start. Here's my list to Ring Out 2007:

1) SNOW - Ouch! We started 2007 with plenty of snow. I did not care for driving in it, but I did like what it did later for my lawn. Ring out seven straight weeks of snow and ring in "well-disciplined" snow that knows to stay primarily in the mountains.

2) My Girlfriend - I am a lucky man. She must be goofy to stay with me, but she does. Every year she shows me how much more important it is to have even one, true, caring friend than it is to have any number of part-time, fair-weather acquaintances. I hope she and I do a lot more ringing out and ringing in together.

3) Reviews - I did a lot of reviewing this year, but there were many places, events and shows I refused to review. People who know me know I will not review a place if I do not like it. If something is bad, chances are good other people know too, and there is just no use in my handing out any free publicity, even if it's negative publicity. Ring out the bad reviews and ring in a fresh slate with many new venues to explore.

4) The Pueblo Hotel and Conference Center - I apologize. That was a bad review, but only because I did not want people to miss a great trip to a great city by staying in that hotel. There are many others down there, and I hope this one got the message. I'll be back to Pueblo, even if just for another pizza from Angelo's, but I'll be driving past this hotel. Ring out bad hotel rooms and ring in great, old hotels like The Brown Palace, and The Stanley.

5) YourHub - By rule, I am only allowed five bells. There are many more to ring, but we all have to share the allotted time. I put YourHub on my list because they disappointed me this year. It used to be an open forum where people could post their thoughts, their ideas and their stories. People still can, but the stories getting the most press seem to be the "corporate driven" ones. It's OK and only fair for clubs, organizations and civic groups to post, but we get that information from the Arvada Press, even though the Arvada Press does not allow us the same freedom in return. Oh, they like us to believe they allow us freedom, but they definitely filter information and post their beliefs ahead of the beliefs of their readers. In protest, I refuse to read any article in the Arvada Press that is not from a reader. I do the same in YourHub. I want to read the articles from people like Gladys Mercier; real, unsolicited stories from the thoughts and minds of the community. I do not want to read a story any editor made any writer produce. That's too close to propaganda. Ring out biased reporting, and ring in the great, open, community forum YourHub used to be.

Well, that is my list. It brought back many memories just to sit here and share it with you. I hope you will take the time to share your list with me before you start the New Year by ringing out your old and ringing in your new. I am told it is bad luck to carry leftovers from the old year into the new, so, whether you share a list or not, be sure to make peace with yourself. I wish you the best Christmas ever and an even better New Year. Ring out wild bells! Ring through the night!