Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.
"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
You got to start somewhere...
and today is as good of a place to start as any.... but you will need a little history lesson first.
This year my life has had many changes from starting a great job with a local company to that of testing positive for HIV in May. It was a very challenging summer but it was made easier with the support of my softball team, my friends and family. I can say that now I am comfortable as I can be with my status but in the beginning it was tough.
My first thought was this has to be a mistake. The next was what am I going to do, who do I tell, who did i get it from, how long do I have etc etc. Over the next few hours every possible emotion rolled through me and some I did not even think I possessed. As I processed all these emotions, I began to process what I needed to do. I decided that there was a reason this happened to me and I needed to make it a positive (no pun intended). I told my family, my partners and my friends. It was a hard and challenging time but the personal growth and the support I received was incredible. I think that the best thing for me during this time was the support of my softball team and friends.
Softball this summer was great. I met a great group of guys that I am lucky to call my friends. Even though I did enjoy the actual game, I actually looked forward to the time after the games whether it was at Ryan and Jason's house BBQ-ing to that of the host bars and everything in between. The highlight of the season was when we beat the only undefeated team in the league the Atomic. The Atomic would eventually win the Gay World Series Championship ... and they deserved it but I must admit I do like to remind them of their one lose. I can say that the friends I have made playing in this league some I consider my family away from family as I know they have been there and will continue to be there when I need their support.
Family-Over the last few months my family in Eastern Washington has gone through so times.. I swear that sometimes it would make for a good episode of Jerry Springer. Needless to say it has been trying at times but its family and you will always love them no matter what. For those of you unlucky enough to know the details... they just keep getting better.
Well if you made it through this whole thing you have a pretty good idea about what 2008 has been like. I will have more stuff up soon, small steps into the blogging world I go.
This year my life has had many changes from starting a great job with a local company to that of testing positive for HIV in May. It was a very challenging summer but it was made easier with the support of my softball team, my friends and family. I can say that now I am comfortable as I can be with my status but in the beginning it was tough.
My first thought was this has to be a mistake. The next was what am I going to do, who do I tell, who did i get it from, how long do I have etc etc. Over the next few hours every possible emotion rolled through me and some I did not even think I possessed. As I processed all these emotions, I began to process what I needed to do. I decided that there was a reason this happened to me and I needed to make it a positive (no pun intended). I told my family, my partners and my friends. It was a hard and challenging time but the personal growth and the support I received was incredible. I think that the best thing for me during this time was the support of my softball team and friends.
Softball this summer was great. I met a great group of guys that I am lucky to call my friends. Even though I did enjoy the actual game, I actually looked forward to the time after the games whether it was at Ryan and Jason's house BBQ-ing to that of the host bars and everything in between. The highlight of the season was when we beat the only undefeated team in the league the Atomic. The Atomic would eventually win the Gay World Series Championship ... and they deserved it but I must admit I do like to remind them of their one lose. I can say that the friends I have made playing in this league some I consider my family away from family as I know they have been there and will continue to be there when I need their support.
Family-Over the last few months my family in Eastern Washington has gone through so times.. I swear that sometimes it would make for a good episode of Jerry Springer. Needless to say it has been trying at times but its family and you will always love them no matter what. For those of you unlucky enough to know the details... they just keep getting better.
Well if you made it through this whole thing you have a pretty good idea about what 2008 has been like. I will have more stuff up soon, small steps into the blogging world I go.
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