Show A A feeling so genuine warms my soul Ann Petersen staff Writer 1 Y mind drifts back to a wonderful w white ite MY M time and place It is nearing g that time when spirits are high and andare hearts hD are ale happy and the whole world seems to be he to watch for awhile The scraping scraping scraping scrap scrap- ing of metal against ice is merely a prelude to the dozens of carolers meandering about I notice their bright red faces and snow-covered snow caps Suddenly I hear a giggle from behind me A little blonde girl is looking with wide eyes at a mechanical cal puppy bounding around inside one of the store windows She is laughing and tugging on her fathers father's coat She looks in awe at every window as they walk down the sidewalk and I too soon be- be 11 stirring with generosity My face come interested in the store tingles and glows in the cold windows each one depicting depict depict- ing different scenes My night air as I walk down the salt- salt mind reminisces to those sidewalk spattered Skyscrapers favorite childhood fantasies loom around me their mirrored i r x I am taken in by carved exteriors reflecting a warm yellow yel yel- wooden train sets blushing low moon and a clear black sky a a. a The swishing pastel of ice- ice u porcelain dolls and rigid toy soldiers all surrounded with skaters' skaters skirts catch my atten attention at ten ten- tion tinn and I walk towards the rink holly sprigs and colorful V blinking lights adding to the splendor and beauty Red satin bows and silver bells adorn street lamps that illuminate bustling last- last minute shoppers Even the traffic lights are in the holiday spirit as they flash red and green I As I tear myself from the last window I pass a smiling old Santa who mechanically waves a gold for charity He nods and smiles in my my direction with his jolly bearded grin as I drop three silver quarters into his cup Christmas is after all a time for giving A feeling so genuine and so full of love warms my shivering soul and I cant can't help but smile at the beautiful world around me But my excited pace down this busy Chicago sidewalk slows as I notice a solitary man He is old his ancient fragile face abused by sorrow and cold He is sitting on the curb alone huddled and shivering as the icy wind bites at his ears and neck Slowly deliberately I walk towards him I take the warm wool scarf from my own neck and gently tuck it around his He looks up at me with wide like child-like eyes As I walk walkaway walkaway walkaway away I feel him watching me and though no words are spoken I know he is thankful Christmas is after all a time for giving I |