Hello All,Well, it's Christmas eve, I'm sitting in my office here at home, checking my e mail for one final time before I go to the den and watch my wife's kids rip open those carefully wrapped presents. Oh, what a mess there will be.I'd like to take the time for just an instant, no matter what faith we share, to offer all my friends from this hobby a greeting at this special time of year. Sometimes we forget what 'this' is all about. Or we worry about how to pay this bill, or do that, when what is really important is family, and close friends. Those VERY Special people in our lives which make living so wonderful.To all my friends and FS Family, 'May the light of this holiday season shine brightly upon you and yours . . . and bring you the internal peace which is so dear to all of us . . .'My very best to allClayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Clay,Let me be the first to pass on Holiday Wishes to my favorite BUFF driver and family. Merry Christmas and a wonderful Happy New Year to you and your family.-Jason Peters E-3 AWACS Flight Engineer USAF (Former B-52H Crew Chief) [email protected]http://www.feelthere.com/banner/erjpilot.jpg

"Sometimes we forget what 'this' is all about."You're right, people forget that this is all based on the winter Solstice & Saturnalia. It is at this time of the year that we gather friends and family together, exchange gifts and enjoy a meal. The Winter Solstice gives us the ideal time to celebrate life itself and the return of Light ! Many freethinkers organise Winter Solstice parties.So here's to wishing the days will now return to becoming more filled with light.Carmine http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/Images/wave.gif

Hey Clay,Would echo your sentiments too !!Very Best WishesEddy (North Wales - UK)

Yup..good thought and Happy Kwanzaa as well.

Actually "this" is about ******* Christ who died on a cross over 2,000 years ago to pay the price for my sins. And yours too. The choice to believe is yours.Merry CHRISTmas, Richard

You are correct. The Norse celebrated Yule from Dec 21, the solstice, through Jan. They burned large logs, and feasted until they burned out, and celebrated that the nights be would shorter and the daylight longer. Sadly, with so many different beliefs and customs, it is far too easy to offend at this time of "good will towards man"; especially in a place like this where so many people from different places and cultures come together. So I will just wish Good health, Prosperity, and Happiness to all. To paraphrase what Clay said, we are all friends and family.