Wanting something for Christmas has never been a big thing with me.  When I was younger I know I wanted things, but don’t remember any particular item I longed for.  When I was about 10, we spent Christmas at my maternal grandparents because Papa was pretty sick.  He died the next year.

But that was the Christmas I got my blue Schwinn Stingray bicycle with a banana seat and high-rise handlebars.

It was the best ride ever.

Several years and five children later, I got a rare gift.  Christmas Day fell on Saturday that year, a non-publishing day at the newspaper I worked for at the time, and our first grandchild, Kalynn, was three months old.  All five of our children, our two sons-in-law, and our first grandchild were together for Christmas that year.

There have been many other good ones.  There are six more grandkids and one due in April, another son-in-law, and two daughters-in-law since Kalynn’s first Christmas.  We are spread far and wide but we will have several days over the next few weeks when most of them will be coming and going and spending time under our roof.  Moms, siblings, nieces and other extended family members will join them. I suspect we will make a trip or two ourselves to visit this one or that one.

What more could I ask for?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

– Bobby Tingle, Publisher

 

I hope all of Orange County will have a magical, relaxing, and fun-filled Christmas! 

My personal wish will be to have the excitement, fun, and greatness of seeing my children in the magic of Christmas and Celebrating the Birth of Jesus!

– Candi Trahan, Advertising Executive

 

All I want for Christmas is to spend the day with my family. Any yarn or quilt fabric will be considered a bonus. I hope each and everyone has a Merry Christmas, as we look forward to a new and exciting new year for Orange and Orange County as we Bring Positivity Back!

– Dawn Burleigh, Editor

 

All I want for Christmas is a kiss under the mistletoe from Laura, peace on Earth, and most importantly, ham and field peas!

– Van Wade, Sports Editor

(Editor’s note: We made sure he had four cans of field peas, the rest is up to his beautiful bride.)