Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 23, 2023

11

OPINIONOPINION

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 23, 2023 

RICH JOHNSON 

NOW THAT’S RICH

STUART TOLCHIN

MOUNTAIN 
VIEWS

NEWS

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR

Dean Lee 

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Patricia Colonello

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John Aveny 

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Peter Lamendola

CONTRIBUTORS

Stuart Tolchin 

Harvey Hyde

Audrey Swanson

Meghan Malooley

Mary Lou Caldwell

Kevin McGuire

Chris Leclerc

Dinah Chong Watkins

Howard Hays

Paul Carpenter

Kim Clymer-Kelley

Christopher Nyerges

Peter Dills 

Rich Johnson

Lori Ann Harris

Rev. James Snyder

Katie Hopkins

Deanne Davis

Despina Arouzman

Jeff Brown

Marc Garlett

Keely Toten

Dan Golden

Rebecca Wright

Hail Hamilton

Joan Schmidt

LaQuetta ShambleE

PUT THE LIGHTS ON

A DIFFERENT DAY


LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS GIFT 
SUGGESTIONS

 Last night I learned that I will have to undergo some 
medical procedures and surgeries which although not 
life threatening, are definitely frightening. I worried 
myself to sleep but when I awoke was very appreciative of 
the warmth of my blankets, the comfort of my mattress 
and the calming presence of my dog Dreamy next to me. 
Finally, with great reluctance, I pushed off the covers 
entered the bathroom and confronted myself in the 
mirror. It was raining outside so golf was out, similarly the rain made 
it cleat that Dreamy would not allow himself to accompany me on our 
customary morning walk around the canyon circle.

 For a moment I was lost. I did not want to be left alone with my thoughts 
and fears. Of course there it was right next to me, the tub and shower. I 
was very much aware of how much I enjoyed the shower and thought of my 
father’s time growing up in the Ukraine when a hot bath was the greatest 
pleasure for he and his brothers.

 Next with this enjoyment I recollected how my father always wanted 
me to accompany hlm to a “shevitz bod” (roughly hot bath in Yiddish) 
which was located somewhere outside of the San Fernando Valley where 
we lived. I can recall my mother “Why would you want to take him to such 
a dirty place?” l have been reading three books, the book Determined A 
Science of Life Without Free Will by Robert M. Sapolsky together with the 
Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer and A Confederacy of Dunces by 
John Kennedy Toole. 

 As I stood in the shower enjoying its warming comfort I also thought 
of these three books. (It’s true I must have stayed in the shower for quite a 
long time). The Sapolsky book emphasized that there is no time for praise 
or regrets. There is no Free Will and whatever happens must happen as the 
next step, the consequence of all the other influences within the cosmos 
that have happened before. My mother had no choice to say what she 
did as she was not an immigrant like my father and his brothers. She did 
not know the joys of the shevitz bod to kids growing up in the deprived 
circumstances of the Ukraine where they lived in fear every day. She grew 
up living with her family in Chicago and driving to some unknown place 
for a hot bath seemed ridiculous and unnecessary to her. 

 Next Untethered Soul entered my mind. The author there cautions 
the reader not to be ruled by the continuing inner voice that is forever 
making judgments. One is told simply to hear that voice and observe it but 
is mandated to realize that this annoying voice is just one part of a larger 
self, whatever that is, and to experience the freedom of not being tethered 
to that voice, One is asked to realize that there are a lot of things going on 
at the same time and the freedom of living come from the ability to observe 
and be aware of all of these possibilities and not be stuck in any one place. 

 As I thought of not being stuck I thought of A Confederacy Of Dunces 
by John Kennedy Toole. This hysterical Pulitzer Prize winning book was 
written by a very troubled young man who committed suicide at the age of 
thirty three. He was stuck in a very troubled place and made the most if it 
composing a remarkable novel and must have felt pretty good about that 
accomplishment. Not good enough to stay alive but as Sapolsky helps to 
explain he really had no choice but to do as he did and that is the truth for 
all of us.

 The point of all this is that none of us can do anything but observe what 
is going on inside and outside of us. Please keep that in mind as we enjoy 
our Christmas holiday. 

I found some “scientists” who analyzed the whole Christmas gift giving 
processes and results. For example, did you know 75% of people polled 
receive 7 Xmas gifts each year they will never use. Handkerchiefs and 
aftershave led the list. 57% of people polled do not welcome clothing of any 
kind when selected by others. 

 When reacting to an unwanted present 27% graciously accepted it while 17% 
pretended to be delighted. 21% experience a falling out with a loved one over a terrible 
present. 26% donate the “unwanted gift” to charity. 14% hide the gift where they cannot 
find it. 18% rewrap and regift…of all the nerve.

 I tender the following gift suggestions. They are a bit out of the norm and many 
are for those who have been careful with their money over the years. Let’s say you wanted 
to rent out Disneyland for a private party. You really can’t rent out the park during regular 
business hours. 

 You can get married at Disneyland, after hours. Before 8:00am or after 10:00pm 
Monday through Thursday. If you have 18 or less guests the charges start at $6,500. This 
is called the Escape Collection. That buys you a two-tier cake, a wedding officiant and a 
3-course meal selection for the guests. Everything else will require extra charges. Like, say 
for example, you wanted Goofy to perform the ceremony. 

More than 18 guests. You need to bump up to the Wishes Collection. Starts at $15,000 and 
you should have at least 18 guests. The ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel starts at $4,000. 
You can get married in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle followed by a reception after hours 
starting at $180,000.

 For those of you on a more limited budget, why not give the gift of a El Toro 
mechanical bull rental? $700 will get you one, along with an operator for the afternoon. Or 
purchase your own mechanical bull for as low as $6,999.

 A back yard roller coaster can be yours for as little as $3,000 going up, up and up to 
$80.000. (Some assembly required!)

 Purchase an 8-week course of acting lessons for your dog. Including room and 
board. The fee? A mere $4,150 bucks. Fido has to have completed the $2,800 Advanced 
Obedience Course before the acting lessons.

 Wanna own the road? A garbage truck can be yours for approximately $99,000. 
Cement truck…set you back about $96k. Greyhound bus, you’re looking at $26,000. A 
3-passenger submarine can be yours for $39,750 (The 48 passenger unit can be yours for 
$3.5 million).

 An elevator for your house can be yours anywhere from $15,000-$50,000. No, IKEA 
does not sell elevators. You can also have an escalator installed at home. You’ll need more 
horizontal space. Note on the escalator. They need to run all the time. Elevators only run 
when being used. Elevator is the smart purchase.

 If your budget is a bit more limited you may consider the twosie. The Onesie pajama 
craze is being replaced by the Twosie pajama craze. A onesie is a soft fleece pair of pajamas 
ideal for head to toe warmth. A twosie pajama is pajamas for 2. 11 yards of fabric, four arms, 
four legs, and two hoods. Why they are called a Twosie is the pajamas are attached at the 
hips. Around $60 for a pair pair.

 Possibly the perfect gift for your loved one, if they are into arts and music, are 
bagpipes. Bagpipes have come down over the years. Amazon has them for as low as $120 
up to $399.99. Bagpipes, I predict, would soon make your loved one stand out in a crowd…
certainly in your neighborhood. Someone has suggested the best place to rehearse with the 
bagpipes is at a local cemetery.

 Not to leave you on a bad note (bagpipes not withstanding), the cost of space flights 
is coming down thanks in large part to Elon Musk and Space X. Today a SpaceX rocket 
launch can be 97% cheaper than a Russian Soyuz ride cost in the 1960s. One reason, SpaceX 
rocket boosters can be retrieved and used again and again. Might still be a bit too much, but 
Mr. Musk is an innovative entrepreneur.

I hope and pray you are in the middle of a terrific Christmas celebration. I happen to talk 
regularly to the individual whose birth we celebrate every Christmas. His encouragement is 
also mine. Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men…and women.

Merry Christmas!!


Mountain Views News 
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TOM PURCELL


RESTORING CHRISTMAS JOY

The best Christmas gift I ever gave anyone was the one I 
gave my father about 20 years ago: a Lionel train set.

Every year, we got him the same gifts, you see.

And every year he’d tell me to tell us, “For God’s sakes, 
please, no more sweaters.”

As he unwrapped my gift — expecting another sweater — 
he went speechless when he realized what I got him.

For a few moments, he was restored to the 10-year-old 
whose mother could never afford to give him such a magnificent gift.

Throughout the first 70 years of his life, he never could afford to splurge on a 
Lionel train set, which, as every boy knows, is the Cadillac of train sets.

I never got a Lionel set, either, but, like most former 10-year-old boys I’d always 
longed for one.

So I got a train set for my father and for the next 20 years of his life I watched it 
bring a child-like joy to him every Christmas, as he set it up under the tree.

I don’t recall exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way I became 
very poor at receiving gifts.

I feel joy when I give gifts that bring joy to others — which is selfish, since I rob 
others of the joy they wish to experience as they see their gifts bringing joy to me.

To that end, the Christmas holiday offers a wonderful opportunity to remember 
how to experience and share joy — an opportunity to restore what came so 
naturally to us as children.

That’s because Christmas offers an opportunity to become more childlike — more 
open-minded, imaginative, silly and playful.

And curious!

“Why?” is the question children ask over and again.

Their minds are wide open trying to understand the world — not closed and 
judgmental or certain their positions are correct while their opponents are evil 
fools.

Children are naturally filled with love but much of the evil in our world is caused 
by hatred.

Hatred is a learned behavior that some adults pass down to their children. Love is 
innate. Adults must remember how to embrace and spread love.

Children know how to laugh. Laughter is a cure to multiple ills, in particular stress.

Laughter helps us escape the narrowness of our limited points of view — helps us 
escape our self-importance.

So how do we restore our childlike nature this Christmas?

I wrote a few years ago that the best gifts aren’t generally material gifts. The best 
gifts are to give our friends and loved ones more of our time.

Enjoying experiences and laughter together is a great way to become more childlike.

Here’s another: my sister, Lisa, makes the adults do a white elephant grab bag 
every year, which results in some very silly gifts, such as this oldie but goody: a 
“breaking-wind” machine.

Truth be told, the past year was not one of the easiest for me or my family.

I lost many of my childlike qualities and must restore them, so that I may treat my 
friends and family members the way they deserve to be treated.

My dad is no longer here, but my vivid memory of him playing with his train set 
every Christmas inspires me to embrace his incredible childlike joy.


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Views News

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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com