10 

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 13, 2025 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges

[Nyerges is an educator and author. His many books can be seen at www.
SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.] 

CHRISTMAS CHEER: 
Memories of Christmas Season 2008 

Nyerges is the author of several books. This article is an extract from his book, “Til Death Do 
Us Part?: Lessons that Death Taught Us,” available from Amazon as an e-book or hard copy. 

In the days after my wife Dolores died, I still spent my evenings with Nami and Fikret and Nellie (the 
little dog that Dolores boarded), cooking dinner, sharing dinner, talking over television. Both Nami 
and Fikret were living in rooms in the front part of the duplex. Nami was from Tokyo, working at a 
Japanese firm in downtown Los Angeles while she earned her CPA license. Fikret was a student from 
Germany who’d be going home in a few days. 

That December was dark, pressing, my mind a constricted box of sorrow and loss. 

A close friend had earlier suggested to Dolores that she take Nami and Fikret to see the annual Griffith 
Park festival of lights, and Dolores had mentioned it to Fikret. I brought it up to Fikret and he wanted 
to go. I think he was more concerned about me getting out and “getting normal” than he was about 
seeing some electric light display. Anyway, he arranged with Nami to go one evening after Nami got 
home from work, and I drove. 

I had never seen the light show either, and though I was in no mood for “joy,” I wanted Nami and Fikret 
to feel happiness, and the joy of the American Christmas season that the youth can best appreciate. 

I tried, with great effort, to “enjoy” an evening out with Nami and Fikret as best I could. It was the 
weekend after Dolores died. Nami got home early from work, and it was already dark. Fikret made 
a very light meal – more of a snack – for everyone before we drove off to Griffith Park in my Jeep. I 
was preoccupied with now living a life turned upside-down, with no perception of light at the end of 
my tunnel. 

Fikret and Nami were noticeably happy, upbeat, and they seemed to be happy to be doing something 
with me. Fikret had come on a few field trips with, but I’d only gone out rarely with Nami. I know they 
were both fully cognizant of my pain and I think they were being happy because they wanted me to 
be happy. 

As we drove, we spoke about their day, and other light matters. I always enjoyed talking with Nami 
over dinner about what sort of day she had at work, and what new English words she learned. We 
drove into the large expansive parking lot east of the Los Angeles Zoo, and drove around until we saw 
where to park for the festival of lights. People parked their cars, and then boarded buses which set 
sail every 15 minutes or so, or until the buses were full. The three of us were the first to enter a bus, 
so we got the seats we wanted. A few adults filed in, and then a whole group of school children came 
in and filled the bus. The driver turned off the lights, and we were off down the two miles or so of the 
electric light display. 

The children spontaneously sang Christmas carols at the tops of their voices. Nami and Fikret tried to 
follow along: Jingle Bells, Rudolph, Silent Night, all the classics. Mostly, the children sang enthusiastically 
and loud with lots of laughter for the first verse until the song faded as the children didn’t know 
the words. After loud laughter, another song would begin. 

I was in a darkness of my own, alone, as if I was severely and suddenly cut off from all that was important 
to me. Which was, in fact, what happened. After the light show, we returned to the Jeep, and 
I drove on in a stupor. I asked Nami and Fikret if they wanted to see more Christmas lights, and they 
said yes. Christmas Tree Lane was impressive, but monotonous to me. Nami and Fikret just said 
“Oohh,” and “Ahhh,” and “Look at those, wow!” I tried to explain the history of Christmas Tree Lane, 
how I grew up just around the corner, and I drove by our family home on North Los Robles. 

We stopped for some snacks and finally went home. 

MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEWS 
2026 
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Meet 
“Munchy!” 

The cuddle 
bug of a group!
Munchy, age 3 
months, adores 
human snuggles 
and would happily 
curl up on a 

lap over anything else. 

She still loves kitten playtime, but she thrives 
with someone who’s home often and ready to receive all her affection. Rescued with 
her 2 sisters at just 3 days old during a storm, these girls were hand-raised with love 
and it shows in their personalities. 

They’re now healthy, social, and ready for their forever 
homes! Munchy would love a human of her very own who 
loves cuddles as much as she does. See them at https://
www.lifelineforpets.org/kates-kittens.html. We'd love to 
get them homes for the holidays and furever! Apply! 

NOTE: We will have a pet items table at the Fables & Fancies 
bookstore in Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, on Saturday, 
Dec. 13, from 11 - 2. Stop by! 

Pet of the Week 

Meet Saint, a two-year-old brown German 
Shepherd at Pasadena Humane with the perfectblend of brains and charm. He loves to start his 
day in the training yard where he likes to showoff his “sit,” “watch me,” and “down” commands.
He takes treats gently, leans in for affection, and 
trotting around with a toy in his mouth. He’s easyto leash, easy to walk, and often cruises along withhis signature shepherd swagger. 

In his foster home, Saint proved just how wonderfulhe truly is: he’s potty-trained, calm indoors, hasshown himself to be gentle with children, and madefriends with another dog. He’s polite with newpeople once given a moment to warm up, and ridesquietly in the car like a seasoned travel companion.
Saint is ready to be someone’s loyal, loving shadow. 

If you’re looking for a gentle, intelligent pup with a heart of gold, come meet Saint.
He’s so ready for his forever family! 

The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip,
and age-appropriate vaccines.

 Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 10:00 – 5:00. View photos ofadoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCAAnimal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to carefor your pet.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters byphone calls or email. 

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