Opinion

By Mike Ruffin

This edition of The Herald-Gazette was published on the third day of Christmas. Speaking of which - did you receive three French hens? Or, if you’re reading this on Wednesday, did you receive four calling birds? If not, you might want to consider just how true your “true love” is.

You might be like me, though: I’d prefer three Cornish hens (they’re mighty tasty!) or four non-calling birds (I’m on the bird no-call list).

If you’re like me (admit it: you just said, “Not likely!), you were a grown human being before you learned that there really are twelve days of Christmas. For the first two decades of my life, I thought it was just one of the worst Christmas songs ever written.

It’s not the worst one, though, not by a long shot. The worst Christmas song of all time is “Last Christmas” by Wham!. [Full Story »] 

Christmas is upon us once again and I, for one, am thankful for the opportunity to experience another one.

As always, I got a charge out of reading the hundreds of letters to Santa we received and are publishing this week. The wish lists are full of old standby toys and newer ones that I have never heard of.

BB guns and GI Joes are still on a few lists as is Barbie and her various accoutrements like the playhouse and Corvette. Rubik’s Cubes seem to be making a comeback among the kids this year even if they have a tough time spelling Rubik. Then there is the new stuff. Shopkins, Stikbots, Zoomer Hedgiez and Hatchimals are among the many things I have never heard of. [Full Story »] 

By Mike Ruffin

When I was a boy, Christmas morning was fantastic. It was also fantastically confusing.

It was fantastic because I’d get just about everything on my list.

I think the only reason I didn’t get everything is that it was an embarrassingly long list. Santa Claus was better to me than he should have been. But hey, it wasn’t my fault that I was an only child.

So I’d get a lot of stuff. It was fantastic. My parents enjoyed watching me enjoying my haul. They’d give each other one present. And they’d seem so happy. [Full Story »]