Weinzierl

Jewelers

Victoria’s Corner Bar.  Nightly Specials and Menus.  952-443-9944

8 First Street in Waconia.  952-442-2885

942-443-2078

Funeral Home & Cremation Services

952-474-9595

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy.  Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Huber

City of Lakes & Parks  952-443-2363

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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         It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!  I'm wondering how often I've begun my Christmas editorials these past 35 years with those very same words -- if not in print, most certainly in thought and spirit.  That means I haven't changed too much in sentiment and, perhaps, also not in substance.  Some things are unchanging, you know.  Cowboy Tom quoted a familiar phrase in that regard in his column this month.  I'll let you go and search for it yourself.  That's half the fun of it.  Seek and you will find.

***

         And so, some of you might say, all that wonderment is pie in the sky.  Scrooge would agree and grunt, "Hrumppf!"  But did Ebenezer Scrooge ever consider all the different pies in the sky? 

         From pumpkin to peach and pecan, and all the delicious flavors in between, pie in the sky can be quite a heavenly thing.  Cold hearted miser that he was, Scrooge and his thoughts seldom rose to those heights until he was visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past.  How wonderful that he came to lift his nose from the grindstone and let his spirits soar.  Sounds like lemon meringue.

***

         And so it was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when everyone and their mother once again rushes out to spend hundreds of dollars because of Black Friday prices, or so I've heard.  I certainly didn't grow up with Black Friday on the calendar, and I've never pursued it.  It's been like a Feast Day for people outside of my faith.

         But after all the preparations for Thanksgiving and with all the doings on Thanksgiving Day over this year, I woke up Friday morning with a strong inclination to visit the Mall of America.  I knew it was Black Friday and that hordes of people would be everywhere but, as I said to Jenny, "Sometimes I like to visit the zoo.  Sometimes I want to swing in the jungle."

         The men didn't join us, but Addie and Gunnar like to spend time with their Mama Jenny and their Grandma Sue, so off we went to the Mall of America.

         As I turned onto Killebrew Drive, it was ten minutes past 12 noon.  I estimated it would take us 30 minutes to find a parking space, most likely up on level seven, so we will just be patient -- we're not in a hurry -- and we know in advance it'll be a long process.  At precisely 12:40 p.m. we found a parking spot at the very top, on level seven.

         We had absolutely no agenda, which means total freedom.  Whatever happens, happens.  The place was packed.  Addie and Gunnar, who have visited the Mall of America with us many, many times over the years, commented they had never seen it so crowded.

         When we saw the Aeropostale store, we meandered inside and found the cutest clothes for Addie, a totally stylish little girl, age 12.  I'll wrap the gifts and put them under my Christmas tree.

         When I heard there was a boys adventure store at the Mall, we checked out a kiosk for directions to JM Cremps.  I was thrilled to find a present for Gunnar -- a Snow Kick -- for his upcoming December birthday (when he turns 10) and other Gunnar gifts for under the Christmas tree.

         Jenny found a comfortable outfit at the Relax-a-daisical store and then it was time to eat.  Lines were pretty long at some of the restaurants, but not at the one we chose, Ruby Tuesdays.  We love their salad bars and I like their warm seasoned biscuits.

         Everywhere we strolled at the Mall on Black Friday, people were polite and helpful.  It was totally unlike pictures that are flashed on TV of pushy, loud, out of control people grabbing and being rude.  Instead, the Mall of America was a sea of civility.

         Would I go to the Mall of America again on Black Friday?  Yes.  The place was alive and exciting and extraordinary.  Gunnar kept commenting on the giant Christmas ornaments hanging from the rafters.  "What if they fall, Grandma?  They'd smash all over the place."

***

         And now I'm looking forward to the many Christmas occasions here in Victoria.  We are fortunate to have much Christmas spirit in this community.  Actually, there is a wonderful all-year-round spirit in Victoria, a spirit some would like to steal from us, like the Grinch who stole Christmas.  It's happening all around the world and it's getting uglier because the Grinch and his friends know they are the losers.  It makes them meaner.

***

         You'll see that I was able to once again get new pictures of all the people who write regular columns for the Christmas issue of the Gazette.  It's a tradition I enjoy and it's good to connect thoughts and words with faces.  The Gazette is fortunate to have a very large staff of writers and readers, all of them above average in every way!  I also like to get new photos of city staff people, as possible, so we are familiar with those who work on our behalf in this fine city.

         I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, making memories to fill the air on a calm and quiet night like twinkling stars in the heavens.

 

 

 

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From the Editor

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

The Victoria GAZETTE

December 2014

Sue’s Album

A symphony of photos

and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com