Reflections and Ramblings--Assistant Minister Pastor Dan Wilkie  

          It was the second week of December 1968, and my best friend Howard and I had planned our Christmas Shopping day for the coming Saturday, a day that was always a fun day for us and one we looked forward to with great anticipation. The Friday before we spent all evening on the phone planning our shopping extravaganza to take advantage of the limited time we had and make it a memorable experience. We agreed to meet early for breakfast at the Vick’s Pastry Cafeteria, have coffee, and perhaps a light lunch later in the day at the Mesa Drug Cafeteria. These were the places in Grand Junction where people hung out, and one could hear about all the local happenings.
          The next morning dawned a little overcast and cold with a slight breeze, and by the time we walked from the parking lot to breakfast we were well chilled—guys in those days didn’t wear anything but unlined Levi Jackets here unless it was well below zero. After a good breakfast and several cups of coffee, which gave many of the downtown stores time to open, we began our shopping, starting first with the toy stores for presents for our siblings, then to the ladies’ shops for presents for our moms and grandmothers, and, lastly, to the hardware store for presents for our dads and grandfathers.
          Somewhere in the middle of all this we decided we needed a small snack to keep us going, and being a couple of growing boys with sweet teeth we headed to the candy counter at Woolworth’s. After an eternity of looking and sampling, we decided on some chocolate stars and had the clerk begin filling our order. When she got to a pound, I told Howard “I think that’s enough,” but after carefully considering the contents of the bag, he said “no, a pound won’t even get us through the afternoon, especially with the tour to the Regional Center Dairy and the late dinner with the girls (meaning our girlfriends). I think five pounds would be better.” I looked at the clerk with panic in my eyes and reluctantly said “go ahead and give us five then.” Taking our candy and heading back out we munched and shopped until we finished.
          I was beginning to get seriously light headed, and a little nauseated having eaten so much chocolate, something I would have never admitted to Howard, but as I looked at him he was becoming a little green around the gills himself. Finally, not being able to take any more, we decided to head to the dairy tour, thinking the fresh air and all would help. Unfortunately the dairy smells made the entire situation worse and we became violently ill, so ill in fact that we had to leave and go home thinking we would have to cancel our dates. However, in a few hours after many, many trips to the bathroom we were well enough to go out with our girlfriends for dinner, but they sure gave us strange looks when we didn’t eat much.
          I think about this experience each year during the holidays because it is one of my most cherished holiday memories of my friendship with Howard, and because it also reminds me not to allow myself to become too caught up in the holiday expectations of others.
          With this, I wish you all a Blessed Merry Christmas, and pray that when you find yourself becoming frazzled by the hustle and bustle of the commitments to family and friends you will take a moment to pause, remembering that a little chocolate is enjoyable but too much of a good thing can make you really sick, and focus instead on a small infant...in a humble stable...the living example of God’s ultimate love for us all.

         Blessings, Dan

     SAVE THIS DATE: Friday January 25, 2008---First Congregational UCC will be the site of a benefit dinner to raise funds for HOMEWARD BOUND:    Cost $15.00 per person--Serving 5:30-7:30 PM--Reservations required!    More details in the January Tower Chimes or talk with Pam Grout or Chuck Holmgren.