The ultimate symbol of childhood materialism in the Baby Boom generation was without a doubt the Sears Christmas catalog, popularly know as the "Wish Book." For a span of almost seven decades this treasured tome of toys, games and other festive merchandise was the pre-eminent focus and symbol of childhood hopes and dreams for the Christmas season. Typically made available in September of each year, the Wish Book gave kids a full three months to plan and execute their campaigns to secure their most desired Christmas goodies. Some parents even refused to keep the book in the house, such was the relentless nature of the excitement this catalog inspired in the hearts of American children.
    The Wish Book was traditionally divided into two major sections. The first part featured boring adult clothing, tools and appliances, while the second half was chock full of such wonderful toys, games and other luscious merchandise as to whet the appetite of the most jaded of youngsters. Indeed, part of the wonder of the Sears Christmas catalog was the extraordinary variety of items offered from so many different companies and manufacturers-- G.I. Joe dolls and accessories from Hasbro, race car sets from Aurora, board games from Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers, toy forts and soldiers from Marx, Give-A-Show Projectors and Easy Bake Ovens from Kenner, Barbies and Thingmakers from Mattel, just to name a scant few.
    The two discrete divisions of the catalog were separated by a detailed index, including a separate index exclusively devoted to the toys. To endear the Wish Book even further to the young ones, drawings of Dennis the Menace were added throughout the toy section beginning in the 60s, featuring the young rapscallion singing the praises of Sears merchandise while making miserable the life of a certain Mr. Wilson. One could hardly turn a page or two without encountering another amusing antic of the ubiquitous Menace.
    Originally issued in 1933, the Sears Christmas catalog was last published in 1992, which was the largest Wish Book Sears ever issued. In 1998 Sears put the Wish Book on line, where it may now be found at www.wishbook.com.
    For generations of American children, the Sears Wish Book Christmas catalog provided endless hours of Christmas dreams, hopes and wishes, and a well organized and attractive source of gift ideas for one and all. The passing of the merchandise catalog from our lives is a sad one, but there can be little doubt that the tradition of the Sears Wish Book will live on in the memories of many of us, especially we Boomers who always knew the value of a good Christmas wish.

    On December 9, 1965, there premiered on the nation's TV screens a sweet little Christmas cartoon that has long since become an indispensable staple of the winter holiday season.

    "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was originally conceived as a means of capitalizing on the growing popularity of Charles Schulz's cute little comic strip, but in the end it succeeded in raising the world of Peanuts into an entirely different realm of sentiment and meaning. The script was so cleverly and lovingly written, the music so beautifully composed, arranged and performed, and the animation so simply and faithfully realized, that "A Charlie Brown Christmas" became an instantaneous holiday classic.
    For starters, the soundtrack by The Vince Guaraldi Trio is superb. Fusing such disparate elements as sparkling jazz piano and traditional Christmas carols, the music created for the show holds up extremely well. The individual pieces are instantly recognizable, and each can be easily associated with the scenes within which they play. The matchless instrumental theme "Linus and Lucy," the original carol "Christmas Time is Here," and the loving renditions of familiar classics were all beautifully integrated into a coherent and flowing musical whole.
    Virtually every sequence in the program deserves mention: Charlie Brown confessing his holiday blues on the wall with Linus, his five cent psychiatric session with Lucy, the snowflake catching contest in which Lucy declines to participate (since "only January" flakes will do), Sally's avaricious letter to Santa, Snoopy grooving to Schroeder's piano rehearsal, Charlie Brown and Linus' fateful trip to the Christmas tree lot, Snoopy licking Lucy's face and winning the Christmas decoration contest for his doghouse, and on and on.
    Certainly the most poignant and memorable scene is that of Linus standing alone on the school auditorium stage to recite the story of the birth of Jesus directly from the Gospels-- all for the edification of Charlie Brown, who had wondered aloud if anyone could tell him what Christmas is all about. Properly inspired, Charlie determines to enjoy Christmas and decorate the pathetic tree he has procured for the Christmas play, only to "kill" it by attaching a single, shining orb. Linus comes to the rescue with his trusty blanket, and Charlie Brown is redeemed in the eyes of his fellows. Such is the miraculous nature of the Christmas season that a quintessential loser like Charlie Brown can become a true hero to his peer group of cynical children. Only Linus is able to separate himself from the others and rise above it all to deliver his lovely recounting of the Nativity, thus putting the entire situation into perspective for his little friends and for us as well.
    Thematically, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is a lamentation of the crass overcommercialization of Christmas, and yet its unequivocal message is that the true meaning of Christmas always remains absolutely unaffected by it all. The beauty, innocence and sheer entertainment exemplified by "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will ensure that it touches the hearts of young and old alike for many, many Christmases to come.
    Only a blockhead would disagree.

    The Christmas season is one of rich tradition and ritual here on Joan De Arc, from the Christmas lights dutifully strewn across our homes, to the fine arts of caroling and baking, to the exchange of gifts, cards and seasons greetings to friends, co-workers and loved ones alike. Taking our sleds over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house may not be an option for people living in the desert, but this is surely an ultimately minor deprivation. The absence of snow on the ground has never proved an impediment to a genuine enjoyment of this happiest of all holidays, as folks on our street have always found many other ways of creating a festive holiday atmosphere. Perhaps the most universal manifestation of the Christmas season here is the incredible variety of music that has been performed and enjoyed from the beginnings of the street in the early '60s.
    The music of the Yuletide season has consistently found expression here on the Avenue in many different forms: the Christmas concerts at Sahuaro School, the groups of carolers going door to door even in the face of occasional apathy or even hostility, but especially the individual families gathering and singing together just for the sheer joy of it. Some Christmas song traditions arose from television sources such as Alvin and the Chipmunk's chart topper "Christmas Don't Be Late," or from "Frosty the Snowman" and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," but generally the joy of Christmas music is shared within individual families singing the traditional standards, standing around the piano or sitting near the hi-fi set, sipping hot cocoa and making popcorn strings for the tree. 'Tis safe to say that only in the safety and security of one's own home are many people comfortable singing in front of others.
    Some employers of Joan De Arc residents even issued materials for this very purpose. General Motors, for instance, published a small carol book in the late '60s, apparently in lieu of Christmas bonuses for certain of its employees. Those families fortunate enough to number an experienced musician among their members could listen to live renditions of everything from "Jingle Bells" to Tschaikowsky's "Nutcracker Suite," but the mode of expression was of course completely secondary to the importance of simple togetherness and familial love on this grandest of all holiday occasions. Over the years, Joan De Arc Avenue has seen plenty of both.
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