A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

I had a brief talk at work last week with a client who unfortunately fell into that demeaning and dreadful category of (99'er).  The woeful term given to individuals who's unemployment insurance claims has continued past 99 weeks.
It wasn't the first of similar such conversations nor do I expect it will be the last, but this young couple in particular, almost drove me to tears. A prowd young manand his wife who's found themselves without work  for over a year now and 3 little children's mouths to feed.  They were in the office to inquire if there would or would not be anymore extensions of benefits because of what they had heard on the news.  I told them that we had no furthur information concerning extending benefits by the US Congress as yet.
The wife went on to tell me that she was very sad and felt quite hopeless and askd me if I was going to set up a Christmas tree in my home this year.  I told her that I did  plan to use the same artificial one I've used for the past 5 years. She went on to tell me that she's been sitting in her room at night after the kids are gone to bed and crying because they have no way to even get them the little toys they are seeing on tv.  But she went on to explain that it's not the toys that are that important.  Rather, it's the look in their eyes when she said  that they would not have a Christmas tree this year. And the eldest of the 3 remarked, "But ma, not even a Charlie Brown Tree?"  No not even one so modest could the family afford.

This young couple clearly understands that having money for Christmas is not only a nice thing but but also for this particular Christmas, it's a matter of not enough food to go around and maybe not have enough heating in their small residence.

I wonder how many of our nations' congressmen/women could stand to go home for the holidays and stand before the children and tell them there won't be at least a 'tree' this year because they failed to do the 'peoples' business and make sure that those who are out of work for no reason of their own, could rely on them, the people they sent to Washington to 'resresent' them.  And representing them includes seeing that an extension of benefits  succeeded.

I realize as well as that young family does that it's really not about toys or gifts or even a 'tree'.  That it's the plain and simple  decency and compassion that humans in need get those needs addressed.

It's appaling that I've had to even write such a post in this day and age;But it's the ugly reality of the dumbing down of the human condition so prevalent in todays society. 
I for one will make an effore to give my tree to a needful family this Christmas season in hopes of at least giving some kid a  real 'Charlie Brown Christmas'.