ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512270041
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
I WOULD like to respond to Ken Van Gorder's Dec. 13 letter titled "Stores show little holiday spirit."
I've been in retail for almost 14 years, and many of the negative points he mentioned about the retail business are clearly in error.
The consumer has dictated the changes that have caused merchants to reduce store decorations. A large amount of money can be spent on purchasing and decorating stores. In order to keep prices lower for the consumer, many retailers have reduced or alleviated this expense. After all, would customers prefer a beautifully decorated store or the lowest possible prices?
Secondly, I'm not sure where Mr. Van Gorder shops, but most stores' music is supplied by a service called Musak that has a great selection of old and new Christmas songs. These include ``Frosty the Snowman,'' ``White Christmas,'' ``Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,'' etc.
Additionally, parents have a choice whether to pay the inflated prices for their child to be pictured with Santa. No one is asking parents to go to malls and purchase expensive photos, especially when some retailers offer free Polaroid pictures with Santa every year.
Mr. Van Gorder may prefer to do all his shopping by phone or mail. But he shouldn't criticize a profession that works hard to satisfy the consumer. Does he work at a job that has hours from 8 a.m. until midnight six days a week and 11 hours on Sundays? Or is this when he does his shopping over the phone?
This industry has many excellent associates who sacrifice time with family and friends to satisfy the consumer. Please don't criticize them because they don't always smile or seem like they are ``having fun.'' We get tired, too.
I recommend that Mr. Van Gorder work in the industry for one week and then he will understand that sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it, too!
CHERYL HOLCOMB
ROANOKE
Santa's spirit is God's work
GROWING UP, I never felt there was a difference between the spiritual side and commercial side of Christmas. In my heart, I felt they went hand in hand, and it was God's plan.
Yes, I believe in Santa or the spirit of Santa. Santa might be in the form of a parent, child, friend or neighbor. You could say he works through us. He loves all. Thoughts of him can excite a person of any age. He makes people want to do good for others. Kind of sounds like God.
Do you think maybe Santa was formed in God's image? When I try to picture God, I kind of see him looking like Santa.
I have two children, both born right after Christmas. Before Blaine was born, people were complaining about all the preparing they had to do for Christmas. Being pregnant made it a little more uncomfortable for me. But at least I didn't have to cross a desert on a donkey and give birth in a stable.
And did you ever think of all the work that went into that very first Christmas? Making sure that everything and everyone was in the right place at the right time? You think it's difficult finding a gift for some people? Try picking the woman to be the mother of God's child.
I think work at Christmas is a reminder of what went into the birth of Christ. Let's face it, if Christmas were just a special church service only the church would know the joy and story of it. I believe God feels this is too important for just a few people. He wants everyone to enjoy this, even if in different ways.
I believe God's plan has worked. People help each other and are usually nicer at this time of year.
On Christmas Eve, when all the preparation is over, I like to picture God, Santa and all the spirits of Christmas sitting and relaxing in heaven. They see people going to church. (It's the only time some go all year.) They see families gathering and trying to get along, the homeless eating gifts of food and poor children opening gifts given by strangers. And I believe that they hold hands, smile and pray about a job well done.
PATTI MILLS
ROANOKE
It was a Dickens of a good time
HATS OFF to all those good people who worked so hard to make last Friday night's "Dickens of a Christmas" on the City Market a big success. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The crowd, young and old, was well-mannered. There were lots of little children. We had a wonderful meal at one of the many restaurants. We wanted to take a carriage ride, but the lines were too long. Maybe next year.
JIMMY & JANE RICHARDSON
LOIS ELMORE
ROANOKE
Bike collection did Roanoke proud
AS A result of the work between J-93 FM and Toys for Tots, Roanoke Valley people have bonded together for a common cause.
Slam Duncan and a member of the Marines sat in a trailer 93 feet above Tanglewood Mall as 620 bicycles plus several thousand dollars in cash were collected.
First Union National Bank's Community Involvement Committee, of which I am a member, gave some helmets. The Bulk Check Storage Department where I work gave cash.
Other businesses gave of their time and donations. Jay Leno and Garth Brooks sent their congratulations. CNN was here.
I am proud to live in this valley of caring people who want less fortunate children to see a bicycle on Christmas morning. I personally want to say thanks to all who gave from their heart.
BRIAN D. BOWMAN
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB