Van Beek: Ready or not, here it comes — HoHoHo
At your door, trucks deliver tons of boxes of things you only noticed briefly online, and like a brilliant stalker, they follow you, website to website, until you surrender and click “Add to Cart.” In case you forget, Alexa will remind you of something you accidentally clicked on last summer, and let you know that this may be your last chance … and for the sake of survival, you click that cute little cart and watch your credit card faint.
Ornaments that you thought were rather cute last year, are beginning to look like Chucky, reincarnated. The ones with batteries, begin to wiggle the moment you reach in the box, like a trapped racoon! You set them all next to that deranged fish your cousin gave you, the one that plays the song from hell every time you walk by. Extension cords multiply like they’re on a holiday bonus plan. The Hallmark Channel triggers Pavlovian responses that sound like you need an exorcist. To top it off, that very special gift you got for you partner is so well-hidden that the Easter Bunny will have to help you find it next Spring! Even the dog silently watches, like he’s judging your life choices.
All of that aside, by the end of the evening, as you sit watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”, with family cuddled around, and the tree lit in the corner … along with your equally lit Uncle … you realize that you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Christmas has arrived.
It’s a season filled with beautiful traditions and unrealistic expectations, yet they cause us to aim high. None of us live in a Norman Rockwell painting (Rockwell didn’t either), but we love and appreciate the beauty of our realistic imperfections.
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We imagine cozy fires, peaceful mornings, pancakes cooking and smiling families in matching pajamas. What we often get is a loud living room of kids (of all ages) arguing about what they should do next; enough wrapping paper to cover the entire house and grandma trying to fold it all to use again next year; the dog chewing on the one battery that makes that special toy work; you, looking around for who you can regift that present to, once you figure out what it is; and “It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas” playing in the background for the hundredth time. All, being observed by adults drinking reheated coffee while insisting, “this is very nice,” in a tone usually reserved for dental procedures. Yet, these are the memories we treasure. It’s not movie-perfect; it’s better because it’s real and it’s ours.
It consists of parents who stay up late, assembling toys with instructions written in another language, translated by someone who may be barely coherent due to too much holiday “cheer,” for a toy that neither one has ever actually seen … and why are there so many extra parts?
Yet, with all of this going on, so many in our loving community, venture out in the cold winter night, to silently drop off food, toys, warm clothes, even a small tree, and quickly disappear before anyone can say, “thank you.”
And, despite the lack of sleep, the “Holiday Spirit” gets us up, early enough to make sure the stage is set for ultimate joy … shoveling the outdoor walkways for Christmas visitors, making hot chocolate for everyone who hasn’t already passed out from a sugar overload, and awaiting that first bright face running into the room, announcing in their loudest voice, “Santa’s been here!” These moments don’t come with ribbons or bows — but they’re the gifts that last.
While many gather around trees and tables today, others are working — making sure roads are safe, emergencies are answered, and help arrives the moment it’s needed. If you get a chance, stop by and say thanks … perhaps with a few goodies to eat.
To our deputies, dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, hospital workers and all first responders: Thank you for being on duty so others can enjoy this special day. We also recognize the men and women of our military — many of whom spend the holidays far from home, so the rest of us can enjoy this time in safety. Your sacrifice is so greatly appreciated.
Sometimes the holidays are hard. For some families, Christmas is joyful. For others, it’s stressful, or even painful. It might be the first without a loved one. It could be a lack of resources, exacerbated by the pressure to make Christmas “magical,” which can be emotionally overwhelming and financially draining. We have parents in the community who worry about empty trees, empty cupboards and the questions their children will ask. Did Santa think they were not good? Children should experience joy without having to understand the logistics behind it. This is where community matters most. I am so incredibly thankful to all who sacrifice year-round, to help make life better for those who are struggling.
Christmas in Eagle County isn’t quiet. It’s boots by the door. It’s visitors from around the world discovering how to walk on slippery ice. It’s jammed schedules, full parking lots and overcrowded venues.
It’s also kindness, patience and people looking out for one another, even when they’re exhausted. If today feels a little messy, a little loud, or a little behind schedule, you’re doing it right. If the meal was dry, the cookies burned, or Santa needed a little assistance this year, you’re in good company. Christmas doesn’t require perfection, it asks for presence.
On behalf of the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, thank you for being a community that shows up — not just when it’s easy, but when it matters most. Thank you for supporting one another, for trusting us, and for helping make this valley a place where people feel safe, cared for, and at home. From our families to yours, we wish you a warm, peaceful, and joy-filled Christmas.
James van Beek is the Eagle County sheriff. You can reach him at james.vanbeek@eaglecounty.us.
