Kerry Spot    [ jim geraghty reporting ]
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There will be periodic updates over the next few days, as I celebrate Christmas at Yes-The-New-Name-Is-Coming-Around-New-Year’s-Kerry-Spot Southern World Headquarters in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Christmas is days away.

Al Neuharth of USA Today is declaring, “the best way to support troops thrust by unwise commanders in chief into ill-advised adventures like Vietnam and Iraq is to bring them home. Sooner rather than later. That should be our New Year's resolution.”

Yes, Mr. Zarqawi, enjoy that strategically-important, oil-rich and holy-to-the-Shia country we’re leaving in your hands under the Neuharth Doctrine.

One of my favorite writers, Irshad Manji, writes about how she, a Muslim, appreciates Christmas.

As a Muslim, I can claim religious immunity to the routine demands of Christmas while taking advantage of the occasion's small pleasures.

I don't feel culturally compelled to buy expensive gifts — or even cheap ones — for people who get on my nerves. I can also skip the Dec. 24 mall angst.

Yet I love watching folks grow excited the way they don't on any other holiday. "It's going to be a major pain getting out of the airport," a friend told me, "but it'll be my first Christmas with my new niece. I can't wait!" I shared her goose bumps.

I love sipping non-alcoholic cider with my non-nieced-and-nephewed pals. Relaxed conversation in front of a crackling fire — we'd never squeeze that combination out of each other if not for Christmas.

Above all, I love the laughs at the "seasonal event" put on by a Jewish friend, most of whose guests are agnostic about God but evangelical about eggnog.

Thanks to all who have e-mailed warm wishes during this Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza/New Year/Anything I Forgot Season, and the same to all of the wonderful readers of this site.

[Posted 12/23 02:08 PM]