As we are in the midst of the Christmas season, many thoughts and memories of prior holidays come rushing to mind this time of year.
I’ve always loved this time of year. Even though it can be very rushing, busy, and somewhat pressure packed to get everything accomplished, there is still a magical quality to each Christmas season.
I had the pleasure of being in the Cassville Christmas parade, filling in for our wonderful Mayor, Bill Shiveley, as he had to be out of town to be with family. The Cassville Christmas Parade never fails to be such a shining example of a community coming together and sharing the collective goodwill that has always been a trademark for Cassville, which I have so often compared with the fictional town of Mayberry, N.C.
On that note, if you get a chance, I highly recommend watching the drone video of the parade, which was produced by the incredibly talented homegrown staff at Element 79 Media in Cassville. The video provided such a vibrant glimpse of the excitement and beauty of our parade and it offers another example of why we tout Cassville as America’s Real Hometown.
Two weeks prior to the parade, I dropped by the Open Houses hosted by some of our local merchants. The Square was packed and had a true holiday feel and sense of excitement, which can only truly be felt during this time of year.
Additionally, the financial impact of the Christmas season for our local merchants and businesses nationwide is truly significant. For example, I was in awe of the merchandise flying out the door during my visit to Whitley’s during the Holiday Open House. And, a lot of the people in the store had come to Cassville from surrounding communities. They came here because of the reputation and atmosphere displayed by our local merchants. That’s really exciting and something that doesn’t happen by accident.
Of course, as I reminisce about prior Christmases, I can’t help but recognize that this will be our family’s first holiday season since my Mom’s passing this past July. It was a time of the year that Mom loved because she loved the fun and fellowship that came with the various events with family, friends, and church.
When I was a little guy I remember hounding Mom and Dad about when David and I would be able to open the presents that we were so excited to receive. Mom would always smile and say, “Christmas is just around the corner and it will be here before you know it.” As usual, Mom was always right and Christmas morning arrived faster than we thought it would.
I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2024. As Mom would say, “They are just around the corner and will be here before you know it.”.
Jon Horner is a local community bank president, published author, and motivational speaker. He can be reached at jonhorner77@ gmail.com.
