My first announcement is that my daughter got engaged to be married on December 29!! Her man is in the US Marine Corps. His name is Eric, and he’s a good dude. We talked back on Thanksgiving, and he told me about his plan to propose while Laura visited him in Hawaii after Christmas. He even asked for my blessing, which I gave enthusiastically. I haven’t always been a big fan of the guys that date my daughter, but I like this guy a lot. I find him to be above board in a great many ways, but most of all, I find him to be honorable. That’s a quality I’ve found sorely lacking in 2020, and I have missed it. Amazingly enough, Eric and I seem to see eye-to-eye on a wide variety of topics, and I think we’re going to be really good friends. At the time of this writing, I do not know if they’ve picked a date yet, but rest assured that as soon as I know, I’ll be putting it in my next column. Turns out these two have known each other for more than 10 years, to top it off, so I’m pretty sure they know what they’re getting into. I’m really proud of both my daughter and Eric. Stay tuned for more as it develops…

So, none of that “New Year, New me” stuff for me. I’m gonna stay the same old loveable gangster I’ve been for this year. I think it’ll make it easier for me next year if I keep the bar kind of low…

Back when I was homeless, Street Life would give out PB&J sandwiches with a little note from a 1^st or 2^nd grade kid. I used to save the ones I got because they always made me feel a little bit better. Well, right before Christmas this year, I met a 12 year old girl that had written 50 notes to put in the bags we give out along with the meal. I was really touched by her commitment and well wishes, I really was. So I asked her what she’d asked of Santa for Christmas. She tells me a gold iPad. I was surprised by the answer, and I said something along the lines of “Back when I was your age, I was still eating dirt.” Anyways, I vowed to myself that Santa WOULD be getting that kid the gift she wanted. Back in the Old Days, I’d have just had a “Come to Jesus” meeting with the jolly old guy and shown him that it was just the right thing to do, but like I said, I met her just a short time before Christmas. Didn’t have time to get up to the North Pole to have an audience with St. Nick, so I just sent him an email. Amazingly enough, he wrote back!!! The note was short, but it told me that if that awesome little girl didn’t get her iPad right on Christmas Day, then for me to check MY mail. Santa said it might be a cooler thing if perhaps a “stranger” such as myself were to be deputized a “Temporary Santa” and in such a capacity were to give that awesome little girl her iPad, maybe that might be even better than finding it under the tree on Christmas morning. I’m not sure, but I think Ol’ Santa nailed this one. Must be why they call him Father Christmas…

Lord, we finally put 2020 in the rearview. It wasn’t easy, but most of us made it out okay. Please let ’21 be a year of healing and renewed excitement for each and every one of us. Bring us a Renaissance of ideas and actions to help those who are still out there and resistant to help. Show us new ways to bridge the gaps between them and us. I know you got this, Father, as you have and hold all things. Amen.

See you on the streets.