I recall reading somewhere that the words, “The End,” when placed at the end of a movie denote that this is the end of this movie, but not the end of the story. How to ‘splain? Well, take the Star Wars travesty’s. Episodes IV, V, and VI complete a cycle. At the end of IV (commonly known to those who were around to see it originally as just Star Wars) you can place “The End” because the story continues in Episode V (commonly known as The Empire Strikes Back); and “The End” at the end of that Episode because the story completes (allegedly) in Episode VI (or, Return of the Jedi). You cannot, however, place “The End” at the end of Episode VI unless you plan to create more movies thereafter. The convention comes from the old serials days when the words were meant to inform the viewer that this portion of the story was over, please come again for the next installment.

Pretty neat, hunh?

Anyway, gotta say, “I’m in love,” and, “No!” it is not with myself (though there are arguments that can be posited for that as well). No, I am in love with Erin. Thought the world needed to hear that.

However, that ties in to this because, on occasion, she will make a statement, “The End,” and whatever we are conversing is done. We aren’t going to continue that conversation or line of thought at that moment. Papers receive the same treatment. It’s not rude, merely a statement that things have run their course for the moment and, in the future, at some point, maybe, we’ll pick them up again. The End. Seriously, a neat convention used to denote that the story or events aren’t over, merely this portion of them.

I was reading on Tim Pratt’s website a while back. Maybe a few weeks, last month (e.g. November, 2006) and his wife wrote, “The End,” at the end of one of his manuscripts that he’d finished a first draft run-through on and then printed out. The idea is that he is through with the hard part (maybe) and has rewriting, first readers, editing, and then shipping off to publisher (as he is writing on spec) to finish. “The End” in this case represents the end to one portion of a much greater story. It is applicable because, if you follow his website and updates, he is contracted to write multi-volumes in the series he’s working on. Granted, I am new to Tim Pratt’s writing and haven’t come across the short stories set in the world he’s writing in, but I like his style and what he brings to SciFi/Fantasy. I think he’s got something to say and “The End” merely implies that so does his wife (as first reader, editor, and supporter) as well as the publishing world in general.

“The End” does not denote an ending. Rather, it suggests to the reader that this is going to continue. It’s like carrying on a conversation with Erin. You can’t explore every idea you want to at one time. Start down a path and it has to end for a time because the mind (and possibly heart) needs time to catch up with the succession of thoughts and ideas that have been discussed. Asked: “How do you feel about…?” to me. I answered that it was a complicated matter and that I was not in a position to expand my thoughts without some preparation, time, and multiple sessions (face to face). That ended the dialogue. Unwritten, unspoken, “The End,” was a part of the conversation as my answer, at the time, was sufficient for whatever she was working through in her head. She expanded, back, a little, but “The End” came into play because neither (I’d surmise) was prepared to move forward.

Story is a notion of continuation. One example of this, I found it intentional, other’s think I was crazy, the author has said I am right, is Dune. The first book, Dune covers the initiation of a family on a world and the eventual acclimation of Paul Atreides, and his posterity, are destined to rule the universe. However, the first book, written about twenty years before the second or third, sets up a “The End” scenario where the story can continue. It probably does end that way, and the second and third installments are actually not so good, but need to be slogged through to get to where Frank Herbert actually starts writing well, again. The point, though, is that the author intended for a “The End” to the story only insofar as he was not done writing it. He died before he could finish his latest additions and it seems that one of his sons has taken up the mantle. I’ve not read any of the new novels. It would be like watching, and REALLY liking the prequel trilogy of Star Wars, unthinkable.

Anyway, “The End” isn’t an ending. It is merely a prelude to a continuation of what is already going on. George (Lucas) grew up watching serials. As a result of that he conceived of the Star Wars franchise, the Indiana Jones franchise, and helped produce the Back to the Future franchise. All movies that can (and in some cases do) end with “The End.” Wait until the next installment, you won’t be disappointed.

What all of this has to do with life, with me, is that I write. Some things are meant to be standalones. Others are literally, “The End,” waiting to happen. On a more personal note, conversations are often “The End”ed, sometimes without both parties realizing why or what is happening. This isn’t a bad thing. In writing you do it. Television does it (though they are not likely to use the words). It happens all the time. The End is a simple convention meant to add suspense, to announce that this part is over (of the conversation) and that you will have to wait for more. If you are savvy, waiting for more is a very good thing; if not, it can be frustrating.

As I said, I love Erin. People shouldn’t doubt that. When conversations end with “The End” it’s a promise to me that we will continue it later. As long as the promise is there we are doing well. If it ever disappears (and I guess it could regardless of where our relationship goes) then it is time to start worrying.

Just so you all can hear me say it: THE END.

More later.

I’ve decided I don’t like Christmas. Actually, pretty much anyone that knows me knows that. I’m a scrooge. Not really. People who really know me really know that I am probably the anti-scrooge; but for those who are passive followers/acquaintances, the outcome is that if you know me you know I don’t like Christmas and as a result I come across as a scrooge. So. Get over it.

However, there are a couple of things, with the holiday season, that I felt needed to, personally, be addressed. I have a couple of significant reasons for this. And yes, one of those is Erin. Yet, I just don’t like Christmas. Actually, the real feeling is I don’t like holiday’s in general; but that is a topic for another time (read here: NEVER) and as such will not be explored a great deal in this entry.

What I don’t like is the notion that holiday’s have become. Let’s take apart the word. Holiday literally means holy day. However, in the United States, today, and in the world, in general, the reference to holiday represents one of many things. It could be a civil or national day of remembrance. It could be a religious time of rememberance/celebration, it could simply mean a recognition of something important. Take Texas, as one example. A state holiday is Juneteenth, the day when the Emancipation Proclamation was read in the state of Texas. A quick Google search tells me two things, first, Juneteenth is June 19th (I was sitting here thinking 13th), and second, this is a nationally and internationally celebrated-slash-recognized holiday. Truth told, outside of Texas and those who have lived, been raised, born in, or are familiar with Texas, I have never heard of the holiday being recognized, let alone celebrated, anywhere else. You can learn more at this website if you are really curious. The holiday isn’t a holy day (though to some it may be). It is a day of remembrance, a day of celebration, but not a day of religious remembrance.

Thanksgiving is another example.

The Fourth of July.

New Years.

Halloween (though you don’t get time off for this one).

The list can go on, Martin Luther King day or Civil Rights day, President’s day and for some Election Tuesday are all days that hold some significance, whether we choose to recognize that significance or not; but they are not, traditionally, holidays.

If you are Jewish or, traditionally Catholic, there are as many holiday’s as there are days of the year. Every saint has a day. The Jewish people recognize a lot of things. And I guess, that is where we get back to Christmas. That’s a Catholic word. Christ and mas. The suffice –mas literally means a celebration of and then the word it postcedes. Meaning that Christmas is literally: A celebration of Christ. Yet, Christmas has become as ambiguous in celebration as almost any other holiday. It is no different, for me, than Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July or that one British holiday about Guy Fawkes – at least he is interesting in that he tried to blow up parliament and failed and is now canonized in the minds of the British people as a hero with admirable qualities. Someday, someone from England will have to explain that too me. Not today, tomorrow, this week, and if I am really blessed, not until after the end of 2006 and well into 2007.

You might begin to see my trepidation about holidays and their common celebration. Is Christmas about Christ? Or is Christmas a common celebration wherein people exchange gifts, buy trees (and kill them), and pretty much find an excuse not to work and put themselves far deeper in debt than they need to? Think further on this: X-mas, Happy Holidays, Yuletide (which seems to have a religious connection as well) and you might really begin to see that the secularization of the season isn’t about Christ, but about the relationship between retailer and consumer.

And yes, for those who are reading and wondering, “Is he trying to be antagonistic?” I am.

Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and other holidays literally exist, and are celebrated, during December not because they are significant or even important holiday’s, but rather as an answer (and in addition to) Christmas. Hanukah is a lesser Jewish holiday that would’ve disappeared from their social conscience had Christmas not existed. It is an excuse, adopted, to give presents and feel like the rest of the Christian world. This is not meant to incite and I am sure that there are people who celebrate Hanukah that truly felt he religious significance of the day, but the holiday and its celebration exists because of Christmas. I don’t have a problem with that, per say, I have a problem that we diminish the meaning of Christmas (celebration of Christ) by applying new (and different) meanings simply because tradition and social pressure dictate all of that to us.

Kwanzaa came into existence about 40 years ago and is the biggest joke on the planet. (As an aside, on that website, I discovered that Kwanzaa is exactly 40 years old. The number, I knew, was relatively correct, but had really been pulled out of my *bleep*. So, there ya go.) I can’t say anything positive about it even after reading about why it exists.

So, throw an Erin into my equation and then add a dash of something else (and, no, I don’t know what the something else is) and you get a much larger outcome. Specifically, I am now in the mode (at least this year) to want to appreciate this time of year, Christmas. I want to celebrate Christ; and yet, Christmas seems to pedantic to me that I am not sure I can cope with the traditions that are bespoken during the time of year. I’d be happy to forgo everything that is traditional and start over again; but that doesn’t work either. Get rid of the fat git in a red suit and exchange gifts for gifts sake and I am good. But, Santa Clause is so much a part of our culture that I don’t believe that is possible.

With all of that, my interest in the time of year has altered a bit. As a result of that I have decided that instead of Christmas I will be having a Celebration of Christ and, if you can get me to exchange greetings in the tone of the season, I will be wishing people, “Happy Celebration of Christ.” Yes, I am now running with the definition of Christmas. Yes, I believe this to be important. And yes, if you don’t want to be reminded about the reason for the season than I am probably not the person you want to have that discussion with.

Now, respect is something that has to come up, sooner or later. And with respect, I understand there are people who just traditionally celebrate without the need to delve into the reason. Great. Keep it that way. Just understand that in reverse I choose to focus on the reason and as such, Christmas (though a word in use) will no longer be my reason for the season.

Happy Celebration of Christ y’all.

p.s. It also allows me to not use the word “merry” during the season, as well; which is only a plus to me. In case people were wondering or had noticed that about me.