"The Shepherd"

Our contact with the First World is mainly via short wave radio at the VOA, sometimes the BBC, and every night on the CBC. Week nights at six o'clock the news (the Canadian version) comes on. Then at 6:30 we hear a wonderful program called "As It Happens". This program has been on for more than thirty years. The original hosts were Alan Maitland and Elizabeth Gray. Then the duties fell to Mary Lou Finley and Barbara Budd. Mary Lou recently retired so the probram is now hosted by Budd and a rotating guest host; permanent replacement yet to be found. Every year on Christmas Eve they broadcast Frederick Forsyth's short story "The Shepherd", "acted" by the late Alan Maitland. I say "acted" because he does much more than simply read this beautiful story. It is one of the most magical, mysterious Christmas stories ever, ranking right along with O'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi". If you have never read it or heard ut read, I encourage you.

In the meantime, it is Christmas Eve, the surf is pounding, the sky is clear, the bugs have all gone somewhere else, and it is a calm and peaceful night. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Goodnight.