December 2 2019

This month our theme is “It’s a Wonderful Life!” One of my all-time favorite movies is It’s a Wonderful Life! When I was a child, it was shown multiple times each holiday season and every time Zuzu said, “Look, Daddy. Teacher says, ‘Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,’” and Harry Bailey said, “To my big brother George, the richest man in town,” I’d tear up. These days, it’s only on Christmas Eve each year so I have to make sure to catch it and get my fix.

I think everybody should have the opportunity to be George Bailey and see what the world would be like if they never existed. If you haven’t seen this film, the synopsis is George Bailey gets into financial trouble and thinks his family and the rest of the world would be better off without him. Clarence, an angel trying to earn his wings, is given the task of helping George find his love of life again. To do so, Clarence takes George into a world where George had never been born and shows him the impact he’s had on the world. As a result, George longs to return to his life, even with its financial troubles. In the end the community of people he impacted come to George’s rescue, Clarence earns his wings, and George is dubbed the richest man in town.

First printed in The Centre County Gazette, November 27 – December 4, 2019