2 posts tagged “christmas”

If you have next to nothing, how do you decide what you want most of all?  Photojournalist Linda Solomon visited the Salvation Army shelter in Raleigh, North Carolina and put that question to the kids living there.  Linda gave disposable cameras to the kids and told them to photograph what they most desire.

A 7 year old girl took picture of a bed because “you’re not as comfortable sleeping on the floor”.  One little boy just wanted good friends to play football with.  Sometimes, you can’t beat the philosophy of children …“An iPod can have a dead battery, but a friend can stay with you all the time you need them.”

Another girl wanted the opportunity for something that several people take for granted and squander away by partying and carelessness.  She dreams for the chance to go to college when she gets older.

These kids are dreaming about the simple things in life…to see their mother smile…to have a home…to have their family be together again…we should really all appreciate what we do have, especially during the holiday season.

One of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to hear interesting stories from people who live all over the world and this is one of them.  In a small town in the countryside between London and Oxford, they celebrate Christmas is a really wonderful way.  On Christmas Eve, about 2,000 people gather at this village (I wish I knew the name) and they all hold candles, enjoy a huge bonfire, and sing Christmas carols.  Then, the people from the neighboring village across the Thames River cross the river carrying tall candles to join them.  The houses and buildings have lights and fresh powder snow is on the ground and trees.  Doesn't that sound perfect and so magical for Christmas?