From the Editors: St. Nicholas visits Erie 

'Twas the month before Christmas and all throughout Erie

The weather looked hazy, frost-covered, and bleary. 

The stockings were boxed, not yet hung by the fire

While the tree, freshly trimmed, was just being admired.

The lights blinked a constant, on-off flashing state

While I just poured a beer for my grateful room mate.

The bottles were flung in the bin without care

while visions of sponge candy hung in the air.  

It was finally time to start holiday shopping

To places in town would my cash soon be dropping.

A local gift guide would be helpful for me

To provide all the gifts to go under the tree. 

And what should I do on these wintery nights? 

Were there spirited things that could bring me delights?

It turned out that yes! These events numbered greatly

In places that I had not even been lately. 

I was trying my best to be in good spirits

When the news grew too terribly dreadful to hear it.

Would there be a light at the end of the year? 

Or would the next twelve months inspire more fear?

Could Santa Claus save us? At very least, Ernest?

Or was the whole year better off in the furnace?

Was this negative thinking or just pragmatism?

Was Christmas just some kind of lame escapism?

Or perhaps, in my deepest of hearts I still knew

That the holiday spirit lives in me and in you. 

That no matter what happens, there's still good in us.

That decency hasn't quite faded to dust.

It's these coldest of nights when we need to be warmer

To be something special, not just a conformer.

While I'll freely admit that it isn't that easy

to be a good person without being cheesy.

It's okay to love Christmas, and it's time we admit

There's a certain thing special, just not every bit in it.

So I'll stay realistic, yet be mildly cheery 

My best holiday wishes, oh people of Erie!