Editor’s Note

Thoughts from the Editor

My childhood memories of Christmas are brimful with the lyrics of beautiful, silly, and hope-filled songs. It’s a marvel to me how music stirs nostalgia and builds anticipation.

I have memories of singing “Christmas, Christmas time is near, time for toys and time for cheer” along with Alvin and the Chipmunks on the forever-long car ride to visit family in Southern California. I have memories of playing with Legos by the fire while mom sang in the kitchen, “Come on, ring those bells! Light the Christmas tree. Jesus is the king, born for you and me” along with Evie on our record player. I also remember singing “A thrill of hope! The weary soul rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn’!” with hundreds of voices over numerous Christmas Eves.

As a boy, the “thrill of hope” I felt was directly tied to unwrapping my very own Optimus Prime action figure from Transformers and singing “Robots in Disguise.” As a man, I recognize there is a much deeper hope and more pressing need than painted plastic can provide, while singing “Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, till he appear'd, and the soul felt its worth.”

Christmas is full of song. In our singing we can hear: what we love, what we miss, what we remember and believe. If we pause long enough to listen to each other and truly hear, our songs may bring out what often gets buried throughout the year—hope.

From the team here at Topograph & Lifestyle Magazine, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Eric Riley

Executive Editor Lifestyle Magazine

President / Owner Topograph