It takes me a few weeks to complete it. I've lately been starting to construct it as early as October....and then not taking it down till at least mid-January. It's just a little hobby of mine....but I enjoy it....a typical Christmas Village....this one on an 8X10 platform....with the train extending a foot off the plywood as on a trestle.
If a psychologist....say someone like Dr. Robert Hartley....and his wife Emily....were to come over to see it....and I told them how long it takes to put it up....Dr. Hartley might bring up the subject of OCD. Let's say that I was in his group therapy sessions....the conversation might go like this....on the day before Christmas....
(If you were not a fan of the old Bob Newhart Show then you may not get the comments)
Dr. Hartley......"So let's start with you Mr. Carlin."
Mr. Carlin......."Why do you always start with me? Am I some kind of freak or something?"
Mr. Peterson looking to Mrs. Bakerman..."I told you he was listening to us talk."
Mr. Carlin......."Quiet Mr. Mouseman."
Mr. Peterson..."Mr. Mouseman? I served in the army in WWII!"
Mr. Carlin......."What did you serve....breakfast, lunch and dinner?"
Dr. Hartley......"Ok everyone.....it's Christmas Eve."
Mr. Carlin......."And not a Mr. Mouseman was stirring!"
Dr. Hartley......"OK....then lets's start with Special Dog. What have you been up to lately?"
Special Dog...."Well....I take a lot of joy in building my train set around a Christmas Village"
Dr. Hartley......"That's real nice. Do you like trains Special Dog"
Mr. Carlin........"Yeah....he chases them!"
Special Dog....."Mr. Carlin. Who is your barber....the Windy City Dry Cleaners?"
Mr. Peterson...."Ha Ha....he sends his hair out to be cleaned once a week."
Special Dog....."Please forgive me Mr. Carlin. It's just the day we live in....attack everyone."
Dr. Hartley......."That's a very nice thing to say Special Dog....back to the Christmas village?"
Special Dog decides to go into detail....
"Well....there are boys skiing down a slope that I fashioned with cardboard.....and four boys having fun throwing snowballs at each other....and a father building a snowman with his son next to him making angels in the snow....and people drinking hot chocolate around a fire....and there is a family carrying a Christmas tree....and a family in a horse drawn sleigh....and a lot of people carrying Christmas presents that they just bought in actual brick & mortar stores....and you can see couples through a window dancing a waltz....and there is a little ice skating rink....and there is a Marine giving out presents for...Toys For Tots...."
Mr. Carlin........"Dr. Hartely.....is our time up yet?"
Dr. Hartley......."No....this is very interesting....go on Special Dog."
Special Dog....."And there is an actual Christian bookstore....and two churches....and I hang a little metal plane overhead....with a banner that says in bold letters...."JESUS IS LORD...."
Mrs. Bakerman..."Oh that's nice....Christmas is all about Jesus."
Mr. Carlin........"Bah humbug!"
Special Dog continues...."And there is one of those old fashioned telephone phone booths. It reminds me of when everyone didn't have a smartphone. And there is a manger scene....with Christmas carolers in front of it....and a lot of people listening to them....I can almost hear the singing.....'Hark the herald angels sing....Glory.....Glory to the new-born king'!"
Even Mr. Carlin was quiet.
Dr. Hartley......"So Special Dog....this Christmas scene takes you back to your childhood?"
Special Dog....."Yes....but it also takes me back to a different America....where there were only four television channels....and we actually greeted each other....and said Merry Christmas no matter what our politics....and politics was civil....not civil war."
Dr. Hartley......"So you would like to go back to that time period?"
Special Dog...."Not really Dr. Hartley....because I may have been a child....but I grew up without knowing why that baby in a manger was born that day....no....I wouldn't want to go back....but I want to remember....I want to remember when we at least were open to hearing the gospel....and Billy Graham was on one of those four television channels all the time....and we were a people in America at least trying to see the good in others....and although we wandered about not really knowing the majesty of the One who Handel's Hallelujah Chorus so magnificently sang out praises to....we were at least reverent....and humble"
Dr. Hartley...."Well Mr. Carlin....our time is now up....but I think that it has been a good session....Merry Christmas to you all.
Mrs. Bakerman....."Merry Christmas Dr. Hartley.
Mr. Carlin looked at Mr. Peterson..."Merry Christmas Mr. Peterson."
Mr. Peterson...."Merry Christmas Elliot!"
