OCBA UPDATE: A vary merry COVID Christmas

I am sitting in front of my computer on Christmas Eve. Darn publisher lead times often lead to articles that may appear out of time or out of place. But hey - we are all on COVID time. I am not Christian, so Christmas holds no special religious meaning to me. Yet it is by far - usually - one of my favorite times of the year. Ordinarily, there is such a spirit of joy and wonder in the air that it is genuinely palpable. And I love that feeling. It is also a time - usually - to gather the family together, the logistics of which get more difficult each passing year as children go off to live their own lives. For the first time in 41 years, I will not be with my children (now married adults with children of their own) on Christmas. For the first time in 13 years, I will not be with any of my now five grandchildren on Christmas. That palpable feeling of joy and wonder was just not there for me this year. So my wife and I had to decide - what should we do for Christmas this year? (She is Christian.) Should we sit by the tree and open our stockings? Exchange gifts of nice things we might want, but in truth, don't really need? We clearly needed a different plan. We needed to vary our Christmas to try and recapture that feeling of joy and wonder. So we decided that we would not exchange any gifts this year. Instead, we would embark on a search for a family truly in need of help so we could give gifts that were not just wanted, but badly needed in this COVID era. We embarked on a search of various charities for a deserving family. We did not just want to make a monetary donation to the many deserving charitable organizations out there assisting people in need. We wanted to connect with another family - adopt them for Christmas. Our search eventually led to an organization known as Soldiers' Angels based out of San Antonio, Texas. The program is only available to families of deployed service members, families of post-9/11 wounded and disabled, and families enrolled in the HUD/VASH program. They interview and clear the families for listing on their site to ensure eligibility and that there is genuine need. We wanted to find a local family we could connect with, and one which clearly needed some help. Our search became successful when we located our Christmas family on the east side of town. A husband who is a disabled Marine veteran, a mother who was laid off in March due to COVID, and five children from ages 12 to 20. Once we were cleared to adopt the family, we were given contact information to reach out to our Christmas family. Through a series of emails, and one heartwarming phone call, we were able to garner a couple of lists. We wanted a list of what they "needed" and a "wish" list for what they might "want." We received both lists for each of the children, but the parents did not want to provide a "wish" list for themselves. So we (i.e., my wife) went to work. We got everything on their "needed" list, and a number of items off of their "wish" lists. And since the parents would not provide a "wish" list, we just added a number of food gift cards to help get them through the winter. We then arranged to travel to their home on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. We knew we could not enter their home in light of COVID, so the plan was just to load up the back of our SUV, park in their drive, and let them unload the car. But far more important than the delivery of wrapped packages, we stood near their back porch and spoke for bit. We connected with our Christmas family. We shared a few stories of our respective families. I thanked the father for his service and sacrifice. But best of all - that feeling of wonder and joy was back! Not even knowing what was in the packages, the smiles - and tears - were abundant. While at times a tired cliché, it truly is better to give than to receive. I asked the parents if I could say a few words to the children. I asked only that they remember the day that someone did something for them, not because they had to, or would receive something in return, but simply because they could. And I challenged each of them as they grew into adults and went off on their own to someday do the same. To look for that opportunity to do something for someone else, not because you had to, not because you would derive some benefit from doing so, but just because you could. I think that might even be what people call the "Christmas spirit." So my wife and I left and drove back to our home. I still have the warm feeling from sharing elbow bumps with each of the members of our adopted Christmas family. Even in the COVID era, there is still wonder and joy in the air at Christmas. And even having to write this darn column will not dampen that feeling. Best to all in what we all hope will soon be the post-COVID era. -------- Keefe A. Brooks, of Brooks, Wilkins, Sharkey, & Turco PLLC, is the 88th president of the Oakland County Bar Association. Published: Tue, Mar 30, 2021