Al’s Christmas Tea: For the Love of One’s Spouse
From Rockefeller Center to the heart of Iowa. Two husbands, two Christmas stories about love.
Welcome back in for Al’s Christmas Tea, our chance to stop and sample some news dealing with the spirit and reason for the season. We’re cutting back a bit on today’s entry so The Stream’s elves have more time to prepare to serve the wonderful people who support our parent organization’s mission efforts at LIFE Outreach International’s annual Christmas banquet.
What we lack in length we make up for love: two devoted husbands, and two beautiful tributes.
Christmas Tree Lit in Rockefeller Center
It’s perhaps the most famous Christmas tree not owned by Charlie Brown: the tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Last night, this year’s edition was lit with all the celebrity razzle-dazzle the Big Apple is noted for, including the famed Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. But the real star of this year’s lighting is the romantic story behind this particular tree.
Earl Albert of West Stockridge, Massachusetts donated the 74-foot Norway spruce in honor of his late wife, Leslie. Earl and Leslie had planted the tree in 1967 when they were newlyweds.
Earlier this fall, Earl suffered a stroke. His family told NBC TODAY on November 13 that he hoped to recover in time to attend last night’s festivities. Unfortunately, Earl was unable to attend, but was able to watch the lighting ceremony and witness his tribute to wife Leslie ablaze with five miles’ worth of lights.
He wasn’t alone. In addition to those watching the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree live on NBC last night, the network estimates that around 125 million people will visit Rockefeller Center over Christmas. (Personally, that number seems greatly inflated. That would mean more than four million people a day for 30 days. But as we all know, New Yorkers do tend to exaggerate.)
Man Honors His Ill Wife by Decorating Neighborhood Homes
Far from the bright lights of the Big City, John Reichart, 74, has been bringing the light and joy of Christmas to his own neighborhood in Indianola, Iowa. In fact, John has decorated every house on his block this year — all in honor of his bride of 53 years, Joan. Four years ago, Joan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Since then, John tells CBS News, he’s made it his mission to keep making Christmas memories for her.
“If it wasn’t for my wife, I don’t know if I would have done it,” the former Marine said. “But she wanted Christmas, so I’d give it to her. I’d do anything to make her happy.”
He says he will keep decorating. “As long as she’s OK,” he says. “And even if she would pass, I’m going to do it in her memory as long as I can do it.”
Neighbors have joined in John’s decorating efforts, moved by his love. “I think the whole neighborhood feels very blessed to have him in this neighborhood,” one said. In fact, folks on his block have set up a P.O. box for people to send cards to the couple, which John can then read to his wife.
That address, should you feel so led, is:
John Reichart
C/O Frank Ewurs
P.O. Box 133
Indianola, Iowa 50125
On the Stream Menu
Keith Guinta wonders if we’ve traded the interior voice of the Lord for the cacophony of the world in “Hello Silence, My Old Friend.”
Stream contributor Jules Gomes gives us the details in “U.S. Select Subcommittee Publishes COVID-19 Report Trashing Vaccines, Masking Protocols”
Al Perrotta is The Stream’s Washington bureau chief, coauthor with John Zmirak of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration, and coauthor of the counterterrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.