Christmas is a big deal in the Juell household.
My dad treats the holiday season like a professional sport. He grew up in a family where the holiday china only came out of the cupboard once a year for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas tree ornaments are precious heirlooms passed down from generation to generation.

It was Christmas Eve, a night of wonder, of mystery, of longing for the next day to come. The morning would bring hot chocolate, sitting by the fireplace in what we called the back living room. Everyone, including Mom and Dad, would be in their pajamas, bathrobes, and slippers. Getting dressed would come later, in time for Granny’s punctual visit at 10 a.m.

It will probably not come as a surprise to our readers that a physical newspaper such as this one may have an older software system that runs everything in the background.

Under the Marquis of Queensbury rules, the longest recorded bout in boxing history took place on April 6, 1893 in New Orleans. Lightweights Andy Bowen and Jack Burke contested affairs over the course of 110 three-minute rounds, taking seven hours and 19 minutes before both corners agreed to call it a draw.

Not too long ago, there were two days in December that were widely regarded by Americans, Dec. 25, of course, Christmas; and Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Christmas gets bigger and louder and longer every year. In contrast, the day to remember Pearl Harbor seems to get smaller and smaller as it recedes into the past, and not heralded as it was in the past.