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“Merry Christmas” or “happy holidays” are probably the most common expressions heard this time of year. Greeting cards come in the mail proclaiming, “Joy to the World.” Shoppers, meanwhile, are crowding the malls in search of gifts that will bring feelings of delight to their recipients.

More than a decade ago, as the dawn of the information age turned into mid-morning, our industry hemmed and hawed: Should we charge customers to read the news online? Pros and cons were tossed about like sports cliches in post-game interviews. And, as an industry, we took it “one game at a time” which turned into “one year at a time” which, in my view, turned into a decade of madness.

Dear red phone:

Hello and welcome! I am proud to introduce to you my new column, The Flavor Chronicle. My name is Mitch L. Mariani II and some of you may remember me from my former column, Mixed Grill. This is another food column and I will continue to write about grilling and barbecue, but only seasonally. In The Flavor Chronicle, I have the unlimited culinary world open and unbounded. As my culinary interests go far beyond the grill, I’m very excited for all the possibilities.

Each new year, we resolve to lose weight, exercise more, or make some other pledge of self-improvement that usually withers and dies before January is gone. But sometimes, if the challenge has enough allure, and if we do it with the support and companionship of friends, we might follow through and maybe even come away with a lifelong memory.

The shy smiles of anticipation, the joyous laughter, the aroma of tamales, the sound of Santa ringing his bell as he arrives, the excitement in the air: This is what makes Christmas for me here in Gilroy.  

When I was growing up, our family sat down to the dinner table for a feast of Mom’s cooking nearly every night. My brother and I may have sought out our softie father anytime punishment was required, but Mom was the go-to for a homemade meal or treat.