Chris Stevens philosophizing rants from the show Northern Exposure are so memorable, I had to type them out. Because Cicely Alaska seems so much like Jerome Arizona, I have made a list of my favorite radio shows that he hosted on the television program. To see the list, go here.

Christmas Eve
Chris Stevens
Episode 3.10, "Seoul Mates"

"I," said the cow, all white and red,
"I gave Him my manger for His bed;
"I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.
"I," said the cow, all white and red.

So every beast, by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
The gift he gave Immanuel.

It's an old legend that on Christmas Eve at midnight, all the animals fall to their knees and speak, praising the newborn Jesus.

Back in the winter of sixty-nine, my Dad was serving a short time for a DUI and I don't know where my mom was. Anyway, I was home alone Christmas Eve and I stayed up extra kinda late to see if my dog, Buddy, would talk. And he did. I don't remember his exact words, but that's not important. What matters is that a seven-year-old boy experienced his own personal epiphany.

What�s my point? Well, it's that Christmas reveals itself to us each in a personal way, be it secular or sacred. Whatever Christmas is--and it's many things to many people--we all own a piece of it. It's like, well, it's kinda like Santa's Bag: inside, there's a gift for everyone. My Christmas wish for you tonight? May your dog talk.

Good night, Cicely. Merry Christmas.

* Chris reads from the traditional French carol, "The Friendly Beasts."
* To learn more about the Northern European legend that animals talk on Christmas Eve, read the 1976 reprint of Clement A. Miles's 1912 book, Christmas Customs and Traditions: Their History and Significance.
* Listen to The Chieftain's version of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", the song Chris plays on KBHR while discussion the raven, or buy the full album, The Bells of Dublin.

Chris plays Billie Holliday-  Let's Dream in the Moonlight to close the broadcast.