Merry Christmas! &c.

TOP World Headquarters, seen from the South, in the beautiful
Finger Lakes region of rural Upstate New York

Alas, Christmas is just another day for me this year. Nothing doing, no family. Thus it is to grow older alone.

At the same time I think I'm happier than I've ever been, thanks to the work I've been doing in the spiritual fellowship I'm part of. I love the area where I live and have more friends here than I've ever had anywhere since boyhood; my son Xander has grown into a fine man, and is doing well, and his girlfriend Alyssa is a lovely young woman (I miss them!); and 2019 was an eventful and good year. TOP successfully transitioned to yet another model of subsistence, namely, Patreon; my eyesight in my failing right eye was restored, greatly renewing the joy I have always taken in seeing ("Sight is the soul's perfect delight," a quote I can't track down...I just this minute sent it to Quote Investigator!), and we are still thriving as an online community of the like-minded. All may not be well with the World, but for me there is a great deal to be grateful for, and I am mindful of my gratitude every day.

Wishing you a Happy Hanukkah, contentment for the secular solstice, a Merry Christmas, the fellowship of K'wanzaa—whatever holiday(s) you and your dear ones celebrate at year's end. We TOPpers are multitudinous, having come together in our affection for photography. And thus, in our common interest, we reach across our differences, and walk awhile together.

Happy holiday, friends. I'll be back next week, to launch what will be, if God wills it, our 15th year—

—Michael C. Johnston
Editor and Writer, The Online Photographer

Original contents copyright 2019 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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Comments

[Pierre Charbonneau]

Dear Mike,

My best wishes for a very Merry Christmas.

Long live TOP!

Pierre

[Michael J. Perini]

Beautiful sentiment, Merry Christmas
May next year be even better!

[Jim in Denver]

Mike, and all readers as well,

A very merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for making this site and engendering the community of readers to make this site one that is wonderful for all. I visit daily, and have for more than a decade. This small community of people is fantastic. :)

Kindest regards,

Jim

[Dogman]

And the same Good Wishes from me to you, Mike, and to all the others here on TOP.

[John Merlin Williams]

Holiday greetings Mike!
You may have a quiet household today, but you are certainly not alone "spiritually." There are thousands of us across the world who will drop in for a visit today, like we do almost everyday, to enjoy a moment of your company. I only wish we (all) had a way to drop in for a cup of coffee or hot cider. Thanks for your many years of sharing all things photography, personal and OT.

BTW, a noteworthy new film just released about Joseph Kouldeka's most recent work in Israel and Palestine (Vimeo rental now, coming soon to DVD and Blu-ray)
http://koudelka-film.com/

Article in "The Guardian"
https://bit.ly/2Msih86

[Rich]

Mike, Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year to you and to your other readers.

My Amazon purchases are rarely large but they are frequent. Hopefully the drip feed into TOP’s coffers will help to keep the lights on!

[SteveW]

Thank you Mike, I'm grateful for TOP to be sure.

Enjoy your holiday, and see you next decade!

[Zack Schindler]

Sadly you forgot to mention Festivus which occurs on 12/23 every year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

[Rob Spring]

Mike,

All the best to you. Thank you for the community you have created.

[Fred Haynes]

Yeah Mike, merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Peace be with you!
Fred

[Chip McDaniel]

Have joyous days of rest, Mike. thanks for all that you do here on TOP and for creating a community.

[Phil]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you too, Mike!

I'm happy to be a "Patreon" and help keep the lights on.

Cheers,
Phil.

[Frank Sauer]

To a healthy and stimulating and creative new year, Mike! I will be along as part of the TOP family.

Enjoy a peaceful and mindful holiday time

Frank

[John Hall]

Happy Holidays Mike. Your Christmas message somehow hits the spot in capturing the essence of what is right and possible.
May 2020 bring you more beautiful light
John

[Richard Man]

Very best to you, Mike!

Just a quibble that solstice is not necessarily secular. It holds spiritual significance to many of us ^_^.

[James Bullard]

Happy holidays, Mike. Here's wishing you a wonderful new year.

[Ernie Van Veen]

Merry Christmas from us here Down Under, Mike. My wife and I raised our kids to be cynical atheists, so now we get what we deserve - most Christmases without them and a no-gift pact. *sigh* Although, one of my sons did come up with a humorous definition of Santa that I like: "The anthropomorphic personification of capitalism".

In spite of all of that, I'm still positive about the season. Go figure.

[Richard Szmyd]

Have a very Happy Holiday season, Mike! Thank you for all the interesting reading that you provide us from day to day.

[Richard Parkin]

A very Merry Yuletide to you and everyone!

[Dan Khong]

Mike

Blessed Christmas and a Happy 2020.

You are doing well for a male person living alone, and having food, shelter, social and spiritual support. Having a mate is nice but can be a two edged sword.

TOP and all manner of writing keep your brains healthy and thinking sharp - and ward off dementia. Your TOP readers will be the first to notice if anything is amiss. We are sharper than the "Perfect" lens.

We live one day, a week, a month and a year at a time. Let tomorrow take care of itself.

Dan K.
Singapore

[Martin D]

"And thus, in our common interest, we reach across our differences, and walk awhile together." The powerful truth about the site that you have created, beautifully expressed. Thank you, Mike. It is a joy and an honour to walk with you on this journey.

[Albert W Erickson]

Mike, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[Thomas Walsh]

Thank you for the work that you do for TOP and here's wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a terrific 2020. Cheers, Tom

[John Krumm]

I'll be thinking of you. I'm likely to open a couple book presents based on your recommendations (TOP is where my wife knows to look). Good to hear about your friends and fellows. Living in a community where you bump into people you know (and hopefully enjoy) on a regular basis is important. Having a select group of people with shared interests or passions is even more important, I think. Probably as important for health as any way of eating. I have lots of activism friends, and one "deep conversation" friend I value highly. Anyway, here's to another TOP year.

[Scott]

Wishing you a sparkling solstice season!

[Trecento]

Dear Mike,

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year. I think of you often, those evenings that mark the turn of the season, or the turn of the year, and I want to remind you that you are on our minds, and in our hearts, though distance and difference separate, you are not alone.

[Michael Potter]

Wishing you a happy holiday season, Mike. Life events have left me behind in reading your posts this past month or two, but I knew you would be posting a holiday greeting, so I "jumped ahead" to read it and wanted to send my best wishes for a safe and happy new year. I will be traveling from the UK (my new home as of a year ago) on Thursday to Texas to see my kids for a few days. Wishing all TOP readers peace.

[Rick_D]

Merry Christmas Mike, to you, your family and your new western New York extended family. Blessings be upon you in 2020. We can all use a few of those.

Greetings from currently soggy NorCal (a good thing, in sum).

[Mani Sitaraman]

Merry Christmas, Mike! Felicitations to you and yours.

Kindest regards,

[Andrea B.]

Peace be with you, Mike. And Good Light for 2020!
Cheers - Andrea B.

[Gary]

Best to you. Don't worry, it IS just another day. Thanks for all you do for the photographic community.

[Paul Parker]

Dear Mike
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and thank you for fifteen years of TOP.
Paul

[Rodolfo Canet Castelló]

Dear Mike and all co-readers of TOP. I wish you all Merry Christmas and all the best for 2020.

And dear manufacturer, don't be naughty next year again;: please bring us good but small primes!!!

[Rod S.]

Mike, my best wishes for your health and happiness during this Christmas and the coming New Year. Thank you for your engaging writing and for fostering the community that meets here.

[Peter]

Merry Christmas, Mike.

[Paul Van]

Merry Christmas to you, and to all TOP family - we have a pleasant oasis here on the internet. It is a treat to visit with everyone.

[Peter]

Happy Holidays to you Mike. I’m thankful to be able to spend it with family, but also thankful for TOP so I can bury my head in my iPad and take a break.

[Chester Williams]

Merry Christmas, Mike. Hope you will have a happy New Year ...and I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me. Take care..

[Bob Keefer]

Merry Christmas, Mike, and thanks for all your good work.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Best wishes to you and all TOP readers, Mike. Another year.

Regarding being alone for Christmas, look on the bright side. You’re not being packed-off to spend the day being joyous with family members, some of whom you may not really even like. Also, you get to spend the day with ol’ Butters. I wish I had a pet!

Be Merry.

[robert e]

Merry Christmas and congratulations, Mike! And thank your for this warm, well-lighted place, a harbor of peace and good will in a tumultuous sea.

I like Kenneth's perspective too.

[Nature Lover]

TOP is large, it contains multitudes. Happy Holidays to you all. Apologies to Walt.

[MikeR]

Lovely!

May the coming year bring even more blessings to you.

[Patrick J Dodds]

Merry Christmas Mike.

[Dan S]

Best wishes for this Holiday season and for the New Year, Mike!

[Christer]

TOP is "The New Yorker" of photo blogs.

I look forward to 2020 with you.

[Lynn]

Merry Christmas Mike. I am very glad to hear that you are happy. It is my greatest wish for you.

All the best for 2020!

[Andy]

Merry Christmas Mike.

Thank you for your insight, commentary and humour over the last 12 months.

PS Would love Fuji to put the MJ lens into production. I constantly swap between the 35 1.4 and the 27. Would love this “best of both worlds” option.

Andy