Hello everyone and welcome to this holiday edition of

listening to America. I'm Clay Jenkins and new each year at this time I like to

check in with our correspondence around the country and see how their year has been, how they're

celebrating the holidays, and particularly what their plans are for the new year.

This year I check in with David Nacandry in the state of Washington.

Bo Wright, who's now in Charlottesville, formerly down in Bedford near Jefferson's second home

Poplar Forest, and Brad Krizler of Nashville, Tennessee.

You will know Krizler from our long association, but also my friend Brad created the theme

music for the new program listening to America.

So let's check in with him and let's begin with our Enlightenment correspondent, Mr. David McCandry.

Happy holidays to you, sir.

Same to you, citizen.

I've been talking to some of our regular correspondence

about how they celebrate the holidays,

some of their own families Christmas or holiday rituals, and then also about New

years and the prospects for a new year.

So let's begin with that.

How big a factor has Christmas been in your life?

Pretty big I'd say, Clay.

I wouldn't necessarily say it was my favorite holiday.

My two favorite holidays are Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. But Christmas looms large in part just to get it out there because it's nonetheless the true. It's because I'm an active Christian and Christmas is very important within that context.

So I have a lot of vivid memories as I reflect upon it. I just love holidays. In fact, I've recently, one of my coffee groups,

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