Que Bela! Submitted by Bob Bagar.

?BEYOND ALL ELSE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, I NEED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A WINSOME YOUNG GIRL WHOSE JOYFUL RESPONSE TO THE STUNNING SIGHTS OF GOLD’S AND BLUE’S UP AND DOWN A BRIGHT, MOORISH-TINGED CANAL IN VENICE YEARS AGO, WAS DELIGHTFUL TO BEHOLD AND A TRUE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF WONDER. I WILL BE FOREVER IN HER DEBT FOR THAT, AS MUCH AS TO THE GREAT MUSES AND ARTISTS OF OUR TIME WHOSE DELIBERATE INTERPRETATIONS OF THEIR INNERMOST FEELINGS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US, IN FORMS AS DIVERSE AS THEIR ORIGINS AND TALENTS PERMIT, GIVE RISE TO A SENSE OF PRIVILEGE AT THE LIFE GIVEN US. AS SHE CAME ABOARD OUR WAITING FERRY, HER INTELLIGENT GLANCE TOOK IN THE GLISTENING SPECTACLE OF SUN, SKY AND WATER AND SWEEP OF ORNATE HOMES LINING BOTH SIDES OF THE TRAIN STATION CANAL. SUDDENLY, WITH A DEEP INTAKE OF BREATH AND VIBRANT VOICE SHE CRIED OUT,QUE BELA (HOW BEAUTIFUL), LOOKING UP AT HER MOTHER, AND IT SEEMED THE WORLD AT LARGE, FOR AFFIRMATION OF HER DISCOVERY. AS MOTHER AND DAUGHTER STEPPED INSIDE THE DECK, COMFORTABLY ABOARD THE HOTEL-DESTINATION BOAT DOCKED OUTSIDE THE VENICE TRAIN STATION EXIT, I FELT THANKFUL FOR THIS CHANCE ENCOUNTER THAT UNEQUIVOCALLY REFLECTS THE RICHNESS OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT. A CHILD’S HEARTWARMING REACTION TO NATURAL BEAUTY IS A UNIVERSAL GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.