We missed the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It was preempted this year. Not that we ever had the patience to sit through the whole thing. But over the years we have listened to the jazzy music, and have developed a kind of fondness for the annual consistency of these little cartoon specials. They are not overblown, bombastic or loud, just maybe a little cerebral for children's programming.

Maybe that is why we like it more, than in our youth. We feel a little more cerebral now than we did then. Maybe a little more worried about current affairs and the news. There was a World's Fair in Flushing back in 1965 when the first Charlie Brown special played, troops were sent to Vietnam in the early stages of American participation, Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game, the Beatles played the first stadium concert at Shea Stadium, and the Pillsbury Doughboy made his first appearance. Here are the opening lines of this perennial favorite so you can get into the spirit of the holiday:

Charlie Brown: I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus.Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.

Charlie Brown: I just don't understand Christmas,I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.