We need a ticket to another world

The Christmas season got the spark it needed with the airing of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Tuesday night. As models strutted down the sparkling runway scantily-clad in white lingerie adorned with crystal, it was official this year that fantasy is the official theme of Christmas. \nHeidi Klum, who blew a kiss to her husband Seal as he sang "Crazy," floated down the runway fully equipped with huge white wings and wearing a white bra with matching underwear glistening with crystals. The scene was a perfect escape from the everyday realities of finals, papers and boyfriend/girlfriend pressure. \nThe show didn't stop there, with the next scene ushering in Christmas presents in the form of leggy supermodels with large breasts dressed in velvet bustiers in red, green and gold to the beat of Snoop Dogg's "Drop it Like it's Hot." Models dressed in red lingerie and top hats imitating toy soldiers, Naomi Campbell wearing gold lingerie with a gold- and green-striped sash and carrying a trumpet and Ricky Martin singing "Drop it on Me" were only some of the highlights of the fantastic Victoria's Secret runway show. \nModels wearing wings and lingerie made from peppermint emphasized the need to be in a place far removed from reality. Every other commercial was for Victoria's Secret, stating, "Don't buy her something she needs, buy her something she wants." It is no wonder CBS decided to air the runway show this season after a two-year hiatus. America, and the world in general, need a fantasy to escape their daily pressures. \nMovie producers feel it too and are catering to the moment much like the depression-era 30s. The fantasy is back with movies like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Memoirs of a Geisha". \nNo one wants to be on earth and as I think about Hurricane Katrina victims and Pakistanis homeless and facing one of the harshest winters to date, I want it all to stop for just one moment. Like the children in "The Chronicles of Narnia," I want to escape to an alternate world, a world with snow-covered mountains and water so blue it's indescribable. I want it to be so quiet when I take a breath I can hear it echo around the world. I want it to be so cold that ice decorates the trees, making them look like ornaments against a midnight blue sky. When I look up I want to see huge stars sparkling like diamonds and every now and then, they will fall into a blue river and turn into mermaids with green eyes, brown hair and tails of gold. \nThe children of the world wouldn't go to bed hungry and would be dressed in the finest velvet blazers in blue, pink, red and purple, with satin knickers and pantaloons. Their candy supply would be limitless and their laughter would bring joy to the world. No one would worry about presents because everything would already be perfect and we would all have the love we needed. Women would be beautiful like the women in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and adorned in ornate Venexiana dresses with Victoria's Secret underwear beneath. All the men would be gentlemen dressed in velvet blazers, top hats, and colorful ties and pants. Together we would drink the sweetest ambrosia out of platinum glasses and smoke whatever it is the Cheshire cat smoked in "Alice in Wonderland." \nPresident Bush would be nowhere in sight, no news of the investigation of Adam Herbert could be heard and there would be no word for war. Dancing to Santana, Robin Thicke and Ricky Martin, looking beautiful and eating sweets and meats would be our only obligations. For a moment in time, we would all have the precious chance to know the beauty of peace, true love and fashion. I hope everyone enjoys at least one moment during break where they can hear themselves breathe and enjoy their own fantasy. We all need one, and let's hope for a moment we all get the Christmas spark -- we need it.