By Deborah Salomon

Feature Writer

Sunday dawned cloudy and a Christmasy 34 degrees. Long before sun-up, Aberdeen police officer Bernie Koscielniak checked out an empty Walmart parking lot.

"Have to make sure the security guard isn't having any issues," he said. "Everything's been quiet, even the crickets."

Koscielniak had been on duty since 7 p.m., with another hour left on his rotation.

"It's fine," he said. "I was in the Marines for 27 years, so I missed many holidays."

Christmas isn't for hanging out with Norman Rockwell anymore. Sandhillers are on the move - some working, others traveling, attending church services or the movies.

Moore County EMS paramedics Jerry Nelson and Michele Dellay remained on extrication alert should Santa get stuck in a chimney. Luckily, the pair treated nothing more serious than a fall. At 6:15 a.m., they took a doughnut break at Kangaroo Express on U.S. 15-501. Nelson had another 12 hours left on his 36-hour shift.

"I love my job," he said. "I'm glad to have it."

Nelson works extended hours so another paramedic can have Christmas off.

Meanwhile, 5-year-old Amber Bauchat danced around inside the Southern Pines Amtrak station, waiting for the Silver Star, due in at 7:06 a.m. Amber and her mother, Sarah Bauchat, were returning to Baltimore, where Amber's father is stationed at Fort Meade.

With them were Sarah's parents, Terry and Lillie Mae Smith, of Laurel Hill. Sarah and Amber had been visiting since Thursday. This was Sarah and Amber's first Christmas away from home, Lillie Mae said wistfully, holding her granddaughter's hand as they peered down the track. At least they spent Christmas Eve together.

"We usually have a big Christmas breakfast for all the family," Lillie Mae said, "but I made it last night instead."

The sky was light and the clouds nearly gone when Silver Star arrived 39 minutes late. Amber, a three-pound preemie who has developed into a bright, charming child, clutched her favorite pink blanket, hugged her grandparents and climbed aboard for the nine-hour ride back to Daddy and her step-siblings.

By 8 a.m., at least 200 parents and children were lined up in Bo's parking lot for Earl Wright's annual bicycle giveaway. Wright and his helpers had collected and reconditioned 456 bikes, from trike strollers to racers.

Shinier than the bikes were the smiles of 6-year-old Mikhi Nobles, choosing his first two-wheeler, and Larena White, 7, astride a bright blue model.

"This is such a blessing. It's the best part of Christmas," a mother commented.

'Special Time'

Yes, Virginia, Starbucks really is open on Christmas Day - and what a crowd. Just before 9 a.m., Dr. Toni Washington and daughter Mia (fresh from opening her American Girl doll) climbed, with a four-cup take-out tray, into their orange VW Beetle for the drive home.

"I don't own a coffee pot," Washington laughed. "Would you please tell my husband to buy me one?"

The Christmas morning service at First Baptist Church of Southern Pines was a hugfest for Kelly Rhodes. She grew up here.

"These were the folks who nurtured me through my faith journey," she said.

Rhodes was ordained under this very roof in 2008 and now serves as an associate pastor in Edenton.

Preaching on Christmas at her home church, with her extended family in attendance, was beyond thrilling.

"I wouldn't have traded it for anything," she said.

Rhodes based her sermon on Luke's nativity chronicle: "We are called to be like shepherds, to drop everything and rush to the manger, to Christ," Rhodes reminded the congregation.

FirstHealth Moore Regional Ho-ho-hospital rocked to a merry band of carolers organized by Sarah Ellman of the Women's Auxiliary.

Before the lunch trays arrived with Christmas dinner, they visited surgical, pediatric, cardiac, emergency and rehab units accompanied by Jeff Lowe in a Santa suit. Cardiac surgeon Dr. Peter Ellman pushed a cart stacked with chocolates for the nurses and hard candies, diabetic and regular, for patients.

"Why not? This is our project for the day," Ellman said.

A choir within the carolers consisted of the Lagraff family - three generations, some from Ohio and Florida, starting with grandparents Susan and Michael Lagraff.

"This is our first year doing it, but I'm sure it will become a family tradition," Susan Lagraff said as she attempted to corral her caroling grandchildren for a photo.

At the lobby information desk, Joy Boushak also got a surprise visitor.

"Our new CEO, David Kilarski, stopped by to say Merry Christmas - so nice," she said. "This is a special time when (even in the hospital) people smile and wish you Merry Christmas."

Christmas Gridlock

High noon - and the parking lot at Walgreens was jammed. Thirty-two people waited in checkout lines, their baskets full of stuffed animals, games, eggnog, candy, beer and wine - lots of wine.

"I couldn't believe the cars," said customer Caroline Craven. She and Christopher Michael waited until zero hour because he had been traveling on business.

"Now I have to go home and get pretty for dinner," Craven said.

By mid-afternoon, gridlock had spread to Sandhills Cinemas parking lot. Inside, the choices ranged from Alvin and the Chipmunks to a Sherlock Holmes sequel. Employees wore costumes, a concession for mandatory Christmas shifts.

The crowd, however, seemed subdued, perhaps spiraled out from Christmas ham. Michele and Terry Julius - New Yorkers (where movie ticket prices approach $20) spending the holidays at their McClendon Hills vacation home - got up late, had a leisurely breakfast, then decided to see "New Year's Eve."

"It has an all-star cast and our 17th wedding anniversary is that day," Michele said over a jumbo popcorn. "We'll be refilling that."

Eric Kees, of Charlotte, visiting his parents, Ray and Pat Kees, brought his 5- and 7-year-old daughters to see "Tintin." And they brought their best Christmas present: a stuffed animal that, unzipped, morphs into a house with the animal inside.

" That's good engineering," Kees said. Christmas, he added, is perfect for getting out of the house and doing things they don't have time for otherwise, like the movies.

As for the film featuring an animated character with dog wildly popular in Europe, "They seemed to stay engaged," Kees said. Afterward, Dad gets his hourlong run, another Christmas tradition for exercise enthusiasts.

A Joyful Noise

By 8:15 p.m., Hickory Tavern was beginning to throb. Thirty-plus TVs, one rock video, many beautiful young people eating deep-fried appetizers washed down with cold, frothy beverages made a joyful noise. Which is exactly why Steven and Sara Grosshuesch sat alone on the patio, under the heat lights, to "miss the banter."

Sara wore mitts and a ski hat, just in case. They ordered burgers, chicken tenders and sweet tea. The patio TV was theirs alone.

"We're Wisconsin people," Steven said. Business brought him to North Carolina, but his football allegiance stayed put. "We'll be here until 11 p.m." Suddenly, there was a squeal from Sara as the Packers scored in the opening minutes of the game.

The Grosshuesches' day started with Sara giving Steven a Bible before they left for church services and a luncheon. Afterward they opened more gifts by the fireplace.

In all, a nice Sandhills Christmas. No rain, ideal temperatures, family, friends, fellowship, food and Santa's parting gift to the Packers: a decisive win over the Bears in the highest-rated Christmas Day game since 1995.

Contact Deborah Salomon at debsalomon@nc.rr.com.