A One Minute Lesson

Earlier this week a quick look at the calendar invoked a panic attack.  It is mid-December, Christmas is less than two weeks away and I still have so much to do.  Work has been so busy and has consumed not only my days but several hours of my recent nights that I find myself behind on my Christmas preparations.  So I decided to take one of my remaining three vacation days yesterday in the hopes of getting much of my holiday shopping done. Not really what I consider a vacation day, but necessary. 

 With list in hand I left my house by ten o’clock.  I made a quick stop at my parent’s house to borrow Mom’s “30% off” Kohls coupon.  My first three stops of the day, Kohls, Michaels and Modells were successful.  Next on the list was BJ’s I needed to pick up a few things for the week.  While I was there I also picked up a fresh cut pine decorated wreath and a few poinsettias. I paid for the items and proceeded to the exit.

  If you have ever shopped in BJ’s you know that you must produce you receipt at the exit so that the clerk can verify that the contents of your cart matches the items on the receipt.  The process usually moves quickly.  For the most part people are prepared for this ritual.  However, yesterday the customer in front of me at the exit was not.

  Standing in front of me was a short elderly gentleman.  As he approached the clerk she asked him for his receipt.  He checked one pocket, then the next and next, then back to the first and second.   Finally he found it. He struggled to wrap his fingers around the strip of paper.  The clerk sighed and rolled her eyes.  I too found myself getting annoyed.  I still had to Walmart, Target and Home Goods on my list of stores to still visit.  I was hoping that I would be home early enough to beat the setting sun and go out for a meditative walk.  “Come on!” I said to myself.

  And as quickly as that thought crossed my mind I slapped myself back into reality.  How could I be so thoughtless and self-centered?  Does it really matter that I will get to Walmart a minute or two later than I thought? This man could have easily been one of my family members.  Would I want them to be treated as such? 

  The clerk checked the receipt and handed it back to the gentleman.  It took him a few moments to put the slip back into his pocket. He proceeded to push his cart out of the store.  I stopped to watch him.  He walked slowly and was impeded by a limp.  For all I know this shopping trip took so much of his energy. One day if I am fortunate to live a long life my body too will start to betray me.  I will not be able to move at the same rate of speed or with the same steady footedness and strength as I do today.

 Like each of us this man has a story of his own. He may be someone’s husband, father or grandfather, a man that his family adores. He may have spent years of his life working as a laborer, a businessman, or a fireman. He may have been a community leader or a volunteer. My thoughts about his life are conjecture, but one thing I know for sure is he lived much of his life in a world that is very different from the one we live in today.

    He lived in a time of patience.  Meals were not heated in a few minutes in the microwave; they were slowly cooked with farm fresh ingredients. Letters were hand written and sent via the Postal Service. They took days to arrive. Now messages are quickly typed (many with one letter abbreviations for full words) and they are delivered to electronic mail boxes in just moments.  Families sat together daily and shared meals and conversation.  A sense of community was commonplace.  Town parades and celebrations were an event.  During the holiday season so many people looked forward to shopping in Main Street’s family owned business. It was the only place to shop, not the mega malls of today.

  All of those years ago Christmas was about being thankful for the food on the table, the roof over your head and the loved ones that you shared it with.  It was about abundance of the heart not of possessions.  How have we lost focus on what is truly important?  Why do we stress about making sure that the newest game system or I Pad is under the tree? 

  Ashamed and remorseful for my initial reaction I loaded my purchases into the car and headed to Walmart.  I love how life gives you second chances.  As I rounded the corner and entered the isle in Walmart that contained baking supplies I saw a middle aged woman with her cart.  In her cart was a cane.  As I passed her she inadvertently pushed her cart into the free standing display of pumpkin pie kits.  Several fell to the floor.  Realizing that the task of restacking these items may be a challenge for her I backed up my cart and returned to that spot.  She was attempting to bend down.  I started picking up the boxes.  I said, “I’ve got this Ma’am.”   She thanked me and when I finished I continued with my shopping.  Lending this helping hand took no more than forty seconds, but lightened her load by tons.

  And sometimes life gives you third chances.  After Walmart I shopped in Target and as I was walking towards Home Goods I passed the Dollar Store.  I noticed an older woman with a cart standing inside of the store at the exit door.  I was not planning on going into the store, but I stopped and opened the door for her to exit.  As I did she smiled and said, “Thank you!  I did not know how I was going to open that heavy door.”

 Truth be told, everyday there are many opportunities to share a smile, show kindness or lend a helping hand to one another.  The problem is we rush through our days with blinders on.  I am so very grateful for my one minute lesson at BJ’s.  It reminded me of the true spirit of Christmas.  We are to embrace the feeling of this season. It is to carry throughout the year. Keep in your mind and close to heart these words…….peace on earth and goodwill toward all. 

Oh, Christmas Tree

Oh! Christmas Tree

   Once again it is the Christmas season.  Glad tidings and good will to all is our mantra this month.  During the last four weeks of the year peace is to fill this land, seep into our hearts and carry us throughout the upcoming year.  After all, isn’t that what the advertising executives tell us should happen!  It is a time of family togetherness.  Shopping, baking, wrapping and decorating are all on the “to do” list. Traditions and decorations abound.

 Life has a way of creeping up on us and reconfiguring your life at a faster pace than you can embrace it. Today, for the first time in nineteen or so years my husband I decorated the Christmas tree by ourselves.  Our daughter will be twenty one this spring and is currently studying at a College out of state.  Our son who is fifteen was awaiting a video stream that was so very important to him to see.  That meant that neither of our children was available to participate in the annual family Christmas decorating festivities. However, our son did take pity on his old Mom and assisted with the ceremonial passing of the boxes and plastic bins from the attic. He did do the heavy lifting so to speak!

 Our tree is an artificial one that I garnered over twenty five years ago from my first job out of College.  I worked for a company that manufactured artificial Christmas trees.  At the time, I was fortunate to acquire a tree from one of the top selling lines.  Through the years it has served us very well, however these past few years she is showing her age….I guess, she is much like me!  So today, once again my husband and I set up the only Christmas tree that our children have opened their presents around on every Christmas morning of their lives.

    It was odd.  It was quiet. It was a full circle moment.  I was transported back to our first Christmas together.  We had decorated the Christmas tree with much anticipation of the joy of the season and in hope of what our future may hold.  

  Today, as we unpacked each box of tree ornaments the layers of our lives unfolded before us.  Unlike our first years together, our lives were now weaved together in a tapestry that told our family story. Each box we opened  contained Christmas tree ornaments that told a story, sparked a memory, reminded us of a loved one,  contained some magic and held a history all of their own.  Our Christmas tree is decorated with basketballs and ballerinas for our daughter.  Tigger from Winnie the Pooh reminds us of our son.  He would bounce around the house just like Tigger when he was little and there are many ornaments to prove it!

 Our tree also has a few mauve Christmas bulbs with gray writing that announced our marriage that took place in October of 1988.   Since I worked for a company that manufactured Christmas trees and ornaments I thought this would make a perfect wedding favor.  The mauve color matched the bridesmaid’s dresses and the groomsmen’s cumber buns. The gray also matched the color of the groomsmen’s tuxedos.  Each year we hang this ornament on our tree and I know that so many family members and friends do the same. For sure, the past twenty three years our Christmas tree has displayed this same announcement and message.

We have handmade ornaments from pre-school projects. 

There are the loving handmade notes from a young girl presented to her parents a Christmas several years ago.

It contains a few of my Grandmothers glass ornaments that we gingerly place upon the branches each year.  I have one of my Grandmother’s golden pinecones that doubled as hand grenade during the war years for my Dad and his brother.  Each of these wonderful items and memories bind one generation to the next.

 I have seen the Christmas trees that contain uniform decorations. The ribbons, bows and icicles are color coordinated.  Each component resides in their predetermined location. These trees are truly elegant and breathtaking.  As beautiful they are, to me, they are missing something.  Personality. Uniform is the last word you would use to describe our family Christmas tree. 

 So, this year after our tree was filled with ornaments and lights I retreated to my room and removed the bubble wrap from a treasure.  It was a Christmas ornament that I purchased  in September while I was in Sedona Arizona.  It is a small, elegant angel adorned in purple. She reminds me of what I discovered within those red rocks….bliss!

  As I placed the ornament upon the tree branch I knew that this too has become a part of our family story, more importantly, my story.  I believe that many years from now, one of my children will be gingerly placing this angel on a branch of their family Christmas tree.  As they do, they will be reminded of the time many years ago when their Mother gave herself a gift.   It was a gift of peacfulness and discovery in a place of amazing beauty. 

  And so I wish this same feeling of freedom and bliss for my children, my family and my friends!  During this Christmas season may you be reminded of the joy in your life. May it always hold a place in your heart.

The Christmas Ties that Bind...

Watching The Grinch with my kids! My very own little Cindy Lou Who is loving it! I love Christmas! 

 This post appeared on my Facebook wall on November 28^th.  These words were spoken by my cousin’s wife.  They have three children under the age of ten.  The youngest is a girl, a.k.a. Cindy Lou Who. She has blond hair that is pulled back in pigtails, and a smile and sweetness to match the character.   On my face and in my heart a smile instantly appeared when I read this. I was transported back in time.  I too sat with my children enjoying the exact same show.  They would be in their pajamas, of course the kind with the sewn in feet, and I would pop the popcorn for the show.  It was an event, a happening. One of those very special evenings when the regular routine was ignored and we would be transported to a magical world.  I would savor every minute of the show and our time together.

   It seems as if as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey is carved, the television schedule is announced that contains all of the special Christmas shows.  We all know them.  They may be in Cartoon or Claymation form, but we can recite every line, and sing every song. Our hearts are warmed when Santa asks Rudolph to guide his sleigh on the snowy and foggy night, when the Grinch returns Christmas and all the trimmings to the residents of Who Ville, we love to discover how Santa came to town, we were so very happy when Santa was able to recover from his sick bed to deliver Christmas after all, and our hearts melted when Linus took the stage to explain the true meaning of Christmas.

  Not only did I enjoy watching these shows with my children, but I enjoyed watching the same ones with my sisters when I was growing up.  And in our house these shows were also an event.  We had to have all of our homework completed, be bathed and in our pajamas by the show start time.  Mom would make the popcorn, but not in the microwave.  She popped it on the stove top, the old fashioned way.

 Back in the day there were no VCR, DVD or TiVo’s to record the shows for future viewing. They were truly a once a year event. I remember one particular snowy and windy night back in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s.  My sisters and I kept up our end of the bargain.  Our homework was completed and we were squeaky clean from our baths, we turned on the television and we were horrified to see nothing but snow.  Not the white fluffy kind, but the black and white snow that filled the TV screen!  It was not just on channel 2, but on each of the eleven remaining channels!  The only thing that this could mean was that there was a problem with our TV and or, our antenna.

  Panic ensued in our house.  When was Daddy getting home from work?  We all knew that Dad was the “Mighty Man of Steel” and he could fix anything, but would he be home in time?  Would we be able to see Rudolph this year?  We have waited all year for this hallowed night. How could the winds blow down our TV antenna on such a special night?

  Well as luck would have it, Dad arrived home to rescue his daughters.  There was no time for dinner, not with such a crisis at hand.  So out into the cold and wind Dad ventured as he climbed onto the roof.  The only thing that he asked is that we told him when we could see the picture on the TV.  

  With the same determination that Rudolph had as he guided Santa’s Sleigh, Dad possessed the same as he ventured out to splice those wires so his girls could have their once a year magical journey.  To the roof Dad went.  The wind was whipping in circles at the top of the mountain, and also on the top of our roof.  Frozen fingers and all Dad spiced the wires together.  He yelled to his family in the warm house to see if it worked….no response, so he yelled again, and again, no response….finally he secured the wire connections with the electrical tape  and entered the house, only to find his girls huddled on the couch, sharing popcorn and enthralled watching Rudolph!   Mission accomplished!!  That particular night has gone down in history, our family history, that is!

   I have such fond memories of watching the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas”,  “The Year Without a Santa Claus”, Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, and A Charlie Brown Christmas” with my sisters.  To this day we still sing the songs and recite the words.  With just a single note of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”, or “I’m Mr. Heat Miser, I’m Mr. Snow” I am transported back to two places, my childhood and my children’s childhoods. 

   So very many years later, these shows still mean so much to me.  The really amazing thing is,all of these forty and fifty year old Christmas specials mean the same if not more to my children.  So the circle is complete….and in the future we go!  For some reason I do believe that these same Christmas shows will resonate in much of the same way with my Grandchildren.

   We live in the century of cutting edge technology.  Animation is now considered an art form and you can even major in it at college.  What can be created with computer graphics astounds me.  And yet these Claymation and Cartoon Christmas specials created forty to fifty years ago are still generational favorites.  They continue to resonate with the older and younger generations.  Timeless is the word!

   It seems as the years progress, the madness increases.  We are overcome with the “must haves”, the “you cannot live with outs.”  And like Charlie Brown I shout “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is really all about?”  We need to continue to listen to Linus.  In this world of beauty, messages abound…… Linus recited to us that the true meaning of Christmas is: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and goodwill towards all men.”.........Merry Christmas and may your heart continue to hold Christmas joy today, and all of your tomorrows. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVDOu2_Fuc&feature=related