A Moment with Donna…Twinkles of Memory
There is a scene in the movie Miracle on 34th Street where a mom, looking quite stressed because she is trying to find skates for her child and the store is all sold out, is advised by Santa to go to another store…Hm,m,m,…seems to me there is a consistent patterning that prevails through the holiday season, even with the current situation we are experiencing. Christmas is very busy with hustle and bustle this year, however, I think Santa’s helpers are not as readily available.
For me, I am a traditionalist, as the Thanksgiving weekend is always the time when I do the decorating for the Christmas season. Big green and red tubs are dragged out of their storage spaces and within five minutes my home looks like a hurricane of disorder has taken over. A total mish-mash of chaos slowly but surely changes, and order begins to prevail. Then there is the six-foot tree…biggest challenge with the tree? Lights! Somehow, every year, I deal with entanglement, properly linking cords to extensions and overall frustration with weaving everything into its right position. It is so easy to become impatient with the silliest things.
The best, and my most favorite part of all of this activity, is the decorating of the tree. Why? It is all about the rich memories of friends, family, and stories, and those various experiences shared through the years. There is the silver satin covered ball decorated with bright red ballet slippers, reminding me of the Nutcracker Ballet we attended in Oregon with very dear friends. A tall soldier nutcracker, dressed in his Navy blue uniform with gold trim, stands at attention with other nutcrackers on a side table, reminding me of visiting a local mall and the stores we went through before we found him and brought him home to be part of our holiday celebration. Then there are the angels. One especially has a place in my heart. This angel is over a foot high, exquisitely designed and she was gifted to me by a very special friend. An Italian creation, her magnificent garment is made of a fabric paper of gold and white, highlighted with delicate flowers and lace.
Twinkles of memories fill my mind and heart as I place each ornament on the tree. I’m reminded of our walking through the streets of Seattle, smelling the delicious fragrances of hot chocolate, coffee and roasted nuts sold by vendors on the street. We delighted in looking into the brightly decorated windows, while shivering in the cold with winds sometimes tickling us with the reminder that warmth and comfort awaits us inside the brightly illuminated stores all around.
So many holiday ornaments gifted by friends who have shared our holiday feasts, some who are no longer with us…these are the true gifts of this time of the year. Memories of the heart.
So…is it worth struggling with tangled cords, lugging out tubs of Christmas stuff, dealing with chaos? You bet! Why? Because those memories most dear come about because of sharing with friends & family. That even includes meal disasters, including my Yorkshire Pudding that came out like an oversized hockey puck one Christmas! That is a story to share another time.
Meanwhile, from my home to yours, I wish you and yours the most delightful and heartwarming holiday season. May your twinkles of memories enrich your spirit of love & beauty, making this season one of the best ever, and may your sharing of them add a special magic for those you love.
Merry Christmas and I look forward to meeting you in the New Year 2021.
Donna Seebo