Everywhere I turn this season, from the city parade to many magazines to some television shows, folks have put on display their list of favorite things. I actually decided to share a few of my Christmas season favorites when I heard someone say:
“I hate to receive a printed Christmas card with no personal message inside. But I love receiving pictures of the children, especially, and the printed family letters. Let me know about your year...”
AMEN! Anyone who has ever lived in several places and has maintained long distance friendships with people in each town as we have certainly must appreciate such letters. To me, receiving news from a far away friend is a highlight of my Christmas season. It’s almost as good as sitting at the kitchen table across from them with a cup of coffee for a catch-up chat. Already, I’ve heard from several families. It’s so good to stay in touch. For that reason, I also try to put a letter together each year. Yes Christmas cards with letters head my list of favorite things.
+++++
Christmas trees. A couple of years ago, we went to the mountains, unaware of any weather reports for the area. When we checked in at Vogel State Park, we learned that we could have any camping site we wanted; evidently we were the only campers that night. According to the park personnel, an ice storm had been predicted and all other campers had canceled their reservations.
However, the storm didn’t materialize and for one night we had the entire park to ourselves. While we don’t like to stay in crowded campgrounds, we do like to have some company around. But there was none. With dark, the park personnel went home, the clear sky sparkled with the stars and through our back window, we could see the giant, well lit, decorated Christmas tree erected to greet visitors to the park.
We weren’t alone after all. Never have I felt the warmth of a Christmas tree any more than I did that night and it prompted us to talk about Christmas trees past - both from our childhood and during the many years we had been married. We recalled the times we actually went to the woods to cut our own tree. When my husband was growing up, his family actually went out and cut their own tree each year. We talked about the white ceramic Christmas tree with redbirds and red lights that I, as a newlywed, made for my mother. She displayed it each year. With her death, I inherited it. Each time I look at it, I remember the neighbor who encouraged me to try my hand at such a creation. Yes, Christmas trees are among my favorite things.
+++++
At this time of year, I begin looking around for a cup of hot apple cider or hot spiced tea. I don’t even think of those drinks at any other time of the year. I think I love their cinnamon aroma almost as much as their taste. Although it now has a modern, politically correct name, the home economics department at Wayne County High School, used to treat the faculty to cups of hot spiced tea during the week before school was out for Christmas holidays. And one can always find hot cider served in the mountains. To me, the spiced taste and the warmth of these two drinks are as much a part of the Christmas spread as any cookie. Yes, hot spiced drinks are among my favorite things.
+++++
And the music. I can’t sing and I gave up taking piano lessons long ago. But I can listen. I consider listening to be my best talent. I love the music that the music store provides the city. I’m glad when Christmas music is played on the radio. And I look forward to any special on television featuring traditional holiday music. I tap my toes to the secular songs - “White Christmas,” “Silver Bells,” even “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”
But I especially sit up and take notice of both words and melodies to the old familiar carols and spirituals. My long time favorite has been “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.” As much as any part of the preparation for the holy day, I love the Christmas music. It reaches down deep and touches the spirit like nothing else.
+++++
And so, isn’t it time for you to compose a list of a few of your favorite things? It’s a good way to begin counting your blessings in preparation for Christmas.
2007
Comments