It’s a little more than days away and, once again, I am digging deeply into the world around me to find some Christmas spirit. Much like snowflakes in bright sunlight, my enthusiasm for the season disappears quickly. I keep holiday music tuned on every radio within reach, make endless To-Do lists and watch one more day breeze past.
But, I remember…
When there were so many presents under our tree that the huge evergreen was almost dwarfed by the packages festooned with colorful ribbons that spread across our living room.
When the season used to take forever to arrive and seemed to stay around longer.
When people didn’t line up in stores, like mercenaries, the day after Thanksgiving, intent on inflicting pain and suffering just to purchase gifts.
When I had time to bake dozens of Christmas cookies that hid away on our pantry shelves, only to be found by sensitive little noses and prying fingers.
When everyone wore some type of holiday corsage or festive button on their coat.
When toys were simple and operated by imagination, not batteries or a power cord.
When packages that came in the mail were wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.
When Bloomingdale’s was the main attraction where I lived and everyone raced to see their fabulous window display each year.
When outside decorations didn’t have front lawns looking like Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, packed with teetering-tottering air-blown holiday figures and mechanical reindeer. Simple lights and a wreath on the door told passers-by that Christmas lived in that home.
And..I remember how my mother would walk into our home and remark how beautiful everything was, how she enjoyed all the traditional holiday food. She loved Christmas…back before she started to forget.
All of this is somewhere, in my memories.
From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…Write about a favorite Winter memory.
I share this post just about every year. For me, it’s a gentle step back into a time when life was so much simpler and the memories are much like gifts waiting under the Christmas tree, all with “Open Me First” tags on them.
