The 13 Lucky Days of Christmas
Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 11:18AM | Lynn Having passed the age of ha
ving "sugar plums dancing in my head," I've found more time for reflection. Yet, on second thought, I am stressed because my house is not decorated. I don't even have a fake tree up...no lights...no Santa stuffed figure by the fireplace...no wreath on the door...nothing.
In the days when I had two jobs and three children at home, I managed to write and direct the Christmas play at church, bake 300 cookies for school parties, play Santa, wrap gifts, shop for batteries, decorate the house, make my own natural wreaths and garlands, have 20 people for Christmas Eve dinner and afterward attend the midnight church service. Today I am witnessing the arrival of December 13th and I still have a few essays to grade, not to mention posting grades for three classes.
I have reset my calendar to begin Christmas festivities on the 15th, complete with playing my friend, Connie Mason's, fabulous Christmas CD, "Quiet Christmas Harbors," in the background. Connie is a North Carolina traditionalist who sings with a pure sweet voice and plays the guitar. She is mostly known for writing and performing original tunes based on her vast knowledge of all things about coastal North Carolina. But each year, Connie is my main Christmas. Then, after a day or two, I'll bring out Mannheim Steamroller and "Messiah." Sounds like an unlikely combination, but it is all there--the religious, the secular, the joy, the calm, the spirit.
I should have extra time to get things done, since I give my adult children a check, instead of shopping for gifts they don't want and can't use. Yet, no matter the year, I never get Christmas together. I guess something has to be saved for next year.
To prepare for the 15th, I pre-made cookie dough today. I mixed the easy stuff. Ingredients for oatmeal and raisen, oatmeal with craisens and white chocolate chips, and the plain ol' chocolate chip cookies were tossed together, mixed like mad, and sealed in plastic containers to await baking day. Like a production line worker, I mixed ingredients for truffles knowing that they have to be totally chilled before rolling and dipping in chocolate. Now, I'll go back to the mundane grading of papers and responding to student e-mails and delay my "Christmas moment."
Only my little granddadughter, Morgan, gets Christmas surprises. At five, she's at the pinnacle of waiting for Santa. She showed me her Christmas tree with all its special ornaments and lights. There were beautifully wrapped gifts underneath to shake. Yet, the best thing of all, was her new kitty balanced in the branches in the middle of the tree looking down at us. When we noticed Mittens watching us, my husband grabbed his camera. We all stood quietly so as not to make him jump away, while Burke captured a perfect Christmas moment.
So, today I began the journey I tell everyone are my 13 lucky days before Christmas. I didn't have to go to the mall, nor did I have to journey anywhere to cut a Christmas tree. It was all there for me...the child with wonder, the kitty in a tree, and the promise of memories to come.
Reader Comments (5)
I completely understand. This is the first year that I've had my own tree and decorated the house. It took forever!! I have a whole new appreciation for mothers and fathers who do this 18+ years for their children! I applaud you for still doing so much even though I know you have such a crazy schedule.
Love the picture of Mittens. There is nothing sweeter or precarious than a kitten hidden in the branches of it's first ever Christmas tree. All for them!
Date: October 28, 2009
To: Mrs. Lynn Salsi
From: Dawn M.
Subject: “Where Has All of the Christmas Spirit Gone?”
The spirit of Christmas doesn’t quite seem the same. I myself am what you would call a
“Christmas Fanatic,” I can barely wait for Thanksgiving to be over, just so I can start
to get things in order for Christmas. Normally, sometime during the week following
Thanksgiving, if not that same weekend I start decorating. My normal décor would be
to put up the tree, putting holiday figurines in the front lawn, and hanging a wreath on
each door. This is not what I consider going overboard, just something simple and
elegant. I mean it’s not the work of the festive Chevy Chase by no means. Once my
home has been decorated, I can start the massive shopping spree; which secretly may
be my favorite part. I would love to say that I then begin to wrap the gifts but for some
reason it just doesn’t seem quite Christmas, unless I am rushing to get all of the
wrapping done on Christmas Eve, just in time for Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick, and his
mysteriously unwrapped gifts.
I have to say that I am fairly new to this area, and I was highly upset as I drove around
the first weekend of December, and found that hardly nobody decorated. All Christmas
spirit just seem lost. I must admit I was so devastated that I had to call my Mom in
Virginia, just to vent. And if you think that’s bad I even thought about sending out a letter
of complaint to the newspaper. I don’t know what good a letter would have been, but
maybe it would have gotten the readers thinking. The only thing left now is for things to
be more joyous this Christmas, guess I will have to wait and see.
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