Contemplating the Season

Yes, Christmas is a month away, but I never weary of some aspects of the season---least of all beautiful music and magical decorations. 

Some of these photos were taken earlier this week at the Ramada Inn near Spokane Airport where I had enjoyed a hamburger and fries and watched some basketball while waiting for Annie's flight.

Once again, I've been surprised to see decorations up earlier and earlier every year.  

I suspect some of this overzealous promptness has to do with a marketing motive, while other situations just reflect the decorator's desire to enjoy the age-old, festive magic of the Christmas season. 

Christmas decor, both indoors and out, takes me back to a simpler time, always a good trip.  

It reminds me of family, friends and seasonal traditions that tend to accompany us through our lives.

On this journey, some aspects of our unique traditions will fade away with time, while others cling to our psyche year after year and, in some cases, generation after generation. 

I've thought about cards this year, which are always time consuming and, at times, frustrating because my annual updated address list almost always turns out not quite updated enough---no matter how hard I try to record information from every card received.

Also, each year I look at my list and sadly delete some names and addresses because the folks who live there have passed on during the past twelve months. 

Whenever I think about being lazy and scrapping the whole idea of buying cards and stamps and printing off address labels and preparing the envelopes and then writing something personal in each and every card, I think about the past and my mother.

For several years, everyone on my mother's list received a hand-painted card with her Western artwork. Inside the card, they also read a long personal note, in her beautiful but hard to read handwriting. 

Mother burned the midnight oil preparing those cards, and it was worth it because most of the recipients tucked them away or framed them. 

When I think of those times, I rethink my plans for laziness. I also think of how much those cards mean to some recipients, especially those who are older and do not get out much.  

Besides, all the work involved with Christmas cards, there's the time-consuming challenge of creating cookies and other treats in Christmas plates.  

Once again, however, I think of Mother and her Christmas fruit cookies and her sour cream twists and her fudge and peanut brittle----all homemade, all beautiful and delectable, always presented well in a tray or plate, always punctuated with a great visit and reciprocation with each recipient.

For example, for many years when Mother and Harold took goodies to the Hudon's and enjoyed a neighborly visit, they always brought home a bottle or two of John Hudon's homemade wine, brewed from fruit he grew on his North Boyer farm where the LDS church now stands. 

Along with the cookies and cards, our family Christmas tree was always a work of art, thanks to Mother, the artist who seldom shed her high standards, always demanding perfection of herself and her family.  

Though my Christmas tree decor could never come close to my mother's, these days, I do see that her influence and high holiday standards have passed on through my sisters' holiday decorating efforts.

Yep, there's a lot of commercialism aka dollar signs and stress associated with the Christmas season. 

It does become wearisome, especially when we're inundated with reminders of its demands earlier and earlier every year.  

Nonetheless, some elements of the holiday mix----generosity, the element of surprise, attention to creative, magical and festive detail, connections, sentimentality, genuine caring about others----have a way of allowing us to tolerate the negative and accentuate the positive. 

Wishing everyone the best in the month ahead.  

May you survive the obstacles and enjoy those magical and meaningful moments. 

Happy Sunday.