The Spirit of the Season...

Since the beginning of time, or at least, since humans realized that the days were shorter and the nights longer, in the winter, we have celebrated the winter solstice.  Different cultures have recognized the time as a rebirth, of sorts, and celebrated with holidays and festivals.

For centuries, different cultures have commemorated the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with a holiday occurring near the winter solstice.  And other cultures have celebrated the birth of the Christ Child in a manger, in a stable, in the Middle East.  More recently, it has become a time to honor African-American heritage and culture.

In a song, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Yet, that’s hard for some to accept.  Was it wonderful when loved ones were thousands of miles away, in harm’s way, fighting a war?  Was it wonderful in 1929 when the Stock Market had just crashed?  Is it wonderful today, with double digit unemployment?  It’s double digit where I live, anyway….

Ah, and the nightly news does nothing to make things merry and bright, does it?  Unspeakable crimes, political shenanigans, death, destruction and despair rule the airwaves, it seems.  Just yesterday, there was a story about a small town north of Podunk, where all the toys donated to make Christmas “merry” for needy children were stolen….

Tonight, on the news, they showed the long line of cars full of people waiting to donate toys to replace those that were stolen.  It’s a small town, but the donators came from towns all over the valley in an attempt to replace more than 3000 toys in just 24 hours. 

It was uplifting to watch families with children bringing toys to donate to other, less fortunate children.  What a wonderful lesson to teach all of us:  it is better to give than to receive…. And tomorrow, the celebration will go on as planned: free hot meal, gifts for the children, and 65 cubic yards of shipped-in snow to help make Christmas merry and bright.

Of course, there are Secret Santas at work all over this country right now.  Some have paid off layaways at Kmart stores so children can have Christmas after all.  And others are paying for tanks of gas for amazed gas station customers.  Still others have taken toys to children in hospitals, or gifts to the elderly in nursing homes.

Perhaps the spirit of the season is still alive and well, despite the economy.  Perhaps there truly is hope for this little blue marble we live on.  Perhaps man’s inhumanity to man has a noble opponent in those who would commit kindnesses to others without expecting anything in return….

Perhaps the spirit of Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or whatever you choose to call it, is alive and well.

And this world isn’t all bad….

Two Weeks and Counting....

The countdown has started: back to work in a couple of weeks. I hope. I am ready.

I spend such disorganized days. It takes so long to get up and get going, it seems. I can get up early, I know I can. I've been up before the sun for YEARS; I can do it again.

I think I'm hard-wired to help others. I feel as if I am shirking my duty by not doing things for others. And yet, it has been hard, for all these months, just to do the normal, routine things for myself.

I have one more injection to go and then, fingers crossed, I'll be back at work. Taking care of patients, cursing at all the documentation that is necessary, and looking forward to days off. It's the American way, isn't it?

Today I went shopping. I bought new makeup! It has been so long since I wore any makeup that I have to “practice” for a couple of weeks before I start back to work. Otherwise, I might look like a, well, something out of a scary movie!

This break has taught me a lot: I can handle anything that comes along. But some things are easier to handle than others. And something important: I love my work. I love being able to impact the lives of others positively and help them feel better.

Besides, it's only for fifteen months. Then I retire.

Hallelujah!

Cali

Christmas Cookies....

I baked cookies today. In a little while, my granddaughter and I will decorate them. And then, it will really be Christmas.


I haven't made sugar cookies for the past three or four years. I guess I was too busy. And, as silly as it sounds, Christmas wasn't the same without them. I guess it's true: when you do something for fifty years, it becomes a habit....


I only have one of my mother's cookie cutters left: a star with scalloped edges. The rest of mine are at least thirty or more years old. I have stars and hearts and a gingerbread boy and girl, an angel, a Christmas tree, a hand, and a reindeer.


The way to “share” sugar cookies is to fill the cookie container with the easy cookies, then put a few sugar cookies on top, for show. They are way too labor-intensive to just hand them out, willy-nilly! What it means is, if you get a sugar cookie or two from me, you are special!


I don't know which is more fun, helping my grandchildren decorate the cookies, or watching people enjoy them.


Every year, on Christmas morning, Dylan's Grandpa Jim comes to pick him up to go celebrate with his family. And every year, Jim looks around furtively.....for the sugar cookies. I've had to apologize to him for the last several years, for not making cookies.

He's in for a pleasant surprise this year!


Merry Christmas, All!


Cali

A Gentle Time....

This is the time of year for gentleness. Sure, being kind and gentle is important all year long. But it is even more important during the holidays.


All the decorations, all the traditions, all the memories can overwhelm us at this time of the year. Look at any Norman Rockwell holiday picture and you will see what I mean. Some will smile and think of a good memory that the picture evokes.


Others will have a lump in their throat and fight back the tears. Perhaps it is because of a good memory of someone or something that is now gone. Or perhaps it is a bad memory of a holiday gone awry. Whatever the reason, gentleness counts.


Invite friends who are alone to your Christmas festivities. Don't be surprised if they say “no.” For some, being in a group of people makes them feel even lonelier and more disconnected. Perhaps a one-on-one time, just you and your friend, would be less intimidating.


In any case, think of those who might be alone, or lonely, or sad, or depressed this holiday season and invite them to come to a gentle place. A shelter from their loneliness. Invite them into your home.


And into your heart.


Merry Christmas, Gentle Spirits!


Cali

The Season of Giving...

Today I went Christmas shopping. I still have a couple of things to get but, for the most part, I am through.

And then, I came home and wrapped everything. I love taking nondescript boxes and making them beautiful with paper and ribbon. I love giving presents, too.

When I was shopping this morning, a very nice young lady was helping me select a special gift. When I finally made up my mind, she asked “and what about you?” I suppose I could have bought something for myself, too, but why?

This is the season of giving. Not the season of gifts, but of giving to others. It doesn't matter how much the gift costs, or how beautiful the wrapping paper is. What matters is that I have something tangible to give to another. Something that represents the intangible feelings that I have for that person.

A bag of oranges says “I care about you and I want to give you something to show you how I feel.” A plate of cookies says the same thing. Or a “coupon” for a back rub, or making dinner, or vacuuming the house. Money is not the gift. Time, effort, love and caring. That's the gift.

If that sounds like too much, then don't participate. Really, don't. If gift-giving is a chore, then they aren't really gifts, are they?

Cali