It took a colder turn in our temperature to get me moving, but I finally hauled out the Christmas decorations last week. Every flat surface and window sill is covered with holiday frivolity. Art work has been removed from the walls and replaced with Christmas scenes in needlepoint and wood. Christmas quilts have come out of hiding. Even door knobs got in the act. The tree anchors one corner of the living area and when the lights are on, the whole room glistens.
What do your decorations say about you? Glitzy? Country? Plain and few? If I had to describe my decorating theme, it would be easy – craft fair chic. Okay, maybe that’s an oxymoron.
My house is Christmas on steroids and for one month, I can manage the over-accessorized look. But I tell you this – I need to have a buying moratorium on fabric-stuffed snowmen. In fleece, mohair, felted wool; on skis and sleds, in tropical blue and lime green, red and black buffalo plaid, some dusted with glitter – err snow. If I ever need to pare down my decorations, I know where to start.
Then there are the sentimental items – small porcelain angels my aunt always had on display, but the most special is a candy dish my mother made. It’s never held candy, as far as I know, but I’d grab it if the house was on fire.
What I enjoyed most this year was decorating the tree. Many years ago, I began decorating my tree by meticulously placing sprigs of silk ivy, poinsettia blooms and red, green and gold ribbon bows. The tree was gorgeous, but it wasn’t me. It had no soul.
I’ve moved beyond my Better Homes and Gardens days and with every ornament I hung this year, I savored the memory. Laughter and adventure from road trips around the country and travels throughout the world. Fondness for the people I’ve worked with and groups I’ve belonged to.
This year, I even hung ornaments that belonged to my parents from the days of their marriage in the early 1940’s. I’ve kept these in a separate box for years to protect them, but protect them from what? They have a special place this year right alongside the new.
The most special ornaments however are from fami
ly. I spoke to my mom for a long time as I hung hers. Her last Christmas with us was in 1979.
The tree decorating was part nostalgia, part whimsy and part reflection, and a lot of Kleenex. The finished product is a great snapshot of my life and I’m sure yours is like that, too. One year, I decided not to put up a tree. I think I was traveling, or maybe I was too busy, or a little depressed. What a joy I missed out on, and said never again.
For the next few three weeks, I’ll enjoy every ornament, every snowman, every nativity scene – I have 4 of them. I’ll launch into planning another trip so I can collect more ornaments, schedule another family visit, and shed a tear or two over all the memories. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
May the holiday spirit warm your heart this year. Blessings to each of you, and thank you for going along this patchwork journey with me.
Peace.
Of course, you know I loved this! Probably not so amazing that we have the same emotions about our trees. Besides the ornaments that Grace made, there are the ones Anne and Tony made when they were small, and now the ones the grandchildren have made. Just this year, we added a new one from Simon – made from paper cupcake holders. Soooo sweet!! Thanks for this, Pam.
Thanks Kathy. I knew you’d relate.
Your blog made my day. I, too, have been blessed with
wonderful family memories. It is a great time of the year to take some time to reflect and appreciate the joy of life’s experience.
Thanks, Gloria. My hear is so full at this time of year – I need to keep it in mind all year long.
Pam this was the best. Especially as I find myself in limbo again. While my step daughters now have tons of my Christmas things, they no longer feel like mine, in someone elses’s house.
Carol, I can’t imagine how that feels. Maybe time to start anew? Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Pam, this is the first of your blog I have read, tho it has been recommended to me many times. I love decorating our tree in the same way as you. This year was wierd, however. As you know, we have 5 more family members this year who wanted to help decorate. It was fine, and I loved watching the grandsons. However, our tree got very dry & I was afraid of fire, so last night, by myself, I “undecorated” with all the care & remembrance I usually decorate!
Thank you for reading and commenting. Tomorrow, I will undecorate and I will follow your practice of care and rememberance as you suggest. And glad you finally found my blog. Hope you’ll stick around.
Lovely as always, Pam. I love to read your work.
Leslie, now this made my day. Thank you so much.
I shed a few tears while reading your blog today. I must admit that since Melissa the immediate vicinity of our home, Mike and I have failed to put up a tree or anything other than the nativity set. The last tree we had was in Barstow in 2001 and that is because Melissa sneaked in and erected, decorated and lit it. Thanks for sharing all the reasons we should put up and tree and your memories too!
Awwww… everyone celebrates differently, but I really do like my tree. It’s not too late to start over again. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment – it means so much.
Loved this! When the girls got married our tree took a hit as we surrendered the ornament gifts they had received throughout their lives. We have added some new ones from travel and still have the old precious ones from my mom, grandmother, some school projects and new things made by grandchildren of our own. We decorated yesterday…always makes me weepy! For many reasons this is our first Balsam Hill tree, the loveliest fake tree money can buy. It is beautiful, and truly made REAL with all those special ornaments! Thanks for sharing your s with us here.
Thank you so much, Sue. Yes, now you can start with the grandchildren ornaments. As I told a friend, mine were tears of joy and gratitude.
Each year my Christmas present to me is decorating the Christmas tree. Each ornament is special and has a heartfelt meaning to me. I hold the ornament, travel back in time to the special memory and then find just the right spot to show it off on the tree. Last year when my arm was in a sling it was so hard to let the grandkids decorate the tree. The tree was beautiful but my Christmas just didn’t seem quite right. Back to my nostalgic Christmas decorating this year. All is good.
Oh Carol, this is beautiful. It sounds like you get the most out of the experience. Good for you.
Like others have already said, thanks for your wonderful writing skills you share with us; it’s like a gift throughout the year. Thanks to you and Kathy for encouraging me to put a tree up this year. Putting the ornaments on the tree is like a trip through the past, down a very beautiful memory lane. I like your final ornament, I have that one on our tree also. I remember buying them in Prum, Germany when we had the sibling trip to Europe
Thanks and so glad you have a tree this year. Sometimes, we have to fight through our emotions.
Beautiful 🙂 My favorites are the homemade ones, and the ones with personal stories/history. This year I noticed all the ornaments that had pictures of the kids ended about the time they hit 1st grade. So…. not only did I make them let me takes pictures of them, but I made it a project for all the kids in religious ed, too, K-8th. The tree downstairs at church looks so happy with all their shining (goofy) faces!
Thanks for the read and taking the time to comment. Yes, all the homemade ones are my favorite too. I bet your church tree looks wonderful and makes so many people happy. Great idea.