How things change

JT Twissel

Today it took me less than an hour to decorate for the Christmas season and I didn’t break a sweat. I really didn’t need to decorate. We won’t be here. I did it out of habit. And nostalgia. The only ornaments I’ve hung onto over the years have some sort of special memory attached.

My sister made this ornament the year her son was diagnosed with leukemia and she had to sit in the children’s ward for hours. It reminds me of all the innocent children who suffer through no fault of their own.

We used to have boxes and boxes of ornaments, reindeer with blinking red noses for the front yard, Christmas villages surrounded by model train layouts … and a massive artificial tree that Joel found one year – half off! It had two thousand mini lights woven in its branches and, since nothing says Christmas like a tree that can be seen from outer space, he had to have it. Of course, the two thousand lights only worked if you found that one that had burnt out. What a pain in the patootie! I hated that tree!

Not really sure which child made either of these two priceless Santas. Our current tree has no greenery. Just fake and barren birch branches.

Back then all of the children (we’re a blended family of five) descended on our house Christmas Eve, had dinner, spent the night, and then left the next morning to celebrate the rest of the day with their other families … after a Christmas breakfast of waffles and strawberries, of course. I don’t know how we managed to find a place for everyone to bed down comfortably. I don’t know how we managed all those last minute trips to find stocking stuffers that weren’t complete junk, or to make sure we had enough food, enough wine, enough wrapping paper, enough tape, enough toilet paper, enough aspirin. But I do remember that feeling after all the children left and the house was quiet once again. I didn’t even mind the clean up. I’d take one task at a time, have another glass of champagne, and listen to some dumb Christmas movie on the tube.

One of the last times we were all together on Christmas. This was the best of many, many shots! The two squiggles in the front had eaten way too many Christmas cookies and could not sit still.

Would I return to those hectic days of Christmas Past? Only if I could be in my forties again and since I can’t, this Christmas Eve we’ll be sipping cocktails while watching the sun set over Moonlight Beach. Our only stress, the long drive down the coast.

Shell ornament given to my children by their globe trotting godfather. I believe he bought them (there are others) in Bangkok

In case I don’t get inspired to post again, I hope you all can spend the holidays doing something you enjoy, whether entertaining a mob or just sitting on the beach!

If you cry because the sun has gone out of your life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars.

R. Tagore

22 thoughts on “How things change”

  1. First off, JT, a very merry, blessed Christmas in case I don’t get a chance to mention it again and have safe travels and a grand time. This year we won’t have everyone here because our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson will be spending the holiday with his parents. Can’t complain because until now (except during Covid) everyone came here or wherever we were living at the time. Our younger daughter will come here and she and I will zip out to CA for a few quick days before coming back for Christmas with my husband. I love Christmas no matter what. 🙂

    Reply

    1. For me, it’s letting go of expectations. My parents weren’t that into the holidays and so, as a young parent, I went overboard for years. I’m glad I did but now it’s time to slow down and expect nothing but hope for a few memorable moments. Happy holidays to you my friend!

      Reply

  4. I’ve cut back dramatically on my decorating but like you, each piece has its own memory to relay and I do miss that.
    Hope you have a wonderful holiday… wherever you’ll be.
    🎄

    Reply

    1. Thanks Rivergirl. I started to realize that none of the children wanted our collection of inherited Christmas stuff no matter what its worth. They just don’t. And so why are my closets stuffed with things that will remain in boxes forever? Let them be some other family’s treasure! Happy Holidays!

      Reply

  5. My ornaments are new, everything that reminds me of the old days is at my parents’ house. My son loves them, like every child, so we keep buying them.
    Have a nice Christmas, Jan. And see you….whenever.

    Reply

    1. Those new ornaments will have special meaning for your son. I remember Christmas in Europe as being a time to get together with friends and family and splurge on exotic food and wines. Gifts of handmade ornaments were quite common. It was not nearly as stressful as here but then I was much younger! I hope your Christmas is full of warm memories and free from stress. And I will see you whenever as well (hopefully).

      Reply

  6. Hi Jan,

    I’d like to know who is the girl with the patch of golden hair? She looks exotic, like maybe she could dance really well. Duke

    Reply

    1. She’s my step daughter and she was in a punk rock band with all the usual difficulties – that hairstyle was very conservative for her. She’s a gifted and classically trained pianist and she does love to dance but it’s hard to be an exotic dancer while wearing Doc Martins. (if you don’t know what those are – they look like combat boots)

      Reply

  7. What a lovely look back at Christmases past. And I’m delighted you still have Christmas ornaments bringing back many happy memories.
    I remember those days of finding the broken bulb in the string of Christmas lights and replacing it to make the lights work again. We used to have a gadget that you connected to each bulb to see if it worked. It was always one of the last ones that was the culprit.
    Merry Christmas, Jan. Enjoy your time away.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Hugh – I do not miss that tree! We stored it in the cellar and eventually the rats got to it. You can imagine the mess – up to the street for the junk man it went! Merry Christmas Hugh! Wishing you happy days and maybe good weather to walk along the beach with your delightful dogs!

      Reply

Leave a comment