I suppose everyone has a favorite holiday — Christmas is mine. The sights, the feels, the meaning — it all warms my heart. In a time when there is so much hatred and animosity in the world, I choose to see the beauty around me and celebrate with those closest to me. It’s a respite from the bad news that seems to surround us these days.
It should be noted that I am a huge fan of ornaments. For as long as I can remember, I have gotten new ornaments each year based on the events of the time. Certainly, for the birth of each child, and subsequently, each grandchild, I have gotten a new dated ornament.
Back in the day, there were Hallmark Stores that sold a plethora of ornaments, for every theme and occasion. I believe I helped Hallmark stay in business for as long as they did! There are “Baby’s 1st Christmas,” “Baby’s 2nd Christmas,” “Baby’s 3rd Christmas” … you get the idea. Multiply that by three children and six grandchildren, that’s a lot of ornaments!
Last week, my 6-year-old granddaughter, along with my daughter, came over to help me decorate our tree. She immediately took charge of unpacking each ornament, one by one, and asking about it before allocating it on the 7-foot tree. In her eyes, each ornament was a novelty, and she wanted to know the story. I got to narrate the story of my life based on ornaments.
Sometimes you forget and in the hustle and bustle of the holiday, you don’t take the time to appreciate the Christmases of the past. But not this year, thanks to her inquiring mind.
I must say, we have some interesting and offbeat ornaments! And in my opinion, an ornament is a remembrance, it can be anything. We have the little tags from each of our beloved dogs from the past, hung with a hook in places of honor on the tree, in addition to ornaments depicting our favorite breeds (black labs and golden retrievers, with a Dalmatian or two thrown in.)
Homemade ornaments also take up quite a bit of real estate on the branches. Three children and six grandchildren — that’s a lot of school-made ornaments to display. Our favorite sports teams are well represented, as are our hobbies — porcelain tennis balls, pickleball ornaments and tiny guitars are also prominent. And the star on top of my tree is a picture of my wonderful dad, gone for many years but never forgotten.
Anyone who knows me knows that the Outer Banks of North Carolina are well-represented. Little lighthouses, sand dollar and shell ornaments and assorted beach-themed mementos also have places of honor. Thirty plus years of spending time in OBX are well documented.
Perhaps some of my favorite and most delicate ornaments are those that decorated the trees of my childhood. Thanks to my mom, there are lots of memories associated with each of those antique balls placed carefully on my tree, all joyous and filled with love.
In my world, anything can become an ornament. Any event that warrants depicting on my tree holds a special place in my heart. As a Trekkie, Capt. Kirk and Capt. Picard even have a place on the boughs of my tree. Patriotic ornaments, mostly stemming from the years surrounding 9/11 are proudly displayed.
Of course, I also take joy in the many angels and Nativity scenes displayed on my tree and throughout my house. My manger scenes come from different times and places — I even have one that my father brought home from Sicily, made of corn husks. Many scenes of the same blessed event, and they all make me smile.
Perhaps my oddest ornament is a small picture frame, dated 2006. This was the year that a refurbished Trans Am came crashing into my dining room. Yes, you read that right. It literally came through the front wall, and came to rest in my dining room, crushing most of the furniture within. Miraculously no one was hurt; the teenage driver lost control as his accelerator stuck. It was indeed a day which none of us will forget.
But from that event, we were blessed to get a new room — new floors, bay window, new furniture, etc. And a lot of good-natured notoriety. We immortalized the moment in an ornament, with a picture of the car sticking out of our house. It was an adventure that none of us will ever forget.
So I can pretty much see my whole life depicted on the branches of my tree. It brings me joy to sit and look at them and remember. I hope that this holiday season brings you many fond memories of family, friends and years gone by. May the joy of the season fill your heart and lift your spirits.
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