Post #894. Down the walkway of melancholy; also known as the Christmas season.

Two years ago on the blog, I wrote a whole segment of "Christmas Memories" during the month of December, which summed up my feelings about the Christmas season, rich in nostalgia and tradition. I wrote about the following topics (click on any of the following to read the posts):

• Santa Claus
• Hardrock, Coco, & Joe
• Reindeer Food
• Church
• Gumdrop Tree
• Christmas Around the World
• Television Specials
• In the Wee Hours
• The Present

I realize we each have our own unique memories, but since this is my blog, these are obviously my memories, for which I make no excuse.

Riding in the car with Jim this afternoon, he gestured with a nod of his head across the stark brown, flat, horizon, where it easily met with nothing but grey, gloomy sky, while noting that it looks like the "season of brown" has commenced.

Indeed.

I'm okay with that for now though as soon the snows will blanket it all away.

I've been living in nothing but forgiving tunics and leggings for the past days of Thanksgiving gluttony, and today I decided to wear a skirt, which is more my norm. I glanced down at my bare knee and smiled as I rubbed a round circle of a spot, ever so faint, but still there on my edge of my left knee.

I told Jim that this silly old scar, actually makes me happy. I'm glad it hasn't all but faded with the years. He's heard the story probably fifty times, but polite as he is and in love with me, he listened again as I told him how I gained this scar as I leaned against the color wheel of my Uncle Jim and Auntie Carol's aluminum Christmas tree, when I was probably 5 years old. Thereabouts.

I don't remember much of that suburban Chicago Georgian that they lived in back then, but somehow all I remember is being surrounded by love; being there at Christmas with my parents who were young, and my Uncle and Aunt, who were timeless.

I wrote a post about them as well back in 2008. It is here:
All of my favorites are gone


For me,
this is Christmas.

Oh I fully know, as a Christian, all of the other meanings of significance, though in actuality, scripture never instructed us to celebrate the birth of our savior, or any of the holidays we so often celebrate.

The scripture interestingly does instruct on holidays of Judaism. It is the Church's adaption of the Christian traditions which made them commonplace.

Don't get me wrong, I think that Christmas is as good of time as any to celebrate God, but for me, He is fully a part of my every day in many simple ways, and as much as I love the traditions surrounding Christmas, even as they pertain to the faith, I do recognize that Christmas is indeed just that; fully steeped in tradition which also walks hand in hand with deep emotions of melancholy, not easily expressed in words.

To take one of my quotes from the forementioned post,

As I bid my parents goodbye last night,
I looked out on our blue trees against the frosty night air
and blinked back tears
because I'm easily overcome with the knowledge
of how fleeting these precious days, these wonderful moments, are.

And so I begin another season of melancholy...
happy moments for sure, mixed with many bittersweet memories. Memories of so many, who personified Christmas to me, who are no longer here.

It's difficult not to think of them as I go about each Christmas activity, and why should I not think of them, other than the reason that it leaves me with a gut-wrenching empty sadness that only the time period from Thanksgiving to New Years Day can deliver.

Our Thanksgiving weekend quietly stepped into the Christmas season.

With Sarah away, enjoying time with her dear Dad, our house was exceptionally quiet. I did laundry admiring one of my favorite new sweaters, a Birthday gift from Jim (from Ruche), and how it shimmered in the gorgeous Thanksgiving afternoon sunlight.

Wrapped more presents, cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Jim and my parents, spent time watching a movie with all three in our "blue room/theater", decorated indoors and out making use of natural products from our own yard like pruned Apple Tree branches and dried Hydrangeas.

Jim is remarkable. In so many ways. I know I've wrote that before, but I really am blessed with a remarkable husband who will do anything to keep his wife happy.

Spent time with our beloved Winston cat.  I love cats.

There was absolutely no Black Friday shopping at this house, other than a quick run to the local Rural King for more white, shimmer lights for the tree. (I'm happily finished shopping and everything is wrapped)

Watched more movies. Took a nap, somewhere in there, I took a nap. I think that must have been Wednesday afternoon. It's been a wonderful, long weekend.

Drove north to pick up Sarah on Saturday afternoon, heading out to a very rainy Parade of Lights where Sarah & Co. marched with the high school band, all lit up with Christmas lights. Despite the rain (at least it was 61 degrees at the time), it was really quite wonderful.

... Another of those Central Illinois moments that makes one glad for living in a small town.

This evening, Sarah and her boyfriend took over with the remainder of the Christmas tree decorating, hanging all of the 500+ or so ornaments for me. I've been collecting ornaments since I was 14 years old. They're all on the tree, thanks to these helpful "elves". I didn't mind not helping.

I walked out in the living room, and Rosemary Clooney is playing on the Christmas CD with Sarah singing along, knowing every word. What nearly-16-year old knows all the words to the old - and I mean OLD - Christmas classics like Suzy Snowflake?  Not any others that I know of, but that's Sarah. She is one of a kind.

Later, after they finished the tree, I walked through as they were sitting on the couch, listening to Jazz (my favorite Vince Guaraldi) and talking.

Thinking back to one of those 2009 posts, mentioned above, about "The Present".

The Present is such a wonderful gift.

Here's a glimpse back at the past few present days ~

waiting to become Christmas decorations...

a sled that reminded me of one we had as kids,

that Jim bought me for one of my Birthday gifts

Our beautiful Bradford Pear on November 26.
One of the only trees as far as the eye can see, with late leaves.

My own version of Pumpkin Spice Coffee.  

 Sun appears as Moon at my favorite time of the day - dusk -
Thanksgiving Day

I love this picture of Jim. Gotta love a man who can smile in the midst of all-day hard work on his day off. This was on Friday - Christmas Decorating Day at our house. We began early in the morning and finished up as it was getting dark.

 Everything has a touch of Christmas...

      

Who knew pruned Apple Tree branches from our yard could become rustic art? I did.  It was just the look I was going for, paired with dried Hydrangea blooms and white lights.

Even Jim's beverage table in the "blue room" gets a festive touch.

These are the little things that fill my heart with glee. Literally. 
On the top of the hutch - Sarah's handmade Christmas tree from 4th grade and my handmade Christmas tree from 3rd grade.

 Getting ready to leave with the marching band for the downtown Champaign, Parade of Lights

Phone pictures that Sarah took at the event, before everyone was soaked from the constant rain.

Photos that I took through the rain - not easy when you're trying to keep the expensive camera dry and rain drops were on the lens.

Here comes the band! They were awesome as always despite the rain.

 Their Director cracks me up in this photo - he's on the far right.

Sarah's photo of our house on November 26th, after the Parade of Lights

Sarah and Anthony decorating with my massive Ornament collection.
I started collecting them when I was just 14 years old, though actually

there are some from my early school years as well.