Yuletide 2006

Christmas is usually an eagerly anticipated time of the year for me. The anticipation builds slowly from the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and gathers momentum across the weeeks, carrying one along with a buoyant heart and a lightened step toward the holy day associated with the warmth of the family gathered, in whatever form. There is growing excitement about gifts to be given and the expected joy brought to the intended recipients. I admit to a certain amount of ambivalence about this. Living in captial-centric society, it is hard to resist the idolatry of material at any time -- but especially during this season that has been so successfully marketed to us. So much of the happy anticipation revolves around the presents, it's sometimes hard to be still and know the realities that the symbols point to. The gift of God born among us in a humble circumstances. What does it mean that the one called Savior did not know the comforts or status that many of us would not be able to survive without? A life of depth cannot long remain in the veneer of reflexive values.

At any rate, If one lives long enough, Christmas becomes a time of reflection on past gatherings of kin. In the midst of the joy of connection with those close and thoughts of those afar, there are thoughts of those no longer with us. It can be a bittersweet experience.

Christmas in Ohio with mom and dad was always fun. The tree made the house smell so good. Decorating it with the traditional family ornaments connected the Christmas of the present with the happy holidays of the past. It was fun to lay under the tree and look at the reflection of the room in the colored balls and to watch the shadows of the pine needles on the walls made by the blinking of the old-fashioned, large tree lights .

The really special memories, however, are from the rare trips to Indiana for Christmas in Greensboro with Grandma and Grandpa. I can remember Grandma leaving a big pot of chili to simmer on the stove on Christmas Eve and the Uncles, Aunts and Cousins arriving family by family. Clusters formed in the front room and middle rooms while others sat around the kitchen table with steaming bowls. The happy chaos of all the members of that grand family gathered in that little house was a contrast to the more quiet celebrations I was used to. Perhaps the ultimate blessing was the snow-covered hill that was the "back yard" of Grandma & Grandpa's house. A good run would end with evasive maneuvering to avoid launching into the creek. Some swift runs were aborted by hidden tree stumps that immediately stopped the sled, leaving the pilot to slide on his or her face for some distance, packing snow around neck and into sleeves and boots. In between these adventures, there were secret conversations with cousins in the basement. Secret conversations carried by the heating ducts to anyone upstairs. Oh, we were a clever lot!

This year Christmas was celebrated with Bobbie’s family at the former residence of her parents on White Lake in Michigan, in a house even smaller than that magical house in Greensboro. Bobbie’s brother, Rick and her sister, Michele (& husband Steve) and family were there. Grif and Lauren had a blast playing with their cousins, Jake & Ryan. Michele's step-son, Stephen arrived Christmas evening with his girlfriend Erica. I think it was a bittersweet time for the Jacksons – the first Christmas without either one of their parents. On the other hand, the house seems to have soaked up some of the being of both of parents. Similarly to visits to the old Greensboro house to visit Aunt Eib and Uncle Kieth and feeling the presence of Grandma and Grandpa in the Greensboro house, the presence of Pat and Dick seemed palpable in the house they spent so much time in. It was as if they were away on an errand and would come in the front door at any moment. (At right, Lauren models her doll with matching outfit)

In spite of the northern latitude, there was no snow until the 26th. We were happy for it, none the less. And, in spite of my lamentations about commercialization, gifts did seem to be a focal point.
Below we see Grif and cousin Jake inspecting the new Nano. At right The Old Curmudgeon pretends to be above it all with a biographical volume, but we suspect this is a sham to hide a nap (notice he's not even wearing his reading glasses). Bobbie looks on from the kitchen, having co-produced with sister Michele several spectacular meals.

As Winter nears...

Thinking back on the summer as it is in the twenties today here. The giant spider web on the gate in the back yard comes to mind. And the hike we took at the park where Grif tried out his photographer's eye on his sister. Summers seem so busy with attendance at multiple baseball and softball games for the kids and the unrelenting yard work. It was busy but fun. We had time for a trip to Michigan to spend at the lake and at the amusement park. As Summer wound down and school started we enjoyed trips to the orchard for apples and cider (and corn dogs and fried biscuits).

As Fall looks toward Winter there is the expectation of a slowing down and a time for inner things. The mind turns toward an appreciation for the dearness of the web of connections that bind us each to another. The joys and sorrows. The learning of new things about people one has known for years. The Summer warmth and green gives way to cooler weather and the browns (and The Browns) of Fall , which yields to cold, and festive greens and reds and golds. Old men (this one, anyway) feel the stirring of memories of seasons past and a youthful excitement about sharing the upcoming festivities with the young ones.