Friday, December 19, 2014

A Mother's Christmas In NNY

(In the style of Dylan Thomas)

In morning's semi-conscious state I enter the Corridor leading to December's festive snow-frigid corner of the world as the crystal-crunching, snow-slushing plow rumbles along the avenue, a harbinger of winter whiteness and Christmas. Awakened and aware, faux-fur slippers and fleecy robe are donned hurriedly while scurrying down the stair in the half-light of dawn as moon gives way to the glimmer of the sunrise horizon. Pristine, clean, a new day, a fresh-washed scene.

The final leaf of a pencil-filled record of illustrated months is turned, unveiling December's crown of Christmas celebration, calling for weeks of preparation and joy making.

Old meets new as boxes and bins from darkened attic corners spill forth glistening glass balls, spangled-jangling jingle bells, familiar figures fired and painted by Grandma's own hand. Boughs once borne on billowing pines find purpose in vacant vases and gaping baskets. Greenery-garlands prickle mantle and pane where soon candlelight's glow will warm the descending chill darkness.

In the kitchen, burnished tones of Bing and Buble', Diana and Ella mingle and bake into the nutmeg-cinnamon spiced air. Sentimental sounds of carol singing and duet playing drift in from the front room, accompanying precision stacking of snow-covered rum logs. Tumbled shiny-faced sugar cookies and mounded powdery pecan balls, confections and various delights fill the table, the counters, now readied for assembly on holly-leaved platters to later adorn dessert buffets and family room coffee tables.

Another December ritual soon begins. A brown-colored delivery vehicle, like a treasure-laden camel, pulls to a stop in front of the house. In matching brown-colored garments a delivery person emerges and, tossing boxes on the porch, rings the bell then scurries away quickly (and more and more so as the days and weeks pass) back to the waiting brown cavern. A thrill emanates and reverberates as I, too, now scurry quickly (and more and more so as the days and weeks pass) to the front door where I whisk the packages away lest errant eyes spy a return address label: Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, American Girl Dolls. The time for such revelation has not yet come.
The stash of bags and boxes bulges; clutter consumes and in spite of magnanimous efforts toward order, my room becomes a whirlwind of clandestine activity. Colorful paper scraps and remnants of ribbon curl in the corners. A kaleidoscope of rolled patterns - red and green plaid, blue and gold angels, snowmen and santas, stars and berries - transform the ordinary into magical mystery.
A tree has been gotten. Fresh, pungent scent. Arms of evergreen welcome the pretties we love: lights full of color, ornaments both simple and elegant stored away all year for this special time, and Michael the angel. Nothing quite compares with this best beauty. At last the magical-mystery boxes appear to find places under the tree where they await the moment of revelation. But first they must endure prodding and shaking and pinching.
Music, music, and more music - choral ensembles are dreamed and schemed and rehearsed, piano duets bring daily delight, schmaltzy songs are composed, party-goers encircle the black baby grand and sing, sing, sing! The sounds of Christmas echo long into the dark night, long after all are tucked into bed.
Jesus' birth is proclaimed anew, the gift of God to mankind, His gift of love. This is true love, this is mercy, this is joy and hope and peace - peace with God, peace with one another, peace with oneself.
When weariness attempts to dampen the spirit, when cynicism at celebration gone wrong creeps toward me, I remember, I recall. This all began with Him. His was the great offering, the first and best gift. I will always keep Christmas because He should always be remembered.
As the season ends and boxes are returned to attic corners, as scraps are swept away and cookie platters emptied, I sigh. Another magical occasion is completed, put away for remembering someday, for reaching back and pondering and reminiscing.
For now, in the dark and snow-quieted wonderland of a wintery new year, I rest.

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

ugg boots clearance
parajumper jacket
jordan 11
ugg sale
belstaff jackets
ugg boots for women
uggs outlet
belstaff outlet
mbt shoes
patagonia outlet
discount ugg boots
uggs on sale uk
discount uggs
ugg boots clearance
ugg boots for women
ugg boots clearance
ugg boots clearance sale
jordans for sale
ugg boots outlet
balenciaga bag
uggs outlet online
uggs on sale uk
pandora charms
uggs on sale
mac cosmetics
ugg boots sale
ugg sale
discount uggs
clarks outlet
roshe run
discount ugg boots
burberry outlet
discount ugg boots
air max
pandora charms
pandora jewelry outlet
ugg black friday
uggs on sale uk
uggs black friday
uggs sale

3:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


2015-9-9 xiaozhengm
tory burch handbags
ralph lauren
coach factory outlet
nike tn pas cher
soccer jerseys wholesale
louboutin
oakley store
mont blanc pen
air max 95
tory burch outlet online
burberry sale
michael kors bags
cheap uggs
nike roshe runs
ray ban outlet
north face jackets
true religion outlet
nike cortez
michael kors outlet
new balance shoes
adidas trainers
christian louboutin
kate spade outlet
nike huarache
gucci uk
fitflops outlet
coach outlet
pandora jewelry
air jordan
hermes birkin bag
nike store uk
michael kors outlet
longchamp soldes
sac longchamp
burberry outlet online
longchamp handbags
michael kors handbags
michael kors
ray ban sunglasses
ralph lauren

4:17 AM  
Blogger mmjiaxin said...

fitflop sandals
air jordan shoes
michael kors outlet store
ray ban sunglasses outlet
http://www.fitflopsoutlet.uk
ralph lauren online
oakley store online
oakley vault
air jordan
kobe shoes
michael kors outlet online
toms outlet store
tiffany and co
http://www.christian-louboutin-outlet.uk
mlb jerseys authentic
michael kors handbags
ray ban sunglasses outlet
tiffany and co jewellery
Michael Kors Outlet Store
cheap tiffanys
gg

8:17 PM  
Anonymous smith725 said...

laptop troubleshoot repair
printer set up
data recovery services
Wifi Setup services
laptop troubleshoot

9:18 AM  
Blogger OGEN Infosystem (P) Limited said...

Nice Blog, I’m really impressed with your efforts. Visit for
<a href="https://www.fliptrip.in/maldives-cost-saver>Maldives Honeymoon Packages</a>

7:43 AM  
Blogger Clipping Path Service said...

Perfect Clipping path service means a lot to this professional business purpose. Do Visit to have more knowledge about unique service.

9:08 AM  
Blogger Photo Restoration Services said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

10:57 AM  
Blogger WORLD NEWS said...


Clipping path service is one kind of image editing Process where we select a important portion of an image and cut the unimportant partClipping pathWe can delete the background or change background color to make it more attractive.

12:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...


Shadow Creation is the process to change the color of an image or video..Shadow Creation It means correcting the lighting, white color balance, red or blue color balance, so that the image looks more clear or natural

11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shadow Creation is the process to change the color of an image or video..Shadow Creation It means correcting the lighting, white color balance, red or blue color balance, so that the image looks more clear or natural

10:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shadow Creation is the process to change the color of an image or video..Shadow Creation It means correcting the lighting, white color balance, red or blue color balance, so that the image looks more clear or natural

9:15 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home