Tis the time of year when everyone is out and about trying
to get the perfect gift for Christmas. So,
while the masses are scurrying around in hopes of getting the newest, latest “it”
gift, I am left to reflect on a simpler time when Christmas was more intimate
and homemade. It is also at this time of
year that I reflect on why I still hold dear certain gifts—many homemade and all
of great sentimental value. Perhaps it
is the history soul in me, but I enjoy receiving and giving gifts that remind
me of a simpler time and a simpler Christmas.
To me, it really is the thought that counts.
A Ceramic Tree
As a child my parents owned a ceramic shop. Ceramics seemed to be all the rage in the 70s
and one year my Grammy made a ceramic Christmas tree. Looking at the tree makes me think of her and
the few Christmas’s she was with us. I
was fortunate enough that my mother gave me Grammy’s tree to help celebrate my
first Christmas in my own house. Twenty
years later it is still one of my most cherished possessions. Like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, it is
a good little tree full of good and loving memories.
Again, my Grammy would crochet all the time. We always knew we would get something she had
handmade—it was just a matter of what exactly it would be. One Christmas, Grammy made everyone in the
family afghans. Forty years later all of
us still have the afghans. When my
students wonder what great gadget they will be getting, I often wonder will
that toy be as cherished 40 years later as my Grammy’s afghan is.
An Ornament
In kindergarten, I made a Santa Clause ornament out of
dough. I remember the steps to creating
it—rolling the dough, cutting it out with a cookie cutter, baking it and then
finally decorating it. It was that
school created ornament—a time honored tradition that all students get to do
and give to their parents. My Santa ornament
hung on our family tree throughout my childhood. Just like my Grammy’s tree, my ornament was
passed back to me for my first Christmas in my own home. Today, Santa is fragile and sits year round
in a curio cabinet. I don’t dare hang it
on a tree, but each time I look at it I am five years old again waiting for
Santa to visit.
A Wreath
Another cherished item is not something that has been in my
possession for years, indeed this is only my second Christmas possessing it. Ted Key, a dear friend of my family was a
crafty guy—he made baskets and wreaths.
He was even known to dress up as Father Christmas during the Holidays
and share traditional stories with kids.
Last Christmas, our first since his passing, his wife gave me one of the
Christmas Wreaths he had made. Just like
I cherish my Grammy’s tree, I love having Mr. Key’s wreath hang on my front door. The wreath greets all who enter my home
during the holidays and reminds me of why it will be cherished for years to
come.
So, these are some of my most cherished and sentimental
Christmas gifts. What are yours?
I have a string of glass beads that were Grammy's that I hang on my tree every year. They're not as shiny as they used to be, but I wouldn't think of decorating my tree without them. Also have a set of bells that my Mom made out of red and green Christmas material, cut out and stuffed like a pillow and then sewn together. Some might think they're tacky. I love them. They hang on my front door every year. I love my little church and people that I got in Germany when I visited Bob at his Army base in Mannheim. He calls them my "expensive toothpick people!" I also still have one of Grammy's afghans. And I remember her ceramic tree. It replaced the aluminum tree she and Pap had, the one with the color wheel! Funny, those are back in style. And they're expensive! We should have kept hers!! Wish she was here to make us some yeast rolls this Christmas. Sure did love those. Love to you and yours this Christmas cousin. xoxo
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