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| Happy Holidays, | December 2007 |
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First, there was getting the tree. In my early childhood days, that involved going with my brother and my Dad to tree farms out in the countryside where we lived to cut down a live tree. I couldn't have been more than six or seven years old, when one year in particular my Dad took me to get our tree - just me and him that year. (You see, my parents divorced when I was five, my sisters were all married, and my brother went to live with my Dad about an hour and a half away from me and my Mom. So this event was a little precious father-daughter time.) When we arrived, I was in awe of all the Christmas lights around the tree farm. The lights always seemed magical to me....they still do! Off we went in the still of a crystal clear and crisp night, with fluffy snow crunching underfoot. Rows and rows of wonderfully aromatic trees, with the snow on their branches glimmering under the starry sky. Together, we picked the perfect fir tree, all bushy and fluffy. I tried to hold the tree trunk straight and still the best I could, with my little body lost amidst the branches, as Dad sawed the trunk. I even remember the sap on my mittens. I don't quite recall how my father must have dragged that tall tree to the parking lot....it seems like we ventured quite a ways...but you know how things are when you're a kid - everything's bigger than life. But I do remember when we went to pay and the friendly old man at the farm asked if I would like a hot chocolate! To get a treat from this nice stranger, on what I thought was such a magical night to begin with, was a real thrill for me and made the whole evening seem even more enchanting. Funny isn't it--the little things that we recall? In later years, during some poorer times with my Mom, she would struggle to dig a "Charlie Brown tree" from the woods at the back of our house. How she managed that feat, along with planting it in a massive barrel planter in our living room while I was at school, I'll never know! No matter how tough times were, and even if we couldn't have Christmas dinner, few or any presents, she made sure that we always had a tree. When I was living on my own one year, and was in between houses, in an apartment without a lot of room, a friend bought me a tabletop tree complete with miniature ornaments. The following year, I was to be working abroad throughout the holidays, so I packed that little tree and brought it with me. The one stability over the holidays for me, no matter what, no matter where, always seemed to be a tree! The second part of these memories was putting up the trees, which over the years has given me a good chuckle, that's for sure! Oh the dramas and traumas and rip roaring laughter that came with the putting up of real Christmas trees! This seemed to carry on straight from childhood to my early adult years when I had my own. There were the years of cutting trees to fit in their stands and in the process losing half of the tree creating huge gaping holes! Or the times we had to tie the tree top with string to a nearby wall or the ceiling to ensure it wouldn't careen over. Not to mention being unable to get the tree to stand straight up in the first place because it was too tall and needed to be cropped off. (I remember a few marks on the ceiling created from that one!) Or the years when the trunks were too thick for the stands, or else too small and the side screws didn't reach, and additional nails and gadgetry had to be implemented. One had to be a bit of a MacGyver then, before we knew who he was! Yes--the event of putting up the tree grew more hilarious and epic as the years went on! The third part was the decorating of the tree, which was always fun. Christmas music playing in the background (on records in those days!) When I was little, the strings of lights (just like the outdoor ones at the time) were those opaque light bulbs, rather than the transparent ones of today. We had star-shaped punched pewter metal or colored foil shields to go around them, with the largest star at the top of the tree. The most special part of the lights was a set of colored ceramic bulb covers. They were very thin—almost translucent, kind of bell shaped, and had tiny pictures of children's stories depicted on them, which fascinated me as a child. They belonged to my Grandma and when I moved into my own place, to my delight my Mom shared half of the set (four covers) with me, which I still have and treasure today. We did have ornaments, (some antique glass balls really stand out in my mind), but I remember that we made many of them as my Mom enjoyed doing crafts with me to pass the time. There were many, but the time I remember the most is when she crocheted and starched snowflakes, and I recycled old Christmas cards, cut out pictures and glued them to canning jar lids. And, like many other children, I brought home from school those green and red construction paper chains, cranberry or popcorn strings, and/or white paper snowflake cutouts. When I got a little older, and learned to cross-stitch, I made a small angel ornament which I also have today. There was definitely a hodge-podge of everything on those trees! (And we kept the tradition alive...the picture at the beginning of the article is last year's tree.) From the time I can remember, I loved being able to place ornaments on the tree. (The lights I tried to pass off to someone else and still do! My husband is much better at fiddling with them than I am!) Then as the final crowning touch, I tried to hang the silver icicles on just so, practically one by one, while meanwhile my brother simply chucked handfuls at the tree. But, I can't even good-heartily tease my brother about his decorating ability, because one year when I must've been about six years old, I tried hard to tippy-toe atop a rocking chair and place a decoration as high as I could. Before I knew it, I was definitely a-rockin' and went face first into the tree! The chair, the tree and I all toppled to the floor, with decorations smashing or rolling in all directions. My brother got a good laugh, but I felt ridiculous! And I also seem to remember receiving a good lecture about the dangers of standing on rocking chairs... Eventually, after I met my now husband, we proceeded to buy an artificial tree. I am eternally grateful for all the benefits...being "green" and saving a tree's life...the ability to put up the tree at the beginning of December, rather than waiting until the week before, in fear of a dead brown tree losing needles all over the place....the ability to bend branches where you want them...no hacking or sawing... no stands that don't fit. The only thing I really do miss is the smell of a fir or pine tree in the house....mmm. And although the tree antics over the years were a comical part of the process and part of great memories for me, I've gained a new appreciation for how peaceful a Christmas tree can be!
FEATURE ARTICLE For years now, each month I go to a discussion group. It started out being called the "Life Purpose Circle", then shifted to more of a spiritual discussion group. In any case, we're a group of unconditional friends who encourage each other to pursue our passions, and we explore all types of meaningful books, movies, etc. to discuss and learn from. In November, we were brainstorming how to celebrate our December gathering this year and came up with some great ideas that I thought would be great to share here. These activities could be done with family, friends, relatives, or coworkers. Or, you may chose make this a private soul's journey, and complete it in a personal journal...a nice way to close the year. Here's what we'll be doing: * Sharing: Each person will share a personal Christmas story of significance, and how it's linked to what Christmas means to them. (This is how my Personal Story at the beginning of this newsletter came about, but you don't have to make yours as long as that!) * Gratitude for the past year: We'll make a green poster board size cut-out of a Christmas tree. Then we'll make "ornaments" using "Post-it" notes. Each person writes something on their ornament that they have individually been grateful for from 2007, and then posts on the tree. Sharing can either be done out loud when posting, or for larger groups, everyone can gather round to take a look once it's complete. * Looking forward to 2008: We'll put "presents" (more "Post-it" notes!) under the tree. These represent the gifts we hope to give to our group in the year ahead, or things that we hope to create within our group for the year ahead. (You'll note that this newsletter is written from my own experience and that in my family tradition we celebrate Christmas. To honor different cultures and faiths, think of ways that you could alter these ideas to fit your beliefs. I'd love to hear different methods used! Please share with my other readers by sending them in!)
This month's message is from Cheryl Richardson's Self-Care Cards—a beautiful 52-card deck. I think these cards are especially fitting this month during the holiday season—a time where the hustle and bustle can leave us forgetting to honor ourselves and do a little self-care and affirmation in the process. Card Name: Magnificence
Back of the Card: (Interestingly enough, after drawing a card and writing the previous words, I then went to make the hyperlink to the cards--bit backwards I guess today! When I went through her website, I noticed Magnificence is the first card shown!)
This month's audio message: Exclusive access to subscribers only - please subscribe here!
Bryan Adams sings "Christmas Time" Video. Live with orchestra and choir.
Christmas Online Radio Channels
Holiday Recipes. This year I'm going to try a new one of their 124 cheesecake recipes!
NORAD's Santa Tracker. Also has lots of kids activities.
Virtual Gingerbread Cookie Decorator. In case you're not up for the real thing! I know I'm not...this was challenging enough!
Please visit my website to see my current schedule. Please note that my workshops have been temporarily reduced as I'm finishing my book. In the spring, I will be back in full swing!
The new newsletter subscriber and contest winner from November was: Timothy Kendrick, author of PTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door, from Florida. Congratulations and thank you Timothy! An email has gone out to you, and you will be receiving a personalized, signed edition of my new book as soon as it's released! Thank you so much for signing up and welcome!
READER COMMENTS (excerpted with permission) From Paul Rudy, Composer, Author, Lecturer, Kansas City, MO (Regarding my Peace article from the November newsletter edition): I couldn't agree more. Already, we see the signs of war becoming obsolete. One day it will be a way of life to talk, rather than hit, and to hug rather than yell. Peace is a place, a space, a way of being, a state of mind/body/heart/soul, and it is there, just waiting to be embraced.
Peace and namaste,
Thank you everyone for reading and listening! Feel free to drop me a line at brenda@brendablackburn.com or on my blog. I look forward to your comments! You're my inspiration! 'Till next month...
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In This Issue • Podcast NEW! Brenda's Blog Brenda's Book Brenda's book is due to be released in the New Year! Stay tuned to her website and this newsletter for new information and events! Contest Every month a new subscriber will be chosen to win a signed edition of Brenda's new book when released! |
| www.brendablackburn.com Copyright Note: © Brenda Blackburn 2007. All material is copyright protected by Brenda Blackburn and may not be reproduced. |
Recently, when asked to contemplate my fondest childhood holiday memories, it was easy...they definitely revolve around our Christmas trees.
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