We had a dandy ‘winter’ storm here - for transplanted
Montanans we’re use to it but, it was/is still white
instead of our usual green. In fact, I had flowers
blooming outside before the storm hit. It does look
more like the season though. Christmas that is.
Lots of memories for all in that word, Christmas.
Church services, choir concerts, children’s programs,
cutting the tree (or going out and marking the special
tree on Thanksgiving day,) family dinners, trips to
visit friends, holiday parties and Christmas carols.
All the joys of a young family. In Montana we were
part of a caroler group dressed in Dickensonian garb
singing the old carols downtown. Secrets and planning
surprises - special things and events for the kids.
Do you remember Christmas catalogs? I know, everything
is on the Internet now, but there are still some of the
‘old’ Christmas catalogs around. We even received one
from Montgomery Ward in the mail. If you didn’t really
notice, the cover art on some of them is really outstanding.
Some are ‘art’ - others excellent photography. As good as
the old magazine covers years ago. Nice to see. And
much more fun than surfing the Internet, though I buy
over the Internet as well.
I do miss Christmas cards. I’ll send a few, but the
free long-distance phone and email have made a difference
in how we all communicate. Catching up on the phone, or
by email has become a replacement for real correspondence -
and for that matter, conversation. We have noticed how
some folks who use the Chat room have adapted their
writing to fit the fast format of ‘chat’ and how some
want to hang onto the art of conversation. Changes
brought by the time we are living in and the ‘new’ tools
we have available in our everyday lives. (Conservation
started to die with a television in every home - now
nearly every room.)
I haven’t baked Christmas cookies in several years. We
don’t need the extra calories and with just the two of us,
how many dozens of cookies can one eat? But they were sure
fun when there was a family around. Especially if the kids
helped decorate them. Some time over the holidays a batch
of homemade ice cream was created, complete with kids fighting
over who got to lick the paddles…(everyone got a turn, and
I don’t recall any hoof and mouth disease showing up.)
If there are family traditions in your background, make
sure you pass them on. Things as small as a special ornament
for the tree, putting out strung popcorn and cranberries for
the birds, donating to the Toy for Tots or Salvation Army as
a family, maybe a family skating or sledding evening. The
Sunday before Christmas back at my old church in Michigan
was always a Birthday party for Jesus held by the kids.
Even the youngest Sunday school attendee knew the reason
for the holiday, the celebration, the gifts were in honor
of the birth of Christ. No traditions in your family?
Start one. A birthday cake is a good start.
Regardless of today’s political correctness, I hope you and
yours can have some of what we had. I fear some of that
joy is gone, the reason for the season no longer a wonderful
thing, but a political and social argument. How sad. It
is a huge lose for our society.
Moral foundations are eroding from our society as fast as
television, movies, music, video games and the media can
show every bit of sleeze, sex, filth and violence they can
dream up. And hey, that’s fine, it’s just entertainment.
Sorry, it isn’t. And no I’m not sorry. It’s pretty obvious,
good taste doesn’t exist in ‘entertainment.’
For those who are still strong enough in their faith and
beliefs to not just celebrate, but observe Christmas, hurrah
for you and yours. You and your family are and will be
better for it - stronger with moral values and the joy
of knowing right from wrong.
Keep the joy of Christmas in your heart. ~ LadyFisher
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Originally published December 4th, 2006 on Fly Anglers Online by Deanna Lee Birkholm.