Memories, Light the Corners of my Mind

Did you ever hear the old Chinese Folktale about someone meeting a friend along the road and sharing what things had happened since last they met?  The narrator tells of something tragic and the listener exclaims, "How awful."  The narrator agrees, but then shares something great that came from the experience and the response is, "Wonderful!"  Again, the narrator concurs, but goes on to share something  not so pleasant as a result of the wonderful. And on it goes.  My Saturday brought this story to mind.
Ceece about has more work than she can do on December Saturdays, when everyone and their cousin Ned want pictures NOW!  That's good for the Christmas cash flow, but not so good for my Missy Bugg who doesn't want to put solar panels on the Lake Shed with the guys, or be at the studio all day. Poor Bugg- right? Then there's me, who has always loved everything Christmas and was happy to find myself in a school where we celebrate Christmas all month long- hooray, except, between orchestrating Veteran's Day and the Christmas Play and the interactive Christmas Shoppes and the Christmas Stitchery, I find myself with little time, or interest honestly, in more Christmas at home.  So I save Bugg and she saves me by coming to help with the decorating, so it looks somewhat festive for the millionth Gingerbread Party.


This year she was joined by her cousin Giddy-Up who is equally enamored with all things holiday.  First they filled the Advent Calendars and then we moved on to the tree.  As I was hanging Rae's First Christmas Ornament, I was showing Giddy-Up and explaining that it was his Mama's very first Christmas.
 Next, out came a little church.  Aunt SuZQ used to have a sibling Christmas Supper where she pulled out all the stops and the church was a little table favor.  Giddy-Up declared it the most beautiful ornament he'd every seen.

 Bugg chimed in, "Oh just wait, the no-face angel has the best story."  Be still my heart.  These kind of conversations round the tree with the carols in the background make my holiday.
That little angel.  It was 1978 and I was engaged that Christmas and went to Walnut Ridge for the after Christmas sales, as I knew the next year, I'd have my very own little home and tree to decorate.  I could not wait to show Handy Man my finds.  Oh my, Handy Man could not have possibly cared less and my heart was broken.  Ahem, that should have been his clue to run.  Still, in  December,  1979,  I loved putting that sweet little angel on our first tree.  I smiled recalling me pulling it out of the Captain's wee 10 month old hand just two years later, and seeing the two tiny teeth prints marring her face.  Ahhh, she wasn't ruined, so we kept her and I looked for those little teeth marks every year.  We moved here, where Christmas pretties went to the attic in cardboard boxes.  So, when I joyfully pulled her out one year , I was most dismayed to find that a little field mouse found her as tasty as the Captain, and her angelic little face was gone. I know, so sad.
 But, upon closer examination, the two tiny teeth prints were still visible and so she continues to grace the tree each year.  I told the story to Giddy-Up when we found  our little velvet angel.  For whatever reason it crossed my mind that when the day comes for my kids to sort through my stuff, what Bugg and I see as a great story, others would see as trash.  Honestly, I can't even imagine with my unsentimental crew, anyone even sorting, into the dumpster it all will go. I said, "Bugg, one day, when I'm not here for Christmas, I want you to be sure to get this angel ornament and share the story with your family."  She quickly said, " Umm, I want all your ornaments."  Giddy-Up, momentarily alarmed said, "Can I have half?"  And my sweet party girl agreed.  Waaaaaaa, all the feels people, all of them. So sweet.

Lastly, the Lil' People Nativity that has been configured six ways from Sunday.

 By this time, Bugg was sneezy from dust from Christmas Past, so we headed outdoors to find some greenery to dress up the porch a bit.  After trimming with evergreens, I sent them to clip some dried flowers and my little Missy was quite dismayed.  "Why do you want to use dead stuff to decorate?"  Her idea of outside decorating includes giant inflatables.  I explained that number one it is free, number two- I like it and lastly, it all just goes back in the compost in the end, so a win all the way around.  She was not impressed.  It was a glorious afternoon to be out and putzing and I enjoyed my time with these two holiday elves immensely.

Back before my birthday, I had an idea. My idea was, for Mother's Day and birthdays I would love a concrete garden bed or two, or three as the years go by, from my boys.  I'm not getting any younger here folks. Any of you have that same problem? In addition, my garden area is very wet and I thought it might be great for many reasons to have raised beds.  I actually thought this would be relatively cheap and easy.  Ahem.  So Drummer Boy presented different ideas and he didn't like the look of these beds and so after much discussion, he told me he would do something.   I think it is easy to put Mom on the back burner, but thankfully, Gwen wasn't having it and became the foreman for this job I'm told and look what materialized yesterday morning in my garden.  I am so thrilled and excited.  I've already planted an acre of plants in mind.    Just like my dead plants for decorating, I think it is beautiful.