I wonder how many of us are thinking about economic choices in this rough climate. The holidays are rough on poor people. My favorite Christmas fiction is Gift of the Magi. I
remember being in Vermont and being invited by Northwind's family to spend Christmas with them. Of course I bought the Turkey and most of the food. They found a tree out back and I gave her mom a cashmere blanket that she loved but never used. The home was very poor, but for a day they feasted and had plenty.
Northwind is long gone, but I will never forget that Christmas with her family. Times were tough, but the Turkey wasn't even if her mother wouldn't let me cook it. It was a huge bird and nobody complained about leftovers or the odd ingredients I brought with me that remained. It was a great meal in a poor house with people I barely knew who were timeless as the holiday itself.
The youngsters gathered around as I read a childrens book from my youth. When I was a child the story of the Little Red Lighthouse was a favorite.
Its funny how there wasn't much there, but it was special.
I hope everyone has a Happy Holidays. Some of the best memories such as a parent reading a book or eating a meal together do not cost much.
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7 comments:
Beakerkin,
Your story was beautiful, but I guess "Northwind" was before I started reading you.
With all the tech stuff out there, sometimes a simple book is the bestest gift. I pick up lots of books, especially animals and little Indian stories and try to have them around for when the Grandkids come spend the nite.
One, "A Pocket Full o Kisses" by Audrey Penn is a has beautiful illustrations of a Racoon family. I read it to my Grandson 4 years old and then told him that Racoons play at nite but it was time now for us to sleep. A week or so later his daughter called and said "Mom, Jesse want to come spend the nite so he can dream". We never know what goes thru their precious minds at that age, but he thinks he can dream only at Grandma' house! Now I have to read the same book everytime he comes over. I add to it with kisses on his palm and such, but books and precious memories are sometimes worth more than $500 dollars worth of baseless gifts!
Especially at this time of year.
CM
Northwind was a long time ago. She was French and Abenaki, mostly French.
Beak,
I'm sorry, I meant to say the book has beautiful illustrations and a week or so later "my" daughter, his mother called".
CM
Merry Christmas, Beakerkin. My favorite Christmas story would probably be A Christmas Carol. Not the book, not any of the lame movie versions that always manage to come up with year after year after year, and really not even the original classic movie, but the Mr. Magoo cartoon version from the sixties, which was a musical.
Hope you have a great New Year too.
As I was growing up, I really had no idea how much my parents had to scrimp and save so that I could have a bountiful Christmas. Now, my Christmases as a child weren't as bountiful as those of my friends, but somehow I didn't notice. A few new books and some record albums satisfied me very well.
We never lacked for good food at Christmastime because we lived on a farmette and canned all summer long. Typically, a cousin cured a ham or two, so we feasted well.
Hello All,
Christmas is my favorite Holiday, I remember making paper loops and stringing popcorn and cranberries for the tree as a child....many moons ago. This year I have(of all things) a White Tree. Now how Indian is that? Well....I do have nothing but Native theme ornaments something I've added to year after year, collected from all over Indian Country. I've collected glass blown buffalo to miniature mocassins, drums, cradles, little Indian Dolls, canoes, and of course horses! Many of these items I make myself to sell, but I enjoy giving them as gifts. I end up keeping a lot I cannot part with!
Today is in the 60+ degree here in Oklahoma, most likely the last beautiful warm day of the Winter...my Grandsons and daughter and I are off to hike a little mountain called Elk Mountain. I do not know how a buffalo can climb way up top, but they do! I took a picture of one last time I climed it, hope we see one today!
CM
You have a great holiday, Beak!
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