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Haiku #13
There, in twinkling lights
a Teddy Bear, nutcracker,
an angel watches.
The ornaments on the Christmas tree take me on a journey of memories. I am borrowing this idea from Linda Baie who wrote about her ornaments memories here.
I don’t know why, but I hesitate to unpack the ornaments each year. I don’t like doing it alone. So my daughter Maggie came over to help me, even though she now has a home of her own. I appreciated her help, but mostly I appreciated the impetus to get it done. In her words, “Let’s do this thing!” I turned on the Christmas CDs, and we dug in.
“Should we hang this one?” I asked. “The year you hated Santa Claus. Look at that face!”
Christmas ’88: Maggie 3.5 years, Katherine 8 months.
My husband, Jeff, has a special ornament we hang each year. His second grade teacher made it for him, sequins on a styrofoam ball, spelling out his name.
I never seem to remember where I packed my favorite ornament, the one my mother gave me from the National Cathedral when I only had two daughters. This is one of those breakable, precious ornaments that I wrap well and put away in its own box. But which bin did I put it in? After Maggie left and I was preparing to put the bins back into the closet, I gave it one more try, patiently opening and closing boxes, wrapping and unwrapping tissue paper. Then I found it. I hung it high on the tree, safe from little hands that we don’t really have around, and mischievous paws which are circling the tree as if it’s a new toy.
A more recent ornament was made by a local artist illustrating our church, The Church of the Epiphany. This ornament reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas. I look forward to singing in the loft (which once held slaves before the Civil War) on Christmas Eve.
What ornaments do you treasure year to year? Happy Holidays!
Reflections on the Teche 
So many memories kept sweet and packed away until Christmas Tree time. have one made in 3rd grade, precious hand-made from mother & grandmothers passed on. Sweet ornaments from my kids. I didn’t know how emotional aging was!
This is my favorite part of holiday decorating….revisiting the memories attached to each ornament. Thanks for sharing yours.
Thanks for the mention, Margaret, and I’m glad you were so inspired because I loved hearing about and seeing those ornaments special to you. How nice that your daughter came to share the unpacking! It’s a happy time!
Thank you for taking us on this journey! Love those sweet ornaments. I have that same experience. I haven’t started trimming my tree. I don’t want to do it alone. So the tree stands undressed for now. You’ve inspired me to get out the boxes.
We’ll be decorating our tree this weekend, Margaret, and I look forward to just the sort of memory lane reminiscing that you were able to do with your lovely ornaments.
Margaret, I am with you on wanting company when the tree gets decorated. I love what your daughter said, “Let’s do this thing.” When I pull out my ornaments I linger over them remembering where and when I placed them on the tree for the first time. Ah, memories are so sweet.
I decorated the tree by myself this year, but I do love company when doing it. Like you, so many wonderful memories as I unwrap the ornaments. I’ve thought of taking a photo of favorite ornaments and making a book of the memories connected with them! Maybe some slower year! When does that happen???
Thank you for sharing your precious memories with us, Margaret. We haven’t had a big tree since we’ve been going to Virginia for Christmas, and I miss so many special ornaments. Maybe next year…