P. Buckley Moss' Christmas Dance
Christmases Past
When the spirits visited Charles Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge, each brought the old miser face-to-face with the meaning of Christmas past, present, and future. So it is today, and although Christmas present will occupy most of my thoughts with gift giving, candy making, decorating, and church programs, much of my longing is for Christmases Past.
All of my present-day activity reminds me of when my seven little girls filled our house with a din of noisy anticipation and joy that caught us all up in what can only be described as the Christmas Spirit. Right after Thanksgiving, out come Christmas stockings to be hung on the mantle, in from the cold came greenery and berries. Advent calendars, Christmas lists, and whispered secrets filled our house.
The decorations still come out, but somehow its not the same. I miss the Christmas presents that Bill used to hide in the barn, and early on Christmas morning, carry them down on his back--once even a walnut coffee table and teacart for me. Wagons, a little blue car, a red tractor, doll houses, and an untold bevy of dolls somehow appeared under the tree.
Each time that I unwrap my white porcelain nativity scene, I miss Cathy turning the figure of Joseph so that his back is to the manger--this particular replica of Joseph has him with arms crossed, looking a bit agitated--Cathy says he is pouting because the baby Jesus is not his! So much for armchair theology.
This year I have a "fake" tree for the first time. Bill would be utterly mortified, but I can no longer go saw down the "best tree we've ever had" like he did each year. I miss the scent of pine, and even the constant fear that the big tree would topple as soon as all the ornaments were hung. But all that is a part of Christmases Past. This is Christmas Present. It is December 18, and Anne and Susan are coming home today because they won't be here for Christmas Day. I am in perfect agreement that now is the time for them to be making their own Christmas Present traditions, filling their own homes with merriment, and recalling a bit of their own Christmases Past.
It's Christmas 2005, and it has been a very good year. Thanks Be To God.
All of my present-day activity reminds me of when my seven little girls filled our house with a din of noisy anticipation and joy that caught us all up in what can only be described as the Christmas Spirit. Right after Thanksgiving, out come Christmas stockings to be hung on the mantle, in from the cold came greenery and berries. Advent calendars, Christmas lists, and whispered secrets filled our house.
The decorations still come out, but somehow its not the same. I miss the Christmas presents that Bill used to hide in the barn, and early on Christmas morning, carry them down on his back--once even a walnut coffee table and teacart for me. Wagons, a little blue car, a red tractor, doll houses, and an untold bevy of dolls somehow appeared under the tree.
Each time that I unwrap my white porcelain nativity scene, I miss Cathy turning the figure of Joseph so that his back is to the manger--this particular replica of Joseph has him with arms crossed, looking a bit agitated--Cathy says he is pouting because the baby Jesus is not his! So much for armchair theology.
This year I have a "fake" tree for the first time. Bill would be utterly mortified, but I can no longer go saw down the "best tree we've ever had" like he did each year. I miss the scent of pine, and even the constant fear that the big tree would topple as soon as all the ornaments were hung. But all that is a part of Christmases Past. This is Christmas Present. It is December 18, and Anne and Susan are coming home today because they won't be here for Christmas Day. I am in perfect agreement that now is the time for them to be making their own Christmas Present traditions, filling their own homes with merriment, and recalling a bit of their own Christmases Past.
It's Christmas 2005, and it has been a very good year. Thanks Be To God.
