Christmas Ornaments

 

Christmas Ornaments 

There are some, who have “decorator” trees – where the ornaments all match or fit a special theme. But that’s not the majority of us. For us, ornaments are special – collected one at a time, each carefully curated not for its intrinsic beauty, but rather for how it spoke to us. Whispering memories of a time or place.  Memories of who we were and what mattered in our lives. 

 

For us, the ornaments done by a child’s hand. From handprints, to crayoned angels and clothespin reindeer to tiny faces in small frames. The ones crafted by someone special in our lives - the beaded ornament from an Aunt, crocheted angels from Grandmothers and tiny carved stars from Grandfathers and that special tree topper our Mother made us. The candy cane reindeer snuggle against the branches next to that special ornament we found when we started our lives together.  

 

The tree comes alive with ornaments that speak to us of past vacations and ski trips.  Of hobbies and interests.  Of soccer meets and cub scouts. High school drama and college fears sing out from those we gathered as our children claimed their place in the world.  Soft stuffed toys, safe for a child to hang, remind us of those first few Christmases with babies on our knees. The handblown glass birds our Mother cherished as a child. The tinsel that brings memories of our father helping us place it on the tree.   Memories all. 

 

Around the room, more things speak out. Clamoring for our attention. The cheap red and white Santa hat, that the children fought over – for whomever wore it Christmas morning got to hand out the presents. The Santa, as tall as a 4 year old, made of boxes then painted – a middle school Art project from long ago. The needlepointed Santa made by Grandma, one side of his face blackened from being set to close to the tiled stove so long ago. The tree skirt, embroidered and sequined by a teenager, long before thoughts of marriage and children filled her head.  

The simply made stockings each with a different picture on it - a Santa, a Tin Soldier, a Bear and a Snowman - who will choose which to be their stocking this year?  Ready to be filled with oranges and nuts, a new toothbrush and a small toy.  

 

What ornament should we add for this year? What ornament can describe this year - filled as it was with fires and rain, hurricanes and other natural disasters; a contentious election that seems never to end; a pandemic that slowed the world to a crawl; the loss of friends and the inability to grieve as normal; the postponing of weddings and celebrations; the lack of being able to reach out and give a friend in need a hug. And yet, it brought people together in new ways – getting to know far flung family members on “zoom” calls; helping neighbors with “porch drops”; getting creative with ways to reach out to others.   

 

Those of us who are older, will remember this year of masks and hand sanitizer, hoarding and shortages, coping and helping others to cope. How though, will the children remember it? For the tiny ones, it meant learning to wear a mask, learning not to hug as frequently, learning to wash their hands and learning to go to school online and enjoy virtual playdates.  Parents keeping from them the realities of why.  

 

For them, we write our stories and theirs.  The good and the bad, the ridiculous and the dramatic. The hugs and the prayers.  Someday, when their children’s children ask them about living through this time, they will have memories supplemented by the tales of their parents and grandparents and the Christmas ornaments of this time to help them remember the year that everyone wished over.