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CONSIDER THIS with Annette Petrick

Timely perspectives on life, love, friends, family, giving back, and giving thanks

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Christmas and Holidays

No Christmas Tree This Year

Christmas ornaments
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Christmas ornaments

This year is the first time we are going to have no Christmas tree.

We planned to leave our home up north just before Christmas to spend the winter in Florida. So why bother dragging out all those ornaments and lights and stuff. So much easier this way.

Of course I did love looking at the sparkling angel that topped the tree. A gift one year long ago from a dear friend no longer with us.

After the holiday last year, I packed the Christmas ornaments into boxes, labeled with the names of each of my kids and grandkids. I included in each, a list of who made each ornament, or why it was purchased or who had gifted it…even how it was found at a yard sale or a craft sale. Opening each of those boxes this year would have brought back so many happy, sometimes distant memories.

Well, I can just remember it all this year without all the fuss. No tree. No trouble. Make sense. Who needs it.

The lights flickering different colors on the branches…The tree skirt made by my sister surrounding the base and then barely visible, for the gaily wrapped gifts that cover it.

On the other hand, it IS only once a year. And we WILL be here for most of December. Ah shucks, we can do without a tree NEXT year. For this year, bring it on.

Christmas, I am yours!

[Show #469]

 

Filed Under: Advice and Encouragement, Christmas and Holidays, Love and Kindness Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas tree, contemporary, lifestyle

Stories Of Christmas Past

Christmas tree with lights in a decorated den
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Christmas tree with lights in a decorated denAt the local Rotary Club, members arrange programs for the weekly meetings. This year, I had the program right before Christmas.

I asked Rotarians to bring and tell their own Christmas stories…stories of a Christmas past. For my story, I read a script from one of these radio shows. A young pastor was inspired by the way a mom and dad taught their young children the meaning of Christmas. Their story became the essence of his Christmas sermons for the next 50 years.

Another Rotarian recalled the Christmas when his dad was out of work. There was no money for a tree. He scraped together $3, walked three miles to where the trees were being sold, and dragged a scrawny tree – all he could afford – all the way home in the snow. Although he was just 16, he took responsibility for his family’s good Christmas.

There were stories of gratitude for gifts provided by the Club. Tales of elderly brought happiness by a Christmas visit. A veteran club member told of spending Christmas on a war-torn island in the Pacific.

Even those who told no story out loud seemed filled with private memories remembered. It was such a good program – just sharing special moments with people who had become friends through the fellowship of giving and caring and being proud Americans.

[Show #468]

Filed Under: Christmas and Holidays, Love and Kindness, Memories and Aging Well Tagged With: Christmas memories, Christmas past, Christmas stories

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