Merry Christmas 2013

“Then one foggy, Florida morn…”
it ‘came so crystal clear,
Christmas is not about the snow,
or Santa being near,
It’s you, our loved ones old and new,
we cherish as we change
traditions made to celebrate
the night the Baby came...


In 1947 my parents moved their family of 3.5 children twelve miles from Mom’s parents. She was sad that because of the new baby (me) and the distance (FAR if you’re driving a model “T” Ford) Christmas morning would not be spent with her folks. “Make your own traditions, Helen.” her father said, and this year, while emails between our family flew in and out om my inbox from before Thanksgiving to one entitled “Christmas: Final Plans” last week, I imagined my Grandpa’s gentle encouragement as his great grandchildren, figured out how they’ll celebrate the season together in spirit if not actually at “Tom’s House (which was “Grammy’s House when they were children, because Helen DID make rich traditions”).


Christmas 2013 started with a visit from SandyandGeoff (all one word because they’ve been married over 40 years. Geoff is baby #5 of 8, for those who didn’t know us a long time ago.) We brought them to Christmas concerts and toured holiday lights until we all blinked white, red and green. As we sang along at one concert, Sandy hit the first soprano’s high note effortlessly and we chuckled under our breath (it was a solemn song) and remembered high school Christmas concerts and the alum leaving their seats in the crowded auditorium to sing the Halleluiah chorus until it was replaced by “The Little Drummer Boy”, a song that Grandpa died too soon to love, but that has become a Christmas classic.


I wonder in this season of wonder if my children’s children’s children will consider Mary J. Blige’s version of “Mary Don’t You Know,” new this year, a Christmas classic. I wonder how the warp and woof of their experiences will create a fabric for their lives that contains mystery and magic even into their wisdom years …


Last week Art and I “worked” the Disney World premiere of Saving Mr. Banks, the story of the negotiations between Walt Disney and P.L.Travers for the rights to Mary Poppins. As reading her books in second grade convinced me I wanted to teach, and as Walt’s standard of excellence set Art’s career goals in 1973, we felt an extraordinary amount of pixie dust counting guests entering the theater, and then watching the film. At one point Disney invites Mrs. Travers to Disneyland to experience its magic. She never really got it. Thank G_d, I did. This is our tenth Christmas working for” The Mouse”, and I marvel every time I begin a shift, knowing that I will smile for four hours, and that one smile may make a difference in some one person’s day…or life.


As we continue our now traditional Florida Christmas, dinner with Jen and Chad, a Disney night before New Year’s Eve Celebration with friends, and a January visit from Merri and her boys that will bring us to Candlemas (on February 2nd, which I just learned ends the Christmas season in Mexico), we’ll leave you with a little ditty to sing with us as you celebrate however it is you do…

“Then one foggy, Florida morn…”
it ‘came so crystal clear,
Christmas is not about the snow,
or Santa being near,
It’s you, our loved ones,old and new,
we cherish as we change
traditions made to celebrate
the night the Baby came


Peace and good___________, Beth and Art