Somewhere In My Memory

A few days ago as I was checking out items at Hobby Lobby, I was

chatting with the clerk.  We were discussing how crowded the store was

and how it seemed like everyone was particularly feeling the Christmas

spirit this year.  She asked me if I already had everything I needed to 

decorate, and I told her that I do, except for more lights, which is very

typical of me.  She proceeded to tell me that the young women like to 

adopt an entirely new Christmas decorating theme each year and purchase

everything new.  That concept seems very sad to me.  While I understand

that trends come and go and there is always something bigger, better, more

in style, etc, there is also something wonderful to be said about Christmas

decorating traditions.

Each year as I pull out the boxes of decorations, I am really opening up

boxes of memories.  These are magic moments when the past once again

comes to life.  In the photo above, there is a little ceramic boot and two

tiny Santa votive mugs.  These three items belonged to my Mama and

every year she placed them on the kitchen window sill above the sink.

Mama was never one for kitsch, she was very sophisticated, but for

some reason these three items were very dear to her.  

To get a feel for how old these items are, I discovered that the price tag was still 

on the bottom of the boot.  I just Googled the store and discovered that Woolworth's

went out of business in July of 1997.  That was twenty years ago, but my guess is that

Mama probably purchased the boot and the Santa votives back in the 1960's.  I will

never part with these.  Even when I am old and gray and don't have the energy to

put up Christmas decorations, I will still display these three little kitschy items

because of the happy memories they bring to me each year.

This snowman is not nearly as old as those precious items from Woolworth's,

but it is a favorite of mine and I haul it out every year.  It's been on the front

porch in Idaho and it was in the tartan train case last year in a wintery vignette.

That vintage tartan train case was a Christmas gift from my sister Robin who

always surprises me with just the perfect gift because she knows me 

inside and out!

I hope that these young women who completely change their Christmas

decor each year, hang on to a couple of items.  One day their own

children will appreciate the precious memories of Christmas past.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley