Cute little road signs in Mooresville, all decked out for the holiday!


"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season,
that very special time of year when we join with our
loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions
such as trying to find a parking space at the mall.
We traditionally do this in my family by driving
around the parking lot until we see
a shopper emerge from the mall,
then we follow her, in very much the same spirit
as the Three Wise Men,
who 2,000 years ago followed a star,
week after week, until it led them to a parking space."

Dave Barry

I hate, hate, hate Christmas shopping. No way will I trudge to a mall and fight the crowds to save a buck....or so they want you to believe. Anyone here old enough to remember The Waltons? One scene in the original movie has stayed with me - the kids slipped out at night, dashing through the snowy fields to town because a lady was bringing toys for the children as a charity drive during this depression time. They defied their parent's wishes to do so because they were so anxious for "store bought" Christmas presents. When each received their present - only after having to recite a Bible verse - from the lady they dashed away in glee to open them. Their faces told the story. The presents were cast-off toys, broken and torn. The youngest girl's present was a doll, one eye missing. She screamed - the magic was broken. The toys were dumped into the snow and the children walked slowly back home.

The season isn't meant for banality, but for heartfelt moments, love of family and friends, giving and sharing. This year I'm reaching back into my heart to find those emotions I shut off long ago. Innocence and simplicity, love and light. Magic.

Holiday Countdown

Church of Christ
Mooresville, Alabama
Built 1854

This year my family will not be decorating for the holidays. Well, let me be even more specific, I - myself - me - my personage will not be decorating for the holidays. Some greenery may appear on the mantle, perhaps a candle or two but beyond that, nada. I've not taken emotional ownership of the city house and look forward to returning to my house on the lake and the Giraffe Head Tree. I don't think of this as pouting or whining, or even being in denial. Instead, I consider this to be a frugal and energy-saving step on my part. Instead of concentrating on decorations and gift-wrapping my goal this year is to concentrate on the real meaning of the season which has less to do with Santa and gifts and consumerism than with spirit, caring and sharing.

As a child, in my household, it was all about the baby Jesus. It was a time for family, reconnections, reflection, Spirit. The family watched every Christmas movie and special on television together. My favorites were The Little Match Girl and Charlie Brown Christmas. Favorite Christmas Movie? "White Christmas," of course! I still love it! My mom still puts out the same little paper mache creche that adorned our home long ago. My grandfather gave us a set of bubble lights for the tree which, to me, were magical. The entire event was magical. Animals talking at midnight, holiday carols on the little radio playing as the house filled with scents of tangerines, fudge, divinity and pies. Those were special days. When my daughter was younger I pulled forth those memories and tried to recreate them in my own home. She loved it as much as I did. These days she doesn't have time for such "foolishness," and hubby doesn't much like it so I'm going to rest and recuperate and rethink things.

However, I decided this morning that I do need some sort of holiday cheer in some fashion. So, my blog will be my holiday outlet - lucky you! Recently, I took some photos of Mooresville all dressed up with greenery and fruits and bows. I'll post a photo a day, and will head into surrounding burgs to snap more holiday shots to share along with some poetry or prose. I hope you enjoy these as we count down to Christmas.

Merry Christmas, ya'll. (a little southernism to entertain you!)

Debi
The Giraffe Head Tree

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?

It came without ribbons. It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

~Dr. Seuss

My wish for each of you this season is the warmth of family,

the joy of friendships, and the magic of the holidays.

Be safe.

GHT