Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life – well, valuable, but small – and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven’t been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn’t it be the other way around? I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.
Kathleen Kelly via email to Joe Fox in Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail.
As I wended my way home the other day, the streetlights suddenly came on. Have you ever been out-and-about as the streetlights come on? It is a magical moment that always takes me by surprise. For just a moment I imagine it has occurred just for me. Imaginations are good that way, aren’t they? They can make you feel good just when you want them to. It was a perfect moment to end a perfect afternoon. I sighed and smiled and felt the grace in leading such a life.
On Sunday, you see, I had received a lovely email inviting several women to Carolyn’s house to see her Christmas tree. We were given two days to choose from for a few hours in the afternoon. It was so sweet and unexpected. I sent a reply and eagerly awaited my chosen afternoon to arrive.
Our holiday season has already been busy with a few things weighing heavily on my heart. It is what it is and I’m not complaining, but time has been often spent hurrying here and there, a few late nights, rushing off to whatever is next while carrying a extra pounds of worry. A few gracious hours of sipping wine, nibbling on homemade poppy seed cake,and engaging in interesting conversation while wrapped in the softer side of the season was a balm for my soul.
Carolyn’s house was built as part of the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. It was at some point moved from the lakefront to its current suburban spot. It is a charming house made all the more so by its owners’ appreciation of antiques, art, and family history.
Wednesday’s attraction, however, was the magnificent fourteen foot fir, resplendent with dripping tinsel and adorned with ornaments that seemed to take on a life of their own. The tree was fresh, having been cut just days before by Sam and Carolyn. The distinct fragrance of pine filled the room as only a fresh cut tree can. For all its height and breadth, this fir wasn’t an imposing dictator, but rather a benevolent character in a Christmas pageant, acting his part, drawing me in and making my small but valuable life fuller.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreciate more and more these moments in time that help to center me and remind me of the simple joy of friendship and conversation. How about you? What small yet pleasurable moments have come your way lately?
I think I need want to watch You’ve Got Mail soon.
This beautiful benevolent character in your Christmas pageant is wonderful. I love your descriptions of your feelings and mood during the day. My American Christmas tree will probably always be the most beautiful I ever had……. Sophomores insisting I, a mere foreigner, would have no idea about selecting the right tree, escorted me around dozens of tree lots, until we ( no, they) selected the perfect tree. it wasn’t a 14 footer, but it was perfect.
Your friend’s tree is amazing……..I am sure she, you, and all other friends invited to view its magnificence will have been thrilled. Janice x
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What a tender and fun memory that must be for you, Janice. It was when our were in Wisconsin, right? One of the best places for picking out Christmas trees. This tree was magnificent, but it was the sweetness of the moment that really captured my heart. It was nice to hear from you and I’m wishing you strength and peace right now.
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Goodness, that beautiful quote rather reflects my thinking of the last few months. As you get older you begin to wonder if you’ve done enough in your life and wonder if you’ve perhaps not ‘made the most of it’ so to speak. It’s a hard thing to decide upon… not all of us are made to change the world. But still…
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I know what you mean, Cath, getting older and older myself these days. Most of us are not made to change the world, but, I like to imagine we do it in our own little world a little bit at a time. There goes my imagination again.
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Penny, however much we might wish things were otherwise, most of us lead small and inconspicuous lives, but lives which are nonetheless valued and valuable. And those lives are made up of a few big moments and a multitude of small ones, like this lovely afternoon round a splendid Christmas tree. I’m still trying to get my head around the idea of moving a house (not a common occurrence in the UK :-)) and, even more, one with space and ceiling height for a 14 ft fir-tree. It must have looked wonderful.
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Exactly, Perpetua. You put this so well. Thank you. The house would have been moved down miles and miles of city streets. It must have been a sight to see, not to mention the traffic it stopped or the time it took up. The ceiling was opened up and a skylight put in the past decade or so, it wasn’t original to the house. It was so wonderful to behold with all its glitter and stories of the where the ornaments were from. Mostly, it was the simple congregating of good people.
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Penny, you may be small, but your life is like ripples in a pond. They start in one small spot, but eventually the ripples spread out to the entire pond, just as you have touched everyone you know more than you realize.
Now, about that tree. I love it! It is big and gaudy. It is an old fashioned Christmas tree with tinsel, and decorations from past Christmases. It looks like the kind of tree that could have been with “The Ghost of Christmas Present.” There could be an abundance of good things to eat and a large benevolent ghost to laugh and point out all of the good things around you.
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Thank you, my dear, dear friend. You have made my day and filled it with joy: your own ripples spreading out.
I thought you might like it. It would have been a most wonderful tree for “The Ghost of Christmas Present”! Everyone could gather ’round and sing “Oh Christmas Tree”. Of course, you and I would be giggling and I’d probably fall into the tree and . . .
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Penny, I don’t put up a Christmas tree but I enjoy looking at their infinite variety in other places. I called my neighbor just last night to thank her for setting her lighted tree in the front window so I could enjoy its glow from across the street.
Now, thanks to you, I have another gorgeous tree to enliven the season.
To me, the key word in the email quote is ‘valuable.’ Any of us who cherish our friends and family, follow our hearts in the work that we do, and try to send a little kindness out into the world are definitely leading brave and valuable lives. Let us not ever think our lives are small.
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I am sure your neighbor appreciated that call last night, Belle. What a nice gesture on your part. A reminder to all of the graciousness of saying thank you. I will remember this.
Valuable is, indeed, the key word in the quote. Thank you so much for your words.
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Of course, Penny, when I write “Any of us…” I am including you and your lovely readers.
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Thank you, Belle.
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Do you know who designed the house, Penny? I’d love to know.
I’ve had several one-on-one outings with friends this holiday season, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. It’s like we each decided, without discussing it, to sit back and really spend time together. And, this weekend, we’re in the mountains with some friends, a gift from them to us. They invited us up for the weekend as part of their vacation.
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Sorry to say but I don’t, Andra. There was mention of steel involved, though it is not a Lustron home, which was stainless steel throughout. I think it was a prototype of one of the first pre-assembled houses, but don’t know why I think that.
How wonderful that is for you and your friends – and even more so to spend time in the mountains. A generous gift to invite you up. Enjoy!
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I feel just as you do, Penny. Happiness is not about grand gestures, but the small moments. I contacted a friend after a long while: and just to ear her voice was a joy. We’re meeting for a meal over the Christmas break.
The smell of the pine is interesting: smells can be so elemental. They bury memories deep, I am sure.
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I’m sure you will enjoy meeting up with your friend, Kate. Good for you for contacting her. Sometimes that is all it takes; a phone call or email or text. I’m sure it will be a pleasurable meal over your break.
They can be, can’t they? Pine always brings me to Christmas.
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Happy Christmas Penny !
I am back with my new computer so am ready to make comments again. I have kept up with the news from the cutoff and am so glad to be able to speak to that georgeous tree! The tree is always one of the most fun parts of Christmas at our home. Carolyn’s is a dream-come-true tree in every respect. I can imagine how much you enjoyed seeing all the ornaments and taking part in the gathering. Our tree came up after Thanksgiving dinner!
Have a special weekend full of the Christmas spirit!
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It did my spirit well to see your name again, Marilyn, and I’m so glad to her you have a new computer and are up-and-running. Isn’t it amazing how much computers are now part of our lives?
I’m so pleased that you kept up and yes, Carolyn’s tree is that indeed. It was such an enjoyable time in every way. Our tree is finally up. You have several weeks on me, Marilyn.
I’m hoping to start baking cookies and enjoy the glow of the season tomorrow. We will see.
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. . . and Happy Christmas to you as well, Marilyn.
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What a touching post, dear Penny. May your worries be held softly, and the joy of connection with family and friends bring a lift to your heart. I have just posted on a similar theme: ‘the simple joy of friendship and conversations’, as you put it. The tree looks delightful. Wishing you well.
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Oh, thank you, Juliet. That’s lovely – and I saw your post a little bit ago. It sounds so special and serene. I admire how long your group has done this. It is the simple joys.
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This was so beautifully written and your thoughts so lovingly expressed, Penny. I have been contemplating my deep and abiding friendships this season. There are so many reasons why at this time in my life I need them. And yesterday, as my heart was really heavy, I had a luncheon date with a new friend, and an evening dinner with a childhood friend passing through town from another state. I felt lighter for the experience. Tonight I’m watching Love Actually, for the umpteenth time. It’s my Christmas movie of choice, and speaks directly to what you’re describing. The love in our relationships. Special friend hug to you, Penny. I am going to pray that the extra pounds of worry will soon be lighter, my friend. Count me as one of your long-distance friends. oxo
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Dear Debra, the old adage “make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold” comes to mind as I read your comment. Such a renewing and sustaining experience with both friends bookending your day. Thanks for the prayers – a few bumps in the road of life can always use them and I appreciate it! Thank you, my long-distant friend. Penny
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Dear Life,
Your tree, “dripping with tinsel,” brought back many memories from my childhood, when we put tons of tinsel on our Christmas trees. For some reason I don’t do that anymore. I do love the big old-fashioned “fat” light bulbs on the tree.
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Aren’t those light bulbs a reminder of Christmases past, Chris? I wish this was my tree, but, it is a friend. Come back soon and I’ll show a few of ours. One of the first things the ladies started talking about when we visited Carolyn’s tree was the process of putting the tinsel on the tree, then the taking it down afterwards, gently putting it over a chair and saving it until the next year. I wonder if that is one reason why so many of us don’t use tinsel anymore. It sure does look wonderful though. Much thanks to you for commenting. Penny
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Penny, more and more as I get older, I enjoy the smaller, quieter moments of the holiday season. A few stolen hours with a good friend over lunch or tea are precious to me. I love that quote from You’ve Got Mail. Happy Holidays!
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They are so very precious, aren’t they Sunday? Isn’t it a great quote? I love that movie.
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What fun it must be to live in a home with that history — and how good of your friend to share it in that way. A perfect break in your Christmas rush. Our Holiday is so untraditional now, but I remember the years when it was as you describe. (And I wouldn’t have missed those years for anything of course!)
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I thought the same thing, Sallie. It was exactly that – a perfect break. It is interesting how we celebrate and what we do in different seasons of our lives, isn’t it? Our first Christmas tree was a real Charlie Brown tree with a box of used red ornaments, strings of popcorn, and a few wooden ornaments from Zayre’s. I think it will always be my favorite.
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I’ll bet it was that really good kind of tinsel that they don’t sell anymore… 🙂
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It was, Deborah, and it is gently taken down each year, hung over a chair in strands and put gingerly away. I have a few friends that still use it and find tinsel at antique type stores.
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Oh, that’s a good idea! I’ll look at some of those places for the tinsel. Thanks!!
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Good luck. You might even try Goodwill if you have one in your area.
I saw that you were able to watch Christmas in Connecticut online via Amazon. If it doesn’t come on soon in this area, I may just do that myself.
Enjoy you holiday – I enjoy your recipes and beekeeping so much.
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