Christmas Time
Gillian Cornwall, c. December 2010
Christmas time, I lay under the tree staring up through the boughs and inhaling the fresh, outdoor scent of the scotch pine, my eyes blurring with the mystery in the strings of painted bulbs of blue and orange and green and red. The delicate, sparkling, colourful ornaments of an impossibly thin glass dangled precariously from the ends of the branches and the stretch of golden garland was carefully wound around the circumference of the tree from the angel atop to the bottom boughs. The whole process was completed by my brothers and me, as strings of silver, tinsel icicles were artfully tossed on select branches. We tried to keep these out of reach of Sarah, our Siamese cat, lest she ingest them in some sort of untimely, seasonal attempt at her own demise. Occasionally, we found evidence of her tinsel snacking in sparkling litter box parcels.
Back under the tree, I lay pyjama-clad and lost in the magic of the season - small enough that this tree land was a fort unto itself. For a day, perhaps even more, there would be peace and I would be lost in a world where kindness prevailed amid the songs of the season played on our Zenith High Fidelity Stereo System. This was a world of reindeer and Santa Claus, surrounded by mysterious packages wrapped in paper depicting dreamworlds of sleighs and horses, snowmen and silver bells, snowflakes and stockings spilling over with treats.
May it always be a time to rest, to spend in loving kindness with those for whom we are grateful and may the scent of a fresh forest or a string of sparkling lights always be enough to bring you comfort and joy.
With gratitude to each of you, for your love, your kindness, and your willingness to get up every day and do your best through good times and bad. You are loved and I am blessed for all the wonder you share - simply through your desire to live with love and kindness. Plant yourself in healthy, clean soil and grow with strong, solid roots; reach for the sky and the light with every sunrise.
May every one of you share comfort and joy this season and every wish for a happy and healthy new year.
-Gillian Cornwall, Re-posted on December 13, 2015
Original Post, c. December 22, 2013
The Christmas Tree at Uptown
Gillian Cornwall, c. December 2015
Merry Christmas for the Victoria BC Santa Parade
Gillian Cornwall, c. December 2015
6 comments:
How beautiful. Wishing you peace and joy at this special time of the year. It's really been an honour to meet yiou, Gillian, and I so appreciate you sharing your thoughts in your eloquent posts. Diane
I think I will do that with my grandkids this year. One never forgets the magic of Christmas from when we were little. You have inspired me to write something for Kilie and Gunnar about my christmases when I was their age. Thank you for sharing those wonderful moments. May you have a warm and loving Christmas and a New Year that will knock your socks off.
You brought back some amazing memories, Gillian. My daughter recently purchased an old stereo unit and is repurposing it...but is keeping the working turntable and speakers intact. I had some old LP's of my Mom's and we listened to some Nat King Cole and Vera Lynn on it...so your post is true synchronicity.
Wishing you a joy-filled holiday season!
Dear Diane,
Thank you very much for reading and for commenting. It truly brings me so much joy. It has been an honour to meet you too and I have such fond memories of having coffee together in Berkhamsted.
I wish you every joy and blessing for the holiday season and the new year ahead. May you be surrounded with love and filled with the joy of possibility. If you see my cousin any time soon, give her a big hug from me, would you? I miss her very much!
Dear Boo,
Thank you so much for your comments. I think that is a wonderful idea to share your Christmas stories with your grandchildren. I think it would be awesome to write them as bedtime stories to read to them - even to make your own little books to share with them. :-)
Much love to you for the holidays.
Dear Kim,
Love, love, love that! We seem to find ways to go back to simpler times. I think we all want a slower pace and a chance to be together in this fast-paced world. Thanks for sharing your world with me! Happy holidays.
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