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January 2, 2007

1.2.07

What did you discover when you took down your Christmas decorations?

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As I wrapped the last bauble in the new tissue paper from this years gifts, I caught a reflection in the shiny orb. She was smiling as she watched me ever so carefully handling the decorations that were once hers. I inheritted my mother's Christmas ornaments when she passed twenty odd years ago.

Each passing year without her with us for the holidays has been so hard, but her precious ornaments have proudly donned my Christmas tree, giving me a sence that she's here in spirit.

And here now, gazing back at me from this shiny little orb -- my mother.

Posted by: Olivia at January 2, 2007 1:18 AM · Permalink

Friends of the family had an incredibly large tree on their porch. Must have been 20 foot high and thick as one could imagine. The tree resembled a hedge-row more than Christmas tree. The decorations appearing like stray plastic bags on the side of the hedgerow, barely showing up for the foliage.

It was near the end when I heard my first whimper. It sounded weak and tired but it was still audible. Instinctively I followed only to find a desicated child in a fetal position. We found four more children trapped in that tree, one alive and 2 dead.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at January 2, 2007 8:24 AM · Permalink

The Importance of Tradition:

Getting my husband’s help decorating for Christmas has always
been much like pulling teeth. It seems we always have the same
fights while trimming the tree and hanging the lights.

But after Christmas, after all the pressure and the nonsense,
when we take the decorations down, that’s when we really
connect. It’s the connection of two comrades, who’ve come
through battle together.

This connection always leads to our little private Christmas
tradition, which involves me, my back, and the floor. This year,
while my husband did his best ‘Father Christmas’ impersonation,
I found the earring I lost - last year.

Posted by: kasac at January 2, 2007 11:58 AM · Permalink

One by one the strings of tiny lights were pulled off the bushes, brushing off the snow as they came. I wrapped them up neatly, and set them down on the cold hard ground.

The various intertwining extension cords sprawled around the yard came next. Their insulation cold and stiff after a long December, and nearly impossible to coil.

As the last light was wrapped up, and the final extension cord placed in it's box, the mail man walked up the drive and handed me a stack of envelopes.

Oh great. The electric bill. Just what I wanted to see.

Posted by: Nick at January 2, 2007 12:40 PM · Permalink