"its coming on Christmas
their cutting down trees putting up reindeer
and singing songs of joy and peace..."
-joni mitchell
my mother loves traditions, seasons, holidays, and celebrating them with symbols of our culture. we grew up with her hand sewn placemats decorating our table for every holiday. we had a large pink egg with a bunny on the left with each of our names sewn on for easter, a pilgrims house for thanksgiving, a large red heart for valentines day, and growing up i got to help set the table by putting the placemats on and then the silverware in its proper positions.
Christmas was always like a festival at our house with a giant tree with bubbler lights, ornaments from every country, state, and place she & my dad had ever traveled together.
putting up the christmas tree is like going back in time. i feel the red carpet under my feet, my mothers voice, the large trunk of ornaments spread out before us like my mothers treasure chest. she would reach in and pull out her favorite memories in figurines, wooden shapes, airplanes, and glittered delicacies. "careful," she would say as i would reach in clumsily to find one that caught my eye. "ohh, this one broke," she would moan and set it carefully so she could attempt to adhesive it together with willpowering love and super glue.
my mother loves christmas.
and now that i am married and it is my turn to decorate the house for the seasons we celebrate in life, i can't help but feel her with me.
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