Christmas Decorations: The Ultimate Time Capsule

This weekend, the kids and I are visiting my parents and, as usual, their house is decorated to the hilt with decorations old and new. It is like a trip down memory lane. There is even a paper angel that has survived since my childhood.  It is one of those paper decorations where the tissue paper skirt opens up like a honey comb fan.  Now that I have children and know first hand their destructive nature, the fact that this angel survived all these decades moves it from decoration to Christmas miracle.  But I digress.

Looking over the old decorations, I remember where we were when they joined the Christmas decoration family.  I remember the excitement and familiarity that I felt each year when they came out.  When they came out of the box that meant that it was Christmas.

There are certain decorations that I covet, but that I know that I can't have while I still have my parents.  Given the choice, I would rather have my parents than a Christmas decoration, no matter how many hours I sat and stared at it as a child.

For a long time, my own Christmas decorations felt new, sterile and lacking in history, but that is starting to change.  When the kids and I decorated the tree this year, there were ornaments that brought back memories of Christmases past.  And now it just wouldn't be Christmas without making our yard look like the launching point for a hot air balloon show what with all the blow up decorations that we put out there.

Years from now, I hope that there are treasures that only see the light day at Christmas time that are coveted by my children, because it isn't the thing that is longed for, it is the memories, the good feelings and the spirit of Christmas.

Comments

[GG at VB]

What a wonderful weekend we shared. BobBob and I delighted in watching the children wander about the house looking at the Nutcracker and the Santa collections. Everyone had fun activating the musical snowmen, over and over and over. Jack's enjoyment was unbridled when he alone discovered a candy dish filled with M&M's. It took a while before anyone realized where he was getting his stash. Jack just seemed to be walking around with a mouthful of chocolate all the time. It was a truly memorable weekend and a blessing to celebrate my birthday with my family, especially with my beloved "grands."