EDITOR’S LETTER

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT

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ABOUT TIME

Growing up, I was an angel. That’s right, at least for one December evening. I held a flashlight under my chin and kicked the white garment wrapped over my body as I walked with my fellow elementary-school classmates and sang holiday songs to the adoring parents in the field. This was back in the day when the students held a holiday pageant outside. We walked a path across the top a hill, and the parents gazed up as us. We practiced and anticipated this moment each year—and I was completely into it. I also fully embraced the tree lighting, making Valentine’s Day cards, dancing around the Maypole, cheering roadside during the Fourth of July Parade, dressing up for the Halloween parade—and nearly every holiday and town tradition (art shows, Girl Scouts, book sales) our town had. Count little me in for every single one.

Of course, I didn’t just do these events and moments on my own. I didn’t just pop into place all set to sing or dressed for the sun or a pocket full of dollars for new books. I had help—and that was my mom, of course. Now as a mother myself, I can more appreciate what she did to get me ready for each event, month by month, year after year. As a single parent of three children, she couldn’t have had an easy time of it. She had to make costumes, fill out forms and do a lot of driving. I thank her with all of my heart.

I’m not sure I succeeded at it as well as she did. Correction: I’m sure I didn’t. My kids and I missed a few parades, fireworks and parties. And the one thing I would have loved to give them was that moment of walking over the hill while singing. I suppose times have changed. Traditions change. Or maybe it was just me. But now that my children are grown, I think it’s natural to look back and wonder if they have those similar cherished memories. I hope so.

I know town traditions must evolve—and I’m glad for that. My wish is that they bring the community together and make children happy, which, of course, makes us all feel good. We participate in town traditions together and that helps us feel like we are part of something bigger and lasting, which little me probably loved most of all. Maybe this is so for you, too.

As we head into the holiday season, I hope you’ll enjoy not only your own personal family traditions—making a certain foods, singing a favorite classic song, watching the same holiday movie each year, decorating your home with family treasures—but also Stamford’s traditions. Watching Santa rappel a building, or heading out for the first ice-skating session of the season, may seem like something you could skip if you had to—but the way we hold onto our childhood memories says that they are more important than they seem at the time. Check out our story on Stamford traditions; try one. Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy the best Stamford has to offer at this time of year. Enjoy every moment and make good memories!