The Magic of the Season

The Magic of the Season By: Janet Downs

[Singing] “Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer, fun for all that children call their favorite time of year.” How about [Singing] “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up like Eskimos”?

Yes, it’s that time again! Christmas is just around the corner, and as Andy Williams so joyfully sang, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Most people would agree with that. Christmas often brings out the best in people. What are some of your favorites of the season? Is it the nostalgia of the music that gives off those warm and fuzzy feelings, or is it the joys of turning your home into a winter wonderland? Is it the shopping that gets you into the Christmas spirit? After all, it is the season to give. Do you prefer getting out amongst the crowds to find those perfect gifts, or is online shopping your thing? Is gift wrapping one of your favorite activities? It’s certainly not mine! Chile, you’re getting a gift bag from me! LOL! How about all the delicious food and sweet treats? Umm, umm, I can taste it now [licks lips]! Perhaps your absolute favorite is simply enjoying friends and family, where good times and laughter are endless. You can’t put a price tag on that.

When I think of Christmas, I can’t help but be reminded of my childhood’s sights, sounds, and smells. Like retrieving our artificial tree and multi-colored ornaments and lights from the closet and helping to decorate it or the time my two brothers and I discovered where we hid our toys. While our parents were out, we decided to play with the ones we could get out of the boxes but didn’t do such an excellent job of putting them back. LOL! I can also recall the smell of the cakes and pies wafting through the house while cooling on the countertop. My mom loved to cook and bake, so there was always something delectable coming out of the oven. Another memory is of us kids rehearsing for

the Christmas program at church. If you’re like me and grew up in church, you probably remember the speeches, plays, and songs too. Does anyone remembers the songs “Go Tell It on the Mountain” or “Silent Night”? Yeah, those were the days [Sighs]. There wasn’t a lot of extra money back then, but I can definitely recall lots of fond and laughable moments.

We’ve all gone through many life changes since the beginning of 2020 and some more than others. How will you celebrate this holiday season? Will you make new memories or keep the old traditions going? Whatever your plans are for the holidays, continue to stay safe, love harder on your family and friends while spreading joy and cheer. Here’s to good times with lots of laughter and great memories, old and new. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Feliz Navidad!

Photography by: Chris Benson