​
JANINE WALKER CAFFREY - EDUCATION INNOVATION
  • Lexplore
  • Who is Janine?
  • The Today Show
  • Contact

My Private Holiday Tradition

12/1/2009

13 Comments

 
I can't explain it.  I am not really a very sentimental person.  My daughter is fond of saying that her mother has no soul because the things most mothers ooh and ahh over, don't move me in the least.  When she got married, I had no need to help her pick out her wedding gown.  She happened to be shopping with friends and spotted one that would work.  She emailed me the photo, only because she needed financial backing to make the purchase.  Sure, I have saved a few works of art that she and her brother made as young kids.  But when we moved to New York City, into a furnished 2 bedroom apartment, we dumped just about everything.  I sold or gave away almost every piece of furniture, my wedding china, and many things that others, who have the "souls" my daughter suspects I lack, could have never parted with.  So, my need to put up a Christmas tree and hang the ornaments that tell a story, baffles me every time I do it.  The look of the tree is not important at all.  I am not attached to a certain species of tree or even size.  However, I learned the hard way that an artificial tree just will not do.  We tried that one year and I simply could not decorate it.  My husband, sensing my disappointment, went out that minute and came back with a beautiful real tree to surprise me. 

This year, we had to go small since we have such a small place.  I walked down Broadway and found a little 4 footer and carried it home on my shoulder.  No husband required.  It was already in a cute little tree stand.  I opened the cabinet where all of the ornaments are stored and started going through them.  Those that made the cut when we moved include:  a hideous stuffed unicorn (the first Christmas ornament my husband ever bought me), a tree topper star (made by my husband when we couldn't afford one), an antique angel with a cracked face (purchased the next year when we had more money), 2 paper stars with crayon pictures colored by the kids, several bells bought for us by dear friends, 2 starfish-turned-Santas made by the kids, wooden cut-outs of the kids' names, sweet little boy/girl snow people with our names on them, 2 glass ornaments purchased at a seaside flea market, a potato representing my husband the year he was very ill, a penguin representing a book my husband wrote, and a strand of gold glass beads that hung on the family tree from the time I was a baby.  I also have a small collection of Santa figurines that adorn the mantle, all of which have been given to me by my mother-in-law over the years.

Each year as I decorate the tree, my mind wanders back to events connected with each item and my heart just sings.  I just can't explain it.
13 Comments
Social Learning link
7/24/2012 08:25:36 pm

Wow..great research and very informative, a great compilation, an Excellent share will be looking for more … keeps on writing. I bookmarked this blogs and share with my friends.

Reply
trip to bali link
7/29/2012 09:03:24 pm

Many thanks for the exciting blog posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you are a brilliant writer. I actually added your blog to my favorites and will look forward for more updates. Great Job,Keep it up..

Reply
forex signals link
7/30/2012 03:00:05 pm

Useful information shared..I am very happy to read this article..Thanks for giving us nice info. Fantastic walk-through. I appreciate this post.

Reply
chemistry homework help link
7/30/2012 04:21:39 pm

thanks for the FANTASTIC post! This information is really good and thanks a ton for sharing it :) I m looking forward despee that ever did that. Keep it up

Reply
long distance moving companies link
8/8/2012 02:46:53 pm

Well, this is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!

Reply
Port Douglas Holiday Apartments link
8/23/2012 08:46:07 pm

Holidays are for everyone and one should know about how to spend it, this blog is the source to know about that subject, thanks for providing this information.

Reply
mcx tips link
9/18/2012 04:58:20 pm

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts.

Reply
intraday tips link
9/27/2012 10:40:58 pm

the contents are quiet interesting. I will be waiting for your next post.

Reply
intraday tips link
10/7/2012 09:54:33 pm

information regarding trading stock market is very beneficial for us.

Reply
mcx tips link
11/18/2012 01:04:13 pm

I admire the valuable advice you make available in your expertly written content.

Reply
option tips link
11/18/2012 01:05:04 pm

I want to thank you for this informative read; I really appreciate sharing this great.

Reply
Transplant Coach link
12/11/2012 08:33:51 pm

Great online content details , really makes everything seem so much easier. Thank you!

Reply
Lg 7 kg fully automatic top load washing machine link
10/9/2020 03:04:24 am

Greetings to each one, it's really a particular for me to visit this website page, it comprises of helpful Information.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Janine Walker Caffrey writes about reading, education and a few other topics related to happiness and life in general.

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    November 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    September 2013
    May 2012
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009

    Categories

    All
    Achievement Gap
    Adult Learning
    Arts
    Civil Rights
    Common Core
    Differentiation
    Discipline
    Federal Aid
    Grand Parenting
    Happiness
    Lead By Example
    Length Of School Year
    Middle School
    Parent Engagement
    Parenting
    Personalized Learning
    Phonemic Awareness
    Phonics
    Reading
    Reading Horizons
    School Finance
    School Reform
    School Spending
    Social Justice
    Special Education
    Student Engagement
    Summer Slide
    Suspension
    Teaching
    Technology
    Tiger Mom
    Title IX
    Traffic Light

    RSS Feed