I spent all of yesterday accomplishing about two hours' worth of errands, and still didn't get everything I wanted. But when I finally made it home I was glad to be here.Today it's Christmas eve. For many, Christmas has become a non-religious holiday. Still, we're human and humans are tribal. We have our traditions. We need our rituals.
Maybe you can see atop our Christmas tree an old plastic star. I always thought it looked like Sputnik. I still have the original box from the 50's. The star got melted once by a too-hot Christmas bulb and how it's held together by a rubber-band. My siblings and I grew up with it atop our family Christmas trees, and I can't let it go.
It doesn't take much for me to stop and remind myself that I'm fortunate. I may not have everything I want, but I have everything I need.
I wish you peace and blessings.
Update: Find Christmas greetings from GinaB, one of my Sputnik siblings, on Overdog.
23 comments:
A Christmas Tree Guard Dog on duty!
Even guard dogs are specializing!
Nice Photo, P.
Peace, Love, Truth, & Understanding to y'all.
Life is beautiful.
Peace and love, love and peace, and may your Sputnik shine atop trees for decades to come!
I'll drop my latest blog post here, as my audience is limited and I think it fits.
"Whether your celebrating cultural heritage, a deities birthday, a festival of lights, or just worshiping at the alter of consumerism, here’s a earnest wish that you do so with a light heart and with the company of friends, family, and loved ones.
Indulge yourself in the greatest gift of all…
Each other."
Your story about the Christmas "Sputnik" made me think about the ornaments I put on my tree. Along with the new ones I've collected over the years, there about 10 to 15 old ones that hung on the tree when I was a child and to be honest, I don't know how long my parents or granparents had them before me. I always love putting them on the tree. Merry Christmas.
Have a very happy Christmas, Petrea!
Thank you, Petrea, for a lovely photo and lovely thoughts. Indeed, most of us don't have what we want or what we think we want, but many of us have what we need. This holiday for me personally is very bittersweet, and has affected me more than I could have imagined. Appreciate each moment.
I wondered where that Sputnik was.
Love and joy to all!
ginab
May your yuletide be merry and bright, and sputnik keep you in it's orbit.
Say, Boz looks just a tiny bit worried, as if maybe Santa won't bring that squeaky toy he wants soooo badly. don't sweat it Boz, I have a feeling you'll get everything you want.
Thank you all for your good wishes. Curly, I haven't been doing much blog-hopping lately either, but my excuse isn't as good as yours. I had no idea you were ailing and I hope you're feeling better.
Bibi, I can only imagine how this Christmas must feel for you. Your advice is well taken.
Karin, I think Boz is concentrating very hard on that bone in my hand and wondering when I'm going to give it to him.
Delightful photo! I do like the ritual of the Christmas tree, especially old ornaments. Your Sputnik tree-topper is great, and I'm sure you have lots of memories of past trees that it's topped. Have a relaxing and festive Christmas!
Best wishes to you, your loved ones, and your beloved ornament(s). It's the fragile and sometimes tatty things in life that turn out to be the best.
Love and contentment to all. :-)
That's one happy dog. A beautiful photograph and I like your sentiments so much.
Thanks for you recent comment, Petrea. Made my day and meant a lot.
Wishing you and those you love, including this four legged beauty, of course, a very Happy Christmas.
I have an ornament with my name on it that I've had since I was 5. It's one of my favorite possessions!
A very Merry Christmas to you and JS!
Peace and contentment to you, dear blog sister. A lovely photo.
I love this photo in sepia.
I hope you and your loved ones plan on snuggling by the fire place tonight, sipping something delicious.
Traditions like this are what make Christmas. Happy Christmas to you and yours.
marley :)
Mentioning Sputnik reminds me of how badly the world needs to come together in peace to go explore even further into space.
Our mantle is covered with holiday decorations from years past, many that have come from relatives now passed. Those are cherished.
I'm kinda bummed this season, because my parents have decided to toss the traditions and shake things up a bit; I miss those traditions. But I guess it's a wake-up call for me to start building traditions that are unique to me and my kids.
Much joy and contentedness to you, your family, and to all of your readers, Petrea. And remember, Cal Poly still needs float decorators all week, starting the 26th. Go to http://www.cpprosefloat.org/ for details.
JOYEUX NOEL Petrea!
Lots of bisous!
Stef :)
CHRISTMAS ON MARS?
It is festive to think of the silver ships lifting from earth, like bits of tinsel above acetyline flame, delivering our emigrants to that cleaner world. But interplanetary bonhomie might be strained, if too much history trailed after the receding ferry …
What might arriving pilgrims make of the challenge that awaited them—at the spaceport, say, at Mare Cimmerium—and they were asked about their terran ancestries? Agents of the Global Warming Reconciliation Commission might turn some travellers back, because their family members worked for Exxon, or another of the homeworld-destroying profiteers generations before …
That's for another age. Better now to cozy up to my 21st century, fossil-fuel-consuming, carbon-producing fireplace and drink from my nitrogen-cycle-ruining plastic cup while I listen to carols recorded on vinyl pressed from the dinosaurs' remnant goo.
Merry (cough) Christmas to all (hack) and to all a (hack hack!)—!
Love the old-fashioned look to your photo!
You and your family have a wonderful Christmas! (Is Santa bringing something for Boz? He looks like he's been such a good boy.)
Fragile and tatty! Thank you, Elizabeth, that means I may yet turn out to be the best.
Thank you all for your generous wishes. Well. Bernie, uh...
No, really. Thanks for your wishes and your great contributions to the blog.
If I'm not mistaken, December 25th is Stephane's birthday. Happy birthday, Stef!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Petrea! Wishing a lovely day in your part of town from ours. Remy sends her love to Boz too, who looks quite regal in this photo.
xo
Merci Petrea! much appreciated!
Bises
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