Tonight I trimmed my Christmas tree.

Yes, I did.  Andy hauled the boxes from the garage and stacked them on the floor.  Each Christmas I vow to do this earlier.  But I have to be in the mood. Waiting, and waiting.  That is what I am very good at.  The time has to be just right.  No good putting up the tree when it is nearing 60 degrees and sunny.  Even though it lives in a box in my garage eleven months of the year, the weather has to be just so for me to put it up and decorate.

The first thing I come across is the picture of my brother Paul and me with Santa at Block and Kuhl Department Store in Peoria, Illinois.  I was six and Paul was eight.  Makes me smile to remember that moment.  Paul is grinning but he is secretly planning his revenge for me getting  closer to the man in the red suit. I think I got pinched on the arm for that infraction.

And here are the treasured wooden ornaments that I painted on December 5, 1974.  How do I remember them?  I was in labor with Nina and knew that they had to be done then or forgotten for another year. Babies do tend to interrupt normal daily routines and the best laid plans for decorating the house for Christmas.

Under the tree are several cherished things from Nina's namesake, Nina Dusenberry.  She was Andy's cousin twice removed but an integral part of his family when he was growing up.  These were under her tree when she grew up on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn at the turn of the century.  A little Chinese doll.  A small stove.  And a tiny teakettle.  On the tree are ornaments she sent to Andy and his family when he was growing up. Each one is from a place she traveled to....Sweden, Portugal, Holland, Japan.  There they are..a tribute to a woman who cared deeply for her family. 

As I decorate the tree I remember the story behind each ornament.  Sweet memories.  And when I can no longer trim this tree, they will be passed on to someone else.  Perhaps a new story will be told about them. All a part of this Season we love so well.     

I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..

You know it.  We all hum it at least once or twice during the Holiday Season. It's that famous Coke ad....and it ends "to keep it company.."  Aside from its crass commercialism, I like this tune.  And that is what I was thinking tonight as I came to the Gainesville Square and joined with lots of people who came to celebrate this Season.

Eating.  There was lots to eat.  Visiting.  Yes, some of that too.  Kids making paper ornaments to put on a tree.  People bundled up in the cold, shivering but glad to be there.  And lots of things to look at and buy.  Crafts and food and more food.  If you didn't get the Jolly Vibe..then you were not alive...that is for sure.

The parade.  What can I say about it?  It had more floats than I have ever seen in an Ozark County parade.  It was beyond spectacular.  It was awesome.  Lights twinkling..even on the semis...each fire department was there.  Floats with kids.  Floats with singing kids.  Floats with animals.  Horses.  And Santa and Mrs. Santa came in a perfect Model A pick-up.  I was sorry I didn't have a child or grandchild to take up and meet them.

All around me smiles.  Comments about the perfection of this display of community spirit.  Just pure and simple joy.

Which got me  thinking about what makes our place..and places like ours...so unique.  We don't need a lot of buzz and glitz.  Although some of the lights were pretty bright, that's for sure.  We don't need a multi-million dollar spectacle to make our Season bright.  What we need is to get together, eat a bowl of soup, share some kettle corn, drink hot chocolate, admire the handcrafted items of our neighbors and friends and visit.  Give a hug.  Say I love you.  Smile and be happy for awhile.

Yes.  We can "teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."  All it takes is a little practice.