Thoughts From my Snowmen Collection

My kids will tell you I'm easy to buy for. "Snowmen, angels or pearls. You can't go wrong with any of these, Mom loves them all." Pearl earrings, bracelets and necklaces overflow my jewelry boxes. My angel collection stays out year-round, but my beloved snowmen come out only in the winter. I fell in love with these cool dudes and their sweet faces back in the nineties. Over time I've amassed quite a collection from cups to plates to various figurines. Some I've bought. Many were gifts from people I cherish.

Take my snowman cookie jar, for example. It was a gift from my ex-mother-in-law the first Christmas we were no longer related by marriage, but were "adopted by the heart", as she so tearfully stated. Marie and I were as close as mother and daughter. When she fell and broke her hip, I moved in with her for two months to care for her until she was more mobile. I put drops in her eye for two weeks after her cataract surgery. She helped take care of my broken heart and taught me the value of deep, abiding love. She passed away a year ago and I don't glance at that cookie jar without seeing her warm, smiling face.


 One year, my children's second mom gifted me with a trio of snowmen she'd crocheted. Few women are able to make friends with their ex-husband's new wife. But Margie was good to my children and they came to care for her. How could I not respond to that? I no longer had to worry about how they were being treated by the "other" woman during visits with their dad, but could relax knowing Margie made them feel at home. When she passed away with lung cancer, we all grieved. She taught me the value of caring for everyone's child.

My grandson, Ryan, joyfully brought me a box haphazardly wrapped and taped with long strips of tape. Inside the shoe box were two snowmen mugs and a box of hot chocolate mix. "For when I come, grandma. We can have hot choc-OH-latte in our 'berry' special mugs." We drank from them in April, June, October. The month didn't matter, the memories did. My grandson is fifteen now and these are still referred to as "Ryan and Grandma mugs." Children need special connections...so do adults.

Some years ago, I worked with two lesbians. A new experience for me, yet they taught me a lot about their souls and their world. One was in a committed relationship and the other was struggling with who she was. One was blatantly butch and the other just as goofy as I. Together we had a blast. Wendy gave me the snowmen picture one year and Andrea gave me the teddy bear. I cherish both.

My youngest son had a friend who was being raised by a single dad. Jeff's mother had died when he was only two. Jeff's father drank and often went into rages. When he did, Jeff showed up at our house. I'd feed him, for he did not eat well at home. I'd fuss over him, for he wasn't getting the mothering he needed, either. And if his father showed up--angry and swearing--hunting for Jeff, I lied and said I hadn't seen him. Jeff's a policeman now. He still calls me mom. He gave me this snowman Christmas tree skirt the year after he graduated from high school. He claimed I helped get him though a lot of rough times.

I was too busy with writing and promotion to drag out all my snowmen this year, but the ones I mentioned above I did, along with a few others I love because of the memories associated with them. It is the memories that warm our hearts as we age--not things. Make memories, my lovelies. Store them in the folds of your heart and on days when you feel blue, take them out and revisit them. Merry Christmas and may you look forward to a healthy and productive 2014.
Hugs ~

Christmas Wonderland Effect

I'd planned on putting out the Christmas decorations on December 1st. My back, however, had other plans. So until the spasms die down enough that I can bend without dropping to my knees, the plastic containers of decorations remain stacked along the garage wall.

Another problem is Jazzy Miles Davis, our much-loved tabby cat. By nature, cats are drawn to trees. Certain tree ornaments intrigue their inquisitive natures. Our kitty-puss is no exception. He just has to touch and bat and sniff and capture those pesky ornaments that hang from our tree. Isn't that what they're for, after all?

True, Jazzie looked adorable last year, peeking out from his perch halfway up the tree, partially hidden by the branches of our artificial pine. But that was twelve months and seven pounds of kitty treats ago. I'm not sure our spindly tree can hold him this year. He's a big kitty, not huge, mind you, but his belly does sway from side-to-side when he runs. Decorating this Christmas might entail some creative positioning fo the tree.

Even so, I'm eager to drag out my large snowmen collection. I love their cute little faces, the expressions they have. Some were gifts from girlfriends no longer with us. I fondly think of that sweet person every Christmas season as I lovingly handle a snowman she gave me. Thank God for the gift of memories. And thank God for the true Gift of the Christmas holiday--the holy Gift that keeps on giving--and saving.