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Ask anyone, whether for Christmas or Hanukkah, there is one special thing that he or she may display in their homes to mark these celebrations.
You know what I'm talking about. Maybe it's the Charlie Brown Christmas tree or the famous leg lamp that finds its way into your front window for all to see. Some may enjoy setting up a train layout under the tree or displaying a family menorah passed down through the generations.
Whatever brings about smiles, now is the time to make the season bright. I shook off the gloom of last year's holidays and have managed to get the tree up. It is adorned with a collection of ornaments that has been 47 years in the making.
There are the basic colorful glass bulbs, hand-sewn fabric trees, numerous fire department-related ornaments, miniature school buses, a basketball player, a hockey player, a hunter complete with rifle, bells, stars, trains and even photo ornaments.
White lights illuminate the branches and a plastic angel dubbed Angie sits atop the tree. A Nativity scene is located nearby on a table along with three frosty tabletop trees that blink with various colors. There are Santas and reindeer hanging in various locations throughout the house and some oversized ornaments and a holiday flag can be found on the front porch.
I guess you could say I truly got into the spirit of things this year. It was fun to go through the boxes marked "Christmas" in the basement that were ignored last year. Each and every ornament and decoration was surrounded in old newspapers and tissue paper. Unwrapping each piece prompted memories of holidays past with so many of the people who are no longer with us. The old newspapers told stories nearly forgotten.
Aunt Mary gave us several of her beautiful handmade beaded ornaments. My mother provided a statue of a fireman Santa with his trusty Dalmation at his side.
My mother-in-law, too, made several ornaments and included a few Hallmark creations.
I am not one to place great value on "things." But these holiday baubles are more precious and priceless than any gem you could place before me. Among my favorites is a wooden tabletop Santa our son made when he was very young. Santa is complete with a white cotton ball beard and hat. How this has survived all of these years is a mystery but it has a place of honor each year.
I suspect there will be holiday creations from the grandchildren that will one day rival Santa for a spot on the holiday table. And I don't think Santa will mind sharing. After all, isn't that what we are all supposed to do?
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.