There is so much about this season I love but each year I see what I love being diminished by the invasion of the obnoxious, material, and more is better mentality. It would be one thing if the intentions were noble, sincere or even good; but there is only one reason for any of it and it is capital gain. Where once lived a warm glow in my heart in seeing Christmas come to life around me, now sits foreboding about the selling of the season rather than the celebrating of it.

I will be buying gifts again this year for children who have very little comfort in their lives, let alone the many extras so many enjoy. There is good reason the San Saba Volunteer Firefighters enjoy delivering the presents to these children…it is called sincere appreciation! The families receiving the gifts given would not otherwise have a Christmas and for me, that is what the season is all about. I have my own children but they have what they need: warm houses, nice vehicles and they provide for themselves well…they don’t need Harold and me to give them anything other than a warm hug and our time on Christmas morning.

I have always been a proponent of moving forward in life and never getting mired in the past, but that has never meant divorcing myself from those things of my past which were good and worked. There is a difference between honoring tradition and being unable to move on with a future because of them. I put my Christmas tree up every year on Thanksgiving because growing up, my mom always started decorating for Christmas right after Thanksgiving. I take the tree down the day after Christmas because as a child, it was what my mom did. I love the smell of Snickerdoodles baking, the sound of Silent Night playing and people laughing because all those things remind me of home, holidays and childhood. Both of my parents have been dead for a very long time and to say they would be saddened by what has happened to this world would be a huge understatement…they would weep openly. My mom would look at her hands and think them useless because they would not be capable of knitting an IPhone. My dad would silence his singing voice and lower his arms because who would want a song and a warm, loving dance with him for Christmas? I can tell you right now I do would give just about anything for a dance with my dad and a hand knitted sweater from my mom! I not for a second forget what I have lost and I fear every year I am losing more and more of what I love.

They say there is no going back and in most cases it is true; but on this one, going back is easy…just stop it! Instead of filling your life with things, fill your life with people. I will hold on to the season as I always have. I will make goodies and share them around town and listen carefully for opportunities to play Santa. It isn’t ever as much as I would like to do, but I make people smile even as they complain I am trying to make them fat. It is my way of trying to make things a little less commercial and a little more personal. I love you all with all my heart. If you see me carrying a big box of something…stop and ask for a sample…it is likely fudge!