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Sunday PassageWinter Solstice, 2008Dear Family and Friends,It is dark and cold here in Northern Indiana, the early morning sky is full of purple shadows and a promise of more snow. The leftover ice is thick and strong on roads, in trees, on old swing sets and the new snow is yet to fall. Our winter has already been of amazing amounts of snow and wind and all that befalls the shortening of days and long nights.Today is the Winter Solstice which often slips by us on the calendar except for the occasional newsman or weather person that announces it on the daily forecast. I try to imagine how this day was perceived by the Ancients all those years ago. What did they possibly think was happening as this darkness began to shroud their life, their crops, their warmth. It is of no wonder that when they began to figure it out that they celebrated this day as the coming of spring with bonfires and hope. Without knowing science as we know it, they must have always kept their breath short as they waited for the days to lengthen.I also acknowledge their brilliance in figuring this out without the tools we live with. A few years ago my good friend Ellen and I visited Ireland and were driven to Newgrange by an older literary gentleman. He brought books and sat in his car for hours as we toured the ancient ruins of Newgrange. It is a megalithic mound in Ireland and casts many shadows over a mist of legend and myth. It was built with such accuracy that on the Solstice Winter morning (on a sunny day) a beam of light shines through this mound. We were able to carefully walk through this ruin as a light was shown to simulate this event. It was eerie and majestic at the same time. They say that folks sign up years in advance to be randomly chosen to make this journey on the Solstice…something to put on your own ‘bucket’ list. Happy Solstice to you on this day.This Christmas season has been, for many, less joyful. It is evident in shopping and parties and even the number of light displays on homes. It is evident in the lives of my children at school that life is difficult. I have always felt cutting back and living on less is good. I say that with tongue in cheek as my house is warm and cozy with the loveliest of Christmas tree. When all the kids were home at Thanksgiving, we went out to the tree farm and cut them down ourselves! I think back to often to the old farm days when the boys were young, money was something we did not have, but we were rich in happiness with a young family.Yesterday brought home the Christmas spirit to me more than anything else this season. My daughter in law, Karen, works for Trine University (just two blocks away from me.) Their staff Christmas party was canceled on Friday night (as was everything else in this area) due to ice and snow! However, the food was already purchased and in the cooler waiting to be prepared and served. With just a few arrangements she had the University donating all the food to our local Project Help and Angel Wings. Karen and I (and Philip as he is visiting as well) took Matthew and Jonah over to help get the food out, load the truck and deliver. We spent most of yesterday on this project as there was so much food. The University donated their large catering truck for the delivery. Box after box of apples, asparagus, grapefruit, kiwi, onions, potatoes, carrots…I cannot begin to list the produce. It was a wonderful treasure for those who need it as Project Help usually has canned donations only. By the time we began to deliver, reinforcements were called in to help unload this massive display of generosity. We left a large portion in the truck and then delivered that to the 16 women at Women in Transition, a home for recovering woman in our town. Matthew and Jonah carried boxes as well and, hopefully, at their young ages of 4 and 7 will begin to know the lessons of giving.Tonight also at sundown is the beginning of Chanukah. Happy Chanukah for those of you who celebrate. Last Sunday night I decided the children of the neighbor needed to know more customs so we celebrated St. Nicholas Day (they put their shoes by the door hoping for candy!), Christmas (pork roast and the singing of Christmas hymns), Chanukah (we played the dreidel game), and Solstice. We had a pot luck carry in with lots of food...lots of folks…prize boxes…and the best prize for the child who found the pickle on my Christmas tree (an old German custom.)I will be leaving with Philip for the warm breezes of his home on the Island so I will send next week’s passage from there. We will spend the week with his family and friends, biking in the village, walking to church on Christmas Eve and enjoying the small, sweet things of life.Attached is a Christmas story that I wrote for this week’s column. It is a long ago time when my boys were small and my Uncle Dean sent $100 for their Christmas gift. Read it if you will.Thank you all for being faithful readers to my ramblings. May your week be peaceful and calm…don’t let all the craziness get you down. This is the holiest of all weeks, let joy seep in at small moments…a cup of tea, a note from a friend, a story.Much love to all,Lou Ann |
