"Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself..."

Norman Wesley Brooks, Let Every Day Be Christmas, 1976

No matter what time I go to bed at night, there high probability that I will be the first one awake in the morning. Being the first one awake, alone in the quite, in the presence of the Christmas tree, offers a opportunity for peaceful meditation. The decorations on my Christmas tree, like my life, are a collage from relationships I treasure.





The oldest item on my tree is this fan, made from a piece of lace that belonged to my great grandmother.

There are a few glass bulbs that my mother saved from her family Christmas tree at home before she married my father in 1951. These ornaments were present on the Christmas trees throughout my childhood.

In 1973, while I was still in high school, I began to collect Christmas ornaments. During my teenage years in the 1970's the country was in an economic recession much the same a this year.

When I grew up I was very appreciative to receive a gift from my grandmothers that was either a small token or perhaps a $5 gift to purchase something I wanted on sale after Christmas.

I have vivid memory of taking the PAT bus into downtown Pittsburgh, going to the top floor of Joseph Horne's department store. This was the same Christmas Village where my mother took my brothers and I to "visit Santa" for years. Christmas items were not on sale until after the holiday back then. After looking through many tables of decorations lavish with large selections all half off ornaments I decided to purchase this rather large glass ornament reduced 1/2 off to $5. I wonder what this ornament is worth in today's market?

"Christmas Around the World" is painted with stylized children depicting many nationalities in native garments of Santa with children from around the world. On the back of the ornament I added the year, 1973, in glue writing coated with sprinkles. This is way too crafty for my aesthetics today, however, everyone has to start somewhere.

Almost every year since 1973 I have added to my ornament collection including; handmade, purchased, gifts from my CCD students, ornaments to mark our first year married 1978, Barry's first Christmas 1980, Kara's first Christmas 1984, a cable car from my brother Fred in California and numerous ornaments either made by or purchased for my children. As is true with all of my furniture and home decor, I have a story behind every ornament that I hang on my tree.


After this Christmas, with both tears and joy, I will begin to divide my treasured collection of ornaments. I purchased special storage boxes for Barry & Kara that will protect my ornaments with hope that they will assimilate my past into their future Christmas trees.

New items I am enjoying on my tree this year are two of the "Heavenly Notes" Hair Adornments I made from hand dyed silk, silk screen text and vintage jewelry embellishment.

This year has been very difficult for many people. I don't know anyone who is going to put 2009 on the top ten list as their favorite year. Life stresses ranging from; job loss, reduction of income, serious health issues, death of loved one, divorce, revelation of extramarital affairs, betrayal of a trusted friendship, bankruptcy and foreclosure have darken many days this year. These events happen every year of course, this year it seemed to have happen all too often, too close together. These events may be seen as tragic ending or ways to launch future adventures pregnant with possibilities.

When I was a teen, I enjoyed a novel by Betty Smith, first published in 1963 Joy in the Morning, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_in_the_Morning_(1963_novel) “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” - Psalm 30:5

Find some time to sit in front of your Christmas tree at the close of 2009.

• Remember the people who have been woven forever into the fabric the creates your life.
• Have the courage to remove elements that are creating a negative effect.
• Dream what direction you want you life to pursue.
• Share with others from your heart, not just your excess.
• Invite a lonely person to share some time with you.
• Share your talents with others
• Learn that is much better to give than to hoard for yourself.

When we give ourselves, our goods away we make room for new adventures, new possibilities.

"Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself..."

"The happiest miser on earth is the man who saves up every friend he can make."

Robert E. Sherwood

One year ago this week was I was busy completing finishing touches preparing for my new adventure graduate school in Savannah. Last summer I was consumed with cleaning our home, sorting through old papers, mending, washing and packing clothing. Not wanting to make duplicate purchases of things I already owned I carefully decided which art supplies, books, chemicals and equipment for dying fabric would be needed in my new studio apartment.

Throughout the month of August appointments to get my teeth cleaned, annual mammogram, dermatologist skin check, and primary care doctor had to be completed because our medical insurance did not cover me while I lived in Savannah.

Maybe it was from living as a young child with the consciousness that my mother was could die at anytime I had learned my own way to measure happiness. I have never measured my success in dollar amounts, titles or degrees. Armed with the philosophy I only get to spend time and money once, choose wisely,Happiness consists of being with people I love and people who love me.

Leaving the students and the place that had been my home for the past six year dragged up grief that was unexpected. For three years, 1992 - 1995, I was the Primary Caretaker of our parents. Although dad was ten years older than our mother they died just seven months apart. My brothers both lived out of town so the day to day responsibility to take them to the doctors, shop then cook nutritious meals, clean out then sell their home of 43 years occupied my life. Being out of my social group for three years as a caretaker left me alone after the funerals. My old friends had moved on with their lives. Being open for adventure I was excited for change when my husband was offered a promotion if we moved to Western NY.

By this time I had become rather adept to seeing my life poured into a blender, push liquefy button on high, pour out content in altered state to create a new life. Recreating a new life has become part of my existence. As one door closes I look for light from an open window. People are in our lives for a reason, a season or forever. Who is still connected when the winds of change begin to blow again? What did I learn during my previous life experience? What do I have left? Where can I take this new knowledge to a new place to grow?

My teaching position, even if I was only Adjunct Instructor, provided a purpose that kept me so busy I could push the pain of not having an extended family out of my conscious thoughts. I was so dedicated to the progress, success and future of my students, many colleagues thought I held a full time position and an MFA already. Often I spent evenings, weekends or stayed after class on my personal time to work with students that needed extra help.

Applying for graduate school to advance my own education in hopes of being more than an Adjunct was the next logical step. Since I was by choice a full time, cookie baking, stay at home mom for twenty-two years going back to college to earn my bachelors degree magna cum laude was a huge accomplishment. Successfully teaching college students who had no clue of the class projects at the beginning of the semester then enjoyed weaving, dying fabric and using correct vocabulary to speak about their work during critiques brought me to tears of joy as they left at the end of the semester. How blessed could I be?

Not only to have had the joy of raising Barry and Kara into successful adults, I also had the privilege to share my knowledge with college students getting paid for doing what I loved. Do what you love and the money will follow is my belief. My next goal was to earn my MFA credentials so I could apply for a full time position where I could earn enough money to support myself. The next questions was, where should I go from here?