Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Christmas Memory

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After two days of rain and temperatures that soared to 63°, we are left with a few mounds of snow.

That’s it. It’s muddy, it’s raining, and it definitely is not going to be a white Christmas. It will get colder by Christmas day, but no snow.

As depressing as that might be, it is not comparable to some of the terrible weather conditions many of you have had to deal with; ice storms, power outages, just plain horrendous weather. We had a conversation about that on this blog’s Facebook page yesterday. My heart goes out to all of you and I pray that power is restored and the damage, if any, is minimal. Stay safe.

tree

Speaking of snow, I have fond memories of one of our first Christmases here in the East. After having lived in San Diego for eight years (me) and off and on his whole life (Don), we made the big move to the Eastern part of our country many years ago. We rented a little cottage, even smaller than this one.

On Christmas Eve, the weather report predicted a blizzard for Christmas Day. My West Coast born and bred husband was excited, to say the least. We had everything we needed in the house, the presents were bought, the tree was decorated, the four of us (Don, me, Winston and Scout) were safely nestled inside our cottage. Our neighbors called us on Christmas Eve morning. They were headed down to Princeton, NJ for Christmas Day but they had decided they should leave early to dodge the storm. They were taking care of our other neighbors’ dogs. Would we mind taking over those duties for a couple of days? Absolutely not, we said.

It was a huge blizzard. White-outs. Snow swirling everywhere. Many, many inches on the ground.

After eight years in San Diego, this Midwestern girl was thrilled. Don was, too. We had to shovel a path outside the door and take the dogs out on leashes, so we could see them and keep them safe. When it came time to venture next door to feed and let out our neighbors’ dogs, we slogged through snow drifts that seemed a mile high, falling down, laughing, pushing against the wind that threatened to keep us from our destination.

We felt like kids again.

I remember that day every year at this time. It was magical. The wonder of it all still stays with me. I think we lose a lot of that wonder as we grow older. I know that in my case, after years of big snowfalls in Michigan, then in Philadelphia and Boston, I got sick of the whole thing and couldn’t wait to move to San Diego. Familiarity breeds contempt. I’d had enough. And though I loved San Diego, after eight years there, I missed the seasonal changes that are part of living in this climate. I missed the wonder that can come from watching the leaves turn vivid colors, seeing the green buds of Spring transform the landscape and watching snow blanket the horizon as far as the eye can see.

Of course, I complain about all of the above. Leaves need to be raked. Spring brings rain and mud. Summer’s humidity can be oppressive. Winter’s snow needs to be shoveled.

I’m human.

But, if I take a moment to remember that particular Christmas, I’m a kid again. And that’s a good thing.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Comments

  3. This is a lovely column on the joy of winter. We have snow covering us in Northern Illinois and today the temps are in the teens and dropping. The sun wants to come out. It is flurrying. Our enjoyment is like yours. We have a warm old house, lots of food, and the tree and Christmas presents are ready. The birds coming happily to our feeders. It is time for long underwear, wool sweaters and cords. Ofcourse sewing, baking, and reading lots of books are on the agenda.

  4. Love your post about a Christmas Memory, but that title reminds me of Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory. Next to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, for me it is the best Christmas story, even though I’m in tears at the end. It was adapted for TV in 1966 with the wonderful actress Geraldine Page.

  5. Love this post. It is so easy to let the weather get me down. I think it is because when one is an adult you are in charge when things go wrong. Wind takes down branches, it rains in a closet or on top of your bed, someone in a car slides into your yard and comes just feet away from hitting the house, or a gully-washer leaves all the neighbors beauty bark on your lawn. The weather is always with us so I should just learn to see the beauty of it along with the work! And I have been watching the news and seeing what so much of the country is getting right now. I’ll keep them in my prayers.

    • Me too. Every time it gets windy, I worry about our trees. We have a leaky chimney, And on it goes. But it helps to stop and appreciate the beauty, in spite of our worries and fears.

  6. Memories are wonderful things! There’s something about playing (making snow angels, etc.) in new fallen snow that brings out the kid in me, too!
    I’d like to wish you and Don a Very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! xoxoxo

  9. Such a sweet memory for you and Don, Claudia! So wonderful how we can be transported back to our childhood selves and all the joy and wonder of it. So sorry you won’t be having a white Xmas this year after all. (It’s supposed to be 77 or something here for the holiday ay yi yi.)

    Merry merry Christmas to all of you!

    • Ah well, it’s certainly not the first Christmas I’ve been through without snow. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Sally. May you find some moments of peace this Christmas, my friend.

  10. What a great memory! I’m so thankful we only got snow…and not all the heartaches and headaches that so many others have to deal with at this time of the year. My neighbor was throwing snowballs at my husband last night as he was finishing up the snow clean-up. It does bring out the child in all of us! ;)

  11. Memories, what treasures they are! And we continue to make more everyday, just knowing that makes me continue adjusting my attitude toward positively thinking!
    I love snow, especially when it is falling, I love warm sunshine, especially after a rainy day. I love rain showers, especially after a searing dry period and I love a cloudy day, especially when I’m digging and planting. So, most days I have so much to appreciate and be thankful for.
    Merry Christmas!

  12. What a sweet memory Claudia. I can’t even imagine how much fun it was. I think all of us have one of those Christmas memories we bring out every year and smile about. For some reason this year seems particularly wonderful to me. I think Donavin’s light & music show going so well helped. We had about thirty people here that night. Our church services have been beautiful too. It’s in the 70’s here today but will get colder in the next couple of days.

  13. It sounds like a gat me Roy, and I think one of the wonder of Christmas is the childlike heart being awakened in all of us who are chronologically no longer children.

    Hope the blizzards stay away this year and that. You and Don and Scout can enjoy a very Merry Christmas, Claudia!

    xo

    Sheila

    • I think there’s a funny typo i your first phrase, Sheila! I can’t quite figure it out.
      Merry, Merry Christmas to you and yours, Sheila!

  14. I do love the way a “well timed” snow storm can bring out the kid in us. In my area of the Pacific Northwest we don’t see it very often – but when we do it’s absolutely magical! Merry Christmas to you Claudia (and Don & Scout too).

  16. I too love those magical moments when our inner child comes out to play..what fun it is to feel that wonderful feeling again..if only we would do this more often and not be worried about acting our age..I wish the snow would have stayed for Christmas also but I guess we will just have to be happy with the things that we do have..Like each other..Hugs to three of you!

  17. Your recollection was so delightful to read I almost wanted a white Christmas (which is something I normally don’t ever want after years of too much snow and not enough spring and autumn during my childhood in the Rocky Mountains). I do hope you get some snow so you can enjoy a perfect white Christmas yourself. May you and yours and a very Merry Christmas!

  18. A lovely memory of a happy Christmas spent with the people and pets you love. :-) Never fear, your nice warm 60 degree weather won’t last long… I’m sure we’ll be sending you our weather in a couple of days. That’s -7, with wind chills of -20. (And with KS being one of the windiest states in the nation, those windchill numbers REALLY do mean it is going to feel colder than the thermometer says. My nose felt like it froze, just running from my car to the grocery store door, only a few feet away. Merry Christmas to you land Don!

    • It’s pretty cold this morning! I can see frost on the windshield and I’m wearing my shawl at the moment!
      Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  20. It’s supposed to be 79 degrees on Christmas Day in San Diego. Yep. Perhaps for the first time I can get out my summer Christmas wear (given that I grew up in Australia with Christmases in the summer!)

  22. Your story brought a smile to my face.

    We have the same weather and I lost my Christmas Mojo the other morning when I was sitting out on my porch with no coat or jacket, inhaling the fresh scent of spring and feeding my little squirrel visitor some peanuts. I felt like Christmas had come and gone and it was late February :)

    • Yes, Don and I were grumbling about the overly warm weather. We want cold weather back again. This morning? Cold!

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