Mother’s Day 2020

It was different this year. Originally, the day was to be different because this would be the first time I would celebrate in Virginia with my daughter Genette and her daughter Jubilee. I was thrilled!! I am Grandmommie!! Jubilee was to be dedicated in church on Mother’s Day, but this virus thing called Covid-19 kept us all in our own homes. Mother’s Day was different but certainly not what was planned or expected. Genette, Jubilee, and I all visited on Facetime on Saturday. It was a sweet visit; my granddaughter is getting so big so fast! It is hard to watch that happen on a screen, because I want to be there. Still, she is happy, strong, and healthy.

My youngest daughter Carmen called, and we had a long conversation on the phone, just the two of us. She is here in the city of Charlotte, but she is staying 6ft away. We decided on the phone that she could come over one day and we’ll have coffee in the front yard. We can certainly see each other even though we are at a distance.

Steven and I zoomed with the whole family, so we got to see all of our children, along with my sister’s family. It is good to be connected, although we are all in different states (and some on different coasts).  It was during the zoom meeting that I also got to see my son Bryon and his wife Amber.

Being a mom does not stop when your children grow up. It is still necessary to make decisions to protect them and your grandchildren. Usually, we connect helping with ‘going,’ but this year, helping is related to ‘staying away.’ Next year we will undoubtedly have some stories to tell about this time of our lives. For now, we have to live it.

To all of my children, bonus kids, and granddaughter: I love you all so very much. I miss you. I look forward to being near you. Give one another hugs for me. See you soon… probably on a screen.

Sincerely and with all my love,

Mom

Have a Heart

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite plants that bloomed under our kitchen window was Bleeding Hearts. Those sweet little pink blossoms would bloom every spring and it was a welcome sight. Their heart shape would sway in the breeze and I would watch as they floated back and forth. They didn’t bloom for Valentine’s Day; it was later in the spring.

This time of year, we see heart shapes everywhere: stores, clothing, candy, artwork, emojis (and I am sure you can name several other places!)… Of course, the heart shape represents love and affection, but other things can represent love and affection, too. Maybe a phone call '“just because,” a flower or balloon, a hug, folding laundry, doing the dishes, going out for tea or coffee, or just saying, “I love you.”

This week doing something special for the one you love is likely, but why not pin that card you get on February 14th on the refrigerator and make the 14th of every month a time to celebrate your love?

Hearts: they’re not just for Valentine’s Day.

Making Space for 2020

On January 1, 2020, Steven and I took down our Christmas tree. The ornaments have all been packed away and placed in the attic quietly waiting for the year to pass again. The green needles from the evergreen have been swept up and the furniture has been put back into place. Taking down the tree has always been a bittersweet time for me, but I find symbolism in it. The Christmas tree was brought into the house in anticipation of Christmas Day. The house was filled with extra chairs, additional food, family, and we all had a joyous time together. After Christmas everyone left, and it was time to prepare for the New Year.

Taking down the tree on January 1st is like making space for the New Year to come in. Taking out the tree stand, putting all of the decorations away, taking out the extensions on the dinner table, packing up the Christmas dishes and linens — it all creates room for the New Year. The decorations I put out each December bring back memories that I cherish but putting them away again allows new experiences to be welcomed into our home.

As I look at my 2020 calendar I see that I have a lot in store for the year. I am excited, expectant, anxious and, if I’m honest, in some moments I am terrified (breathe, Lona, just breathe!). It is all going to be good! I have a feeling you might feel the same way as you consider your 2020 calendar.

May you have a wonderful, joyous, happy, and productive year with many a new story to tell and share.

And remember: breathe, just breathe.

Welcome to 2020!

Christmas Carols

Christmas carols are part of our celebrations during this time of year. Some began as poems while others were never intended to be part of the December festivities. Take, for instance, a tune heard on the radio during this time of year: “We Need A Little Christmas”. This actually was written for the Broadway musical, Mame, by Jerry Herman in 1966. The lead character has lost her money in the 1929 Wall Street crash and needs some happiness well before December 25th.

Here’s a version of the song sung by Lucille Ball in the 1974 movie:

We Need a Little Christmas
by Jerry Herman

Haul out the holly,
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again,
Fill up the stockings,
I may be rushing things, but
Deck the halls again now

For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute
Candles in the window
Carols at the spinet
Yes we need a little Christmas,
Right this very minute
(It hasn't snowed a single flurry,
But Santa, dear we're in a hurry)

So climb down the chimney,
Turn on the brightest string of lights I've ever seen,
Slice up the fruitcake,
It's time we hung some tinsel,
On that evergreen bough

For I've grown a little leaner,
Grown a little colder,
Grown a little sadder,
Grown a little older,
And I need a little angel,
Sitting on my shoulder,
Need a little Christmas now

For we need a little music,
Need a little laughter,
Need a little singing,
Ringing through the rafters,
And we need a little snappy
"Happy ever after"
We need a little Christmas now

There is a story behind the carols that we sing. Here are a couple of links to some interesting stories about the carols that we sing on this Christmas Day.

• Unusual Stories Behind Your Favorite Christmas Songs

• The Origins of 10 Popular Christmas Carols

I wish for each of you a Joyous and Happy Celebration during this season.  May you have music, laughter, and singing ringing through your home all year and, as the year comes to an end, may you have a Happy Ever After to your 2019 story.

Thanksgiving and Stories

Thanksgiving is the BEST holiday for stories! Friends and family gather around a table and raise a glass, eat turkey, and enjoy the feast. Someone will say something like, “Do you remember when…?” or “When I was little…” Then another person will say, “Last Thanksgiving, we all were…”

Then someone drops the cranberry sauce on the floor and someone announces, “Well, that’ll be a story for next year!” (and it will be!).

Thanksgiving is a celebration of abundance, family, friends, and recognition of the past year: the good, the challenges, the sadness, and the hope for the year to come.

This year my family is a bit ‘up in the air’ about Thanksgiving. We are not sure exactly where we will be, but we know we will be with family (I’ll explain more about that next week.). Wherever we are, we will be celebrating and adding to our family stories. We will rejoice, we will cry, we will remember those who have left this earth, we will cuddle and love the new little ones that have joined our crazy, amazing, annoying, weird, fun filled, dysfunctional, normal (is normal a real thing?) loving and caring clan.

As you celebrate your Thanksgiving with family, friends, neighbors, and even people you don’t like, may I wish you happy stories, joyous memories, and good thoughts for the coming year.

May I also add, YOU are an important part of the story.

Lona