craftygal scraps - Season's Greetings

Season's Greetings!

Last Christmas, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I would make Christmas last all year, to keep that heartbreaking joy and happiness--that most beautiful feeling--and have the Christmas spirit live all year. Part of my decision was due to the fact that I, being broke, wasn’t able to buy my family or friends a Christmas present. Due to this impecuniousness, I didn’t exchange gifts for the first time since I was seven years old and my mother let me loose in the Santa’s Gift Workshop in the cafeteria of Cobble’s Elementary School with a couple of sweaty dollars bills. I would spend hours toiling over the, in retrospect, paltry and cheap selections, but I always did my best to see how each item meshed with each personality on the list. Nevertheless, I always emerged with a useless mini-screwdriver set for dad and cheap perfume for mom. However, I put all the money I had (or all the money my mom gave me) and a lot of feeling into the gift-buying aspect of the holiday season, and the fact that I didn’t have any money last year, at 24 years of age, was of particular pecuniary embarrassment.

In an effort to counteract the fact that, come Christmas morning, those usually accustomed to receiving a present from me would get none, I promised that, throughout the coming year, I would do my best to show each person in my life that I truly cared. When I had a little extra money last February, I surprised my step-mother, who is accustomed to just getting a card on her birthday, with two tickets to her favorite--Stars on Ice--with her favorite ice skater, Scott Hamilton. For my mother’s birthday in August, I listened to her hinting, and much to her delight, I presented her with White Shoulders body powder and a gold cross necklace. In fact, where I usually get family and friends Christmas presents, and skimp on birthdays, this year everyone got a birthday present, and I also spent more money than usual on wedding, baby shower, and christening gifts of most everyone I knew; such was the power of guilt for not buying Christmas presents. Yet, that is not what I mean at all. That is not it at all.

Sure, I might have bought people more gifts, but what I promised was that I would give more of myself. I would be there for family and friends with kind words, small tokens of friendship and love, positive encouragement, and a kind ear that would be in tune with their feelings so I could see in what ways I could help them. I promised I wouldn’t spread myself thin, and that I would be a true friend. I believe this simple reflection, carried over the course of the year, enabled me to be more in tune with people around me and to become a better friend, daughter, and girlfriend. I would definitely have bought presents if I could, but this gift, the gift I had to give myself before I gave others, had no price tag and is something that no one can take away, and will live in my heart and manifest in my actions as long as I choose to use it.

This December, this Christmas, I want to again remember the promise and rekindle the ties between family and friends. Socrates said, "Beware of the bareness of a busy life." I might be busy and I might have accomplished a lot over the year, but if no one is around to share the rewards, if I am left to myself, than I doubt it was worth the sacrifice. I want to make the same promise to myself this year that I made last year. I long to open my heart up to the season and reacquaint with family and friends. I might have to anyway. From all the money I used trying to make up for last Christmas, it seems I’m short again this year.

We at craftygal wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays, and our present to you is another issue. My sentiment for attachment is echoed in Christy’s heart-warming piece about her relationship with her two grandfathers in Stump. A festive, traditional Christmas can be brought into your home and hearth--you can assemble a Fresh Pine Centerpiece to welcome your company by following Christy to the Table and, once you wash your hands, you can come into the warmth of the kitchen and dig your hands into some dough to make a variety of delicious cookies for a party with Jan at the Fridge. After your company goes home, you can read about Stitch Night in Taryn’s Travels. Lastly, you can meet one fabulous crafter--a one Korana Kelly--who is a professional glassblower and always has her hands in a creative project, whether it is making cards or silk stitching, by grabbing a rocking chair with me in the Porch. This Christmas, if people near and dear to me still don’t get a present, they will at least get a wonderful Korana Kelly made Christmas card and my love, the best gift of all.