Today is warm for December, in the mid-50’s. The sun comes in and out from behind grey clouds. A small breeze ruffles the few leaves left on the oak trees.

My den is filled with bags and packages. Tonight I will begin wrapping the Colorado gifts so they can be sent. I’m hoping I can finish by Monday. The good thing is no ribbons on the packages as the cats are prone to eat them.    I’ve even caught Fern munching.

When I was a kid, we had Advent wreaths, four candles set around a small decorated wreath which my mother always placed on the living room table. Three of the candles were purple and one was white or sometimes pink. Each Sunday in Advent one of the candles was lit. The odd color was for Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, the halfway point until Christmas. I can see the wreath in my mind’s eye. We’d all surround it and take a turn lighting the candles. I know there were specific prayers read from a card, but I have no memory of what they were or even who read them. I just remember the wreath and the candles.

Our house was always decorated. The picture window had snowflakes and stars from stencils and spray on white snow from a can. The Christmas cards were taped around the archway leading to the kitchen. Those were the days of Christmas cards. There were so many the mailman came twice. My mother would let us open them then she’d dutifully mark received on the index cards in the metal Christmas card file box. I remember the box had a green background and white trees and stars. Each year my mother would send cards to the names and addresses in the box and check sent when she did. If none were received back for two or three years, cards were no longer sent to them.

Cardboard Santas were taped on the walls and silver tinsel was hung around windows, but the centerpiece was always the tree. I remember crawling under it to plug in the lights which were big, different colors and burned hot. I also remember so many plugs attached one on top of the other I wonder how we avoided an electrical fire.

I always remember wonder when I think of Christmas as I was growing up. My memories are filled with colors and Christmas carols and wrapped presents under the tree. I remember all the Christmas cookie cutters and decorating sugar cookie Santas, trees, bells and reindeer. It was my mother who brought Christmas magic and gave us all the memories.