Quiet day.. hardly anyone’s at work which makes it a great time for catching up. I sent a good half of a day trying to get through my email backlog. I did take one break today and partook of a vry old tradition.. the annual GYM/View gift exchange. My freinds have been doing this for… 15 – 20 year (I think).. The rules are simple.. each gift must b under a certain set price (this year it was raised to $3) and it must be wrapped. One year I wrapped a bail of bad hay..
This year there were only 7 of us.. The economy made the $3 entry fee too steep, I suppose.. Laura got a stolen appraisal sign,
Rich got a stylish dollar store apron
Mitch got.. uh.. rabies ?
A… and I got a nerf gun and popper things for less than 3 bucks !..
Wait, no.. actually Mitch got the gift I brought .. I chose carefully.. I thought about what I most valued form the past year that could be had for $3 or less.. I got a 4 pack of Charmin toilet paper and wrapped it prettily.. Let me tel l you that a 4 pack of toilet paper would have been worth its weight in gold in the Colony !
It was well past dark by the time I got home .. this being the shortest day of the year.. the longest night only made me feel good.. The days will start to get longer now.. very quickly at first. It’s fun to watch the change. The house was brightly lit and warm.. It felt.. well.. solstice-y.. Why aren’t there any good solstice carols, anyway ? THe closest one I know is called the ‘Christians and the Pagens’ by Dar Williams.. At least it has the word ‘Solstice’ in it
The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams (There’s a good recording of it here)
Amber called her uncle, said, “We’re up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay.”
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.
He told his niece, “It’s Christmas eve, I know our life is not your
style,”
She said, “Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it’s been
a while.”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were
said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.
The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, “Is it true that you’re a witch?”
His mom jumped up and said, “The pies are burning,” and she hit
the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, “It’s true, you’re cousin’s not
a Christian,
But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we
share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere.”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from , I think magic’s in the learning,
‘Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.
When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, “Really, no, don’t
bother.”
Amber’s uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn’t spoken in a year,
He thought he’d call him up and say, “It’s Christmas and your daughter’s
here.”
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve,
Saying, “Can I be a Pagan?” Dad said, “We’ll discuss it when
they leave.”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old,
And making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.
Well folks.. I hope you all have a blessed Solstice.. Tomorrow will be brighter… That’s a promise.
Blessed be folks, blessed be Sam
-me
