Dear Grandma:
Itís Christmas again. Seems like just 12 months ago that I wrote to you. Oops, guess it was.
Iíd like to say things have changed a lot since then, but they havenít, which is both good and bad.
I know you never liked bad news. You would always say to look on the bright side, which I liked and got a lot of strength from, courage even, as Cindy and I like to say to each other. You had all your funny sayings, ìFind a penny pick it up, all the day youíll have good luck.î
So I wonít belabor the bad news which comes on the radio every morning at 5 a.m. You are lucky you donít have to hear it every noon from Paul Harvey like in the good old days.
Still thereís lot of uplifting things, and Christmas does bring them to the surface.
Like the clanks and bangs of cookie sheets in the kitchen. Cindy got up this morning at 4:45 and started in on the chocolate drop cookies. Thatís all sheís making this year ñ we have to keep the waistlines in check. But your old recipe card is on the counter again, your old handwriting, so good to see again, Hard to beat that sight and sound and taste. Your cookies are the Chosen Ones!
Music too. The button box is at the ready, and has been tested with Twelve Days of Christmas and Up on the House Top. It almost plays itself this time of year. If I played those songs any other time, Iíd be hauled off to the Reno Bottoms and left to wander for a couple weeks. But now they sound perfect.
I heard some elementary school kids singing their hearts out too, last week in Caledonia. Thatís always a hopeful sign, like hearing a chickadee give his cheerful call. I waited and waited, then the words jumped out of the fifth gradersí mouths: ìI wish for joy. I wish for love. Bu my favorite wish of all is for peace!î
Thank you for that, kids and Mrs. Kranz. I know itís just a song, but maybe it will come true. Maybe.
Thereís plenty of good spirit all around. I know I mention this every year Grandma, but the Care & Share volunteers are pretty amazing, how they give of themselves, not just money but more importantly, their time. Seeing see them bustle and package clothing and toys for people less fortunate is nothing short of profound. I canít write that in a story but I can to you.
And thereís some wisdom too. A couple weeks ago Caledonia lost power for several hours. It was a cold day, something we havenít had much of this winter, so it was a worrisome time. But folks worked together as they always do and fixed it in no time. They called off school, and businesses closed, and everyone clucked their tongues at that. But then at Rotary Mike Werner talked about the power outage, and he said he got to go home and play cards with his kids. Pastor Beth seconded him that maybe it was an act of God telling us to slow down. Those things get lost, especially this time of year, and I appreciated that reminder very much.
Hope you are well in your New Home, although it isnít so new anymore. Iím sure you fit right in, and people down here are still trying to do the same. Itís ainít easy (sorry, I know you hate that word), but weíll find a way. Christmas always leaves me with that thought.
Love, David

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