When I was growing up, we were poor by most standards. While we might be able to decorate for Christmas inside the house a little, albeit one year with a tree that was two limbs from a neighbor's cedar tree tied together, we could never afford to have outside decorations. Nevertheless, we did enjoy looking at Christmas decorations especially at Black's Department Store in downtown Plant City. Although the owners were Jewish, they created the most beautiful displays for Christmas. We also developed the tradition of driving around town to look at the decorations that others put up. Even in her last years, Mom enjoyed doing this.
This Christmas eve my sister, our friend, Alice, and I drove around town a little to look at decorations. However, we kept our drive more limited than previous years, driving by the displays set up by the city and keeping closer to our own homes. Nevertheless, it was quite pleasant. We followed up by opening presents. I couldn't afford to give much this year. I had a small gift for Alice and haven't made my sister's gift yet, although she does know what it will be.
On Christmas Day we joined just a few friends at All World Acres for a quiet celebration. Notable in this was a Crystal Bowl meditation which I find to be very healing. As usual I entered the same altered state of consciousness that I normally do. At first I seemed to be struggling with racing thoughts, and then, the sound of the last bowl is ending.
One day soon my sister and I will continue with one of our family traditions, putting flowers at the graves in the family plot. Our grandmother kept up this, and then our mother did and now we are doing it, in our turn.
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