loving art, science and creative kids

 Heaven and Beyond

The spinning universe brings a mixture of emotions to earth.

/ Acrylic on Canvas / 20” by 24 “/ $399 

 A Whirlwind Descends 

Each December a whirlwind descends, causing a helter-skelter flurry of activity.  Love it? or hate it?  Holidays bring out many emotions.  I happen to thrive during the holidays, looking forward to large family gatherings of children and grandchildren. Chaos, noise, and mounds of dishes never bother me though my back often aches by the end of the holiday visit.  I spend weeks looking for the perfect gift for each person, happily wrapping them in my basement surrounded by ribbons and bows while listening to jazz.

My husband, on the other hand, dreads the holidays. The confusion and noise of my large family make him want to retreat to a man cave. He prefers visits from one family at a time and cringes when all 22 people descend on our home. The cat also hides. Thank goodness he is tolerant. Part of my job at holiday time is to arrange quite places and times for one-on-one conversations so he feels comfortable.

A common emotion at holiday time is sadness.  Thank goodness, there is no time for that with our large family, but I do know  many people who can not go home for the holiday to reconnect with friends and family.  Holiday decorations and carols may remind them of a happier moment from their past, bringing back nostalgic memories that can never be duplicated. 

As the winter solstice approaches and the nights become long, people throughout the ages have found reasons to celebrate.  Religious as well as secular practices remind people that life has cycles, the seasons' change, the sun will return, there is hope for mankind and there are many fine reasons to celebrate.  Festivities have always drawn people together, reinforcing a sense of community and shared values. It is also a time for remembrance of those who are sick, poor and lonely, those who need special attention. Giving swells hearts and people feel good thinking of others. It is why we see an increase in charitable donations, gift buying for the needy and invitations given to guests who are alone.

There isn’t really one way of approaching the holidays, but to embrace the season’s spirit it helps to take the feelings and needs of others into account.  When purchasing a gift I ask myself if it really contributes to the growth and well-being of the recipient. Is it educational? Can it be shared? Is it green?

There are lots of opportunities to show love and affection so I enjoy activities that get everyone involved. The goal, of course, is to leave that warm feeling in the belly of everyone. One year each person in my extended family pulled a name out of a hat and was assigned the task of creating something special to honor that individual. One parent assembled photographs and published a book about her son, another wrote a short story.  Several children contributed handcrafted items. One painted pottery and another made a potholder. My granddaughter wrote and sang a song while her younger sister played the harp.  The youngest child made a picture for his Dad that looked something like a two legged dinosaur.  Our family sat around oohing and ahhing as the gifts were unveiled.

Play reading was another activity we got involved in during several gatherings. Parts were distributed and everyone joined in with their best acting voices. Imagine reading a Shakespeare comedy in plainspoken English that even young children can understand.Try it, it really is a good read!

Putting a 3-D puzzle together was an annual ritual in our household. As soon as the first person arrived at our home, the card table got cleared, a white board set up and a complex puzzle that takes days to assemble gets put together with everyone’s help. It has was quite challenge working on the New York 3 D puzzle.

With a bit of planning, it is easy to get the entire family to feel a welcomed part of the festivities. These moments become the new memories built on a holiday spirit that everyone can embrace.

What are your holiday traditions?  Do share them below.

Artwork is always for  sale. Contact me at [email protected].

What a great gift! It's funny, informative and filled with behind the scenes gossip about museums. 

Lives of Museum Junkies: The Story of America’s Hands-On Education Movement

Available Powells Books, Annie Blooms Books, Broadway Books, MAC Emporium, Amazon, Barnes and Noble

SAVE THE DATE:  Annie Blooms Books, Multnomah Village, Portland, OR - Talk and signing for Lives of Museum Junkies.  The event starts at 7 PM.