Monthly Archives: December 2021

Good News and Kindness

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My friend Nichola and I cut a deal earlier this week. Every day through the new year we will each find a positive news story and share it with the other on Facebook.

This is an important exercise for a couple of reasons. Facebook is cluttered with bad news and bickering. Right now it’s how I learn about illness and death in my own community. For the last few years I have gained insight into the hearts and minds of neighbors who I never dreamed could be so cruel. It’s not an especially pleasant place some days.

By exchanging happy stories we are brightening each other’s day but also maybe giving someone else something happy to consider. More importantly, we are actively retraining our brains to look for happy, uplifting news. If you’re looking for a white car, you’ll only see white cars. If you’re only looking for good news, that’s what you’ll see and what you’ll seek.

People like to blame the media for a lot of things that are wrong in the world. As consumers we must also take some responsibility for all the negativity. Sadly, news agencies are just looking for clicks like everyone else. There’s a reason why all the headlines are negative. It’s not that nothing good ever happens. It’s that people tend to click the negative headlines more than the good ones.

In other words, if you want to see more good news, you better start supporting good news on the internet.

Finding good news has been hard. So far, my choices have included Madix the cat who was found nine days after he was thought dead in the Kentucky tornados. Then there was a feature story on a wealthy business man who plays Secret Santa every Christmas. CBS has chronicled his kindness every year, honoring his desire to remain anonymous as he gives away $30,000 to strangers in increments of $100.

A favorite from Nichola was about a man who ran Christmas lights from his home to that of a neighbor who was struggling. He wanted her to know they are still connected despite the isolation caused by the pandemic. Pretty soon the entire neighborhood got involved and lights began to connect homes up and down several streets.

The good stuff is out there. You just have to go looking for it.

Speaking of looking for things, I nearly missed out on something great in real life yesterday. I was out running errands and was driving when I noticed a red piece of paper threatening to blow off the corner of my windshield. Someone had left a red envelope on my red car and I completely missed it.

The envelope contained an unsigned Christmas card with a $5 Walmart gift card.

It made my day.

It’s wonderful how a small gesture can completely turn your day around. I have no idea who left it or how many others my Secret Santa gifted yesterday but I’m grateful.

I’m also a little disappointed in myself. Had I been thinking, I would have left this gift on someone else’s vehicle. Receiving was wonderful but giving would have felt even better.

How nice would the world be if we all could make an effort each day to spread whatever goodness we can afford in whatever way we can manage.

Happy Christmas Eve, my friends.

Conservatory Aglow

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With a gentle nudge from my friend Terri, I finally made it to Conservatory Aglow last night. This special holiday event is held at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus through January 9.

There are plenty of things to see both inside and out including Christmas floral displays inside and beautiful lights outside. There was live music too.

It has been unseasonably warm here in Ohio but the temperature dipped well below freezing in time for our visit so it was quite cold wandering around in the dark.

I always visit this fellow who guards the Children’s Garden.

This arch is even more spectacular in person.

These trees are made of glass.

The purple!

My favorite spot was here, walking through this lighted tunnel.

Poinsettias are just so festive and happy.

They sell timed tickets and we opted for 5:30 thinking that it might be less crowded. This was smart as it seemed to get busier with each passing minute. All the same, it wasn’t terribly busy so we were able to mostly wander freely without interference from crowds.

Yoctangee Park At Christmas

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Last night found me in downtown Chillicothe so I took a quick detour into Yoctangee Park. It has been a city park since 1875 but got its name in the 1890s. Yoctangee is the Native American word for paint, a reference to the skin and clothing pigments they once used in this area.

That bit of history isn’t all that relevant to Christmas except the festive lights that currently illuminate the park reminded me of the meaning of that name.

They have just a few lights this year but it’s free to drive through and quite pleasant. In fact, all of the historic downtown is worth a look as it’s all dressed up for the holidays. Not to mention all the shops and restaurants would be thrilled to have your business.

These two images are my favorite from the park.

This one in particular is meaningful as the lake at this park is known for its swans.

It wasn’t that long ago that this historic district was dead on a typical Tuesday night. It’s amazing to see how it has grown, to enjoy the lights, have to stop for pedestrians and see restaurants packed with guests.

I have written some about downtown Chillicothe. Try the Search box to find more about this great town.

Musings on Christmas Memories In A Time Of Sorrow

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Santa at Dogwood Pass in 2017.

On Saturday, I spent much of the day baking cookies at my parents’ house. Afterward, we watched Christmas movies while a kitty cat purred in my lap.

Their house is always warm and it was cold outside when I left. The shock of cold and the starry sky reminded me of a Christmas Eve long ago when we spent an evening with my grandparents. I was small and all the adults kept talking about how a certain little girl needed to go home to bed so Santa Claus could come.

The colorfully lit tree was decorated with an assortment of ornaments accumulated over time and I sat under that tree to open a gift from my grandparents. I don’t recall the gift but I do remember the little candy dish filled with old fashioned hard candy that you buy at the store. I remember the laughter among adults and the warmth of that old house.

The memories made me smile as I hummed Bing Crosby’s White Christmas on the way to the porch.

This year is much different. Most of the people who provided the laughter and warmth of that home are gone now. Many who are left are too young to remember those people and that place.

This year has been haunted by hardship and loss for so many. This will be our first Christmas without my aunt Maryann. Another family member recently received a terrible diagnosis. My great aunt Marcella died over the weekend. She was the last of her generation in my grandma’s family. A college friend lost three immediate family members just days apart during this season of cheer. We have lost longtime family friends including one who just passed on Sunday. My mother is coping with injuries from her fall at Walmart over the weekend but is probably lucky to be alive.

Things aren’t going well and it’s a far cry from the picture perfect Bing Crosby moments of my childhood. It gets harder to be joyful at Christmas as you age because you’re more aware of all the troubles of the world around you.

However, as I write this I keep glancing at something written on a post-it note that I stuck to my desk months ago. Little did I know it would come in handy today. It simply says “Gratitude turns what you have into enough.”

It isn’t always easy but I’m choosing to be grateful for the memories and grateful for the time we had with all those who have left empty seats at our table. I’m grateful for the people and all the good in my life today. And when you look at it that way, it still hurts but maybe it hurts a little less.

Soundsuits

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Missouri native Nick Cave is known for his “soundsuits” like this one at the Columbus Museum of Art.

It looks pretty wild as it is made with found knitted and crocheted fabric, painted metal and wood toys. I wish I had understood it better as I studied it in the museum. Cave began creating these pieces in response to the Rodney King beating as a vehicle for empowerment. The suits cover the entire body, concealing race, gender and class.

I like it better now that I understand it.

That’s something that frustrates me in some art museums. They often give you the bare bones of the origin without explanation. I get that they want you to form your own opinions but I often struggle to do this with modern art and appreciate a little background as a jumping off point.

Consequently, I often note the artist’s name for later research and comprehension. That’s the thing about asking questions. You never know what you might learn!

Making No Claims For Today

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It seems that I unwittingly issued a challenge to the universe yesterday when I suggested we should always aim for a good day and waxed poetic about the quiet morning I had planned.

We had some excitement on Friday evening when my mother took a tumble at a big box store. To be more exact, she hit her head when an employee knocked her down. She got to take a ride to the hospital in a squad and be subjected to all kinds of tests.

She’s home and not doing super but will hopefully be fine.

Yesterday I ran an errand for her and somehow encountered some of the weirdest situations. We are talking truth is stranger than fiction kind of weird people.

Like the woman who was mad because people kept going ahead of her in line at the grocery store. She was standing off to the side, about three feet from the belt and holding a single bag of carrots. She was just chatting with people, holding her carrots as she educated all who would listen on a specific product she thinks everyone should try. When the man ahead of me asked if she was waiting for someone, she said no and that people kept jumping ahead of her in line. The man kindly indicated she should put her carrots down on the belt so people would know she was in line and she seemed a little indignant that such an act was necessary. She acted like she had never thought of such a thing. Turns out, she and her carrots had been waiting for a while.

Then there was the man who paced in circles, while waiting in line. He had brought Kroger sacks to Aldi and had used them to carry his unpurchased merchandise. That’s fine except that he was swinging those bags while he paced like he was practicing his wind up for a World Series game.

Of course. No one was weirder or more annoying than yours truly. I had been in Marshall’s for ten minutes before I realized I was suffering a wardrobe malfunction. The zipper on my vest had broken and the top half was zipped while the bottom had come undone. Oh. And the cute scarf I had bought on vacation and happily wore out to into public still had the tags hanging off of it.

I looked ridiculous. Sigh.

Oh, yeah. I also somehow lost a jar of marinara from my cart at the grocery. I watched it fall, in slow motion, before slamming into the floor and blistering into about a hundred pieces that went far, far from where I was standing in that awful line.

The cashier, bless her, didn’t blink or even say a word. She simply called for someone to come clean it up.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. It was an odd day.

I’m badly hoping for a quiet Sunday at home but won’t dare make plans or think that it might happen. I’m just going to tip toe into this day and hope for the best.

Wish me luck.