O! Christmas Tree

For The Gallery ~ Christmas Tree.

Follow the prompt by Sticky Fingers and post a photograph which best describes your interpretation of the theme for The Gallery.

This year, our Christmas tree stands on a table, well out of the reach of the devil Boxer puppy. She loves all things pretty and dangly, and quick as a wink, the decorations will be off the tree, back to her den. My choice of decorations? A selection of African themed beaded fancies, and painted balls and little animals.

This is my favourite Christmas card. Received from our 6 year old godson who lives in Melbourne. It is in Japanese, but I thought his Christmas tree fits in with the theme too.

Photography by Lesley Beeton

The Gallery

All I want for Christmas...

I've got a list. I've checked it twice. Actually, I've checked that it's all been bought too. But there is something not on the list. Something I couldn't write down. Something in my heart.
All I want for Christmas is a day of happy memories, and looking forward to the New Year. A year of good health, new adventures and lots of love.
Oh, and friendship. More of the wonderful friendship I have enjoyed this year. In spite of everything, something beautiful flourished this year. A warm and enduring friendship that will last a lifetime. Priceless. Can't put that on a Christmas list. 
What's on your list in your heart?

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I AM MYSELF

It's been a long time since I felt this way. For the past year I have been defined first by Mom's illness, then by her death and finally by Dad's grief. I woke up one morning this week, with Christmas shopping done, cards written and dinner party planned, and thought 'At last, I am myself'.

But it's not the same me as last year. I'm a more sensitive, grown-up, tolerant me. That's a good thing. I watched and learned a lot from Mom's carers. Completely selfless and dedicated women with their own families and worries, doing the most difficult job caring for a terminally ill stranger. 

A good friend told me about her own struggle with her elderly parents. Her Mum is being cared for in a home and her Dad is barely managing to live independently on his own. She is torn between her daughters and her husband and her parents, and it feels as though she has all the juggling balls up in the air at the same time and is about to drop them all. I really feel for her, it will be a long time before she is herself again. 

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A SIMPLE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

Dad and I did a lovely thing together today. We were invited by two local organisations to hang a tag in memory of Mom on their Christmas trees. Each tree already had many other tags but there was still space for our memory. We spent some time reading the other tags, the fond memories of loved ones. It was so moving. 

Afterwards we sat together and had coffee and set up Dad's Christmas tree. It's lovely to have light and colour in the house at this time of year. I hope it will be of some comfort to Dad.

It got me thinking about what other families do throughout the year to keep the memory of departed loved ones alive in their hearts. I'd love to hear from you, if you do something special that could also help other families.

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