Rick Karash asked for holiday stories so here goes.....
With Boston Pops christmas carols coming from the stereo and hot cider
steaming on the stove, we had finished locating the ideal spot for each of
our treasured ornaments on the tree. Trimmed in all white lights and
flowing with ribbons from the top to the bottom, the tree looked grand.
Glass bells jingled, and the Santa spinned around on its string as it
swayed on the branch with each caress. Its done. The candles were out, the
house lights were strung and the season was here.
My nine month old daughter called for us in that way that demands action.
She too wanted to be a part of the festivities, especially the eating
part. Dressed warm in her fuzzy sleeper, she emerged from her room in the
arms of my wife. She didn't notice the tree at first as she had other
thoughts more pressing.
We sat her on the floor at the base of the tree to measure her reaction
to her first christmas tree. We jingled the bells to draw her attention.
She layed on the floor and slowly turned her gaze upon the spinning Santa,
then the lights, then the whole tree. Her face seemed to broaden as her
eyes took in each branch. Her mouth open in awe. Then a peculiar thing
happened. Her face reddened, her eyes welled with tears and a scream began
from somewhere down in her empty stomach. She seemed terrified.
I layed beside her and enveloped her in my arms. And as she quieted, I
had my first view of our tree from her vantage point.
Our tree was only five feet high, but from the floor looking up it
appeared to be 20 stories. Each ornament was hanging, hovering in the air
seeming to drop at any time. What a shock. What shift in view. What a new
paradigm!
Try this and see if you agree. Oh, by the way, my daughter soon found her
first present under that same tree and lived there happily for years and
years.
-- ** HAPPY HOLIDAYS ** David Reed (206)655-3245 M/S 11-40 Internet: dpr9989@kgv1.bems.boeing.com