C = CANDY

Rightly so, this season is one of cookies --- exchanges, trays, bake togethers, certain to put out when folks come to visit.  Trust me, I am a fan of cookies in any season, anywhere, anytime.  

 

Yet, let us also celebrate candy! 

 

Kudos to whomever realized the idea of the small candy cane --- perfect to hang over a mug of hot cocoa and melt into the chocolate.

 

Every year in my stocking was the “Book of Lifesavers,” an ingenious idea of a cardboard book-shaped container that held fiver rolls of Lifesavers.

 

Let every kid who ever wondered if getting coal instead of candy was a real thing for bad behaviors rejoice over the wonderful invention of coal candy, a lovely licorice-flavored treat complete with bucket and hammer!      

 

I am one who always carries in my pocket individually wrapped wintergreen lifesavers or other hard candies, most likely cinnamons or peppermints. I trace the beginning of this behavior back to the Christmas of my 10^thyear when my brother gifted me a two-pound bag of candy!  It was glorious!  All that hard candy --- the colors! The flavors!  Wonka himself never knew such bliss!

 

B = BLOW DART GUNS

 

My mother was and remains a total, amazing gift that we were blessed to have as our mum. She shone even more during the holidays; from decorations, to cookies, to meals, to rituals both new and old, to the gifts she thoughtfully purchased, Dorothy made Christmas amazing for her family.

As this post continues, it’s important to note that ours is a family of hunters. In our family, one quickly learns to ask “What season is it?”  When her two grandsons were the ages of five and nine, Mom decided to buy them a gift she knew they'd really enjoy...a total Dorothy Snyder thing to do.   The grandsons’ dad, my brother, is a successful hunter and he shared the love of hunting with his sons. Keeping that in mind, Dorothy decided a great gift for the grandsons would be....of course.....blow-dart guns. 

She honestly thought she was purchasing a toy....nope....Mom bought the grandsons real blow dart guns ---- the kind with the metal tipped darts....serious stuff.

Of course, the grandsons loved the gift! My brothers thought it was tremendous and quickly assembled a large cardboard box, blew up balloons and affixed them to the target.  A good portion of Christmas day was spent hearing the "pfffft" "smack" and "pop" of an actual blow dart being shot and hitting its target.  Echoing in the background was my mother's refrain, "O, my....I really thought it was a toy....I would never have bought a real weapon for two small children......" 

Happy Holidays from a family of hunters…….

 

A = ALMOST

 

From a children’s perspective the Advent season is one of building energy and excitement and the excitement is expressed in questions:

 

·      Is it time to open the day’s tab on the Advent calendar? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to take the cookies out of the oven? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to bring down the decorations from the attic?... Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to go to get the tree? Mum’s answer: “Almost”

·      Is it time to open gifts? Mum’s answer:  “Almost”

 

As kids learn to tell time I think there is also a course for parents, am and pm in parent time is taught to answer “almost” and “not yet.”

 

Almost bides time. We do that during this season of Advent, biding time until the celebration of Christmas.

 

Almost will be replaced with that wonderful answer of “YES.”  For persons long waiting and individuals always coming close yet never fully there…. the Advent season is the universal YES to creation, to communities of faith, to individuals. 

 

The journey of Advent can be summed up in five words: Almost.  Yes.  Now.  Let’s go!