CHRISTMAS PLANNING – ADVENT DAY 1

I like Christmas. It helps to pass the winter. No use to let everything go because of hard times. – Ina Dobson, 1932 

Our 2022 calendar corresponds to 1932, so in my imagination, in Grandma Ina’s world it’s December 1, 1932. In my world, it’s a dull day with melting snow, but in the upper country, it’s a different story today with more snow and gusting wind. We’ll just pretend it’s snowing and blowing today in Ina’s world.

I can see Ina now as she slips the calendar off its nail on the kitchen wall, turns the page to December, and lays it on the table where she has already set out scratch paper and pencil. It’s time to plan her Christmas Eve dinner party for family and friends. She pours a cup of coffee for herself and one for Shirley, who is rereading a stack of Christmas cards received in past years. And I’m sitting there, too. They just can’t see me.

“Look, Mama, isn’t this a beautiful card? The little cottage nestled in the snow looks so cozy!” exclaims Shirley.

I’m with Shirley. I love Christmas cards. Every year I buy a pack of used vintage cards from one of my favorite Etsy sellers. Last year I bought a pretty file box for them, and now my cards are filed by subject, both the hard copies and the scans.

“Indeed,” replies Ina, wishing that Shirley would pay attention to the matter at hand. Christmas was Ina’s favorite time of year, and her celebration was one of tradition. By today’s standards, it lacks glitz, but that’s okay. Still, there would be a lot to do to ensure that Christmas 1932 would be a memorable occasion for all under her care.

“Now,” says Ina in a strong, authoritative voice as a Dobson will, “we must get organized, Shirley. Besides Aunt Bertha and Uncle June, the Boehms and the Cordells have promised faithfully to come. We’ll fill the leftover candy boxes with sugared popcorn, ‘old hard Xmas candy,’ and assorted nuts. Aunt says they can’t contribute treats this year, so in a way that makes the tree loom larger. Still, we’ll have a regular tree with gifts and goodies for all.”

Ina pauses, takes a deep breath, and gets up from the table to mash the apples simmering on the stove. The aroma of applesauce fills the house, adding to the holiday mood. It’s snowing and blowing again, but they are cozy in the house as long as they don’t stray too far from the old wood range. The cheery flakes drifting through the air add to the festivity of Christmas planning. KW