SOCIAL MEDIA

Bird's Eye View

12.05.2007

Last weekend we had our first big snow fall. It was beautiful, complete with big, fat, feathery snowflakes filling the white sky. We decided to venture out early in the morning to go and pick out a wreath for the front of the house. While out, we stopped so that I could get some pictures and as I was clicking away at these lovely red berries I heard something and looked up and spotted right above our heads this little one nibbling away! Totally oblivious that there were three people staring and pointing and laughing, she just kept at the important task of filling her belly. The unexpected delights of keeping your eyes open to what's around you at this time of year I guess.

After our bird and berry adventure we went out to this place and picked out our wreath. So cool because at the end of the season we can return the wire frame backing to them and they will re-use them to make wreaths again next year. Something that I appreciate, especially at this time of year when being wasteful tends to lend itself with several traditions of the season.

Upon visiting my family over Thanksgiving I came upon some little bits of realization as well as happened upon some more appreciation for my parents and how I was raised. While visiting we had the t.v. on one night before bed (something we rarely, if ever do at home) after traveling and we were all three camped out on the bed having some snacks and just re-winding a bit from being on the road all day and after about the fourth commercial that was geared towards the holidays and shopping and the latest toys (for kids and adults mind you) Ethan and I looked at each other (pulling out of that t.v. induced stupor) and I said to him something along the lines of, "Well, I guess you can't know what it is that you want or need unless you watch t.v. at the holidays." Seriously. When did Christmas become so materialistic? Why do we all run out to spend, spend, spend? I mean a part of me knows all the answers to this, but really... why? And now to come to the appreciation part that I discovered regarding my parents. My parents never had me write out a list of things that I wanted for Christmas. Of course I remember offering ideas to them, what child doesn't learn that right off? But I never had that expectation that I was getting what I wanted, that I deserved what I asked for. Not sure that I am making sense exactly, but one thing that I remember about Christmas with my family was always being surprised. I remember wanting a Nintendo so very badly (after all, everyone else that I knew was getting one!) and asking and asking for one and instead finding an unwanted microscope under the tree and from that microscope I had hours upon hours of fun discovering what specimens were living right in my backyard, and having those very same friends with Nintendos come over to investigate right along with me. I look around now and see four and five year olds driving around in motorized SUV's and wonder where did our sense of play go? Where exactly are our priorities these days? There are people in the world (right here in this country, this city, this town) that don't even have warm places to sleep at night and so many of us are out shopping at 4 in the morning to be sure to get the latest Elmo doll for our toddlers? I don't mean to preach and I will step down from my soap-box of ideas on this, but I guess I just have come to realize that this (what my parents instilled in me starting at the age of just a babe) is something that I so desperately want to preserve with Zoey. I want her to know the magic of Christmas, that there is a story that goes along with the season and that it means something. I want her to appreciate finding an orange in the toe of her stocking as I once did. A tin of fruit shaped candies. Finding something little, wrapped and hidden in the tree. Tapioca pudding warm and topped with cinnamon shared on the couch in the living room that is lit with only the lights of the tree. Going out caroling with neighbors and friends. These are all things that I am okay with holding on to tightly, things that I treasure and hold most dear now as an adult. Turns out though, that these things are not all things after all.
Samantha said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! I absolutely LOVE this picture! I'm a birder, and love everything bird-related. I'm glad I found your blog :)

~Sam (CKMB HappyScrappySam)

Molly said...

I'm right there with you. Your a lucky girl having that example. I think I was lucky in that way too. I start to get really resentful about it all. We were buying our tree tonight and we needed new lights and I even felt bad about those purchases. Just more stuff. More stuff to spend our money that most of us worked in some mediocre job to earn. Always feel so lucky I have less money but more time with my kids. That feels like present enough for all of us.