Traditions

Tradition!  Instantly my mind goes to the song in "Fiddler on the Roof" and the dancing.  In some ways, not too far from my family.  But, also I think of all the Christmas past.....to Christmas present.

The times of our childhoods

to the days of having children of my own.

As a child, we had traditions.  Of opening ONE present on Christmas Eve, then going to Midnight Mass.  Midnight Mass as a child was mysterious and wondrous, having a difficult time staying awake during the sermon, but enjoying all the music.  As I got older, I got to sing in the choir and we sang latin Masses.  One wondrous Christmas Eve, we got out of Midnight mass to find it had snowed.  I remember the amazement we children had, and the concern of our dad about driving home.   The Christmas past was spent opening presents, eating a butter top coffee cake for breakfast and then time at our grandparents.  My favorite memories are those holidays spent at Grandma's house after we had Christmas at home.  The old folk would stay in the kitchen and talk in Arabic and drink Syrian whiskey and black coffee.  The men would watch football in the living room, and  there was lots of food (mostly Syrian).  

Now Christmas is all about the getting of present for my children, but still a joyous and amazing event.  We get a tree, and decorate it, open presents, eat and play.  Of course here in Texas we don't ever expect snow (although my seven year old is ever hopeful). My daughter asked for Baklava for dessert this year.  Maybe that Syrian meal tradition can be carried on.  
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But, although I expected to write about our Christmas, as I started to go through old pictures, I found our lives more than that tradition.  As I looked at the pictures, they WERE the tradition.  They fell into patterns of my childhood.  There, in order, were the Christmas pictures, followed by birthdays (my sister's, then mine, then my brother's).  Easter came next, with us lined up in our newest outfit of the year, awkwardly smiling, growing older each picture.  A few vacations, the zoo or elephant rocks. And then Christmas again. A progression of traditions.  The pictures abruptly stopped when my father died.  I still have the camera, although in this digital age, it sits unused.  

Please read other idea of tradition with:

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com

pencilfox    www.pencilfox.com

Define Perfection

Some may say there is no perfection on this world.  We have to wait for the next one to experience that thing one may imagine as perfection.  I disagree.  I can't define it, but I know it when I feel it. It is not to be put into mere words.  And what I perceive as perfection is not what any other person may see it as.  There are moments of clarity, of extreme sensation, that are snapshots forever in my thoughts that I feel are perfection.  Some are fleeting, flying moments of emotional freedom

One morning, years ago,  driving to work, I was listening to a tape of Native American music.  As I drove down the secluded road, the fog lifted to just the roof of my truck, the sun was shining into the fog and it was as though I was driving in shining golden mist.  Every time I drive that road I remember those few moments of surreal beauty.  That, I think of as a perfect moment in time.  And it is forever a snapshot in my mind.

There are many moments in my life that I think of as perfect.  To the optimist I feel there are many such moments.  Perfection in laughter, in beauty, in melancholy or in peace.  More than words, a deep perception in the soul.

Please join these other members of the blog to experience their thoughts:
 Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com

pencilfox: www.pencilfox.com

Catherine Witherell:  http://www.happydayart.typepad.com

Kathleen Krucoff:  http://kathleenkrucoff.wordpress.com/

A heart rock for the day.  Many conversations this day with people I know and like.
Hearing about their family, their concerns, their joys.
Hearing with not just my ears, but with my heart.
Laughing at their stories.
Giving advice when asked.
Most of us are at that age, caring for both children and parents.
And it is both hard and good to be where we are.

My favorite flower from childhood.  So many colors these day.

first post

I lead a simple life.  Not much into the technology.  My children are more into it than I am.  And my friends.  "When are you going to put a shopping cart on your web site?", "Why don't you post more to facebook?", "have you seen the lately 'whatever' on youtube?"  But, here I am, now.  Perhaps a vent or two, perhaps some pictures, perhaps, once in a while a profound thought that catches one.