When your living is dependent on the cattle market or the weather, it seems that it is often feast or famine. Being one of six children of a farmer/rancher, I can tell you that results of these less than dependable factors can be glaringly obvious at Christmas time.
My parents, though, were smart and resourceful and always made the most of what we had at the time. I never really knew which year was feast and was which was famine. Instead of dragging us along to shop among the throngs of frantic holiday-goers or fretting about excessive decorating, my parents chose to spend more time over more money and gave us holiday memories that still echo in my heart 20+ years later.
Each Christmas, we would load up and make the two hour trip to the Christmas tree farm where we would drink hot chocolate around a large outdoor fire and ride in a horse drawn buggy among the rows of fragrant green trees. They would let us choose the perfect tree and then we cut it down ourselves and drug it to the cart path where it was picked up and loaded on our car.
Once situated in our living room, the smell of pine permeated the entire house - an amazing scent that meant the Christmas season had begun. After stringing it with twinkling white lights and covering it with years worth of accumulated ornaments, we would often drink eggnog and watch Christmas movies.
Thinking back, I couldn't tell you what gifts I received or what kind of holiday goodies were baked or even how the house was decorated, but I can vividly remember cutting down our own Christmas tree and the warmth and togetherness that it inspired each year.
Take the opportunity this holiday season to purchase quality memories with your time, just as you purchase quality gifts with your money. Many years down the road, your family will remember the things you did together, even when the memories of the gifts purchased and money spent have been long faded.
No comments:
Post a Comment