That Hobbit Lady

The other day I was in church and the bell choir performed—you know, where there are about a dozen people standing in line, wearing black velvet gloves and each holding a different golden bell, and everybody rings their bell at just the right time, and the end result is beautiful music. Maybe I’ve been in and out of churches too much during my life, but I really enjoyed the music and I thought, “It’s not Christmas until you’ve heard a bell choir.” It really seemed to usher in the season for me.

Then Mary and I went to Winn Dixie and the Christmas trees were outside, and I said, “It’s not Christmas until you see the trees being sold outside the grocery stores.” (And at other locations, of course.)

And then I thought, well, what about the Night Blooming Jasmine? Now I know I’ve lived in Florida too long, because when I smell that, it conjures up memories of driving all around the neighborhoods at night with the kids, looking at Christmas lights and enjoying McDonald’s milkshakes (peppermint or eggnog!) So…”It’s not Christmas until you’ve smelled the Night Blooming Jasmine.”

Just curious, for anyone who would like to answer…what is it “not Christmas until” for you? What is the experience that tells you the season has begun? It could be something very general, or something very specific. Christmas is such a time of memories, that connects our present to our past on so many levels. I think it’s a time to help us remember who we are.

Oh, and by the way, also, “It’s not Christmas until Bryan Norcross shows all the really fabulously decorated houses on the six o’clock news!”