“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five…”
As the party hit its peak, the two families who had gathered in our home didn’t exactly know the words to Auld Lang Syne … but all most likely knew the meaning of the old, familiar song. It probably could be boiled down to a simple thought: Don’t forget your old friends.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
It was the astounding number of Christmas cards we received this year that reminded me how many friends we have collected over the years. We send and receive cards from friends from our past … and for some, that might be our only form of communication for the year. The card is an attempt to say, “Don’t forget we’re still friends!” We create cards with pictures of our children, pets and travels to show friends what we’re up to and that life continues.
This year’s cards had pictures of graduations and weddings; backgrounds of beaches, the Grand Canyon, a football stadium and a Roman coliseum; people posing with Christmas trees or Santa or a snowman; on a train track or at an Irish bar; kids with pumpkins; and lots with snow. Most read “Merry Christmas” or offer a blessing of warmth and love.
I love the cards we receive from grandparents who have the entire extended family captured at one moment in time. One that we received in the past shows a silhouette of the front photo on the back side, with all the family members’ names. One of my favorites this year is the card with a new baby so cutely displayed with antlers on his head!
Cards help remind us of people with whom we’ve shared special moments of our lives. There were a few cards that came in from my very best friends throughout my life. You most likely have these people too — the kind that you would want in the foxhole with you and the folks who would show up if your world fell apart. You would fall on a grenade for them, and them for you. We don’t talk as much or spend time together because of distance, but it would only take a moment to catch up on life if we were to see each other. Many friendships, it seems, have their seasons. But the seasons really never end; they just make a little room for the next friend. The friendships make an imprint on us, and that really never goes away.
For our party on New Year’s Eve I picked up a few items from our newest store in town, Vintage Fresh. The hanging clocks I bought gave me the idea for the theme of the night: TIME. We put clocks and watches all over the house; on every counter and table there were clocks. We wanted to mark this evening as special, as we were sharing our time with our “foxhole” friends. It was a special evening for sure, and it carried over into the next day as one family stayed overnight. We spent the next morning and afternoon talking, eating, laughing, and playing the card game Euchre while the children played and watched movies. It was so much fun to catch up and spend time together.
As 2016 begins, spend some time with the folks you love and cherish. Don’t forget the ones from your past, and certainly don’t take them off your Christmas card list!
Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!
Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!
Mike is a village of Clarendon Hills resident; husband; Indian Princess; Indian Guide Dad; a Coach; an “old” football player and a real estate broker. Mike’s columns are usually crafted about the buzz in and around the area. It sometimes has a spin on real estate or cultural information, highlight a new business or announce school happenings. He might include a “get-to-know” about some of our interesting residents and even a little about history. Whatever it is, it is sure to be about the “Talk of the Town”.
