December Group Writing ‘Tis the Season: The Poorest and Richest Christmas

 

Home. It was faded pink with long tall windows and high ceilings. The stucco exterior was crumbling, and the paint had seen better days. Built in an era long gone, but with enough integrity to remain standing. Suffice it to say that it was in a condition which did not fit in with the surrounding homes; mansions-built decades earlier by rich men who had won their fortunes in copper and gold–the mining kings. It was a neighborhood full of history; where dreams were made and where dreams were just beginning for a recently married couple.

Winters in Montana are cold. The only source of heat in our apartment was a gas stove radiator in the living room. Unfortunately, there were no heaters in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, which meant challenging conditions in the winter. The only solution for the bedroom was a small electric space heater and heavy drapes to stop drafts from finding their way into the room.

A mystery door to the basement was warped by time and would not open-we never had the pleasure of seeing what treasures the cellar held.  The cooking stove had to be lighted with a match, which could be a real adventure, but the kitchen had old world charm and bright light from a huge window. As for the bathroom, well maybe it had the first walk-in clothes closet. The closet ran along the long narrow path to the end of the room where the bathtub looked inviting enough until one figured out there might or might not be hot water in addition to no heat source in the room.

It was a place of peeling wallpaper and a musty odor that comes with time. But, thanks to my beloved Susan with her intuitive sense of beauty, we were able to make it our home. I say we because my only contribution was hanging pictures on the walls.

To this day, 40 years later, we still hold fond memories of the place. It was our first home as a married couple.  We arrived with everything we owned in the back of a small truck and had been married for six months when we moved in. We were finishing our last couple of semesters at Carroll College, a small Catholic school, which was another reason for renting the place; we were within walking distance to campus, which was convenient since later the truck’s gas pedal broke off and was unrepairable. We got a lot of exercise as we walked to campus, the grocery store, and where we worked, often in dreadful winds, deep snow, and penetrating cold.

The neighbors were truly kind, especially the couple across the street, who never missed a chance to say hello. Our bosses were also kind and decent. I worked as a disc jockey, while my wife took a job at H&R Block.  She was six months pregnant and hired even though her due date was close as the hectic April 15 deadline for tax returns. Susan assisted tax preparers and attended college until labor and a beautiful daughter arrived April 3.  The radio station manager was the best boss I have ever had.  Susan’s boss sent a beautiful, congratulatory bouquet of flowers instead of complaining about timing. With the support of family, Carroll College and the community, my wife graduated as scheduled. She had the pleasure of surprising one of her professors by showing up for a final exam with a baby in tow (the babysitter did not show up). When she walked into the classroom she was greeted by her fellow students with smiles on their faces–who can resist a smiling baby in a snowsuit? Once the shock wore off, the teacher provided a vacant classroom next door for the final exam while our daughter quietly played on the floor next to her mom.

As the months passed, we grew ever fonder of our home. Time came and went, but I do not think either of us paid much attention. We simply, and quietly, gloried in those days, tough though they were.

Winter ended, Spring sprang, Summer broke out, fall came upon us, then Winter with its rugged features. Suddenly it was Christmas.

We had little money, but Susan took it in stride, as she always does, and pinched pennies to buy a tree that made Charlie Brown’s look like a mighty oak. Her mom and dad sent a small string of lights, along with some decorations to hang on the tree. We set the tree in front of the living room window and put the lights on the front side. The backside was bare. One night a couple of boys walked by and exclaimed “look at that tree.” We broke out in laughter. We still laugh all these years later.

Susan used my Christmas bonus to buy an outfit for our little girl, but we could not afford to give each other gifts. Our folks helped, so we both had a couple of boxes to open Christmas morning.

Christmas morning, we attended mass at the Cathedral of St. Helena, one of the most beautiful churches in the country, built by hard-working men many decades earlier. Mass was beautiful. Ancient hymns echoed in our ears as we praised God and our Savior. Holiness filled the air.

Joy can arise even amidst times of want. The Savior came in piercing cold, as St. Ignatius wrote, and was born in what might be called “straw poverty.” Still, the angels sang of great joy which shall be to all people. God had become a man who offers eternal life to those who hear and abide in His love. Human life is thus elevated to the heights of eternity, not through a Godly display of power, but an unfathomable humility. A humble Christmas is God’s way of proving His love for us. Our love for Him and each other is a gift from His heart.

In his poem “East Coker,” T. S. Eliot wrote of the quiet joy of memory:

There is a time for the evening under starlight,
A time for the evening under lamplight
(The evening with the photograph album).
Love is most nearly itself
When here and now cease to matter.

For Susan and me, the here and now is made up of happy memories of that first Christmas. We hope that all of you have a happy and peaceful Christmas filled with joy and peace and glorious memories of things past.

Note. Susan and I worked together on this post. She is truly a great writer.

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There are 10 comments.

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  1. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Thank you for sharing this, Mike and Susan.

    • #1
  2. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    My mind too flutters to wonderful memories of the past with each day and chore of Christmas–the joy, the love, the laughter.  :-)

    Happy Christmas.

    • #2
  3. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    Isn’t potential wonderful. You had your whole lives ahead of you. It’s been said the chase is better than the catch. You did great Mike and Susan. Merry Christmas!

    • #3
  4. Ron Selander Member
    Ron Selander
    @RonSelander

    Thank you Mike and Susan. Blessings to you and yours: Numbers 6:24-26.

    • #4
  5. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    A Ricochet Christmas Carol. Thank you!

    • #5
  6. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Your story is wonderful, and I live in Montana. Yesterday awoke with my new, insulated draperies, frozen to the windows. Ha! It is always cold in MT.

    • #6
  7. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    Your story is wonderful, and I live in Montana. Yesterday awoke with my new, insulated draperies, frozen to the windows. Ha! It is always cold in MT.

    Sounds like you have sufficient humidity in your indoor air. That’s important during cold weather.  We have humidifiers going in our house now. It helps keep us healthy.

    • #7
  8. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    I’ve got 2 humidifiers, one in the living/dining room and one in my bedroom, where my parrot lives with me. However, I’ve also got something that I have only had a few months, and had never heard of it before. It’s called an Austin Air Cleaner, or air purifier, which filters the air 24/7.

    The previous tenant in this apt gave it to the tenant next door, who had it stored in a closet for 3 years. With some of the problems I have, including allergy to house dust, he thought I could use it, and gave it to me. I then discovered the internal filters hadn’t been replaced in 7 years. Called the company, and had the internal filters replaced, don’t need to replace them for another 5 years.

    The unit by itself runs about $500-$600 or so, and the filter replacement was $250 plus shipping. However, it is so sensitive it even traps the Cove-19 virus. My apt smell so nice without dust and bird dander, all my orchids have burst into bloom, My living tree in the dining room is sprouting new leaves, and it’s freezing darn cold outside.

    The unit takes in air from all 4 side panels, pushes it through the internal filters, and returns the air from a front opening. It does not warm up the air, so I have set a small oil heater near it, so the air it take in is warm. All in all, I am sitting cozy and warm for the first time in 20 years, and for the most part nose isn’t pouring.

    It has a life time guarantee, with the filter warranty of 5 years. I am so grateful the neighbor  gave it to me.

    • #8
  9. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    We  thank everyone who “Liked” our post. Thanks to everyone who commented. And to everybody who read it. We send Christmas blessings to all. And Happy New Year.

    • #9
  10. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Beautiful!!  I so enjoyed reading this. It felt like I was there. God bless and Merry Christmas to you and Susan. 

    • #10
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