There is only one small ornament on my tree this year. It is a wooden Flying Pig, from my sister's collection. Nestled in the branches, among the twinkling white lights, it is a fitting representaton of the Holidays this year.
My understanding of the story is that my sister had a job selling something that had about as much of a chance of actually being delivered as Pigs Flying....so she took that as her personal symbol. Doing the unlikely, the nearly impossible, became her focus during her batle against Cancer.
The kids and I have a long history of hybrid holiday traditions. We celebrate Christmas, but we also light candles against the darkness. We believe in Mitzvah, and do something for others on the day when many stay home and focus on themselves and their families and the getting of gifts.
We started the day with an exchange of books and calendars, and a puzzle from the cousins. Then we headed off for the JCC for breakfast and Mitzvah day. We had signed up to make cards for people in senior centers, and the kiddos happily dove in to the art supplies and made cheerful happy cards to share with someone who might not have any visitors or cheer on this day when most agencies are closed.
I took my knitting, of course, because I have one last project to complete for my year of Pay it Forward projects. I had finished all of the official requested items, but this is a very special project for a dear friend. While I was knitting, I thought about what my project might be for 2012.
This May, it will be 20 years since I moved with my children to North Carolina to have the TEACCH program, and the opportunity for mainstreaming and the far off possibility of independent living. It was so important to me that the kiddos be able to be independent, and yet still close to each other. At the time, it seemed as likely as Pigs Flying....
They look pretty happy, don't you think?
We had our Holiday meal at my daughter's place, and skyped with far away family. Now we are reading and knitting and watching streaming content on our Kindles, getting ready to get back to the work week tomorrow, and counting our many abundant Blessings.
I hope your Holidays, however you celebrate, have been filled with love and laughter this year.
Peace be with you.
