Art by Stella Elliston.
Why do we—do I, that is—become melancholic and nostalgic at this time of year? Maybe it’s because my loved ones, My Tribe who have bowed off the Stage, surround me. Ghosts of a time past. When they spring to life, they bring joys and sorrows.
Outwardly, the holiday lights, candles, and music delight. But the scent of pine branches and the darkening days beckon them here … and away I go. With them. They push and elbow into my days as I stroll through the marketplace. If a stranger happens to notice me, they see a single person. But, if they have special vision, they also see My Tribe surrounding me. We are a merry band of travelers through time—full of laughter, tears, and the comfortable mundane memories of daily life together. I try to silence My Tribe, insisting that I must pay attention to the holiday tasks at hand. Right here and now!
As the season goes on, My Tribe begins to quiet down. I realize they do not want to hang around in what has been. No! They want to experience everything with me, through me, in the present. They were just trying to join in, for Heaven’s sake!
Now, their presence begins to create a warm glow that guides me towards the magic of the season. We become one, My Tribe and me.
Hallelujah! And thank goodness. For now, I am not taking up so much space on the sidewalk …
