This weekend we did a little Christmas decorating—very little. This year we have our 5-year-old granddaughter and our 18-month-old grandson who, as reported by our daughter, is at that age where he's on a constant “seek-and-destroy” mission. So, we did the minimum— and most of that was up high.
One of the things I did hang up is my favorite ornaments in the whole world. You couldn’t tell that just by looking at them. They’re faded, curling over, brittle: Paper stars.
They’re from a tradition that started when our older daughter was very young. We decorated homemade paper stars that adorned the top of our tree each year. When daughter number two came along, we had two stars.
Some are close to perfect 5-point stars; most are a little asymmetrical. There are the toddler years with just scribbles; pre-school years with some added glitter; middle school years are more complex and thoughtful; then we move to the teenage, “Dad, do I have to? Let’s just hurry and get this over with!” stars.
Then there were no more stars.
Kids grow up and grow out of traditions. I was a kid once. I understand.
But, that didn’t stop me from saving the stars and hanging them up every Christmas. One year, seeing that they were starting to fade and deteriorate in the 11-months of attic heat, I attempted to laminate them. I guess I was thinking I could stop their inevitable demise. I can’t of course.
Faded.
Curling over.
Brittle.
I stand reflecting on those stars while I am able— reflecting on the things that are important to me this Christmas.
And a Christmas Hope: That I can slow down my grandkids long enough to have them craft new stars for me. Whether that happens our not, I’ll be with my family . . . counting my lucky stars.
Carpe Diem Life,
David Kuhn
CarpeDiem-Life.com
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