Bequeathments &Cinnamon Toast

Granny Hat is enjoying a quiet day sipping some coconut milk nog, listening one last time to the Carpenter’s Christmas Portrait and musing about Christmas past, like yesterday! She had a lovely celebration with family. There can be such GREAT EXPECTATIONS every Christmas season. Of course, Granny loves quiet reflection on God’s grace and mercy that sent His son Jesus to be our Savior. Granny has to admit though, that like everyone else, she also wants a fresh tree, magical lights, merry entertainment,  and delicious traditional food that looks too lovely to eat.  She dreams of spending Christmas Day with as many of her children and grandchildren as possible and loves to find or make that perfect gift for each person on her list. Guess we all have “visions of sugarplums” dancing in our heads as we shop, dance, sing and wrap gifts. 

But this year Granny has vowed to embrace a more ultralight life.  So many things about Christmas don’t mix well with minimalism. Gifts equal more accumulation, more dusting and more pride of ownership. There isn’t time today for a full review on the next Feng Shui book but one of the most common bits of advice is to ask yourself some important soul searching questions as you gaze at your treasures wondering how you will ever part with them.  One of the best ones is “does this item still bring me joy?”  Granny Hat thought and thought until she came up with a new spin on that question –  “Since this item brought so much joy to me many years ago can it now bring joy to someone else?”

When Granny was a girl (once upon a time) she and her siblings would often enjoy “bequeathments” from an aunt or a kind friend.  These previously loved treasures were welcomed into our lives, such as a set of vintage Nancy Drew books.  Granny can’t just donate them to the Salvation Army, as noble as that is.  Toy Story ruined her ability to cavalierly toss when there is the possibility that those books have feelings and memories.  So, this Christmas there were quite a few “bequeathments” under the tree, jewelry for the granddaughters, books, and beeswax food wraps made from old fabric pieces.

Of course, there were also gifts that came from a store and there may have been a few packages that arrived from Amazon Prime, well, actually several a day throughout December.  But it was the simple gifts that were the favorites.  Flashlights from Auntie Corrie and REI headlamps from Uncle Stephan (Mission) were such a hit.  Before the adults could grab another piece of pie four little granddaughters had made a tent out of a fuzzy blanket that was glowing with headlamp light.  They were perfectly happy under there and didn’t need any more gifts.  The excited giggles shouted “Merry Christmas”!

Granny Hat’s niece Holly recently shared that her favorite memory of coming to visit years ago was the cinnamon toast! That gave Granny pause, the cinnamon toast!?!  Really?  It wasn’t the toys, dollies, Legos? It wasn’t riding the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or the rails at Roaring Camp? What about Granny Hat’s new curtains, enchiladas, pies, cakes, cookies?  Nope, it was the cinnamon toast!  Such a simple thing, yet a favorite memory! Our piles of treasures may not be remembered but the cinnamon toast, that is timeless.  It brought joy then and will go on bringing joy.

Christmas celebrations aren’t quite over, Granny Hat and dad get to spend some time in Nebraska and then in Miami to see the kids and grand kids that couldn’t come to California.  Finn’s parents celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas and last year included The Feast of Stephen (from Good King Wenceslas) since Uncle Stephan was visiting.  This year Finn says it can’t be called “The Feast of Stephen”  because Uncle won’t be there.  Instead it is to be called “The Feast of Grandma” since Granny Hat will be one of the guests.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!