Another Christmas Past
Many years ago, I got this buffet – it was a gift from my first husband, given while I was pregnant with Bri – he’ll be 30 soon.  We went overseas, away from stores that carried this line. When we came back to the states and went to upstate NY, I found an Ethan Allen store in Utica and ordered the top piece, as a Christmas present in 1983. If I had to pick again, I wouldn’t pick dark pine. I mean, I still love it, love the look of it. It’s the damn dusting of it that’s gotten tiresome over the years. Dust today, need to dust it again tomorrow. If I was replacing it, I would go for a lighter color. In my old age, I’m either smarter or lazier.  But I can’t face the idea of parting with it.
Over the years the collection of “stuff” on it has changed. Â Items have been replaced, gone in and then out of favor.
This year, on the top shelf. A set of wee glasses, shot glasses from up in the Poconos.  A souvenir of the Barnegat Lighthouse, gift from daughter, “Old Barnie” is near where I grew up as a child in New Jersey.  A small stuffed black poodle, like my Sophie! A Christmas card from friends, far away. In the back a green metal plate. It’s copper, hence the green tinge, with an Incan Tumi on it, from Peru, from my days in Central America. More cards. Picture of Pop and I with the daughter/bride.
Second shelf: More Christmas cards, my mother’s milk glass candlestick holders, scattered a set of 4 cobalt blue wine glasses – because I love cobalt blue, gift from oldest son years ago. Two odd plates with blue patternwork, picked up years ago, like maybe 20 or 25 years ago, only have 2 of them! And the green thing in the middle. I think it’s an outdoor sort of item, or maybe something that should be on a wall somewhere, but the knotwork pattern intrigued me – I had to have it and there it is. A square bottle, cobalt blue, that Son #2 found in a gift shop down at the beach when he was still in high school.
Top of the buffet: The first plate was bought in Panama just because I liked the Oriental pattern, and next to it a Norman Rockwell plate, of a girl with a suitcase, bought when daughter was a baby. Then 2 Wedgewood pieces, one is a heart, barely visible laying on it’s side (it’s shape doesn’t allow it to stand up! – and laying down, it doesn’t show at all), the blue one shows. Beside it, behind the cards is an Artesania Rinconada dish that goes back to the early ’80’s – I have 2 dishes, and many of their ceramic figurines.  There’s a Santa hat there. Somebody or other was wearing it almost all day yesterday!
In the center is the Christmas Candle. I don’t suppose it looks like much anymore. It’s seen a few years. It’s been on display for every Christmas my kids have ever seen. With the exception of the 3 years I spent in Panama, I saw it every Christmas of my life. Mom, too, had a buffet in her dining room, and that’s where it was. She decorated the house as Christmas approached, but that candle did not go up until Christmas Eve. It was very special to her. My mother was married in 1935, as were several other couples that were friends and relatives. Depression Days then, too, and money was tight for everyone, but as newly-married folks, they all wanted holiday decorations for the homes they were still setting up. The ladies of the group decided that, as holiday gifts, they would have a name pull, and each lady would buy one gift with a $2 limit, and it had to be a holiday decoration.  My Aunt Betty, her closest friend, pulled Mom’s name and gave her that candle. She treasured it as long as she lived. To all of us who saw it, it symbolized Christmas specifically in our family, as our family celebrated it with friends and family near.
Last night, we all gathered together. All my children were here, 2 have spouses, grandchildren. My brother and his wife. The candle has watched over 73 years now.
