December has brought occasional frost and some early morning ice in the bird baths, but mostly very Spring-like weather. The feeders are stocked with suet for the winter we keep expecting to come. Most of the leaves are down and many have simply blown away with the Nor'easter, but they always seem to be replaced by more blowing in from somewhere else. The winds are back making the new window screens sing eerie tunes. Buildings sport a variety of fancy decorations. Benefits for the needy abound with every possible incentive to attend and spend. Take your choice of music, food, dance, raffles, silent auctions, or just put food or clothing in boxes which are everywhere. We chose to attend the annual Christmas Cavalcade, organized by our friend, Chandler, who brings together many other talented Cape musicians for a very enjoyable holiday show. This year, Siobhan Magnus of American Idol fame joined the lineup. We also spent an evening volunteering at the St. Wenceslas Faire which benefits the Lower Cape Outreach Center. Either way, working or being entertained, it's all good stuff.
Salt Pond floating Xmas Tree
But, December's greatest significance to us is that it marks our 3rd anniversary of moving here and opening the B&B. As I think back to that experience, I hope I never have to face a challenge that immense again, even though it was totally worth it. I used to work with a teacher, who with her husband bicycled from Oregon to Virginia over her summer break. Once home, whenever times would get tough her mantra was "if I can bike through Kansas, where you pedal all day and the scenery never changes, I can do anything!" Moving here was our 'Kansas' and we'd do it all over again if we had to. [Newer readers can read about that trip at the following links: North to Easthamand North to Eastham - Part 2.] As I drive through our little towns, I still remember the feeling of hardly knowing anyone, or knowing where anything was, or how to get anywhere. I now take pleasure in navigating the scenic shortcuts I've learned and having surprise encounters with new friends as I go about my errands. It's a wonderful gift to truly feel that you're finally home. The B&B has become an established landmark and welcomes people from all over the globe. Just as I looked forward to my summer break from my public school job, I now welcome the winter break from summer tourism to kick back to a slower pace, although we're never closed. This month's guests are traveling from CT, MA & VT.
Lights on the Eastham Green
Every December, my town of Eastham's Chamber of Commerce puts on an annual Holiday Festival & Toy Drive. There's always a visit from Santa and goodies to eat, face painting, raffles and trolley rides, balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, pony rides, a craft table, a kids gymnastics demo, pizza and it's ALL FREE, courtesy of donations that make it happen. This year we had 300 happy kids attending.
The town of Provincetown at the tip of the Cape kicked off the holiday season with an annual event called Lighting the Lobster Pot Tree, sponsored by the family who owns the Lobster Pot Restaurant. This year the project has grown to cover an entire square and is assembled from 112 lobster pots, 120 giant red bows, 58 buoys and 46 plastic lobsters. 3400 lights and a crane that lowered the top "crown" completed the project. They really do know how to do festive in P'town!
Snow's Department Store's annual Train Town display
The hardiest residents in the town of Brewster are planning a Polar Plunge to raise money for needy Cape families during the holiday. Gee, too bad we don't live in that town...
Main Street, Orleans
The town of Chatham, celebrating its 300th birthday this year has an annual Christmas Stroll with a parade, tree lighting and horse and carriage rides with costumed characters.
Cap'n Ron & Crosswinds
I don't know about you, but when Daylight Savings Time ends, I look for any way to illuminate all that darkness. Out come the single window candles. I've become a convert to the cordless ones that turn themselves on and off. Then the seashell light strands drape the back fence where we park. Not long after that, back by popular demand, lights go up on the sailboat in the front yard, to the delight of passersby. It's also time for the little tree that serves as a beacon to mark our front entrance all year to have its tiny white lights refreshed. One tree leads to another and before you know it, we have many new reasons to be grateful for our new solar panels. As a winter season lover, light is my celebration. All that's missing now is snow.
with assistance from Sean
While musing about the holidays, I always have a little touch of guilt. (No, not gilt, nor gelt.) This year I'm coming clean and confessing my past bad karma. You see, I grew up in a Chanukah home amidst a mostly Santa town who took Jesus's birthday very seriously. That was in the 50's-60's when it was perfectly correct and expected to celebrate Christmas in school. Most people had barely heard of Chanukah, much less knew how to pronounce it without spitting. I was always looked at in disbelief and pity when I had to admit that I never had a Christmas tree nor sat on Santa's lap. I really didn't understand why Santa couldn't stop at our house, but one year I became determined to at least see him and the reindeer go by. If he was as jolly as was reported, maybe I could tell my friends that he waved to me on the way to their houses. On Christmas Eve I was beside myself with excitement about my plan and stayed alert for the sound of jingle bells and kept hopping out of bed to peek out the window long after I'd been tucked in. My mother, noting that I was still awake longer than usual came in to see what was wrong. I blurted out the hope that had me quivering with excitement and a troubled look came over her face. She sat down, drew me onto her lap and encased me in one of those hugs that ended with a big sigh, the one when you knew you weren't going to like what came next. Then she said in her most conspiratorial tone, "if I tell you a secret, will you promise me that you won't tell any of your friends?" Now, it's really not so fair to ask that of a six year old who doesn't even know what the secret she's agreeing to is, but not having the opportunity to hear secrets very often, of course I said yes. It was then that I was crushed to learn that Santa was (shhhh...) only every child's Mom and Dad. O-M-G, say it isn't so!! I held out as long as I could, probably less than 24 hours, but in the end spilled the beans. Martha-Jane was convinced I was wrong because she knew her single mother couldn't possibly afford to buy her any toys. But, Betty-Lou, after an indignant "Nuh-UHHH!" was pretty miffed at me. It all blew over and I know they would have found out eventually, but I've always regretted that indiscretion. You can bet that when Spring came around and I was resentfully eating my matzoh meal birthday cake, there was absolutely no mention of the Easter Bunny to my friends.
1989-Doug & Dad's tree
And, Chanukah with Cousins
When my son, who celebrated both Dad's Christmas and Mom's Chanukah brought up the subject, I thought about that incident and told him that Santa was magic and you only needed to believe in his spirit to make him real in your heart. Analytical even at that early age, I knew he wasn't buying that logic, but that he still wanted to believe in something special. That was the best I could do. Now, as a self-admitted holiday-curmudgeon, I'm finally at peace adopting the Winter Solstice as my official holiday with lights, a gift or two, warm, crackly fires, delicious foods and an always open door for friends and family. If that sounds similar at all to your chosen holiday, too, it's because it's reminiscent of the pre-Christian Roman Saturnalia from which so many of holiday traditions were adopted. The important thing is to create a holiday that has meaning for you and not to be a slave to traditions that don't. Be open to embracing something new and allow your own magic to happen!
Equal Opportunity Lights
Thanks to my sister, nieces and "that guy" for sharing Chanukah with us this year and giving me a good excuse to dig out our Mom's menorah, serve latkes (potato pancakes), buy funny animal hats for everyone and get Ron to recite the Chanukah blessing in Hebrew, or whatever that language was that he was trying to repeat as I whispered in his ear. To his credit, he didn't spit once.
Let there be lights!
Coincidentally, the Winter Solstice this year falls on the same day the Mayans predicted would be the end of the world, so, Friday the 21st will be a big day for us one way or another.
