Poems from the past by Lynne

In sorting through my Christmas basket of letters and photos (sorting and decluttering goes along with age) I found some great letters from my cousin in Canada, and even a few from my mother who died in 2000. Sadly, there were also Christmas letters from "Squeeky" and Nelson (Tom) (obituaries are on the blog). As a bonus,  I found three nice seasonal poems by Lynne. I've been nagging her for years to compile them, but who listens to me?  I really like the New Year poem message--remarkable from one who has faced down cancer three times.
"There is time out there to be lived,
But not one minute must we hoard."

Christmas 1993
Home for Christmas

I'm going home for Christmas
(who says one can't go home again!)
And it always recalls to mind,
The dear folks who will be waiting there
With smiles to sweet and kind.

I am going home for Christmas,
at the thought my heart sings;
I can scarcely wait for that morning
For the joy that it brings.

It's a small house in a village
where smoke curls in the air,
The log fire where the flames leap high,
A cozy, winged-back chair.
Pure contentment, yes it's there.

The shadows of the evening
fall across the snow,
and bathe the earth in pale pink glow,
While winter's sun burns low.

The neighborhood church is beckoning
With iviting candle light, and music,
traditional and old is telling of a reckoning
so long ago foretold.

Home reflects itself within my heart,
I'm at once happy and at peace for he who sees
For I'm going home for Christmas
To all those memories.

Christmas 1995
So, Tested Friendships

Like lighted cnadles set on a window ledge
at night, which throw
A mellow, yellow path of light
Across the Christmas snow. . .

Like dancing hearth flames' warm caress
Reflecting cheer,
Soft'ning kind faces
That we hold dear.

Like holly berries bright;
Like mistltoe, with berries white . . .
Like bright stars upon a clear midnight.

So, tested friendships,
Mellow, cheering, warm and purse;
One of life's cherished gifts,
Through passing years endure.

Christmas 2002
The New Year

The old year was generous in many ways,
In other ways she may have seemed austere.
But I feel no recrimination--only joy,
As I face the New Year without fear.
There is time out there to be lived,
But not one minute must we hoard.
The year is given to us in trust,
Wanton waste we cannot afford.
And the days will grow into weeks,
The tasks and blessings will pile high.
We'll find real joy in living,
As these weeks go swiftly by.
And weeks make up months--just twelve,
How quickly the precious time goes.
Amy time have made us wiser and better.

Back in the day--a memory of Christmas past by Mike Balluff

Christmas when I was a child was going to Grand parents for the whole family, probably 25 aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, etc. We lived in Northern Illinois where we got a lot of snow. Gramma's house was a farm near Byron, Il, about 20 miles from home for us. We would drive in the ice and snow to a bridge, stop, park, and Grandpa would come get us in a single horse drawn sleigh. It would hold 2 adults besides the driver. It was very cold, and Grandpa would wrap us in a very scratchy coarse wool blanket that I remember to this day. The rest of our journey was up a hill, about a mile to the farm. The hill was the reason for parking at the bottom.

Dinner was eaten there in the dining room, consisting of turkey, duck, goose, capon with many sides. The birds were all stuffed with a dressing that had OYSTERS in it. I wondered at the time what those things were, and was flabbergasted that I actually liked those slimy things. The house had no running water to wash dishes or to flush toilets. They brought in water from the well in a tub which was heated on a big wood stove. The toilet was an out house 50 ft from the back door. Much to our (the kids) dismay we couldn't open any of the many presents under the tree until all the dishes were done and food put away. 

Aahhh, those were the good old days. (Originally posted on Facebook; used with permission)

Christmas Greetings from Mike and Judy

Christmas memories

Our classmate Lynne blessed all of northern Illinois (and a few beyond the borders) with a letter to the Rockford Register Star in response to "Time to build new Christmas memories," Opinions, Dec. 10.

"I, too, have wonderful memories of a mother who took three small girls to Chicago on the train to visit Marshall Field's at Christmas time (we went twice a year, but always at Christmas time).

Each of us got to pick out a special ornament, have lunch, marvel at that huge Christmas tree and then go to the art museum for the balance of the day, as our mother was a commercial artist and a frustrated watercolorist.

Our mother is gone now, and we seldom get to Chicago anymore as we are all over 60. But the carefully selected ornaments and the special outings to Field's with our mother are among our fondest fireside memories.

Thank you for stirring the embers on some of our fondest memories--and my wishes for a very Merry Christmas."

And thank you, Lynne. I'm sure there were a lot of misty eyes as the readers recalled their special times.

Getting ready for Christmas

Our classmate and reunion organizer for many years, Nancy S., sent this photograph and note:

This is a picture showing all the beautiful Christmas trees displayed at the bandshell this year. These were decorated by the various clubs from Mt Morris. The American Legion is in the back with the big yellow bow. I helped with that one and it has poppies, American flags, yellow bows and POW remembrances on it. These trees are just beautiful I think, and I make special trips by there to view them and see if anymore are added. I hope you enjoy them and if you can use them, feel free to do so.

Nancy