Joyeux Noël

© Jesse Rieser

The title of this post, "Joyeux Noël," just popped into my mind, and it wasn't until I checked the spelling that I discovered it is also the title of a film based on the true stories of a World War I Christmas truce along the Western Front. I'd like to think that such moments of peace can still occur. Perhaps my feeling such hope results from having spent a strange and wonderful Christmas home alone, waiting to travel to St. Louis until after the arrival of my first granddaughter who should be appearing in the world any day now. I can't imagine a more splendid Christmas present, and I'll have a chance to celebrate with my family then. Meanwhile, I awoke to an e-mail from a friend who gave me a most generous and unexpected gift for helping his daughter with her college essays. I opened an Amazon gift card from my daughter and son-in-law, a pair of amber earrings from a friend, and a clothing hook in the shape of a letter "E" from my aunt and uncle. My cottage is decorated with a small wreath outside the door and a little burlap snowman hanging from the doorknob. Two of my orchids burst into bloom yesterday, more today. The birds seemed to know it was Christmas; there were dozens of them at the feeders in my back yard -- blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, doves, sparrows, waxwings, and others. I worked most of the day and then took a long walk with my dog.

It's remarkably quiet and still, overcast, no cars on the road near my house. None of the excess, none of the tension. Just a sublime peacefulness and deeply felt gratitude. I'm remembering when I was young and my father, brother, and I trekked through the snow one cold Wisconsin winter to find the perfect tree. Not too thick or thin, branches even on all sides, no bare spots, tall enough but not too tall. We walked a long way, and when we finally found the right one, we took turns sawing until it fell, then hauled it back to the house to decorate, commenting for days about how alive it still was. That time out in the silent woods, the sparkling sun, that smell of fresh cut pine, the simple task done joyfully together -- that's the sort of Christmas I hold in my heart.

Recently I happened on the work of Jesse Rieser whose project, "Christmas in America,Happy Birthday, Jesus," shows another side to the holiday. You can read more about it on Jane Fulton Alt's excellent blog.