Pursuing Treasured Holiday Memories

Shopping, planning, cooking and decorating… who has time for it all?  (Let alone the money!) 

Tis’ the season in which traditions can become burdensome given all that we have to juggle in our day-to-day lives.  I need to be careful not to forget to remember as I fill my days beyond capacity… days become weeks, weeks become years.

 If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

I have so many treasured holiday memories; Thanksgiving at Grandma Frost’s house… Walking into the kitchen filled to the brim with laughter, warmth and so much activity.  All the kids would rush outdoors to play in the hayloft or, if we were lucky enough to have snow, we would ride our sleds down the hill in the pasture.  I remember many things… the year I cut my hand falling in the barn…  thoughtful blessings given over the dinner table… watching the Wizard of Oz and those terrifying flying monkeys!  (Remember when you had to wait until it was on TV to watch?)  We would fall asleep in the car on the way home… so content, so thankful, and so safe.     

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

We always cut down a tree from here at the nursery.  Mom would select her favorite Blue Spruce and Dad would bring it in and put on all those old light strands with the giant bulbs.  Mom would bring the boxes of ornaments down from the attic… I can still remember the smell of those boxes.  We would always want to put all the ornaments on the front of the tree and Mom would re-decorate as we went along.  I remember making ornaments out of Styrofoam balls, velvet, pins and colorful beads.  

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

Grandma Griff’s tree always had those bubbly lights we loved so much and tinsel hung from every branch.   Santa always left the biggest presents at Grandpa and Grandma’s house… new bikes (sometimes they were used), an Easy Bake oven, a pool table.  Santa would always make a personal appearance at Great Grandma’s house… he brought me plastic wigs one year…  I never asked for plastic wigs?#%!

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

Growing older I remember the first time we sold trees at the nursery… scrawny pine trees leaned against the front of the greenhouses.  My job was to shake off the snow, hold and twirl the trees so customers could make their selections.  We would come inside to shake off the cold where Mom and Grandma made flower arrangements, Dad would take the deliveries and Grandpa would be working somewhere in the back room.  Folks didn’t come just to shop they came to visit, catch up and exchange holiday wishes.  

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

The first year I was married I brought home our first Christmas tree (a Norway Spruce), which proceeded to drop each and every needle.  That was the saddest tree I have ever seen!  By this time we were selling hundreds of trees at the nursery and we had become a holiday destination for many families.  Dads always pick the big and fat trees while the Moms try to be practical, “it will fill the entire room!”   Some families can select a tree quite easily while others… well; they put more effort into the decision process!  I’ve seen 3 feet of snow fall in November and I’ve sold trees wearing shorts.  I have delivered 20’ trees to the most elegant of homes and set up a tree for a family who had virtually nothing… all their possessions stolen the week before Christmas. 

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

Once my kids were born I realized I had an opportunity to see once again all those holiday traditions through the eyes of a child.  We kept all the traditions from both of our families and made memories for our family.  I remember coming up with an idea to collect food for the less fortunate by donating my time to set up Christmas trees for free.  I took my daughters with me to demonstrate the necessity to give back however and whenever possible.  This has become one of our most precious holiday traditions.

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

When my wife and I decided to build a new home I knew I wanted a Christmas tree tall enough to reach the tallest ceiling.  After the first season I realized it is best to decorate the tree before drinking any holiday cheer… my family will never let me forget teetering atop that 12’ ladder!  Now that my kids have grown I look forward more than ever to seeing the younger families in the store this season.  Being offered the opportunity to share just a bit of that holiday magic with you is such a privilege… thank you all so very much!

If you drift too far you may lose sight of the shore.   

What am I looking for now?  I guess what I seek is hope.  I hope that you have holiday traditions to share and pass to along to loved ones.  I hope that you will take the time to carry on these traditions and perhaps find more of your own.  Yes we are busy and we don’t have a lot of time but we make time for what is important… I just hope you all find tradition important enough before it is lost… before you lose sight of the shore.

Now go outside and have fun in the dirt!

Jeff Griff