XMAS HOOPLA

"Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state
of mind."
                                                                                                                                - Mary Ellen Chase

Christmas music at the Manor

The cousins met for the first time

Owen managed 3 hours of adult activity and his patience held.

Susan guarding Mr. Bob's walking stick.

As a last resort, there's always television.

Ryan's not really that tall. It's the best we could do for a group picture.

STILL TESTING

Still learning how to include movies. Patience on your part is called for.

THE TWO BOBS

I'm at a computer lesson and this is a test, therefore the subject is not Christmas today.

FALL ON YOUR KNEES (archival)

Not every Christmas moment is sullen in Mr. Bob's world. This picture was taken so long ago that I don't recall if I set up the shot or if it was a spontaneous act on his part when he kneeled in his shoes and held up a birthday cake Christmas ornament. I loved the moment then and it has equal appeal now.

I recall one year when there were no lighthearted Christmas activities. I purchased a wreath just to have some coniferous fragrance in the house. Never mind procuring and trimming a whole tree; a wreath would have to do. Without a nail to hang it on, I, in frustration, hung it on the shower wand and there it stayed the whole season. A couple of years ago when in December we visited the kids who lived at the time in Oakland, we made reservations at an inn. Upon registering, we went to our room and discovered a wreath in the shower. Christopher had arranged for a staff member to hang it there, explaining that it was a "family tradition". I tried it this year but due to our warm weather we had bought a wreath that was so dried out that it shed needles immediately all over the floor of the shower resulting in a big cleanup job. Out went the wreath.

THE MANGER

Lots of people complain about the commercialism of Christmas and with good reason. We were a part of that in the thirty-seven Decembers we had the bookshop. There's no doubt about it that we hoped to sell, sell, sell at that period. The store's existence for the rest of the year depended on what receipts we could garner at holiday time. Situated  on the corner, the shop had the good fortune of having three show windows and it always seemed highly appropriate to devote one of them to the religious aspect of Christmas. Years ago, an employee gave us a rustic manger which we used with a tattered, antique quilt made by someone with a wonderful eye for color, at the base of the manger. On it we arranged books about the Nativity. We installed a starry background  (atually a king-sized sheet), hung a star above the manger and put a wooden sign proclaiming "SILENT NIGHT" against the wall. 

Simplicity, personified and to my eye, at least, highly effective. I had often spoken yearningly of one last desired touch and an employee gifted us one year with a caged light, the kind usually used by workmen. We buried it safely, down below the excelsior we used for straw and a light emanated from the manger. The effect in the darkness of night was awe inspiring.

I always appreciated the help that Mr. Bob lent to the store. Together, we were pretty good window dressers. Our display windows brought many compliments from customers. Curiously, I don't remember anyone ever commenting on the Holy window, which was probably one of my favorites. That's okay, for what mattered to me was our honoring the reason for Christmas.........the reason the cash register rang so merrily, making it possible for the store to carry on into the New Year. God bless us, every one!

THREE SANTAS

I was young, very young, when the moment of realization hit. We were shopping in Chicago's Marshall Fields and it was Christmastime. On each floor we visited, there was Santa. I'm sure the idea was to give the impression that Santa was everywhere, but the difference in his appearance gave me pause. The memory is vivid as I recall putting two and two together and to this day, I actually can still feel the fading of Christmas innocence that took place in that moment.




I'm a big girl now and Santas are everywhere and it delights me. Today I'm sharing 3 of them with you.

This is such a special image and possibly my favorite Santa depiction of all time. Roger, our recuperating friend, made this long ago when he and his then bride were honeymooning in Lake Arrowhead, high in the San Bernardino mountains. Unexpectedly, they found themselves snowed in. Out of magazines, Roger fashioned this Santa, tearing strips of needed color, to create what I consider a masterpiece. Diane decorates to a fare-thee-well every year with a gorgeous collection of treasures. None surpasses this, in my opinion.

This wonderful Santa......just the right size to be a jolly old elf, lived with us for a long time. It was made to order by a Carmel Peninsula artist, the late Edyth Plamondon. She had sculpted several figures for us to display in the shop........characters from Beatrix Potter's tiny books; Peter Rabbit, Jemima Pudldleduck, Mrs. Tiggywinkle. We had a Red Riding Hood, too, and an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and we sold them to the couple pictured here after we were through with shopkeeping. At that time, we I couldn't bring ourselves myself to part with Santa. Traditionally, he had graced our Christmas windows at the store, in fact his suit used to be a brilliant red which faded over the years. When we made the big life change involving getting rid of things, we called the Brasingtons who were delighted to add Santa to their collection. They, too, knew and loved Edyth who of necessity, lived such a moneyless life, that we used to think up things to order, knowing it would help her situation along with enriching our own lives.

This last Santa is a bit of a farce. Pauvre Monsieur Bob doesn't perceive Christmas as the wonder that many of us eperience. In fact, he's pretty much miserable the whole month of December. Not only does he have to weather Christmas, but his deplorable birthday falls on Christmas Eve. Agony is what he experiences. And as luck would have it, he married a woman who at one time, at least, exhibited the traits of a Sugarplum Fairy. Sigh.......he's in the mode of "This, too, shall pass". Poor dear. One more week, dear heart, and it'll be over. Meanwhile, I'm relishing every aspect of the holiday and the Manor knows how to celebrate. Lucky me.

INSTEAD OF TIPPING

Let me tell you about the tipping policy at the Manor. It's verboten. Period. No exceptions. If a staff member is discovered accepting any sort of tip it results in termination. That includes the dining room waitresses, the kitchen staff, the housekeepers, the maintenance crew, the office staff, the nurses and all the workers behind the scenes. And there are times when service is offered beyond any expectations and one yearns to give some sort of recompense, but no, no, no. Stifle that urge.

As on a cruise ship, there comes a time at the end of the voyage, or in the case of the Manor, at the end of the year when residents are urged to show their gratitude by writing a check to the Employees' Appreciation Fund. Someone has the job of figuring out how much each employee receives by seniority, service rendered and who knows what else and at a Christmas party, Santa hands out envelopes containing checks.

Yesterday was the day of this year's Santa Christmas party and excitement ran high as residents and employees gathered in the main lounge. As Santa called the names, each employee came forward to receive their check and Santa put into their outstretched hand a one dollar coin along with the envelope. We
didn't know what the extra something was until I asked Sal, one of the maintenance men, after the proceedings and he told me and pressed me to take his coin for good luck.

Most of the employees have been here for years and years. When I first visited the Manor years ago, what impressed me most of all was the obvious sincerity exhibited by staff members. I could detect no falseness in their actions. There seems to be a wonderful feeling of pride in carrying out not only their prescribed tasks but to a person they go beyond the call of duty. "Here, let me help you with that" and "I'll be right back with what you need" are not unusual sentences to hear.

As each employee's name was read, she or he came forward to much applause from co-workers and residents. It was a heartwarming event.

Virgie is one of the dining room servers. She has a wonderfully giggly sense of humor.

I should know her name, but I don't. She's part of the staff in the Health Center; one of these days we undoubtedly will get to know her better, but, knock on wood, we aren't on a first name basis yet.

John is the newest member of the Maintenance crew, having been here over a year. They all know us by name and are infinitely cheerful when we cross paths.

Juan is one of the chefs. When Owen visited a year ago, and wore his Halloween chef's costume, Juan came out to meet him and then took 2 year old Owen on a tour of the kitchen.... a privilege we residents have yet to enjoy.

Sicorro, one of the housekeepers, greets us with this same amount of enthusiasm every time she sees us. I've never known anyone to be more positive in approach. As we part, she always wishes us blessings and a good day.

William, shy as they come, is learning the art of cooking. He's one of Chef Forde's students at a Glendale College class. At mealtime he carries the large platters out into the dining room, keeping his head down to avoid eye contact. But when he's making tacos on Taco Tuesday he can
be chatty.

Kerima wears many hats as she arranges for the entertainment scheduled for residents and leads meetings full of information about matters of interest to us aging folks. Her show business background stands her well when singing is called for.

Gayane is a nurse who never is still a minute. She can be seen striding along on her way to take someone's blood pressure or to deliver medicine. I've threatened to loan her my pedometer to see just how many miles she covers in a day.

Tamara is a superb dining room server. It takes her no time to learn one's preferences and the iced tea is often waiting before I get settled at the table.

Sandy and Sue hold down the front desk as receptionists and it's amazing to watch their juggling act as they answer phones, greet visitors and answer unending questions from residents.

Suzi is one of our favorite servers. When we first moved to the Manor I asked her for a lesson or two in speaking Armenian. This past summer she returned to her homeland for a visit for the first time in 20 years. 

When she was called to the front to get her check from Santa, I didn't hear her name clearly and definitely didn't recognize  her from the back as she walked up the aisle.

Now the employees have money in their pockets, hopefully some of it for Christmas shopping and some to save. Much picture taking took place afterward as people wanted to be seen with Santa.

 I captured the following final scene. I think of it as "Waiting for Santa".

Some of the recipients felt comfortable enough to turn and thank the residents and convey Christmas wishes; others were too shy to do anything but duck their heads while smiling as they departed to applause.