Enough Christmas

 

In an effort to downsize, each item pulled from the Christmas decorations boxes this year gets a sharp, critical look. Have I put this out in the last 5 years? Do I really, truly like it? No? It goes to the thrift store pile or sent with the kids. In my mind, I just have 1 or 2 boxes of colored bulbs, ribbons and bows. In reality, I'm on box #6 and not done yet. 

This little angel from my childhood surfaced. I can remember getting her out each year at home and putting her on my dresser in my room, or maybe on a window sill. She sometimes joined the family decorations downstairs, but I'm confident this 5 inch praying angel wax candle belonged to me. Maybe she was a gift from a Sunday School teacher, who secretly hoped some of the 25 kids  in our grade would be angels during class, or at least remember to pray between Sundays. Or maybe she was a gift from Aunt Fern. But no, I think Aunt Fern gave me the Indian squaw wax candle, also 5 inches. Each of my brothers had an Indian brave and both joined my squaw on the Thanksgiving table. As did two pilgrims. I suspect they were all from the same manufacturer, who added dye to the wax and similar molds. 

And that's all. I didn't own boxes and boxes of decorations, and I don't remember wishing for more. I loved getting her out each year, and then I was ready for the holidays. It didn't take a whole weekend to "decorate for Christmas" like it does now. 

Many nicer Christmas decorations aren't going to make the cut. But I'll be keeping my praying angel wax candle. No matter how small my living quarters eventually become, I can always get her out in December and be ready for Christmas.