CHRISTMAS -- HANUKKAH -- PAST -- PRESENT -- FUTURE

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases ... happiest Hanukkah !

Early twentieth century Christmases my Mother described are surely different than what I experienced mid-century.   The differences are magnified in our twenty-first century.   She grew up on a farm in northeastern Ohio, actually born in the nineteenth century.   As youngsters she and her brothers and sisters led interesting horse and buggy days lives. 

My mother described occasional dates her father believed to be to attend a church meeting, that sometimes might have ended up elsewhere as she loved to dance.  Then the ride home, whether buggy in amenable seasons or sleigh in snowy winter, would be cozy for snuggling with the horse needing no guidance -- always knowing the way home -- just like self-driving cars will be.  

Her father, my grandfather who died many years before I was born, was considered by his friends and neighbors as progressive.   He was strongly supportive of women's rights.  He also felt women and girls should not be expected to perform outdoor heavy-duty farm work with all they had to do -- keeping house, cooking, though tending the foul, gathering the eggs and engaging in any gardening with flowers, herbs and vegetables they might enjoy was agreeable.  

Farmer friends used to tease him by asking when he was going to get a car.  He sarcastically told them that he was waiting for an aero plane.  What would he think of cars today?   Little did he imagine the development of the airline industry, a trip that went to the moon, projected space travel.

He's also noted for having become frustrated waiting for one of the neighbor women on their telephone party line to finally end her call.  The telephone system then was a technology requiring the caller to crank a set number of short and long rings to reach the party they wanted.   One day there was some important matter he needed to reach a neighbor farmer about, but every time he checked the line after long waits in between the line was still busy as that neighbor kept talking, a frequent problem with her.  The last check he listened long enough to hear her say, "...and so I washed down..as far as... 'possible'..." when he interrupted by saying, "Why don't you go wash 'possible' and get off this line?"

An ancestor helping settle northeastern Ohio was a protestant minister of a major religion prevalent yet today.  Church involvement and activities were always a significant part of life, providing spiritual sustenance and a social network for the far-flung rural community residents.   Christmas was a most significant time of year with special serious meaning, but the secular Santa Claus joys were enjoyed, too, during my Mother’s youth.

Farms then and now, especially if there are animals on the land require 24/7 care.  My grandfather had several cows to provide milk for butter, cheese, smearcase (cottage cheese), plow horses to work, some fast trotters for buggy pulling when the family needed to travel and smart walking horses for individual riding.  Of course, there were a few hogs, chickens, ducks.  To control any vermin in the corn storage area (beginning of silo usage), also the barn and hay mow, domestic cats prowled and resided there, also often becoming pets along with the family dog(s) to ward off strangers and predatory creatures. 

Animals showcased creature and human life, procreation activities, birth, the unique attraction of helpless newborn piglets, foals, calves, kittens, puppies, chicks.   Love and loss,  sometimes injury and illness, also death was a natural stage of life.  Responsibility for others was vital.  Care for the earth's vegetation, insects such as bees needed for pollination of plants and so much more pertinent to human survival and environmental preservation was learned.  Despite all,  prayers were not always answered.  Life was not always fair. 

Indoor plumbing had not yet been adopted by many in rural areas, so unheated outhouses sat off some distance from the house – usually one-seaters, but some accommodating more users simultaneously were luxurious two and three-seaters, probably appreciated by families with many children.   A hand pump for water was centrally located at the front yard’s distant edge from the house, but also accessible to the barn since buckets of water would be needed both places. 

Fresh water was needed daily for wash basins placed on small stands (one lovely maple wood stand with a birdseye maple drawer I have) in each bedroom to provide moisture for clearing sleep from the occupants eyes each morning, or to cleanse the hands during the night if the beside covered pot had to be used.   Who would want to trudge down the stairs in the dark, to the outhouse, especially in a stormy or icy snowy cold winter?   Of course, these prone to being smelly pots had to be lugged daily to the outhouse to be relieved of their contents, freshened so they could be returned bedside for the next night, a job not readily welcomed. 

Downstairs firewood previously cut to kindling and larger split log sizes had to be carried inside, kept in supply for the wood burning kitchen stove and oven, any other heat-producing stoves or fireplaces in other rooms. 

How baking was done still marvels me -- sustaining an even consistent temperature with a wood stove -- no temperature dial there.   Meats butchered earlier in the year and relegated to the outdoor refrigerator-like storage room dug into the earth and earlier harvested fruits from the apple, peach, plum trees and vegetables in a fruit cellar were at the ready when needed, some dried, if care had been taken to prepare each year’s supply at harvest time. 

Plenty of water was needed for cooking with some heated on the stove for other usage.   Hot water was especially needed on nights a periodic tub bath was scheduled for the various individuals.   Bath tub/shower type bathing was not a daily activity for each person as we indulge ourselves today, sometimes soaking in luxury with hot water readily flowing with the turn of a knob.  

Woolen clothes to be worn during winter would have been brought out from storage earlier, aired of moth ball aromas.   There was no dry cleaner to regularly freshen them after wearing, plus people had no deodorants.  Mother said she didn't recall any B.O. (body odor), but speculated that "Maybe we all just smelled bad so nobody noticed".  

The parlor as one room in the house was known, was kept pristine for special family occasions and entertaining visitors.  (I have a rich-looking dark cherry drop leaf table from my grandmother's parlor.)  Everyday living activities took place in the rest of the house, often frugally to conserve wood,  they centered around a single heated stove in the kitchen as outdoors winter’s winds howled in blizzards, freezing temperatures.

Mother’s recollection of the Christmas holiday and preparations was intriguing to me.  She said the actual setting up their decorated Christmas tree was never done in advance.  The children went to bed Christmas Eve and when they awoke in the morning, miraculously a colorful ornamented tree appeared downstairs.  When the oohs and awes subsided Santa would make his grand entrance with his bag of presents for distribution.    

The ecstatic children were so accustomed to their father being in the barn doing his daily early morning chores they thought nothing of the fact he wasn’t in the house with them when Santa arrived.   Mother said years later she marveled that it never occurred to them that Santa was their Dad so he must have had a pretty good costume and disguise.  

I wish I had talked further with her, or maybe I’ve forgotten what she said, about Christmas tree ornaments, what sort of gifts they received.   I expect there were a lot of handmade items, especially from the girls who would be learning all sorts of sewing skills, knitting, crocheting, tatting, hooking rugs, making quilts, sewing clothes items, also for their Hope Chests. 

Likely the boys were into various crafts of woodworking, little toys maybe, or sleds.  Store-bought gifts would likely have been rare, perhaps expensive.  I know she spoke of my Grandmother’s wealthy sister and her husband, a doctor in Atlanta, Ga, sometimes sent special items -- or, remembrances from the uncle sailing around the world during his U.S. Navy career.  No doubt hand-me-down clothing had been remade as a matter of practicality and was like-new to the recipient.   I know books were treasured items, all sorts of print, pictures, and writing instruments with ink, paper to write and draw. 

Christmas preparations, singing in the choir, pageants, and celebrating with religious music, for which my Mother played the church piano as she did for weekly services was her practice when she became older.  

Some traditions from days of yore continue, others change, commercialization has increased from her generation to mine and from mine to that of my children, even more for their children. 

Will there be more Christmas changes and in what way in future decades, I wonder?  

How do those who observe Hanukkah perceive any changes through these same decades, including with their gift giving rituals?  

WHAT'S NEXT?

Can't believe it, but summertime is here in Southern California with temperatures in the 80's -- pushing 90 degrees in record February heat.   We're all wondering what happened to our El Nino rains?   Something about a high pressure system pushing the storms to the northern part of California as instead we're receiving dry hot high winds..

That's just fine as long as they keep dumping snow in the four mountain ranges -- Shasta Cascade, Klamath-Siskiyous, Sierra Nevada, and the Coastal Mountain Range -- all together said to be a total of 138 mountains more or less.   Snowmelt from those Sierra Nevada mountains  provide many of us a portion of the water we rely on as described here.    Now weather predictors tell us El Nino's rains will come the end of February and in March -- we'll see!

Last Weekend I checked out my local area strawberry patch as February had been the earliest I had ever known those addicting luscious red fruits to be ripened for sale.   Not only was the stand open, but they had first begun selling berries this year in December -- just before Christmas!   Had I only known I would have been their first customer.   One more indicator of our climate changing.

I continue to wonder what's next in this political year as candidates have rigorously pursued voters, first in Iowa and next in New Hampshire.  Now they're off to South Carolina with their numbers not winnowed down enough to suggest who would actually receive their political party's nomination though both major political parties have unexpected front runners.   Rumbling in the background continues that a possible third party candidate may join the fray if he doesn't like the two major party finalists selected.

So far this rather unorthodox election campaign has resulted in an increase in the number of election primary voters.  More citizens fulfilling the voluntary responsibility expected of those of us  living in our democracy/republic is encouraging.   Pundits, candidates and voters are finding not much is predictable which makes this election of interest to more people, I think.  

I  know what principles, political issues and plans to resolve our nation's problems are important to me.  I know the candidates whose views I can most closely share presently.  But we have many more election primaries in the months ahead as each candidate tries to effectively express themself to convince voters to select them.  The bottom line is the candidate in each party who becomes their party nominee needs to be electable!  

I don't think Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem did their candidate and women voters  any favors by suggesting we should vote on the basis of gender.   Coming from an older generation, cognizant first hand of gender discrimination, I do understand the intent of their words.  But, frankly, I was offended, and I think many younger generation women might be resentful, too.  Hopefully, the candidate won't be penalized by voters.    

Some pundit discussions I've heard have included observations that democracies around the world are being clobbered by extremist anti-establishment candidates.  The world is truly in a state of flux and our nation is not an exception.  What could this mean for our future?


 

DAYS SLIPPED AWAY

The days since I last posted have slipped by rather quickly I notice. What can I say? One thing or another has resulted in my focusing my attention elsewhere. Actually, there were a few days when some sort of bug slowed me down with the effects primarily in my head (sinus, ears, eye.) Residual effects continued for several more weeks. I'm not convinced it was bacterial so may have been viral. I was most comfortable avoiding digital device visual stimulation, then allowed myself to continue avoiding writing long after I could have resumed doing so.

Coincidentally during some of those weeks, when I fortunately had no patients, the site I serve had an onset of the norovirus -- the one you've likely heard of that sometimes occurs on cruise ships. Lucky me, I was able to avoid exposure to that unpleasantness, but have been in retirement communities before when norovirus emerged and I've always avoided contracting or spreading the contagion. Health officials emphasize the importance of hand washing protocol which I always follow at all times anyway.

During this time I've listened to many news reports locally, state-wide, nationally and internationally on subject matters that have kept my thoughts roiling. Many of the serious issues might aid my tolerance through some mellowing with the introduction of humorous quips. I continue to notice missing being able to exchange such commentary with my husband. Instead my pithy observations are all relegated to just my thoughts and I don't have the pleasure of his observations. You likely know all the news fodder anyway, and may well have written about some of these topics yourself, but here are a few matters I noted.

The ups and downs of the European financial crisis is no laughing matter when we consider the potential impact on our own pocketbooks if they fail to achieve some solvency, first in Greece, then in several other nations. The world of those nations citizens is being turned upside down -- their jobs, businesses and future financial status. Those whose age has them in the second half of their lives are likely the most profoundly affected. The younger folk have more time to adapt.

The continuing evolution of Arab Spring events with people fighting for their freedom from military rule and/or despot rulers continues to leave many unanswered questions as to the outcome. Again, the resident's suffer the adverse consequences with too many paying the ultimate price with their lives.

Our attention to nations south of our border beyond Mexico is minimal in our news reports, but there are significant activities happening there, too, which are intriguing -- including the Falklands ownership matter challenged again, Ecuador's dispute with America's Chevron oil company over billion dollar damage awards for distribution to rainforest residents, and Brazil's burgeoning commercial growth.

Internet privacy concerns keep periodically appearing with many companies including Facebook in the past. More recently Apple and Google have joined those whose activities have raised privacy questions. Finding ways to monetize the Internet while protecting a users privacy is the challenge. Whatever develops I want the "opting" choice for myself.

I've noted the behavior and statements from some of the current U.S. political candidates vying to be their political party's presidential nominee to be quite a circus. They aren't lax in playing fast and loose with the facts, either. So far my state of California has been spared being subjected to the obnoxious advertising bombardment. We'll likely receive our share when we draw closer to California's Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Primary Election.

Locally my community is protesting against the financial maneuverings of our water company rate setting. Seems the company has been so busy paying administrative salaries, dividending stockholders and providing their parent company profit, that they didn't reserve funds in advance for expected upkeep, improvements and expansion -- just raise the customer's rates for what is needed when the time comes has been the practice. Also, there are some other methods used that have allowed them to apply higher rates in our community than in other cities that has truly raised everyone's ire.

Our local officials continue to explore purchasing our cities water company as I've mentioned here before. When the state commission that has generally automatically green-lighted the company rate increase requests came to town for an open meeting, members were shocked at the overflow crowd protesting. They said they'd never before encountered such a turnout which gave them pause to reflect on their future considerations and actions.

I think most people take for granted and trust their utility company practices. Los Angeles residents are beginning to take a look at some of their utility company rates and executive salaries. Residents in all U.S. cities might do well to examine more closely their water company and other utility financial operations including, but not limited to, their pricing criteria, the size and use of various water pipes.

A few Tea Party residents have protested Occupy Claremont's tent erection outside City Hall. The area is always neat and clean, does not block an entrance -- only three or four tents on a concrete patio. The Occupy-previously supportive City Council determined the tents presence primarily qualified as camping equipment so Occupy's argument they were basically free speech symbols did not take precedence. The tents will have to be removed before this month ends. Further Occupy group activities are being determined but the group's intent is to be peaceful. In the future they plan to continue focusing on our local homeless population and homeowners subjected to bank foreclosure.

Tragically, a homeless 50+ year old former businessman who reportedly was finally beginning to experience some positive promise in his life unexpectedly died there recently. He had asked to sleep there that night due to safety concerns which he was allowed to do. There was no foul play. Ultimately, contact with his family was made.

The Los Angeles public school system continues to be jolted by the revelation that elementary school age children have allegedly been inappropriately abused by one of their teachers for many years in an unusual sexually-related manner. Subsequently a few other adult staff and teachers at other schools have also been accused of unrelated behaviors, but unacceptable ones, at their schools. No child should be subjected to such an experience and the emotional residue created with the betrayal by a trusted adult in any situation.

On the state level there's much discussion about whether or not we should proceed with the planned bullet train between southern and northern California even though a bond issue was passed for the project. The cost is now thought to be much greater than anticipated among other arguments.

The 9th Circuit Court has issued a decision against the legality of a ballot measure voters previously passed that prohibits gay marriage. The passage of that measure overturning the right of gays to marry had been unexpected by many. This latest judicial decision to allow gay marriage has been appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court.

Another tragic youthful death with Whitney Houston's demise the night before the Grammy Awards here in Los Angeles. She was one of those vocalists whose voice I most enjoy hearing because they simply sing. The note changes are natural sounding and don't seem to be forcibly tacked on. The vocal quality is smooth, not rough, raspy and strained, so not abusive to the vocal cords. These singers, male and female, don't need excessive gesticulating and acrobatics augmenting their delivery. They don't need the trappings of costumes designed for shock appeal, a band behind them playing so loud I can't hear or much less understand the song's lyrics. They don't need a stage full of special effects with flashing lights and explosions. Such a voice that reveals the singer's inner emotions in relation to the song's mood could hold my attention for many of the songs she sang with such ease.

Outside my living room window when the sun beams down warming the colorful golden bird of paradise hummingbirds have been flitting about seeking nectar, with pauses to rest on the more sturdy protruding flower projections. Those spring-like days have been intermittent with cooler temperatures. The past week winter finally arrived here for a few days. Eventually the parting clouds revealed some snow on our local Mt. Baldy. Further down the foothills where I live we were treated to some rain. Hopefully we'll have more moisture in an amount to at least reach our normal seasonal level in the weeks or months ahead.

Climate Change - Blog Action Day

This is Blog Action Day! Addressing the very serious topic of climate change in a superb informative colorful concise photo and link-filled article is the writer at "Darlene's Hodgepodge."

I strongly urge readers to click on the link above and acquaint yourselves with the myriad issues facing our world today -- not to be discouraged, depressed or frightened, but to discern what each of us in our own small way can do to mitigate some of the effects. We can choose ways in which to adapt our own lives as we adjust to these climate changes.

We feel these changes in California as we cope with drought. Our city and water company have instituted some voluntary conservation measures. These consist of determining a typical range of water usage for various size households. Water rate charges will be broken down into increasingly larger amounts with pricing accordingly. Watering restrictions for our yards, washing autos continues to be voluntary but likely those will begin to become more specified and limiting. Soon dollar penalties and fines will likely be administered.

I am in the process of converting part of my yard to drought resistant plants, eliminating some grass in this normally desert-like area of Southern California.
I will write more about this in the future.

I am enthusiastic about learning better ways in which to adapt to our environment and determining how to best preserve for future generations this spectacular planet on which we are privileged to live. I hope you are, too.