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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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SIMPLY MAGICAL
Last week I felt as if one of those ubiquitous Currier & Ives Christmas cards from my childhood memories had come to life. I had spent the afternoon sitting in front of my window watching tiny specks of snow turn into huge, fluffy flakes. As the warm, wet earth cooled off the snow began to stick. Within a few of hours my whole neighborhood had turned into a snow-covered winter wonderland. As traffic slowed and most evening events were being canceled, the volunteers and staff of the San Juan Historical Museum continued to prepare for their Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration. By 5 p.m. the sun had set and dark clouds obscured the moon. Tiny white lights strung along the eaves of museum buildings and in branches of trees and shrubs reflected on the snow, producing a welcoming glow.
Revelers trickled into the King House where carolers sang in the parlor while chili, cider, and desserts were served in the kitchen. Santa and an elf waited for good boys and girls in the Etta Egeland Resource Center with an elaborate electric train setup. Outside, singers performed barbershop arrangements of familiar tunes by a bonfire while chestnuts were being roasted. Young families engaged in snowball fights while others sipped cider and enjoyed the music. There were no ice skaters or horse-drawn sleds in the scene, and Currier and Ives would probably have been confounded by the electric lights. However, everything else was just as enchanting as those charming Christmas card prints. No one felt rushed. There were no family arguments. The sounds of laughter and music filled the cold night air, and everyone seemed to be wearing a broad smile. It might have been an old fashioned holiday celebration, but there was an atmosphere about it that was simply magical. It is my hope that all of us can hold onto that magic for the rest of the holiday season.
© 2005 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2010 |
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